| you know everything there is to know about getting | | | | probably—hopefully!—racked up more |
| a job? Not so fast. There are lots of myths floating | | | | accomplishments that they should be aware of. |
| around that people have come to accept as fact. | | | | •You can’t overcome a resume gap. |
| Check out some of the most common myths below, | | | | If you’re currently between jobs, you may |
| and get one step closer to scoring a job | | | | think that employers will send your resume straight |
| you’ll love. | | | | to the circular file once they detect that gap in work |
| •Help wanted ads are the best place to hunt | | | | history. Because of this myth, some job seekers are |
| for a job. The first places people look when they | | | | tempted to blur the lines of truth in order to cover it |
| want or need a new job is online job boards and | | | | up. Don’t. Especially in today’s tough |
| newspaper classifieds. Why? Because it’s | | | | economy where thousands of talented people have |
| easy and requires virtually no effort on the | | | | been downsized through no fault of their own, |
| job-seeker’s part—which is why | | | | employers are very willing to accept some |
| everybody does it. That’s a huge problem in | | | | out-of-work time as a norm. |
| a tight job market. You might be very good at what | | | | •Your resume should demonstrate your |
| you do, but are you better than all 50,000 people | | | | mastery over everything in the work world. True, |
| looking at the same ad that you are? By all means, | | | | you want to come off as an expert in your field, but |
| use help wanted ads as a jumping off point for your | | | | employers don’t care—and may not |
| search, but if you stop there, you’ll be looking | | | | believe—that you can design a high-rise building, |
| for work for a long, long time. Contact the career | | | | have memorized all one million tax laws, and can |
| center at your alma mater, call placement agencies | | | | perform brain surgery if the need arises. You need to |
| (what used to be known as “temp | | | | focus on a couple of areas that match the job for |
| agencies”), and talk to people you know | | | | which you’re applying. If you’re an |
| about job leads. | | | | outstanding salesperson as well as an intensive care |
| •I don’t have anyone to network | | | | nurse, you need two resumes tailored to best display |
| with. Networking is often the most difficult avenue | | | | your strengths and accomplishments in each field. |
| for job-seekers, but it can offer the best results. No | | | | Dual careers make interesting water cooler talk after |
| one wants to feel like a charity case by asking | | | | you’re hired, but they’re just |
| friends and family members to hook them up with a | | | | confusing—and unnecessary—on your |
| job, but the trick to networking is to think of it as a | | | | resume. |
| relationship-building process. Go outside of your | | | | •Your salary requirements should be next to |
| immediate circle and chat up everyone from people | | | | nothing. When jobs are tough to come by, |
| at your church to other parents at your kid’s | | | | it’s tempting to tell potential employers that |
| fundraiser to your fellow gym-goers. Ask them about | | | | you’ll work for a pittance—heck, |
| their career, their company, and what they like and | | | | you’ll pay them to work there. But unless |
| dislike about both. Everyone likes talking about | | | | you’re changing careers entirely or just |
| themselves, and before you know it, you’ll | | | | starting out in the work world, that’s a |
| have built a rapport. Eventually, these new friends will | | | | mistake. It’s not unusual for someone from |
| be happy to share job leads and contacts. | | | | HR to call and conduct a brief screening before |
| •There’s no need to resend a | | | | bringing you in for an interview, and part of that |
| resume. You sent your resume to Company X two | | | | typically involves asking about your salary |
| years ago when they posted a job you were | | | | requirements. Give them a range if you don’t |
| interested in, so they probably still have it on file, | | | | feel comfortable with an exact figure, but be sure |
| right? Wrong. Most organizations keep resumes for a | | | | that you’ll be satisfied with a salary anywhere |
| year (at the outside), so unless you sent one a few | | | | in that range. Firms really don’t like to be |
| weeks ago, send it again. Besides, if it’s been | | | | given one salary during the screening and another |
| a while since they looked at your resume, | | | | (higher) salary during negotiations. |
| you’ve | | | | |