Beijing Paradise BBS Backup/PARADISE.ISO/software/BBSDOORW/IVIEW1.ZIP/MYTH.DAT

Text File | 1994-12-21 | 13KB | 313 lines

If asked to describe your strenght, it's a good practice to use words like
"Assertive" or "Ambitious".

^WRONG: The interviewer judges which adjectives are positive or negative. It's^
^up to the job hunter to choose words that are not threatening to the ^
^interviewer.  For example, if an employer things he can't satisfy an ^
^applicant's ambition, the applicant may not receive an offer.^
!
If the interviewer asks you "Tell me about your spouse," the best answer is
to tell the interviewer politely that the question is illegal.

^WRONG:  Doing this could irritate the interviewer, create a negative^
^impression and violate the strategy of the interview which is to get the ^
^offer.^
!
A company may fire any employee that lied on anything on the employment
application form.

`CORRECT:  If an employee signs and dates the application form.`
!
Looking for a job usually requires around 25 hours a week.

^WRONG:  Looking for a job is a full-time job in itself.  If you are employed^
^40 hours a week,you'll have to conduct your job search during part of the 128^
^hours remaining.  How much of that time you use it up to you.^
!
It's better to look for another job while you are still employed.

`CORRECT: It's always better to be employed than unemployed.  However, such`
`as restricting search to evenings and weekeds, ethical issues in interviewing`
`and if your present employer resents it you might get fired.`
!
It's Illegal to ask an Applicant which branch of the military he/she served
in.

`CORRECT:  Each applicant must be asked the same questions, and the employer`
`must evaluate answers according to the uniform guidelines for employment`
`procedures as outlined by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.`
!
Employment Agencies can obtain for you a good job.

^WRONG:  Only you can succeed in the interview and be offered the job. ^
^Employment Agencies, executive search firms or career counselors can't^
^take the interview for you.^
!
"Are you in Good Health" is an illegal question.

^WRONG:  A potential employer has the right to know the general nature of^
^an applicants' health.^
!
It's a good idea to show up at an interview at least 30 minutes early.

^WRONG:  Arriving a few minutes early is perfectly acceptable, but being^
^announced 30 minutes earlier than you're expected is a mistake.^
!
The first step in any job search is to develop an outstanding resume.

^WRONG: The first step in a search is to develop a strategy or an objective.^
!
The first place to contact for a job is the personnel department since it
does most of the hiring and firing.

^WRONG: Most personnel departments don't have the authority to hire.^
!
Most job searchers get a job in a week or so.  If it takes longer than a
month then something is terribly wrong.

^WRONG:  A thorough search of the job market and review of alternatives^
^requires much more time than a week or two.  The average is 4-6 months.^
!
If there aren't many applicants for one position, the person with the best
technical qualifications generally gets the job offer.

^WRONG: If there are a few people to choose from, technical qualifications^
^are just one factor among many. The interviewer usually selects the person^
^who he/she is most comfortable with.^
!
The length of any resume should be as long as needed.

`CORRECT:  How you use your resume and the significance of the data it`
`contains is more important than how long it is; tho some experts assert`
`a resume over 2 pages will get tossed.`
!
Since most employers are swamped with resumes, it makes good sense to be
assertive and show up in person to request an interview rather then send a
resume/letter.

^WRONG:  Showing up at a company without an appointment may reflect poorly on^
^judgement rather than assertiveness.^
!
The easiest part of the job search process is the interview.

`CORRECT:  This is true if the applicant is properly prepared for the`
`interview`
!
If the job hunter is attractive, it's a good idea to include a picture with
the resume.

^WRONG:  There is an unwritten rule that photographs should not accompany^
^resumes except for actors, actresses or models.^
!
Sending 100's of resumes to 100's of different company presidents is certain
to generate at least 10 or more interviews.

^WRONG: A good rule of thumb is that generally no more than 1 - 3 interviews^
^are generated per 100 contacts.  The response may exceed 50% but 96% of the^
^responses will be negative.^
!
"Overqualified" is a rejection code-word that really means "too old"

^WRONG:  When an employer tells an applicant that he or she is overqualified,^
^the employer usually means it's easier to reject you now than you get bored ^
^and unproductive in the job and having to let you go later.^
!
Professional directories are excellent sources of information for every job
hunter.

`CORRECT:  Professional directories contain information on products or`
`services offered by various companies, volume of business and so on.`
!
Any fraternity or alumni list has value to the job hunter, providing the
hunter has been out of school less than 4 years.

^WRONG:  Fraternity brothers and sorority sisters can be helpful for ^
^networking purposes no matter how long you've been out of school or have^
^graduated.^
!
A supply of resumes, a contact list, a calendar and a job log are the
briefcase contents every job seeker should have on every interview.

`CORRECT: The contact list enable the job hunter to make additional`
`appointments and use the time available between interviews to the best`
`advantage.  The calendar controls the time available.  The job log is a `
`journal of the entire job search.`
!
Obtaining a good score on a civil service test guarantees a job offer.

^WRONG: A good score is beneficial; but other things to be considered are: ^
^experience, education, citizenship, personality, job availability, ^
^competition, etc.^
!
What a person says in the interview determines whether or not they will get
the job.

^WRONG:  What is said in the interview is extremely important, but is not the^
^only determining factors.  The applicant must also be able to do the job and^
^personality and experience also counts.^
!
If the interviewer asks you to "tell me about yourself" the interviewer
really wants to know only about your personality.

^WRONG: The question can really mean: Why should I hire you? Why are you here?^
^What is your background and ability? Who are you? An opportunity to "sell"^
^yourself; why you stand out from the other applicants.^
!
Someone who loses a job or gets fired should take a few weeks off before
starting a search in order to sort things out.

^WRONG: The best advice is to begin the search process immediately.^
!
Maintaining a positive outlook about job hunting has little value if the
national unemployment rate exceeds 8% or the local rate exceeds 10%.

^WRONG:  Without a positive outlook, the job hunter is dead in the water.^
^Enthusiasm, optimism and hope must be real to face the rejection that is part^
^of any job search.^
!
There is no such thing as a secure job.

`CORRECT: Any company that you work for can go out of business or be bought by`
`another company.`
!
Beards and long hair on men are still perceived negatively, even if the beard
is handsomely trimmed.

`CORRECT: Most of the business world considers beards and long hair a sign of`
`rebellion. A good rule of thumb is conform to the norm in his/her field until`
`after the job is won.`
!
Any time a job hunter answers an advertisement, a cover letter must accompany
the resume.

`CORRECT: A help wanted advertisement may receive hundreds of responses.  The`
`cover letter is an opportunity to supplement the resume as a sales tool.  The`
`absence of a cover letter reflects a lack of professionalism.`
!
In answering an ad, it's best not to include a salary requirement or present
salary even if the ad requests salary data.

^WRONG:  The reader of your resume and cover letter wants to know if your^
^salary requirement falls within the range of the position advertised.  Almost^
^all positions have a salary minimum, midpoint and maximum range.  Employers^
^prefer to hire new employees at or below the midpoint of the range.^
!
Most employers are willing to spend time with anyone interested in getting a
job in their company.

`CORRECT: But they don't want to spend their own time.  Employers prefer to`
`refer any inquiries to the personnel departments.`
!
Networking is the best technique for getting interviews.

`CORRECT:  Networking is the foremost method of generating interviews.`
!
Employers really don't have the time to verify previous employment or
education and rarely do.

^WRONG:  Many don't, but most have a very consistent policy of verifying^
^information on the application for employement form.^
!
It's important to include every job you ever held on your resume.

^WRONG: Part-time jobs, summer jobs or jobs that were short lived don't have^
^to be included on the resume unless it will enhance your chances of^
^getting an interview.^
!
When a company asks you to complete an employment application form, a in-
depth resume will substitute.

^WRONG: Although it is tedious to complete an application form, refusal to do^
^so will probably eliminate you from consideration for the job.^
!
It is illegal for an employer to ask an applicant about marital status or
religious background.

^WRONG: According to an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Manager, there^
^is no such thing as an "illegal" question. The issue is the purpose of asking^
^the question; ie: in an attempt to discriminate against an applicant.^
!
If a job hunter is divorced, an employer can ask who has custody of the
children.

^WRONG:  The question may not be asked during the employment interview, but^
^can be asked after employment if necessary for insurance purposes.^
!
"Have you ever been convicted of a crime" is illegal and can't be asked by a
prospective employer.

`CORRECT:  The only time this question can be asked during and employment`
`interview is when the company is doing certain government work that requires a`
`security clearance.`
!
Networking means talking to important people who have jobs.

^WRONG: Networking means recruiting anyone to assist in a job search.  The ^
^saying, "it isn't what you know but who you know that counts" is true.^
!
During an Interview, when the subject of salary comes up, the job seeker
should automatically ask for a salary 15% higher then the present or last
salary.

^WRONG: Most jobs have a salary range.  Employers prefer to hire people at or^
^below the midpoint of the range in order to allow room for raises in the ^
^future and to protect the company's internal salary structure.^
!
If a job seeker talks about background, grade school and high school
activities should never be mentioned.

^WRONG:  Personal background should include a very brief review of where you ^
^grew up, your parent's occupation, something about your sisters and brothers^
^and where you went to primary and secondary school.^
!
10 to 15 years after college, your grade point average is of no interest to
the interviewer.

`CORRECT: Someone interviewing an applicant who has been out of school for a`
`long time is interested in knowing if you graduated, what school you attended`
`and what your major was; but rarely cares about your grade point average.`
!
The decision to hire or not to hire is generally made in the first 5 minutes
of the interview.

^WRONG:  First impressions are important, but the decision to hire requires ^
^sufficient time to review technical ability, experience, personality and ^
^potential.  People also rethink first impressions.^
!
Companies that run blind ads that don't reveal their identity do so because
they don't want their employees to know they are advertising.

^WRONG: Companies run blind ads to avoid responding to a barrage of ^
^unsolicited phone calls and personal visits.^
!
Always list your salary on your resume.

^WRONG: Never put your salary on the resume.  The place to state present ^
^salary or salary history is in the cover letter sent with the resume.^
!
Always list references on your resume.

^WRONG: Never list reference on the resume. References are and should remain^
^confidential.^
!
It's important to include your social security number on the resume to prove
you've registered.

^WRONG:  The only place you must have your social security number is on the ^
^job application form.^
!
Always include the wording, "In excellent health", in the personal section of
your resume, no matter what your health condition is.

^WRONG:  Leave the health statement off the resume completely.  It is assumed ^
^by the reader of the resume that everyone is in excellent health until proven^
^otherwise.^
!
Hiring a professional writer to prepare a resume is the way to make the best
impression.

^WRONG:  Most employment managers, who review hundreds of resumes each week, ^
^can identify the formula resume instantly- and will usually reject it.^
-