1. Ten Myths that Keep Job
Seekers From Being Hired
How to be a
Valued Candidate
in Today’s
Economy

2. Who am I?• Don’t just listen to me
– I won’t be offended if you disagree with everything in my presentation.
• Qualifications
– B.S. Degree from Trinity University,
• Management Information Systems (MIS)
– 15 years as an IT Pro
• Texas Instruments; Mobil Oil; Frito-Lay; PepsiCo; Cap Gemini; CitiGroup; Verizon;
Fidelity Investments; Bank of America, and others
– 19 years – owner of an IT Placement firm
– Placed over: 1,425+ IT Professionals
– r2 Tech grew 15.8% in 2012
– r2 Tech grew 11.1% in 2013
– r2 Tech grew 13.7% in 2014
• Try to find 2-3 items that you can use in your Job Search!

3. Myth: Registering on 2-3 online job
portals will result in maximum call-backs
• FALSE: Online portals are accessible and
increase visibility to Potential Employers
and Recruiters.
• The more you register, the better!

4. Myth: Registering on 2-3 online job
portals will result in maximum call-backs
• Advice: Register on a realistic number of good
job boards, and update your resume DAILY to
stay on top of the results lists.
• Pick 5-10 Job boards that display jobs that you
are qualified.

5. Myth: A majority of vacancies are
posted online or on job boards
• FALSE: It’s common practice for job openings
to be “closed” or “hidden,” meaning
recruiters will search for candidates or get
references without ever posting the job
online. • You want to be presented BEFORE
the position gets posted to the
general public.
• The higher the title or salary, the
less likely it is that the position will
be advertised at all.

6. Myth: A majority of vacancies are
posted online or on job boards
• Advice: Start NETWORKING and GOING TO PROFESSIONAL
ORGANIZATIONS (Like today). It is the one and only fool-proof method of
knowing what’s happening in the current job market.
• You have a better chance of finding what you seek if you make
connections with others in your desired industry.
• For example, if you want to work as a Project Manager, building
relationships with other PM’s and
Directors is your most critical
resource in finding a position of your
own.

7. Myth: Changing jobs regularly is
frowned upon by employers
• People who change jobs frequently, also called job
hoppers, have always been scrutinized. However,
since the great downsizing of companies and
increase of limited-term positions, employers have
recognized the need for frequent change.
• To climb the corporate ladder and
get a better salary, job seekers
often need to change jobs
regularly. It’s not only logical, but
necessary for professional
development.

8. Myth: Changing jobs regularly is
frowned upon by employers
• Advice: Avoid the really short stints lasting
three to six months, unless they are contract.
• Stick to one job profile for at least a year if
possible.
• When writing or
updating your resume,
focus more on your
transferable skills rather
than your time duration
at a given position.

9. Myth: Cover letters are
Important / Not Important?
• Cover Letters can be used as part of your job-
search strategy. A resume just gives an account
of your work experience, skill set, and core
competencies.
• Cover letters are a document that gives a
detailed description of why you are uniquely
qualified for the particular job profile.
• Some Recruiters hardly ever read Cover letters.

10. Myth: Cover letters are
Important / Not Important
• Advice: When you apply
for a position and decided
to send a cover letter… It
MUST be customized,
written specifically for the
company that you are
applying to.
• If you are NOT going to
customize your cover
letter, don’t send it.

11. Myth: Your resume needs to be one page
• The length of your resume
should be determined by your
amount of experience.
• Resumes should be anywhere
between one and five pages.
• Anything less might deem you
inexperienced, anything more
is simply unnecessary
information that won’t be
read.

12. Myth: Your resume needs to be one page
• Advice: A resume should highlight and emphasize on your
education, experience, and transferable skills.
• If you are newer to the workforce (with less than 5 years of
experience under your belt), you should probably stick to one
page.
• The more experience you have, the more you can include, so
long as it’s highly relevant and unique to you.
• Do not leave out important information like your
achievements and project experience just to limit the length
of the document to one page.
• Rule of Thumb: 1 Page for every 5
years of experience, up to 5 pages.

13. Myth: A resume is sufficient enough
to be called for an interview
• This ideology is so not
true. Maybe you are
applying to niche
positions for which you
are specifically qualified,
you might land an
interview instantly.
• For all other intents and
purposes, this job-search
strategy almost never
works.

14. Myth: A resume is sufficient enough
to be called for an interview
• Advice: Shake a leg and be proactive when job
hunting.
– Send Professional References!
• LinkedIn Recommendations are highly valuable!
– If you truly feel you are qualified for a job, apply
more than once!

15. Myth: Asking for less salary will make
you a more attractive candidate
• Lowering your salary expectations will only make
you look weak or desperate.
• Most companies do market salary comparisons
and know what the compensation is for a
particular role.
• Worst-case scenario, you will be frustrated for the
rest of your tenure because you will feel that you
were cheated out of the money
that you deserved.

16. Myth: Asking for less salary will make
you a more attractive candidate
• Advice: Never initiate the salary topic.
• Let the employer go through their motions and
then set your demands accordingly.
• As long as they are within the acceptable range of
the job profile, the employer, and the
organization – you should be good to go.

17. Myth: You need to be overqualified to
get the job
• The truth is that the most
qualified individual does not
always get the job.
• Those who have “networked”
into the job, have a better
chance of getting the offer.
• Employers seek candidates
with the mix of interviewing
skills, confidence,
qualifications, and overall
personality that fit with the
company’s culture.

18. Myth: You need to be overqualified to
get the job
• Advice: Do not be arrogant if you feel you are the
most qualified for the job,
• Don’t be discouraged if you feel that you know a
little less than the other applicants.
The employer saw something to call
you for an interview.
• Be confident and prove why you are
the best contender for the job.

19. Myth: You will have a tough time looking
for a job if you are over a certain age
• Gone are the days when people over 50 were
considered old.
• Employers look for education, skills, and
experience over superficial, uncontrollable
attributes.
• Your experiences will only add value to your
potential candidacy at a new organization.

20. Myth: You will have a tough time looking
for a job if you are over a certain age
• Advice: Have the right attitude and
temperament regardless of your
age.
• Dress Appropriately
• If you are a team player and not
just a seasoned professional who is
unwilling to embrace change, your
age will not matter one bit.

21. In Summary
• We are in an Excellent Job Market!
• Don’t Be on an Island
• Find someone to meet with you one-on-one
weekly. They need to hold you accountable.
• Update Your Resume and Social Media DAILY!
• Call me at (214) 382-3992
• E-mail me: rick@r2now.com