11 Work Myths to Ignore... for my daughter applying for her first job

You're 17 and you're about to get your first job...and you sort of think you know everything. I'm not going to try to argue with that, but, I do have some advice that I wish I knew when I was 22 or 25, or 30 for that matter. It might've saved me from a lot of dead-end gigs and dysfunctional situations. But, sometimes it takes the shitty times to teach you how to get to where you belong. Here’s a few things that I picked up along the way that I thought I’d share:

Myth #1: It's all about the resume, baby. The power of people liking you is much stronger than any award, notch on your resume or qualification. Talk to people with sincerity and kindness. Don't strive to be a professional automaton. Follow that up by genuinely caring about what you are hearing them say.

Myth #2: Taking a job is a lifetime commitment. You aren't tied to a job for life and few people are going to judge you for moving on if it’s the right thing for you. Free yourself up to explore new opportunities, it’s not the end of the world if a job isn’t the right fit.

Myth #3: Don't talk about money. Hell yeah talk about money. Don't let this be the taboo it was for me. Don't act like it's not important. I t is. Research salaries, research benefits. Know your worth.

Myth #4: Office attire will kill your style. If and when you find yourself in an office job, it doesn’t mean you have to buy or wear a pantsuit. In fact, you don't ever have to wear polyester if you don't want to.

Myth #5: Whatever you do, don't look like you don't know something. Ask questions. Especially the dumb ones.

Myth #6: Image is everything. Cuteness is only going to get you so far. Don't rely on it.

Myth #7: Business is cut-throat. Do what's right. Even if it means losing a promotion, a deal, or a job. Your conscience will thank you for it later.

Myth #8: Boys will be boys. At some point there's going to be someone that does or says something extremely inappropriate. Trust what your stomach is feeling and DO NOT accept it like I have.

Myth #9: If I don't go to an amazingly impressive college, I'm screwed. Bring real applicable skills to the table, not talents. When I read resumes, I honestly don't care what an applicant’s major was, what their GPA was, or what school they went to -- I am searching for evidence that they know how to perform the tasks I need performed. Keep your cover letter short and put actual verbs and nouns in your resume — above all else, make it easy to read.

Myth #10: The job market is so competitive, you'll need to settle. And that leads to my next point — realize that if you have those skills, I need you as a hiring manager just or maybe more, than you need me. Don't get intimidated by the competition. Filling positions is HARD work for HR. Don't look desperate. In fact go into an interview thinking “they need me more than I need them.” It will help your nerves a bit. That said, don’t come off as cocky, arrogant or apathetic. Take the time to learn just as much about a company as you expect them to know about you in an interview.

Myth #11: People don't expect a reply back. Reply back.