But let's see how true or false these assumptions really are.

To help discern fact from fiction, we enlisted Carolyn Kepcher, Donald Trump's former adviser, the woman who cut scores of would-be moguls on "The Apprentice" to size and who wrote "Carolyn 101: Business Lessons from The Apprentice's Straight Shooter."

Best of all, you don't have to be humiliated in public to get this free advice.

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TRUE OR FALSE? TAKE THE QUIZ

1) You won't get anywhere without a great GPA.

2) You will never get hired unless you had an internship at the company first.

3) The highest-paying offer is the best offer.

4) Your first job doesn't matter, you will change jobs a dozen times.

5) Big companies are too impersonal.

6) Small companies are too limiting

7) It's better to work at company headquarters

8) Traditional summer jobs -- being a camp counselor, a waitress or doing manual labor -- have no traction on a resume

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ANSWERS:

OK, this was an evil thing to do, but every one of these "common wisdoms" is false in some way.

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1) FALSE

While this is certainly true for medical school and vet school -- there are simply not enough available slots -- in many fields your GPA pales next to what you can actually do. If you can design an edgy ad campaign, rally 1,000 college students to a cause, or sell more hot dogs than any other vendor at a football game, those talents should be your calling card.

"Without a doubt, a great GPA gets your foot in the door," Kepcher says. "However, a desire to succeed can sometimes be greater than any degree or grade you may have ever acquired in school."

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2) FALSE

Jobseekers do have a better chance of getting an offer if they have had an internship at a company first -- but the hiring rate of former interns varies tremendously from company to company.

According to a Business Week top ten list, the percentage of entry-level hires who were former interns ranged from 90 percent at Deloitte Touche to 1 percent at Accenture in 2007, and all levels in between: Ernst & Young, 50 percent; PricewaterhouseCoopers, 47 percent; Disney, 35 percent; IBM, 24 percent; Microsoft, 23 percent in 2006; Lockheed Martin, 19 percent; Teach for America, 5 percent. Google did not offer a figure.

"Internships are beneficial but are not the sole road to employment," says Kepcher.

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3) FALSE

While money is often a good indication of how seriously you are being valued, it is not always THE most important factor. A waitress at a good restaurant may earn more than an entry-level worker in publishing, sports marketing, event management or public relations, but those fields can launch a career.

"When accepting a position, think long term," says Kepcher. "The last thing you want is a spotty resume -- so be careful and smart about the positions you accept. Ask yourself a few questions: Is this a company that I can grow with?"

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4) FALSE

A U.S. worker will change jobs an average of 10 times between ages 18 and 38, according to the Department of Labor. Still, experts say your first job is important because it forms both your attitude toward work and the experience that you bring to later jobs.

"Your first job DOES matter as it may shape future positions," Kepcher says. "What employers like to see on a resume is that you have not strayed from a particular field. The more you stay focused in one field, the more knowledge you have of the industry."

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5) FALSE

While it might be daunting to join a company that has 10,000 other employees, big companies often have more intensive training programs and can expose young workers to more facets of their industry than small companies can. They also may have overseas divisions or specialized, in-house departments.

"I have always worked for big companies, as I always believe they have more to offer insofar as advancement," Kepcher says.

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6) FALSE

Young workers might get less training at a smaller company but they could also get more responsibility more quickly -- and if their small company is successful, their pay could rise much faster.

After parting with Trump, Kepcher and a friend started a consulting firm called Carolyn & Co at http://www.carolynandco.com.

"All of our employees have impressive backgrounds," she says. "(They believe) the company is going to be very successful and in turn, so will they."

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7) FALSE

It's the old "big fish/little fish" dilemma. While working at headquarters allows you to better understand your company's policies and personalities, you might be overwhelmed by the competition there. In a smaller office, you could shine.

"Sometimes, HQ can get political and it's best to work in a satellite office," Kepcher says.

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8) FALSE

Traditional summer jobs are an excellent introduction to the world of work -- you just need to explain that to your next employer. Being a house painter or a camp counselor allows you to develop all sorts of skills -- analytical, sales, performance, customer service -- even as you master basic work demands like punctuality, time management and responsibility.

After all, there's a lot of pressure handling a popular Sunday brunch -- or a roomful of kids on a rainy day.

"I learned a lot about myself and my sales ability," says Kepcher, who was a waitress during college. "I think everyone should waitress for a period of time."

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asap contributor Sheila Norman-Culp has worked for The Associated Press for 25 years.

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Links to previous asap Worklife columns by Sheila Norman-Culp:

Workplace anger: http://asap.ap.org/stories/1803378.s

Being a 'renegade': http://asap.ap.org/stories/1773362.s

Coping with jealousy: http://asap.ap.org/stories/1755343.s

Open door, insert foot: http://asap.ap.org/stories/1611540.s

How to Handle a Laggard: http://asap.ap.org/stories/1545989.s

Annual Reviews: http://asap.ap.org/stories/1515278.s

Climbing out of a Rut: http://asap.ap.org/stories/1464282.s

Drowning in Email: http://asap.ap.org/stories/1479713.s

Relishing the Minor Leagues: http://asap.ap.org/stories/1447128.s

Becoming a Whistleblower: http://asap.ap.org/stories/1430625.s

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