p>Twenty-something women wear tank tops and short skirts -- no big deal, they would say. They mostly have long straight hair and they're above- average attractive. Trump regularly brings up gender issues -- even dividing teams along male vs. female lines -- and obviously has an eye for the ladies. He's another generation.

But

What can we learn about careers from watching Donald Trump and The Apprentice?

1. Recognize that job tests don't always correspond to job realities.

Hundreds of companies screen candidates through psychological tests, stress interviews, group interviews, role-playing and a whole lot more. Do these tests make sense?

* Martin Seligman found that optimism often outweighed raw sales talent when he tested Metropolitan Life sales representatives.

* Lawyers tell me that law school tests have little relation to what they do on a day-to-day basis, especially if they're litigating or negotiating.

* And most of us would agree: The way we act during an interview or role play doesn't predict how we'll survive and thrive on a day-to-day basis.

So we can't fault Donald Trump for creating elaborate scenarios that force candidates into roles they'll never need once they're safely inside real boardrooms.

2. Prepare to confront sexism in the 21st century.

Critics -- and Caroline --may raise their eyebrows when women use sex to sell. Season 1 brought overt flirting and short short skirts. Season 2 brought Ivana Ma, who will unfortunately be remembered for downloading her skirt to reveal some flowered bikini something or other.

But let's face it, folks. Who chose these contestants?

Twenty-something women wear tank tops and short skirts -- no big deal, they would say. They mostly have long straight hair and they're above- average attractive. Trump regularly brings up gender issues -- even dividing teams along male vs. female lines -- and obviously has an eye for the ladies. He's another generation.

But e

* Martin Seligman found that optimism often outweighed raw sales talent when he tested Metropolitan Life sales representatives.

* Lawyers tell me that law school tests have little relation to what they do on a day-to-day basis, especially if they're litigating or negotiating.

* And most of us would agree: The way we act during an interview or role play doesn't predict how we'll survive and thrive on a day-to-day basis.

So we can't fault Donald Trump for creating elaborate scenarios that force candidates into roles they'll never need once they're safely inside real boardrooms.

2. Prepare to confront sexism in the 21st century.

Critics -- and Caroline --may raise their eyebrows when women use sex to sell. Season 1 brought overt flirting and short short skirts. Season 2 brought Ivana Ma, who will unfortunately be remembered for downloading her skirt to reveal some flowered bikini something or other.

But let's face it, folks. Who chose these contestants?

Twenty-something women wear tank tops and short skirts -- no big deal, they would say. They mostly have long straight hair and they're above- average attractive. Trump regularly brings up gender issues -- even dividing teams along male vs. female lines -- and obviously has an eye for the ladies. He's another generation.

But

ing an interview or role play doesn't predict how we'll survive and thrive on a day-to-day basis.

So we can't fault Donald Trump for creating elaborate scenarios that force candidates into roles they'll never need once they're safely inside real boardrooms.

2. Prepare to confront sexism in the 21st century.

Critics -- and Caroline --may raise their eyebrows when women use sex to sell. Season 1 brought overt flirting and short short skirts. Season 2 brought Ivana Ma, who will unfortunately be remembered for downloading her skirt to reveal some flowered bikini something or other.

But let's face it, folks. Who chose these contestants?

Twenty-something women wear tank tops and short skirts -- no big deal, they would say. They mostly have long straight hair and they're above- average attractive. Trump regularly brings up gender issues -- even dividing teams along male vs. female lines -- and obviously has an eye for the ladies. He's another generation.

But

s -- and Caroline --may raise their eyebrows when women use sex to sell. Season 1 brought overt flirting and short short skirts. Season 2 brought Ivana Ma, who will unfortunately be remembered for downloading her skirt to reveal some flowered bikini something or other.

But let's face it, folks. Who chose these contestants?

Twenty-something women wear tank tops and short skirts -- no big deal, they would say. They mostly have long straight hair and they're above- average attractive. Trump regularly brings up gender issues -- even dividing teams along male vs. female lines -- and obviously has an eye for the ladies. He's another generation.

But

p>Twenty-something women wear tank tops and short skirts -- no big deal, they would say. They mostly have long straight hair and they're above- average attractive. Trump regularly brings up gender issues -- even dividing teams along male vs. female lines -- and obviously has an eye for the ladies. He's another generation.

But even the young men on the show aren't immune. Discussing the magnificently blond Jennifer, one young man summarizes: she's a lawyer, she's smart -- and she's beautiful.

Season 1 introduced a couple of men who weren't GQ material. One was sort of a teddy bear, the other a cold fish who tried to overcompensate during the task. When will we see a blunt-speaking, slightly overweight woman with glasses?

3. Choose environments where you'll shine and stay away from situations that bring out your worst side.

It's easy to criticize the Apprentice candidates. After all, they're supposed to be the best and the brightest.

But lots of bright business whiz kids don't want to take three months off from their lives and their businesses. Riding around in Trump limousines can be fun, but they'd rather start working to buy their own fleet, thank you very much!

Who wants to sleep three feet away from the competition in a crowded loft, while cameras show you sleeping, eating and brushing your teeth? Not everyone can handle this type of living arrangement and the resulting pressure.

What's amazing is not that these candidates seem rather weak, but that candidates of this caliber showed up at all.

4. Keep your cool, no matter what.

Trump -- and most of life -- rewards people who can promote