Book Description

Interviewing in today's fiercely competitive job market can seem like walking through a minefield. New trends in corporate strategy and structure have led to dramatic changes in what employers look for in prospective employees and in the types of questions you will be asked during an interview.

In this revised and expanded edition of their bestselling career guide, two experienced counselors share their inside knowledge —and the expert advice of Fortune 500 recruiters —to equip you with the interviewing skills you need to land the job. Here's where you'll find:

• The key characteristics that leading companies look for in prospective employees —and how to project them
• The fifty most frequently asked questions —as well as detailed scripts of the best answers
• The Power Prep Strategy —practice sessions to perfect your interview techniques
• Tips on positioning yourself during an interview —how to convey your added value
• Strategies for power negotiating, overcoming differences with an interviewer, narrowing your job search —and much more.

Reviews (9)

Just an okay book
Nothing exciting about this book. May be a good bed time reader if you are in the process of looking for jobs [aren't we all??? :-)]. Some common sense topics restated. But neatly written book. No complaints on that.

excellent
My sister-in-law, who interviews people for a living, took a look at this book when it came in, and pronounced it excellent. For many of us who have been in a position for a number of years, interview skills are something that most definitely does *not* come naturally. This book helps bring people like myself over the hump to feel more at home in basic interviews.

Great Ideas!
This was a great book for preparing to ace the interview. I especially liked the section on persistence. Another fantastic book I found that not only covered the interview but also gave an entire road map for the job hunt was "10 Insider Secrets To Job Hunting Success!" by Todd Bermont.

very good interview prep
I would highly recommend this book for job interviewing preparation. Also recommended for job interview preparation are the job interview guides published by Vault.com, including the Vault Guide to the Case Interview and the Vault Guide to Finance Interviews. Good luck!

Best of the Best
Ok, so you're looking for a book on interviews - well, look no further. This book does not only give you practise questions and answers but it covers many important topics like 'globalisation', how your MBTI profile can help you and NLP. I think this book will be especially helpfull if you're aiming at higher profile jobs (or moving into). Ofcourse you need to do your own homework (maybe get your MBTI profile done i.e. know yourself, read more on other topics etc), but the book puts you on the right track. The only book I will ever need to use or refer back to. Indespensable!! ... Read more

Book Description

Leadership Training is the fifth book in the new ASTD Trainer’s WorkShop Series.This book, like all the books in the WorkShop series, offers practical, ready-to-use programs that allow users to quickly create half-day, full-day, and multi-day workshops. Leadership Training shows you two to integrate 10 key leadership competencies to create leadership training programs that get results. This book is directed toward all levels of leaders, from executive leaders to middle managers to project managers. The tools this book provides can also be used to develop high-potential, next-generation leaders.The training programs are designed to be experiential with less emphasis on lecture and more emphasis on shaping the attitude of participants.In addition, the author focuses on giving individual learners support through discussion and participant reflection. Leadership Training includes a companion CD-Rom with ready-to-use presentations and electronic copies of all supporting material. ... Read more

Book Description

In the future, will human resource management emerge as an even more critical factor in developing and maintaining a company's competitive edge, or will it become just one more outsourced function overseen by managers busy juggling several other responsibilities at the same time? Will HR departments buckle under the constant pressure to do more with less, or will inspired leaders develop practices that link HR to overall business strategies and improved organizational capabilities? Tomorrow's HR Management is about creating the future right in your own company—adapting to meet the needs of your enterprise and the demands of a changing business environment.

In this remarkably visionary volume, 48 of the most perceptive and imaginative HR executives, consultants, and scholars from around the world offer their views on the future of the field and prescribe courses of action that will help CEOs and HR managers shape that future. Each of the book's six sections advocates a strategic goal designed to increase HR's productivity, efficiency, and adaptability. Each chapter analyzes obstacles and formulates tactics designed to help reach these goals. This book helps HR managers and business leaders to:

• Manage HR like a business—define and deliver clear outcomes
• Play new roles in the competitive environment of the future
• Prepare for the future
• Build an infrastructure and discover how to measure progress
• Remember the human in Human Resources
• Go global through advances in technology.

Whether the future brings a steady and gradual curve of change or dramatic events that require drastic, overnight adjustments to radically new business environments, Tomorrow's HR Management will help lead the way in meeting these challenges and can be used by anyone from the CEO to the newest HR professional to create a more competitive organization. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Excellent Overview
This book presents a wondeful overview of the topics affecting HR. I admit I was a little wary, because this is supposed to be about "tomorrow's" HR trends, and I bought it four years after publication. Despite that, it seems fresh, some of the forecasted trends have already come to pass, and this book is as impressive and essential as when it was first published. Maybe more so. Kudos all the way 'round.

Leer este libro o morir... Read it or die....
Cualquiera que trabaje en Recursos Humanos DEBE de leer este libro. This books is about what HR should be in any organization where HR has any kind of value added. No se lo pierdan esta realmente "abre ojos", despierta al mas dormido de la funcion de Recursos Humanos. Even better than HR Champions.

What Is the Future Role of HR?
"This book offers one approach to thinking about the future of HR. A number of other approaches can and have been used. Futurist methodologies have been applied to study the 'state of the art' and the future and have through surveys of thought leaders identified likely priorities for the future. Our approach", D.Ulrich, M.R.Losey, and G.Lake write, "to thinking about the future of HR parallels closely and draws heavily on a methodology used by F.Hesselbein, M.Goldsmith, and R.Beckhard (Leader of the Future, Organization of the Future)...We have tried to select thought leaders in three groups : academics who study and write HR issues, consultants who offer advice and councel on an array of HR issues, and HR professionals who practice the craft of HR in leading companies...Each of the contributors to this book was asked to write an original ten-page essay on 'the future of HR' as he or she chose to define it...Our hope in this book was for a unique variety of opinion : positive, negative; broad, narrow; optimistic, pessimistic; provocative, discreet; calls for change, calls for status quo (from the Introduction pp.2-3)."

In this context, Ulrich, Losey, and Lake organize the 37 essays into six general sections.Each of these sections deals with a series of questions such as :

Section I :

* What is the strategy of HR?

* What are the products and services of HR?

* How should HR be organized to ensure that the strategy is executed?

Section II :

* What are the future deliverables from HR work?

* What are the metaphors of the HR professional of the future?

* What are the actions for future HR professionals?

Section III :

* What is the history of HR?

* What of the past should be left in the past, and what should be adapted for the future?

* What set of conditions will create a new future?

Section IV :

* Where should HR work be done?

* How do we measure HR work?

* How do HR executives align HR work both inside and outside?

Section V :

* How is intellectual capital operationalized?

* How can HR practices be created that motivate and commit employees?

* What is the impact of humane treatment of employees?

Section VI :

* What are the HR implications of a more global business?

* How can HR practices help a business develop a more global outlook?

* What are the competencies of global leaders?

"If our purpose is to propose a debate about the future", D.Ulrich writes, "it is better to end with questions than with answers. Questions elicit new frameworks, approaches, and alternatives, so, the final two questions we would ask (with our answer) are :

* Do you want to play in this always changing and at times unclear future?

* Are you having fun?

Without a doubt, all the authors in this volume and many others of the best HR professionals we know answer with a resounding 'yes' (p.360)."

I highly recommend.

A wake up call for every serious H.R. professional.
This book is a must for every serious H.R. professional who want to know what are the coming challenges for the H.R. function. Remember Luck favor the well prepared mind.

PRESENTS AN IMPRESSIVE PANORAMA OF NEWEST IDEAS ABOUT HRM.
This is an impressive collection of 38 insightful essays offering core ideas about HRM, focusing six central themes: departments need to operate as a business; today's environment means new roles for HR; HR needs to build on its past; new competencies, roles and use of measurement are vital; the human enterprise must remain central; and HR must adjust to the new global realities. Presents an impressive panorama of the newest thinking about HRM. Reviewed by Yvette Borcia, author of Stern's Sourcefinder: The Master Directory to HR and Business Management Information & Resources, Stern's CyberSpace SourceFinder, and Stern's Compensation and Benefits SourceFinder. ... Read more

Book Description

Whether you’re looking for a new job, leaving an old one, cold calling a new account, laying off a subordinate, confronting a back-stabber, dealing with sexual harassment, returning food in a restaurant, or calming an irate client, "Lifescripts tells you exactly how to do it and what to say. Each of the 101 dialogs provides you with an ice-breaker opener and a flow-chart of rejoinders to give to any potential response, positive or negative. Pointers on proper attitude, timing, preparation, and more are included. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Your #1 Reference for People
Take my advice and disregard any bad reviews of this book. First off, it comes with a CD that includes the entire book in PDF with every chapter and "people issue" listed for single-click access. That alone is worth the price! What I like most about the format is how the advice is laid out like a flowchart. It starts with what you might say. Then, depending on the person's response, your next response follows a certain path. And so on. It really is a great book; it's a shame that Amazon doesn't have the table of contents available for you to see the hundreds of different situations included. I learned more low-level information from this book that the $2600 Dale Carnegie course I took. Now that's a deal!

From the barren mind of a theorizing attorney...
...there comes a sheaf of 400 pages of nauseating corporate doublespeak diligently arranged as a collection of unlikely situational progressions. Here's how you go about "Correcting a Client's Behavior", you start by saying: "I need your help in restrategizing the way we approach this whole negotiation..." Er... restrate-what?

What a joke. If you ever speak to anyone in that dry and phony, clicheistic language you're going to succeed only in making a fool of yourself; and I'm not even mentioning any of the offered logical progressions, that can only have emerged from a sterile mind of a lethargically lucubrating lawyer in process of being frozen so as to save himself for posterity. My counter-advice would be to remain straight and honest when dealing with people, to speak simply, and above all, to avoid at all costs the stolid, inhumanely politically-correct, excessively roundabout and formulaic droning that Mr Pollan recommends in his book as the acme of human communication.

useful for difficult situations
This is an excellent book to keep in your collection for reference. You never know what difficult situations may arise, and this book gives example conversations for how to handle those situations.

Need a graceful way to get out of a situation?
I wish I'd read this book long before I had. The authors present you with some of life's stickiest situations and then tell you exactly how to handle it with words. What makes this book so invaluable is that the authors don't assume that the situation always involves bitterness--for example, their suggestions for leaving a job actually admit that it could just be a peaceful exit.

If you want to know how to disentangle yourself from an employer you're sure is going to hold a grudge, they give you elegant ways of telling your future employer about it. Use their method, and you won't sound whiny, belligerent, or even disgruntled! If anything, their methods make the former employer's words about you look questionable and stilted. I did use their ideas on this, and THEY WORKED.

To be brutally honest, this book is all about spin and the power it holds. So often in communication with one another, we forget that what we say is just as important as how we say it. In the age of emails and faxes, we're losing our manners and making unintentional enemies in the process. This book will re-educate you on the finer points of being nice and, dare I say it, being emotionally neutral.

The authors clearly illustrate that our emotions keep us from being objective about a situation, and this is why Lifescripts is so helpful. They teach you how to distance yourself just enough to see the whole picture and then give you the words/actions necessary to properly deal with the problem. They also teach about a long-forgotten nuance of communication--take a pause and think before you say it/do it/write it.

It's an excellent book that any manager, employee, or senior executive could easily benefit from, and I think it's even appropriate reading for high school age. Knowing when to say what can save you a lot of trouble...

I offered this book to my son before he left home forever
I will never forget that day. Before Charles closed his bag definitely, I gave it this book as a sacred testament. Everything is so well thought of; situations are so clearly described that you cannot make the usual mistakes: making confusions between symptoms and causes. Scenarios (scripts) are listed as alternatives one to each other. Solutions are clever and ethical. ... Read more

Book Description

How do you figure out what career you would truly love while you’re still in college? What’s the best way to pick a major? How can you get and stay motivated? Finally, a book that answers the important questions about being a successful student! With so much at stake during the college years—your career, your success, your future, your happiness—you need smart, savvy, and inspiring ideas to ensure you excel. Author Patrick Combs helps you discover your passion, and reveals how to make the most of your college years and land a dream job. In this revised edition, you’ll find new resources, updated websites, the latest job market research, a new handy appendix, and fresh success stories. Whatever your dream, whatever your major, whatever your age, MAJOR IN SUCCESS is an investment in your future. ... Read more

Reviews (36)

This guy can change your life
I wish with all my heart I had had this book when I was in college twenty years ago. I would have saved myself at least a decade of bad career choices, and that's the truth.

The one thing they don't teach in high school and college is how to build a fulfilling career and happy life. Are you on track to do precisely what you want with your time on this planet? If not, and you'd like to change things, Patrick's book has both information and inspiration to get you going.

It's the kind of book that, after you finish, you can still leave around on the coffee table and flip open on bad days, reminding yourself of where you're headed.

Since our careers cross paths sometimes, I've had the honor of getting to know Patrick a bit over the years. The guy is 100% for real, and so is this book. And to the reviewer who complained that the book doesn't include stories of people who wound up bitter... the truth is, people who commit themselves to enriching other people's lives have already won the game as soon as they've started, whether or not the world responds the way a more selfish person would like. As soon as you truly begin the project of designing a life around the values and dreams you cherish most, in a real sense, you've already won.

Helpful Advice About How to Build a Career While in College
College students need more guidance in how to turn their talents, curiosity, and passions into successful careers. Most guidance offices and books on the subject will be inadequate for these purposes. While this book has some weaknesses in helping you select the direction you should go in, it is superb in helping you pursue your goals once they are set. The book could use more material on how to learn from other students, and more on financial planning (especially now that so many students leave college with enormous debt loads). The writing style is witty and engaging, and the examples are interesting and relevant. Repetition does occur in using the examples, but it's not too bad. I recommend this book to any college student who wants to lead a more meaningful, enjoyable life during and after college. This book would be most helpful if read before the freshman year, and reread occasionally thereafter.

The book's main flaw is that it urges you to select a career direction based on your passions. That's good as far as it goes, but isn't sufficient. I remember a graduate school classmate who was passionate about dating young women. He found out that this was easiest to do as an airline executive, and that's the career he chose. He had no inherent interest in the industry, and after he married, I could see how this career and passion could lead to problems in a marriage. On the other hand, he was very curious about how people made decisions, and was very talented in that area. There are a number of careers that would have made use of those talents, and also helped him meet a reasonable number of young women to date. That's my example of why passion isn't enough for choosing a career.

You also have to think about curiousity and what the rest of your life will be like. What would you like to learn more about every day for the rest of your life? That curiousity is what will drive you to accomplish and enjoy your work the most. Even if you aren't particularly talented in that area now, curiosity will help you develop talent beyond those who have more innate ability. Most innovations come from people who do things in new ways because of limitations (in part, Jackson Pollock did drip paintings because he did not draw very well).

The book's strengths are the many useful and appropriate suggestions for how to develop the experience, knowledge, and credentials to attract a shot at developing a career you want. What he describes are the best ways to do this, based on my experience in having hired lots of college graduates over the years.

There are also lists of places to get even more information, depending on what you want to learn more about. These sources will encourage you to look around more than you otherwise would. Summer is a good time to do this kind of research.

Parents, unless your daughter or son always happily does what you suggest, I would not encourage giving this book as a gift. This book needs to be discovered by the student to do the most good. Hopefully, college students will share the book with one another. If you think your student's roommate would read it, give the book to the roommate. Then, let nature take its course.

By the way, the book is good at pointing out the trade-offs between higher grades and more activities. As a hirer, I always ask people basic questions about the subjects they have studied and test their knowledge and skill that way. I don't care whether it was learned in class or in an activity. Be prepared!

After you finish reading this book, think about how you could apply its principles to the activities you would like to do as hobbies throughout the rest of your life. You never know, those hobbies might also develop into career opportunities. In any event, you will live a richer, more enjoyable life.

Make the most out of your curiosity, your passion and your energy!

A work well done
This book is a valuable aid in finding a wonderful job. I believe the author does a great job of providing the reader with the information needed to succeed in today's challenging job market. As a fellow author on the topic, "How to find your dream job and make it a reality: solutions for a rewarding and meaningful career," I think this book is great and would be a wonderful complementing resource.
This book is a must-read for anyone who is serious about finding a new job.

The best of the best self-help books out there!
Wow! I don't know where to start about this book. Major in Success is such a power tool to help ANYONE (not only college students!) to look for their dream job. I don't know where else I would be without these helpful tips, practical reasonings, and great feedback from people who ALREADY made it! I would definitely recommend it to anyone who are chasing after their dreams but are too shy too. It made a difference in me and I think it would definitely make a difference in you! Here's the big plus: The author is donating 100% of the profits to charities. Not only are you helping yourself, you are helping the world too!

awesome book
This is an awesome book, good for any college student or anyone who is searching for their purpose in life. I had the opportunity to see the author speak and he knocked me off my feet. Powerful ingformation for anyone who wants to assist themselves. ... Read more

Book Description

Contemporary in perspective, this user-friendlyintroduction to foodservice procurement -- purchasing, receiving, storage,and inventory control -- emphasizes that purchasing 1) is the firststep in preparing menu items that satisfy customers, and 2> is not acost center in the operation (as it was for many years), but that itcontributes to the profit, and that every dollar saved is a dollar profit. Stresses the importance of the procurement unit in thefoodservice operation -- that purchasing, receiving, storage, and inventorycontrol are the base of the entire operation. Explains how to make decisionsabout which products meet the quality standards required by the customer andat the same time find the lowest price for a product. Emphasizes the HazardAnalysis Critical Control Point system. Uses the Food Guide Pyramid as theconceptual framework for the food section. Discusses how processing ormanufacturing and marketing or distribution, exclusive of the cost ofmaterials, packaging, and overhead, can add value to products and increaseprofits.For those preparing to work in a commercial ornoncommercial foodservice. ... Read more

Book Description

Now available together, the New Oxford American Dictionary, CD and print edition offer complete access to this unrivaled work. Containing more than 250,000 definitions and 9,000 biographical and geographical entries, NOAD provides the most accurate and richly descriptive picture of American English ever offered. The CD-ROM version gives dictionary users what they really need from an electronic dictionary--easy, intuitive interaction with word processing and browser software. The dictionary engine is user-friendly and unobtrusive, allowing users to save the last fifty searches and display the last five, automatically replace words in a document with the words you've found in the dictionary, search for words within an entry, quickly and easily print dictionary entries, and enter your own words into a customizable User Dictionary. These user-friendly characteristics carry-over to the print edition of NOAD. To provide unprecedented clarity, the entries are organized around core meanings, eliminating clutter and confusion, especially in longer entries.Rather than a litany of numbered senses, the structure of each entry plainly shows the major meaning or meanings of the word, plus any related senses, supplemented by illustrative, in-context examples of actual usage.In short, The New Oxford American Dictionary is designed to serve the user clearly, simply, and quickly, with a full measure of information value and precise guidance. Truly a revolution in the art and craft of dictionary-making, The New Oxford American Dictionary CD-ROM and print edition provide the in-depth and up-to-date coverage that all users need and expect--for reading and study, for technical terms, for language guidance. It continues the tradition of scholarship and lexicographic excellence that are the hallmarks of every Oxford dictionary. System requirements: PC with 166MHz Pentium-class processor; Windows 95/98/Me/2000/XP or NT 4.0; 32 Mb RAM; 80 Mb free hard disk space; SVGA monitor, displaying 16-bit color (64K, High color) ... Read more

Reviews (27)

I'm a dictionary convert
This new American dictionary from Oxford is fantastic. I have the American Hertitage that came out a few years ago and I was pleased with it--it was an up-to-date version of the dictionaries I've always had. But when I received this dictionary I was astounded. For the first time I'm using my dictionary for more than a simple spell check.

First of all, it lists the most common use of the word as the first definition. This seems so logical it's bizarre that other dictionaries don't do it. I no longer have to browse through archaic or niche uses of a word simply because they predate the most common. It creates a whole new level of clarity. On top of this, the pronunciation system is extremely easy to use and the layout is clean and straight forward. It has the feel of a classic (illustrations and drawings only when it informs a word, none of those do-dads, distractions, and unnecessary photos that make other dictionaries look cheap but the makers think will make it look more expensive.) The usage notes are excellent, and there are more new words in it than I've found anywhere else--must be the resources of the OED and Oxford's other power dictionaries that the American lexicographers have drawn on. I actually find myself opening this dictionary and simply browzing.

It's also great with American words. I was afraid that it would be a British dictionary with an American cover wrapped around it, but that's not the case. Look up words like "trunk" and "roundabout" and see what you get.

I do have one criticism, and it's about thumb indexing. I'm not sure other dictionaries have this problem, but the thumb indexing is way off in places because they make the notches equidistant from each other and some letters are larger than others. What's the point of providing a quick finder tool when it's not helpfull

Still, this dictionary is grand. The first American dictionary that has met my needs and made me realize that a good dictionary is the most amazing resource I've ever encountered.

What a dictionary ought to be!
The large size of the Oxford American Dictionary, the high-quality paper, illustrations, and font all present an aura that beckons the reader in. The logical arrangement of the senses and sub-senses are so much easier to use that this effort will surely set a new standard in dictionaries. The older format, that of plowing through numerous entries that are seemingly unconnected, is doomed to fall by the wayside, and not a moment too soon. Older dictionaries lack the intuitive usefulness developed by the team that assembled this most excellent dictionary. Having the Oxford English Dictionary, a Merriam-Webster, and an older Webster, there is no question for us that for day-to-day use, and for the times when one needs to more fully develop very specific idea, this work will become the one that most will rely on. Those who desire exactitude will be pleased, and those who are "looking" will be drawn in, perhaps farther than they intended to be. A superior product that is long, long overdue.

The best dictionary of American English
This is absolutely the best dictionary of American English currently on the market. I researched American Heritage, Websters etc. The Oxford is clearly a level above them all.

First, this dictionary has the unprecendated level of clarity in its entries. It's not just the idea that the most common senses of the word should go first (unlike Marian-Webster's, where they are presented chronologically), it's the idea that among all the senses of the word, some are the "core" meanings, while the others are the sub-meanings, sub-senses, and can be grouped accordingly. You don't need to go through 15 senses of the word "belt", for example, to find the meaning you were looking for. All the meanings are grouped by their "core" meaning, with other subsenses attached to them. As a result, it's so much easier to grasp all the meanings of the word, because, think about it, this is exactly how your mind works. The Oxford editors believe (based on the extensive phychological research) that this is how the dictionaries of the future should be written, and this stem structure of senses and subsenses makes a lot of sense.

I was surprised to read other reviews of this dictionary where reviewers were critisizing the New Oxford American Dictionary in favor of Mariam-Webster's and others because some obscure words were present there, but not here. Don't kid yourself, unless you have 70 other dictionaries at home and lots of spare time to compare the entries in each of them, you'll find the Oxford dictionary excellent, definately better than anything else on the market, and sufficient for most of your needs and more.

Highly recommended.

Very Handy
This is my third favorite dictionary - behind the 20 volume OED and the Shorter OED. There are several things I like about this dictionary - first, it is a convenient size, not too unwieldy to carry from room to room. Second, the innovative way of defining the words (using core meanings and distinctions of these meanings) makes the dictionary very readable and accessible. The layout is clean and organized, with occasional drawings or photos.

The emphasis of this dictionary appears to be contemporary usage. There is a brief origin listing after many words, which is useful; however, the historical quotations that are descriptive of the OED or shorter OED are mostly absent.

An Excellent Reference Book - One Minor Flaw
I love the layout of this dictionary! For its price, it can't be beat in my opinion. No - no colored pictures, but this is a dictionary, not an encyclopedia -- you use it to look for words. There is a bonus "reference" section at the end which has several uniquely American things like the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and various other goodies.
While this dictionary excels in ever aspect I am concerned with over the American Heritage Dictionary, it has a minor problem in that several of the pages throughout the book have an almost imperceptable bleed of print (almost like they closed the book before the print was dry or something) from one page to the page opposite. Affects about .5% of the pages and is barely noticeable -- but I checked the library's copy and they have the same problem. Barely noticeable, but still a minor nuisance. I installed the CD on my computer. It is fun to punch in a word every once in a while and see what the definition is, but I still will use the book more often simply because my computer is not always on -- and of course with Scrabble at the kitchen table, nothing beats having the authoritative tome at your elbow -- ready for a challenge from your ignorant opponent! ... Read more

Book Description

This fully documented guide helps readers grasp the essentials of planning and successfully managing three major types of catering operations: on-premise, off-premise, and mobile unit. The authors evaluate each type of operation according to operating needs, advantages, and disadvantages. ... Read more

Book Description

Packed with hundreds of proven strategies that work time and again. ... Read more

Reviews (23)

Mixed Feelings
I have read this book, and admittedly not employed all of its suggestions. However, from what I have read and tried, my feelings are mixed. First of all, I'm a graduate from the bottom of the class of a "Top 10" law school. I could not get into any firm, thus I don't have the problem of having to explain not receiving an offer after my summer (I'm interested in gov't at this point).

Grades/school: this book is great for people who are currently enrolled and doing fairly ok-to-well in law school, and want an extra boost to get into a better firm/employer. Students at the very top and very bottom of the class are unlikely to benefit from the book. Why? Because most firms only look at grades, then school, nothing else. Almost all big firms, the ones most capable of hiring graduates, won't hire below the top 75% of a top law school. Kimm suggests avoiding firms that are concerned about grades. Well, unfortunately, that would be almost all of the firms except the ones that pay $28K a year.

Small firms: the author suggests looking at small firms. The problem is these firms also tend to be fixated on grades, sometimes even more so than large firms. In addition, small firms tend to be very low paying ($40K and below) and you will be required to work the same long hours as at a big firm. Grant it, you will have your foot in the door. On the other hand, small firms don't hire until you admitted to the bar, so you're looking at a few months without an income, or longer if you don't pass the bar the first time.

Volunteering: the book suggests doing this at various gov't agencies like DA's or City Attorney's offices. Watch out: most of these places will use the free help and not offer a job. They DO hire volunteers in boom times, but then everyone hires in a boom time so there would be no point in volunteering in the first place. You have to be at the right place at the right time. The experience you will get from volunteering is limited, on the other hand if you are unsure about what you want to do (i.e., corporate vs. litigation), it can be helpful.

Networking: Kimm suggests ways to network. I actually tried her suggestions, and found that I was meeting partners from large grade-heavy firms who could never hire me if they wanted to, OR, solo practicioners. This makes sense, because these are the people who need to make appearances at public events the most. I never really ran into that associate/partner at an up and coming small or mid-sized firm that was recruiting heavily. Although we are in a recession, many firms are doing well. Maybe I'm just looking in the wrong places. However, it seems that more and more firms have set procedures for hiring and are not willing to be schmoozed as easily as in the past.

Mass mailings: her opinion of mass mailings have been confirmed by many attorneys who received my resume. However, I did receive 3 interviews that way. Moreover, if one does not do a mass mailing, how is one supposed to contact employers? Afterall, it is a numbers game. To her credit, I think Kimm talks about well-tailored emails to alum at law firms. This works well, but again, if the firm has a grade-floor, there is no way around it generally.

In conclusion, while many of Kimm's suggestions would be fruitful for that student in the top 55% of a top 25 school wanting to work in NYC, it is not right for everyone.

More Good Than Bad...and I Got a Job
I agree with some of the other reviews that the writing is "cutesy" in this book, but it is a self-help book. But I actually followed a lot of its guidelines and I believe it worked to help me get a job in a tough market. Where it is helpful is where it discusses interview preparation and tips for writing cover letters. I really felt prepared for my interviews based on the book's recommendations for preparation. A lot of the other stuff you can skip. And DON'T follow her advice on thank you notes -- she says to send a hand-written card, very unprofessional! But if you are a 3L and having a hard time with the whole job search process I think this book is a good way to start getting organized.

Good tool, but not a magic wand.
This book won't magically open the door to the legal job of your dreams, but it might empower you with some tools so that you don't totally goof up a great opportunity. Much of the advice is very common sense- yet the explanations behind some of the advice are what is helpful.

I found the book very well supported, even though I did not agree with all of the author's advice. For example, I appreciated her explanation of how to handle the interview question regarding a "weakness." On the other hand, I disagreed with her unorthodox advice to not broach the issue of salary and benefits in an interview. I found her emphasis on the importance of networking to be lengthy. After all, if you're extremely connected within the legal community, you probably don't need this book. Also irritating was the advice to sell yourself in an interview like an "infommercial." I did, however, appreciate her take on certain interview questions and the advice to keep your answers focused on "what is in it for the interviewer."

There is no magic formula in this book, but it is a good presentation of one person's attack strategy in the legal job market. I gave it only three stars because the book made grand promises that I felt it didn't keep and because it is a bit overpriced.

Save Your Money
This book provides some rather basic common sense approaches to finding a job. I would not buy the book. However, if your library has a copy check it out of the library and read it or go to your local book store and sit down and read it with a cup of coffee. I think she makes suggestions about how to get a job that are just extremely unlikely to materialize. She suggests that you can get a job at a big firm by first working as a Contract Attorney. This is VERY VERY unlikely. Big firms have hiring committees and usually a list of schools they will hire from. If your school is not on that list, they cannot consider you. I know people who have done contract work for many years at a lot of big firms and they were never offered a job. It just doesn't work that way. Contract work usually involves working for a short time on a single project with many other attorneys (some cases over 100 other attorneys). I've never heard of anyone getting hired on at a big firm after working as a Contract Attorney. Anything is possible, but it is EXTREMELY unlikley. The truth is that most reputable big and mid-sized firms would rather be understaffed than hire Attorneys who lack the proper credentials. Also, she writes at one point that people hire people, not schools. In my experience, firms hire ONLY from certain schools and her book is not footnoted to back up the claims she is making with rock solid evidence. My suggestion is read this book at your library or book store for free, but don't buy it. Save your money for your student loan payments.

A must read!
I thought this book was excellent. The advice Walton gives in the book is practical and largely common sense. Yet, many job seekers forget to do it. And, although this book focuses on the legal profession, most of the advice can be applied to any professional looking for their dream job. I am not yet looking for the legal job of my dreams (I begin law school this fall), but I will keep much of the advice in mind as I go through school. And one day, thanks to my efforts and some tips from Kimm Walton, I will have the legal job (or at least a job) of my dreams. ... Read more

Book Description

Whether you're in a band, a business entrepreneur or just interested in the music business, Label Launch will let you take your fantasies of holding the reigns at your own record label into reality. In fun, easy-to-understand language Veronika Kalmar takes you step-by-step through the intricate process of running a label from the moment you think about entering the biz until your first CD, vinyl single, or demo tape rolls off the press. Topics covered include:

Funding your label
Maneuvering through the legal maze
Selling your product online and off
Picking and signing bands
Promotion and touring
Avoiding the most common pitfalls of a new label

And even tells you when it's time to sell out to "the man."

Kalmer has culled information from the best in the independent record business interviewing heads of labels who have made a great success and those that almost didn't make it.
... Read more

Reviews (2)

Superficial
Let me start out by pointing out the good things about the book. It is well written and covers every aspect critical to the successful launch of a record label.

Unfortunately, the book is not very thorough. In fact, the book is barely more than just a superficial laundry list just listing all the things that you need to be aware of. But at all times, the author completely fails to provide a well-researched, indepth treatment of any subject that it covers.

For example, it mentions that you need a music attorney to make sure nobody steals your copyright and negotiates your contracts. Well, that's common sense, I don't need to spend money on a book to tell me such basic things. I wanted to find out how to go about launching a label. Well, the authors recommends that I incorporate and think about the difference of LLC. and C-Corporation. She wastes 2 pages (= 1% of this very thin book) on basic knowledge that many other brilliantly written books about business law cover at much greater depth. Why did she even bother? She wastes another 20 pages on such generalities and topics that are mostly common sense.

Will she get to the good stuff? How do I promote a record? How do I go about approaching a DJ, a radio station, a music reviewer? Her answer: hire a good promoter. Duh. Come on, this book is cheap, but I did pay money for information. Why not explain how radio promotion works? That's one of the critical subjects of them all...In short, the book is too superficial and basic to be of any value to anyone serious about starting a label. Avoid and check out the many other wonderful books here on Amazon.com instead.

A solid checklist for starting an indie label
Good stuff. If you've done the indie-label thing before, it may seem like common sense, but that's because you've done it before and have already made the common mistakes. There are many other books dealing with major-label workings and the more specific music trades -- song publishing, recording, mastering, promotion, etc. -- but this is a solid quick read that will force you to re-do your startup checklist. And it's a fine guide for those non-music-biz people joining you on the indie-label train (investors, your musicians, etc.). What I'd like to see is a revised edition dealing more with Net distribution (a chapter on CDBaby?) and more tales from actual indie labels. ... Read more

Book Description

ARE YOU MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR CAREER OR BUSINESS? Do you love your work? Does your job and business truly make a difference? Are your passion, dreams, and vocation aligned?

The On-Purpose Business helps you answer these and other critical questions. Written in a story format, this book will help you make the most of your God-given talent to take your career or business charging to the next level.

The principles found in The On-Purpose Business are clear and easy to apply. What you learn will forever change your business, career, and life! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Finally -- a business book with a heart
Rarely have I been moved by reading a "business" book -- until now.This book touched me -- explaining in logical detail why it isimportant to align our head, hands, and heart in our business endeavors, asin all areas of our lives.Businesses who follow these guidelines will besuccessful -- both financially and with an abundance of happy, motivated,enthusiastic employees.Written in story format, this book is a quick readwith a marvelous lesson for anyone involved in any kind of business. Individuals can also apply the lessons to their daily lives to increasetheir personal sense of fulfillment and happiness.I'm sending a copy ofthis book to the CEO of the company I used to work for! The book's messageis wonderful -- and very motivational.

An outstanding book that clarifies many important issues!
So many organizations today are trying to do "more with less" and are trying to be "all things to all Customers."This book provides insight into why you cannot experience long-term success without being On-Purpose.I wish Corporate American, from the top-down, would use this book as a strategic "blue print!" ... Read more

Book Description

The Vault Guide to Finance Interviews is your top resource for landing a finance job.Whether you’re looking for a position at an investment bank, mutual fund, hedge fund or commercial bank, the Guide has the questions you’ll encounter. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Sloppy, Inaccurate, Confusing
Stay away from this "book." Every single math calculation in this book is wrong. That's no joke. And there are inaccuracies everywhere. At one point the author says a positive economic event causes inflation to go up, and the next page there's a chart that says inflation rising signals negative economic events!

If you just want the questions, then buy this.. IF you are desperate. The answers are mostly wrong. I am going to buy a real finance textbook to answer the questions.

Excellent and precise
The book is 99.9% accurate on the financials and quantitative stuff. Sometimes it has to simply complex subjects but how else can a guide prepare someone for a financial job interview? If you want the ad naseum explanations of financial concepts and every exception to the rule, read their Vault Guide to Advanced Finance & Quantitative Interviews. For most readers, the Vault Guide to Finance Interviews is plenty.

Its short and to the point
I originally checked this book out from the library but I find it so useful that I'm going to buy it. Its concise, touches on a lot of different subjects and has decent explanations. I'm using it to refresh my memory on the stuff I learned in undergrad. I think a lot of the bad reviews are coming from MBAs not impressed with the simplicity, which is probably understandable.

Lots of errors
Overall I was not very pleased with this purchase, while the book does cover the important topics it is full of math, spelling, and gammar errors. I wrote a letter to Vault, and them have never responded.

Good Overview, but Mistake-ridden & oversimplified
First, the book has some good points: It provides a good overview of the major topics covered in financial interviews. If you paid attention on your MBA classes, you should remember more than what is in this book, but if you were sleeping or forgot most of it, then this is a good refresher.

There are a few bad points, however. First, the book isn't a good value -- it's an expensive 175 page paperback, filled with full-page advertisements every 10-20 pages or so.

Also, as many others have noted, the book is full of mistakes & inconsistencies. The balance sheets on page 138-9 don't balance (something one should have learned in accounting 101). Also, on page 127, it says "...higher interest rates lower the value of options." This blanket statement is just plain wrong! Higher interest rates lower the price of ONLY put options, but is has the opposite effect on call options (that is, higher interest rates RAISE the price of call options).

I don't think these mistakes render the book unusable, especially if you just need a quick review of the material. But if you're trying to learn the material for the first time, these mistakes will leave you puzzled & misinformed. If you know the material, you'll catch the mistakes and groan.

Overall, I thought it was a guide that was just OK, but good for a quick, high-level review the night before your interview. However, it's definitely overpriced (and aspiring financiers should already know what to do with an overpriced asset...). ... Read more

Book Description

Unlike most resources, this handy, portable study aid is not prepared exclusively for the Miller Analogy Test. Though it can certainly be used for it, this book prepares test takers for any standardized test containing word analogies, such as: SAT, GRE, GMAT, or LSAT. Often cited as a difficult section for even the best students, discover the best resource for word analogies practice, and no extras.Test-takers work with these questions and find out how to score better through practice.All answers are explained, reinforcing strategies and identifying tricks to figuring out the questions. ... Read more

Book Description

This woman's experience is far from unusual. As authors Pat Heim and Susan Murphy have learned through twenty years of corporate consulting on gender differences, time and again, professional women fail to support one another and even actively sabotage their female colleagues with subterfuge and "catfights."

The fact is, relationships can be either the best or the worst things to happen to women at work. Studies have shown that women have a greater capacity than do men to encourage and improve each other's professional performance-with better results for all if their relationships are good, and worse results if they are not.

In In the Company of Women, Heim and Murphy draw from thelatest research on brain structure, evolution, and socialization to explain why women's workplace relationships are unique. They describe what makes catfights happen-and how to avoid them. With startling insights into the meaning of everyday behavior, they offer straightforward techniques to change female conflict into female alliances by resolving discord peaceably, making the most of women's unique leadership skills, and building relationships with female superiors, colleagues, and employees. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

A real problem that needs to be addressed in another book
I found myself nodding as I read some of the anecdotes in this book. Workplace conflict between women is an incredibly important topic, and it is the evil that cannot be named in PC corporate America.

I was really disappointed in the advice the authors offered. Most of the undermining tactics in the anecdotes were quite damaging to the businesses in question, and not just to the women who were being attacked.

The authors' suggestions? Be nice, be sensitive, try to do your own routine office tasks so as not to offend your female support staff or former coworkers. Appeasement seems to be the message. I do not think violations of a company code of conduct, or acting in ways that drive away customers are behaviors that need to be 'understood' and appeased. These behaviors need to be confronted directly, asked to stop, and documented. If they continues, there need to be consequences, and I don't think 'invoking the power-dead-even rule' really covers that. There should not be different standards of behavior for employees based on their sex.

A newly promoted woman who spends her time on administrative tasks for fear of offending her female coworkers will have less time to spend on project deliverables and management, and risks losing her new position and reinforcing the idea that women cannot be effective supervisors or executives.

I did not see many anecdotes about the beneficial alliances women form. I am left with the conclusion that most women in large corporations will have to make the difficult choice between being liked and being successful. I didn't see much constructive advice that would allow you to do both in the real world.

I Didn't Want to Admit They Are Right--But They Are
When I picked up "In the Company of Women" to read, I was prepared to disagree with every single sentence. A female colleague had given it to me as a gift, saying that all her friends were reading it and having an "aha" experience -- they finally understood what was happening in their interactions with other women at work, with their friends, etc. I wasn't even going to read it, but when she told me that Harvard Business School had the book on its recommended list on its website, I decided to go ahead and at least start.
My fear was that the book would play into every stereotype we professional women have worked so hard to overcome -- reinforcing that all-too-widespread male view that we are emotional, bitchy "girls" just out to get each other. BOY WAS I WRONG! These authors have PhD's and years of experience in corporate America and they know their stuff. I was really impressed with the scholarship and research.
As I was reading I began to see all my friends and myself in the examples. We have all been sabotaged by other women in the workplace; we just didn't want to admit it. I didn't find the advice trite or counterproductive to business in the least --and I didn't find it to be overly focused on the issue itself so that I was left thinking "OK now what do I do?" The majority of the book is focused on solutions THAT WORK, and those solutions are very simple. I have been using them, and I can say with absolute confidence that my work environment is better for all of us -- men and women -- as a result.
We all deal with co-workers based on their personalities, level in the organization, work styles, etc. If I manage someone who isn't brilliant but who is really organized, good-natured, straightforward, and works well under pressure, then I will assign a different project (or in a different way), and with a different set of expectations about completion date, than if he or she is brilliant but disorganized, moody, and gets overwhelmed by pressure. Gender is simply one more factor to consider, but I never thought about it before because I wanted to think it doesn't matter. (Maybe a little leftover 1960's idealism at work-I don't know). But of course gender matters and I just didn't see it! (The rest of our bodies are different -- why wouldn't our brains be too?) That means their work styles are likely to be different too. But as the authors point out, that's not a liability that's a PLUS. I was especially impressed with the biological research Heim and Murphy cite to show how these gender differences are hard-wired --that women's brains are different than men's. I also found the evolutionary and primate studies to be a real eye-opener.
I was prepared to hate this book because I thought it was would be "pop psychology" at its worst. Instead, it's groundbreaking psychology at its best. "In the Company of Women" gives all the scientific, rational explanations and solutions that make it safe for all of us to talk about the problem. It has intense scholarly research combined with "real-world" experience, and solutions, solutions, solutions. Otherwise, women don't want to talk about it for fear of reinforcing that "bitchy girls" stereotype, and men don't want to talk about it because they don't want to appear sexist. If we don't start dealing with the issue, we ALL lose, both in and out of the workplace!
The authors' solutions may seem simple at times, but in my experience the simplest solutions are the most effective ones. I just bought copies to send to my best old college friends as well as to my daughters, and I sent the Harvard Business School review to about 20 other professional women. I am also making the book "required reading" for everybody who reports to me. I hate to be wrong, but it made me realize that women AND men are shooting themselves in the foot by doing what I was doing -- NOT ADMITTING THAT THE PROBLEM EXISTS.
|

Valuable and authoritative information
This book was recommended to me by a friend and I thank her very much. The authors have described processes that explain what I have observed, but couldn't quite understand, until reading this book. Why women have an incredible memory for hurts and injustices; why women can be so 'catty' amongst themselves; why women can talk so intimately and so easily with each other and with men... I could go on and on with the questions I've always had about women. Learning about the 'tend and befriend' hormone and about the Darwinian survival characteristics of many of these behaviors helps men (as well as women) understand and not personalize these inherent patterns. I especially appreciated the research citations and the sound scientific foundations of the authors' conclusions. I have recommended this book to a dozen people I know, and I think it's a worthwhile read for any adult who works with, is in a relationship with, or is a woman - and I guess that's everyone.

Definitely a worthwhile read!
Based on years of research and practical experience of the 3 authors, Pat Heim, Susan Murphy and Susan Golant...

I found this book to be a new and honest perspective on women's relationships. It has helped me in my professional role as well as my roles as a daughter, a sister and a friend. It is extremely insightful and provides real-life examples and effective suggestions on how to create and sustain positive relationships with women.

I have already purchased more than 15 copies for colleagues and friends.

women - our own worst enemies
Fantastic book. Every job I have ever had I have had difficulties - ranging from mild to extreme - with other women in the workplace. - Never with the men.

I am in a field dominated by men, where most of the women are in support roles. This only makes things worse. They resent you for your success and confidence and your salary. There is no "old girls club" to nurture or mentor you - only a club to sabotage you if you don't follow the rules - and of course you don't know the rules.

With this book - I now know the rules. Despite the fact that following them will make me feel like a manipulator and dishonestly caring about the small talk that women do - i now realize that I must do it or else!

Every woman in the corporate world should read this and anyone, man or woman who manages women should be required to read this book. ... Read more

Book Description

The revised edition of this student practice review contains over 1,000 questions similar to those that may be found on state licensing exams for professional estheticians.It employs the multiple-choice type question, which has been widely adopted and approved by the majority of state licensing boards. ... Read more

Book Description

The Harvard Business Review Paperback Series is designed to bring today's managers and professionals the fundamental information they need to stay competitive in a fast-moving world. From the preeminent thinkers whose work has defined an entire field to the rising stars who will redefine the way we think about business, here are the leading minds and landmark ideas that have established the Harvard Business Review as required reading for ambitious businesspeople in organizations around the globe.

This collection of classic and cutting-edge articles, and case studies provides a broad range of perspectives on affirmative action, career development for minorities and women, and other HR-related policies. ... Read more

Book Description

The new, revised edition of this comprehensive guide for people who want to find jobs teaching English abroad. It includes detailed practical advice on: teaching without training; choosing a TEFL training program; the current overseas job market; how to conduct a successful job search; legal, medical and other practical considerations; dealing with culture shock. It also contains contact details of 450 schools and other organizations which between them hire more than 10,000 teachers every year. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

30 Years Too Late!
The book is brilliant, and my only regret is that it was not available thirty years ago when I entered the world of EFL! I have travelled and taught in many countries, and although I never actually met Jeff Mohamed I kept hearing his name. He is a legendary figure in English language teaching.

Written in a friendly and highly readable style, this book covers every single aspect of the overseas teaching experience. It shows you how to determine your suitability to be a teacher, how to select a training course, how to conduct the job search, and how to settle into a job teaching English overseas. And this guide is not afraid to tackle issues such as teaching illegally (without a work permit), health issues and those sensitive cross-cultural issues (including personal relationships). Increasingly Americans seem to be becoming wary, or even afraid, of working abroad. With its thoroughly grounded and practical approach to all the issues, this book dispels those fears. Jeff Mohamed's enthusiasm is highly contagious!

The listings of resources are current and incredibly comprehensive (I was pleased to see it included the school in Egypt, ILI Helopolis, where I spent many happy years!)

For those starting their careers as teachers this book is invaluable. For those more seasoned teachers, the lists of resources (almost 100 pages of them!) are invaluable. And I see from the introduction that if you do not like it, you can contact the publisher for a full refund. What have you got to lose?

Perfect For Beginners
I think the book is really good for people who are just starting to look into teaching English to foreign students. The FAQs chapter and the one on the current overseas job market answered just about all of the questions that were running around in my head for the last few weeks. I feel that I now understand a lot about what TEFL is and what career prospects it offers. I'm also more aware of some of the problems and limitations. I'm trying to decide which TEFL certificate program to take and the book is helping me a lot with this. It lists the good and bad points of the different programs. Until I read it, I didn't know that there were so many programs and that some of them are much more popular than others with overseas schools. I haven't used any of the stuff on job searching yet but it all looks very clear and well organized. When I have my certificate and start looking for jobs all the addresses of employers should be really useful. I looked at a couple of other books but they didn't seem to be as detailed or as up to date. I don't think they even had email addresses for schools. This looks like the perfect book for someone like me. I'm going to lend it to my parents because they think I'm crazy to want to live abroad. I hope it will convince them that there are real job possibilities out there.

An excellent resource for the TESL/TEFL Professional
This book has a lot of excellent information about issues related to finding English teaching jobs overseas, as well as information about necessary training (and where to find it!). It references some other helpful books on teaching, informational websites, and more. I found this book to be a very nice guide for those new to the TEFL profession, as well as TESL/TEFL professionals who might wish to try teaching in a new country. The author obviously put quite a bit of time and research into this volume, and it shows.

Definitely a keeper...
I am about to make my way to Prague for a TOEFL course and could not have researched this school without reading this book. He gives all the options and why and why not. His advise on looking for jobs and how to write CV's is extremely helpful, especially for Americans, as it is not the same as a resume. A little biased to the Cambridge certificate and affiliates but he worked for them so whatever.... definitely a must if you are just trying to figure out where to start with your TOEFL.

Great Resource
This book is helping me plan and assess every step involved in teaching English abroad, including selecting a TEFL certification program, selecting a target country, writing an appropriate resume, etc. It is helping me to be realistic about where I can go to teach. It also provides valuable information on what to look out for when signing teaching contracts. ... Read more