Book Description

Good technical people are the foundation on which successful high technology organizations are built.Establishing a good process for hiring such workers is essential.Unfortunately, the generic methods so often used for hiring skill-based staff, who can apply standardized methods to almost any situation, are of little use to those charged with the task of hiring technical people.

Unlike skill-based workers, technical people typically do not have access to cookie-cutter solutions to their problems.They need to adapt to any situation that arises, using their knowledge in new and creative ways to solve the problem at hand.As a result, one developer, tester, or technical manager is not interchangeable with another.This makes hiring technical people one of the most critical and difficult processes a technical manager can undertake.

Hiring the Best Knowledge Workers, Techies & Nerds: The Secrets & Science of Hiring Technical People takes the guesswork out of hiring and diminishes the risk of costly hiring mistakes.With the aid of step-by-step descriptions and detailed examples, you’ll learn how to

* write a concise, targeted job description
* source candidates
* develop ads for mixed media
* review résumés quickly to determine Yes, No, or Maybe candidates
* develop intelligent, nondiscriminatory, interview techniques
* create fool-proof phone-screens
* check references with a view to reading between the lines
* extend an offer that will attract a win-win acceptance or tender a gentle-but-decisive rejection
* and more

You, your team, and your organization will live with the long-term consequences of your hiring decision.Investing time in developing a hiring strategy will shorten your decision time and the ramp-up time needed for each new hire. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Comprehensive, timely manual for technology sector
In this comprehensive, detailed handbook, Rothman recognizes what employers have to do to be able to attract the best technical workers. It's not enough simply to advertise for job openings, but the technical work has to be properly described to attract the right kind of prospective employees. Otherwise, the hiring process will be inefficient, murky, and errant. Reviewing resumes, screening potential candidates for interviews and preparing for these, and conducting an interview are other topics. A consultant to technical firms, Rothman also goes into a personal touch with individuals looking for employment which gives them a favorable impression of the company. This is desirable because a company might want to hire an applicant at a future time; and it creates a favorable image of the company among technical workers. This specialized hiring manual is timely considering the present pick-up in activity in the technology sector of the economy. Many technology companies have to start now preparing to hire new technical workers to be able to capitalize on the opportunities shaping up.

Hiring techies?Your competition is reading this book ...
If you are involved in any way with hiring techies, youneed this book -- not just as a one-time read, but as one you will refer to repeatedly.

(If you're a techie looking to get hired, it has considerable value, as well.)

Some other recent books, such as How Would You Move Mt. Fuji? deal with the *entire* hiring process only lightly, if at all.This book covers everything, from coming up with the critical/optional requirements of the position (an especially favorite section), through finding and sourcing candidates, résumé review (é is alt-0233 on the numeric keypad, BTW), phone-screen techniques, and truly useful interviewing guidance (another outstanding section).It also covers the crucial decision-making process, reference checking, and making the job offer.It discerns the differences between hiring contributors and managers quite well indeed.

Those of us who have lived painfully through a bad hiring decision know the tremendous cost in money, disruption, and angst.Risk is inherent in every hiring situation, but reading and applying this book will help you go a *long* way toward mitigating that risk.

I bought this book for myself.I'll be buying it for my peer managers, my directors, and my team.It's *good*, and it's *useful*. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

You've got to do the exercises...
When I first read this book, I thought it had some pretty good points about how to get a job or change your career but it wasn't a life-changing experience for me at the time. The second time I picked up this book, I was in a workshop where we were actually going to do the exercises in the book. What a huge difference this made in what I got out of this book!

By actually applying the tools, I learned so much about myself and what I wanted to do with my life. Not just my career, but my whole life! I highly recommend this book to anyone going through a career/life transition. But don't do what I did the first time I read it. Do the exercises and you will be amazed at the results.

I just got a great new job
Recently, I was out of work and frustrated. So I bought two books. The first one was Parachute. I read it, but I quickly got frustrated because it wasted so much time on stuff I didn't care about. For instance there are scores of pages dedicated to starting your own business. If I wanted to start my own business, I would have bought a book on that topic. Then, there are many pages where the author tries to push his religion on you. If I wanted to focus on my faith, I would have bought a book on it. Instead, I recommend the second book I purchased "10 Insider Secrets to a Winning Job Search"

"10 Insider Secrets to a Winning Job Search" was just released last month and this book really spoke to me in the situation I was in. I found the book to be extremely motivational and the 65 sample job interview questions were right on as I was asked at least half of them in my interviews. Also, the one magical question that the author tells you to ask on the interview worked like a charm. Parachute is an alright book if you aren't in a hurry to find a new job. However, if you want to get a new job fast, I recommend "10 Insider Secrets to a Winning Job Search" instead.

My daughter found her career with the help of this book
This book should be read by every person who needs to get on track with their vareer. My daughter was moping around the house after graduating from college. She brought this book home, completed the exercises, found her calling and is now a successful realtor. This book is an invaluable resource for job hunters and those sitting on the fence.

Highly recommended guide to improving your career
Richard Bolles'," What Color Is Your Parachute?," has garnered a lot of praise, and sold not a few copies, over the years. I found the book easy to read, with simple, but useful, advice for the job-hunter. Like other books of its type, it contains a combination of exposition and exercises, or homework if you like; Bolles provides short-cuts for those who may already have the "answers" and step-by-step details for those who do not. Read it like you would a textbook and expect to be called upon in class to answer questions. Completing the exercises does take some time, but the few hours needed are a small price to pay.

Bolles writes in a down-to-earth, non-academic style. He is constantly hammering home a few points: the job-hunt may take a long time and be meet with failure after failure, which leads to giving up too quickly i.e. persistence pays off, the job-hunter should take no short-cuts and leave no stone unturned, if a particular strategy doesn't work pick another one, and that it is important to identify what your skills and interests are; none of this is particularly unique to this book. Bolles clearly makes a distinction between skills and traits, something not all books of this type do adequately. He provides alternatives when a particular approach fails to produce results. And above all he encourages while at the same time providing some realism.

The book is copiously illustrated. And ironically - I typically complain that publishers of non-fiction often leave out illustrations - this is my one complaint about the book, that the illustrations take up so much space and yet provide nothing but aesthetic value. A word of caution, that the author himself acknowledges, many of the Internet links provided are out-dated - either because the links are "dead" or because they have become fee-for-service sites instead of free. I have just started looking for that dream job, so my journey isn't over yet. But I would recommend this book to anyone seeking to improve their working life.

For the right person, this book is profound
Parachute is not for everyone. If you dislike thinking about your life, values, spirituality, and your goals, you will find What Color Is Your Parachute ? incomprehensible. If you want a quick fix to your life/work problems, Parachute doesn't offer you a quick fix.

But for many ( 8 million readers and growing), working with the ideas and exercises of this book has helped them create very positive change in their lives---and its impact on their personal lives is so great that they want to share it with others.

In my case, I read the book after graduating from college, and found myself in the midst of a recession, no demand for a kid with a BA in liberal arts. I was totally unprepared to enter the world of work after 4 years of college. WCIYP? gave me a road map for thinking out my mission in life, who I was and how to find work that would use my favorite skills. I started my own business , which turned into a INC 500 Company. My life/work has been a wonderful adventure,influenced greatly by Bolles' book. Over the years, I must have given out 100 copies of Parachute to college students and friends who needed to go through a life changing job hunts. I have worked through it several times over 20 years. Each year Bolles brings out a new edition with fresh insights. I keep it on my shelf as a reference book.

I have read many other books on 'finding the job of your dreams'---and almost all are derviative from Bolles and frankly are pale imitations.

A word of advice. Parachute is really a workbook. Just reading it gives you only a taste of its true value. Read, reflect, write and read some more. Then take action! ... Read more

Book Description

For the new college graduate who's not quite ready to join the ranks of the entry-level, here's a guide to help them "think outside the cubicle" as it presents a wide range of job and travel opportunities for the free-spirited twentysomething who yearns to create a long- or short-term adventure. By highlighting job opportunities appropriate for young people because of the time, energy, and commitment (or lack thereof) involved, this is specifically targeted to the post-college crowd. In fact, this practical, inspirational guide written in a light, edgy tone is a What Color is Your Parachute? for the new generation-definitely not your father's career guide. Offering nuts-and-bolts guidance, Delaying the Real World presents hundreds of options for traveling the world, along with helpful direction and information on websites, scholarships, and specific action steps for making one's dreams a reality-and in the process, maybe even making the world a better place. There's sound advice on pursuing unique opportunities around the world, and encouragement for college grads to temporarily step out of the traditional career path and create enriching, valuable, even life-changing experiences. These experiences might include teaching English in Thailand, working on a sheep farm in New Zealand, becoming a river raft guide in Colorado, or creating a service project in New Guinea.

Illustrated. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

MUST READ!
I've read a lot of inspirational books, but nothing quite like Delaying the Real World.This book encourages people of all ages to step off the proverbial bandwagon and do something extraordinary.

But, unlike most other books, this one goes one step further.The author actually provides her adventure-seeking audience with all the details necessary to "delay the real world."And, no, it doesn't require parental funding.Delaying the real world is actually possible on a limited budget.

This book provides real life examples of people doing amazing things and going to amazing places in an effort to avoid the traditional 9-5 desk job.READ IT AND YOU'LL SEE WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT!

BUY THIS BOOK!!!!
I've read a ton of books on the vein of what to do with myself after college, and this is by far the best.

It totally inspires and "gets" what very little other books/people get... that this is the time we should be exploring and enjoying life.

BUY this book, its amazing!!!!Other good books I would recommend... Back door guide to short term job adventures, and The global citizen.

Must buy!
Once you read this book, you will never want to go into the real world.It opens up so many doors and wonderful places to explore.A must buy, the author is amazing.

Delaying the Real World
The best book for college grads to read.Written by real people for real people.It's a MUST BUY!!!

Unbelievably helpful and inspiring
How many books really can change your life? This one can! Whether you're a recent college grad wondering what to do next or a twentysomething ready for a change, this book is chockablock full of amazing insights, websites, tips and energizing suggestions from how to be a goodhearted globetrotter to how to land one-of-a-kind internships. If you're not suuuuure you want to go to graduate school, then why not consider some exciting options? This book is loaded with practical advice so you can. . . carpe diem! ... Read more

Book Description

The most widely-used text for the interviewing course, Stewart and Cash offers comprehensive coverage of a wide range of interviews, and careful integration of relevant communication theory as a foundation for the practical aspects of interviewing--for both the interviewer and the interviewee.Instructors note its clear writing, abundance of real-world examples and sample interviews as particularly appealing to their students.This 10th edition continues to reflect the growing sophistication with which interviewing is being approached, the ever-expanding body of research in all types of interview settings, recent interpersonal communication theory, and the importance of equal opportunity laws on interviewing practices.The increasing diversification of the workplace and the influences of the global village receive special treatment in several chapters. ... Read more

Book Description

Everything you need to know to succeed in the programming interview and get the job you want Whether you are a veteran programmer seeking a new positionor a whiz kid starting your career, interviewing for a programming job requires special preparation. The interview is likely to consist of an hour-long interactive oral exam in computers, programming, and logic. This helpful guide will give you the tools necessary to breeze through the test and make a lasting impression that will get you a top-dollar offer!

Mongan and Suojanen take you step-by-step through the same problems that they were asked on technical interviews. These veterans use their experience with the technical interview process to prepare you for any situation. With their help, you’ll gain critical interviewing skills such as how to ask effective questions, how to best approach a problem, and what to do when you get stuck. Integrated throughout the book are problems

taken from real interviews at top computer companies, followed by an in-depth analysis and explanation of the thought process leading to solutions. By focusing on techniques and not just answers, you’ll be able to apply what you learn to the wide variety of problems you will face during an interview. The problems included in this book will challenge your programming skills and help you ace the programming interview! Problem types include:

• Programming problems with emphasis on data structures and recursion
• Logic puzzles, counting and measuring problems, and spatial reasoning
• Knowledge-based problems that cover today’s most important technologies

Visit our Web site at www.wiley.com/compbooks/ ... Read more

Reviews (21)

excellent advice..
There are many types and levels of programming jobs. This book is useful advice for people aiming for system level or hardcore type jobs e.g. embedded systems, networks and operating systems etc. For example, this book would be highly useful for you if you go for a developer's job interview in Cisco systems, IBM, Microsoft, Sun or Lucent etc. This is not too useful for application programming stuff, as one of the reviewers mentioned about Sybase etc. I have been giving programming interviews for many years and believe me, I have come across a surprising number of questions right from this book. The other good books for these type of interviews are "Expert C Programming" by Van der Linden, "Programming Pearls" and " C interfaces and Implementations" by Hansen. The interviews in companies I have mentioned do indeed last full working days, or at least five to six hours, involving lunch. The interviewers include three to four people from the engineering team, one from Human Resources and one senior level person e.g. director or head of the group type person to finish it off. The engineering team asks you to write significant code involving commonly used data structures, linked lists and trees etc. and also code that would require certain tricks of the trade that only veteran or seasoned programmers would know. So in my opinion, this is a timely arrival and gives lots of useful information to build the required confidence and thinking pattern to ace such interviews. The techniques described are all familiar and used frequently by most engineers and computer scientists in the field, but being able to answer promptly in an interview is a different ball game and I have suffered because of the lack of confidence in interviews. So, in my opinion, it deserves at least four stars.

of questionable value
This may be valuable for new grads getting their first job, or people who want to do sanity a check before looking for a new position.

In the bulk of this book, the author covers what he feels are common programming related interview questions. Almost all of the examples are in C, except for a few oddballs (one is done in Perl, which doesn't exactly lend itself to clarity). I don't understand why the author chose C. He states it is the "language of choice" for interviewers. Most universities are making their grads think OO these days. While they may have a few projects in C, the majority of their experience is going to be in C++ or Java, or C# in the near future. If a new grad is going to interview, and they state that they aren't that great with C but they know C++ or Java really well (which is probably true for most new-grads), I would be very, very surprised if this was an issue. What if it was an issue? As a new grad, would you want to work somewhere where your interviewers could only think in C?

Regardless, the common feature here is OO. The book misses the boat on this point. I have been working in the Java space for quite some time and the non-OO examples were hard for me to follow, and I found myself not wanting to follow them because they seemed inelegant. I would have preferred to see them in (OO) pseudo code.

The rest of this book covers interviewing tactics, a few logic puzzles, and a small section on resume writing. The sections on interviewing tactics and resume writing assumed a very low experience level and seemed more like they were written for high-school grads than for college grads let alone experienced software developers. The puzzle section was fun.

If you are applying TA at school, it is good.
Basically, most people in industries will not give question like that particularly those need you to provide solutions. If a interviewer were to give those kind of questions to you, it means you meet a HR person or the person who just graduated from school. Your will be managers might not know all terms throughly, but they know what kind of people they need.

If you are looking for a programming job, please do some research to find what technology might be useful to them.

Very Effective Started Book...
I got exact questions asked from this book in an interview !!Could not believe myself but aced them nonetheless. Looks like interviewers pick questions from this book as well. It is a good warm up practice book to make you more confident and cover basics. It has some good problems which you should practice. You will be asked similar coding questions to be solved on the board in an interview...

Great book!!
This is a really good book for people preparing for tech interviews. Its also a great read for developers already working as it gives a pretty good explanation of different coding concepts like data structures, etc...One of the good things about the book is that the authors try to give multiple solutions to a problem. ... Read more

Book Description

Actors specialize in the skills you need to excel at interviews: self-confidence, verbal communication and body language, and knowing how to project the desired image. Here, the directors of a consulting firm that applies acting techniques to success in the business world share a step-by-step training program to help you ace your own "audition." You'll learn trade secrets for conquering stage fright, how to research the "role" you're applying for, how to look the part, how to deal with job-hunting stress--and how to use simple exercises for effective verbal and physical communication.With each interview, the curtain rises on a new opportunity. With the seven steps in this book, you can get ready to take a bow! ... Read more

Reviews (10)

It worked for me!
I was on the job market and just felt that I was doing something wrong. I'm a professional, a supervisor, and just couldn't figure out where I was stumbling. This book changed all of that. It opened my eyes, showed me hidden strengths, and got me the job offer I wanted -- for a higher salary than I had expected.

Many books tell you what to say during different situations. This book works because it helps you determine your unique strengths and how to best present them to potential employers. It's a quick read, too. I've recommended it to all my job hunting friends, from novice to experienced.

Don't even think twice. Get this book.

A real help
I went to the book store and grabbed just about every job interview help book they had, took them to a chair, and quickly read through each of them. With the exception of this book, they were all the same. They either gave you suggestions on how to answer certain questions (Who wants to memorize answers from a book? You could never remember them all, and if you did, you would just be giving answers that other people being interviewed are likely to give also. You want to stand out in your interview, not seem like everyone else!) OR they gave you suggestions on how to act (Do you really need a book to tell you to dress nice, don't belch, sit up straight, and don't bring relatives along?). THIS BOOK does neither of these things! What it does do is help you to gain self-confidence and other skills that will help you present yourself in the best way possible in order to convince your potential employer that YOU are the person they want to hire! No tricks, just ways of showing an interviewer all of the wonderful things about yourself that are relevant to the interviewer's needs and desires, all within a 15-20 minute interview. They reason that if actors can "sell themselves" to a Broadway producer in a two-minute audition during a cattle call, you can certainly sell yourself during a much longer interview. There are also activities in this book that will help you remember good things about yourself that would be great things to say to an interviewer. How to show them that you are the right person for the job, not just tell them! How to make them realize that you are just the person they are looking for!

Buy this book!
After reading dozens of books and getting nowhere, I tried this book and found real success. Not only did I use it to get the perfect job for myself, but I also used it to get a raise and a promotion a short while later. Don't let the small size of the book discourage you. Believe me, this book is packed with everything you'll need for success. Buy this book! You won't be sorry.

Excellent book
This is a clear, useful guide with a lot of original points. Not a lot of silly emphasis on superficial aspects of interviewing. It's also easy to read and digest. Highly recommended.

missing everything
another strong-titled, very popular book that has watered down content and is so devoid of meaty substance as to make one instantly consider utilizing the pages for rolling papers.

A lot of words on the cover - not enough inside! ... Read more

Book Description

"This is a must-have for any researcher in vocational psychology or career counseling, or anyone who wishes to understand the empirical underpinnings of the practice of career counseling."
–Mark Pope, EdD
College of Education, University of Missouri – St. Louis
past president of the American Counseling Association

Today’s career development professional must choose from a wide array of theories and practices in order to provide services for a diverse range of clients. Career Development and Counseling: Putting Theory and Research to Work focuses on scientifically based career theories and practices, including those derived from research in other disciplines. Driven by the latest empirical and practical evidence, this text offers the most in-depth, far-reaching, and comprehensive career development and counseling resource available.

Career Development and Counseling includes coverage of:

• Major theories of career development, choice, and adjustment
• Informative research on occupational aspirations, job search success, job satisfaction, work performance, career development with people of color, and women’s career development
• Assessment of interests, needs and values, ability, and other important constructs
• Occupational classification and sources of occupational information
• Counseling for school-aged youth, diverse populations, choice-making, choice implementation, work adjustment, and retirement
• Special needs and applications including those for at-risk, intellectually talented, and work-bound youth; people with disabilities; and individuals dealing with job loss, reentry, and career transitions

Edited by two of the leading figures in career development, and featuring contributions by many of the most well-regarded specialists in the field, Career Development and Counseling: Putting Theory and Research to Work is the one book that every career counselor, vocational psychologist, and serious student of career development must have. ... Read more

Book Description

Succeeding at Your Interview: A Practical Guide for Teachers uses an effective interactive format to present core information about interviewing for a teaching job, document a wide variety of interview processes, guide teacher candidates in developing strategies for interviewing, and increase their confidence in communicating their professional knowledge. In a spiral process, readers are asked to consider scenarios, respond to questions, contemplate the perspective offered by the authors, and modify their responses. The goal is to help teacher candidates develop and articulate a clear idea of their own professional knowledge and of the culture of the schools at which they are interviewing.

Special features:

*Eleven detailed chapters and 5 interview scenarios engage the reader in continuous reflective practice in the multifaceted activities integral to interviewing--beginning with organizing the job search and proceeding through the entire interview process.

*The scenarios implicitly develop knowledge and the chapters explicitly detail the information.

*Specific interview situations engage readers in articulating their professional knowledge, linking theory and practice.

*"Keep in Mind" comments, Margin Notes, and Decision Trees provide opportunities to reflect on the issues and develop personal responses.

*Sample documents, formats, questions, and responses enhance understanding of evaluation processes.

*Graphic organizers at the beginning and end of each chapter provide visual representations of the concepts and concerns addressed in each chapter, assisting the reader in identifying chapters relevant to their current needs in the job search and in synthesizing, organizing, and reviewing the information contained in the chapter. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

This book will make you interview-savvy !
Beyond a "Must-Read"--this is a "Must-Do" personal coaching workbook. As a counselor in educational placement, I develop interview tip sheets, classroom seminars and conduct mock interviews for student teachers. This book does more. It walks you through sample interviews and shows you how to "work the questions." The authors clarify the interview process for inexperienced candidates, and provide the tools for anyone (even other-than-teacher job seekers) to interview with confidence and professionalism.

Valuable Tool
"Succeeding at your interview" is a good resource for anyone entering the field of education. This book gives the reader a step by step guide for achieving a teaching position in the school of his or her choice. Expert guidance is provided on preparing an application, presenting yourself as a professional, and evaluating an interviewer's questions. In addition, the scenario sessions are an excellent tool to avoid being caught unprepared for an interview question. I plan on recommending this book to all of the teachers I know. This would be a great gift for a recent college graduate, or a seasoned professional who is changing career paths.

Guidance From an Experienced Mentor
I have taught in a suburban New York school system for 35 years and have served on many interviewing teams. Review of questioning techniques and the interview scenarios can be a great help to teachers and administrators on these teams. But it is especially valuable to the prospective teacher who after reading and studying "Succeeding at Your Interview" will be prepared to face any setting or question posed at an interview. This ability means SUCCESS!

The prospective teacher will gain confidence by becoming familiar with the variety of interview formats. The 5 scenarios are-
1. An Initial School Based One to One Interview
2. An Initial Interview with a School Based Team
3. A District Based Interview with Several Principals
4. A School Based Interview with Role Playing
5. A School Based Interview with a Demonstration Lesson

Becoming familiar with the varied possibilities can prevent being caught off guard and will present a secure, confident candidate.
The reader is exposed to interviewers' questions and techniques in evaluating them. There are 7 issues that are usually discussed in interviews. These issues are reviewed with practice exercises. The questions covered are on the topics of-
1. Yourself
2. Learning Principles
3. Supporting Learning
4. Impressions of Teaching
5. Classroom Lessons
6. Personal Approaches
7. Your Questions

This book also provides guidance with gathering information about potential teaching positions, organizing the application process and suggested readings.

"Succeeding at Your Interview" is a most valuable tool for the prospective and experienced teacher before interviewing for a position as well as for the teacher on the team involved in the interviewing process. Get this book for success! ... Read more

Book Description

IndustriesCareers for MBAs profiles a host of industries and careers that hire newly minted MBAs. Its the perfect starting point for MBAs ready to research their next career. This WetFeet Insider Guide coversindustries andcareer functions key jobs for MBAs, with current salary ranges and overall job prospects top-ranked companies and common career tracks. ... Read more

Book Description

In response to the fundamental changes sweeping corporate America, Morris Shechtman presents a cutting-edge management philosophy that challenges unrealistic, outdated approaches. Shechtman, a former university professor and psychotherapist, teaches the essential skills for adapting to a rapidly expanding corporate culture -- or any organization or situation where structure and vision are needed. No matter what your goals, here are the new rules of business that will help you generate success, including:

* Growth strategies that help you establish your independence from external forces and foster strength from within
* Powerful exercises that sharpen decision-making, relationship-building, risk-taking, and other critical abilities
* Steps for processing -- not denying -- the inevitable anger and disappointment that follow organizational change
* Six paradigms on professional attitudes, personal goals, and overall world views, and the interplay of personal values and leadership.

With invigorating insight and far-reaching perspective, Working Without A Net empowers you to face new challenges and circumstances with flexibility, confidence and self-sufficiency. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Excellent explanation of the new economy and how to survive.
This book is an excellent read for anyone who wants to survive and thrive in the new economy. The world has become a much smaller and closer-knit group of companies and customers. Learning how to keep and get new customers and working relationships with other companies and co-workers is essential in this new economic environment that we are in. This book provides the tools and recommendations that will help anyone (from a CEO to the mail clerk) understand the new realities of business and what needs to happen to survive and thrive in the new economy.

An excellent guide for anyone that wants to succeed and climb the ladder of success.

Great book!
A real eye opener to what is wrong with corporate life today. Both an education and motivation to start you on a path to improving both your professional and personal life through managing change. Will recommend this book to everyone I know.

"Net-less" World More Managable With Shechtman's Help
Job security, care taking, blind loyalty, independence, and autocracy are OUT. Adaptability, responsibility, reciprocal loyalty, interdependence, and conflict are IN. Simply put, Morris Shechtman gives us "a clue" on how to successfully "play" today's radically changed corporate game. Just the title, "Working Without a Net", gave me the jitters. As each chapter, from "An Alternative to Working and Living In a Fantasy World" to "Doing the Right Thing," unfolds, entrenched ideas of "how things work" in the workplace are shattered, first by a values clarification test, (oh, yes, most of us have some very interesting value conflicts when it comes to the old career), and then a series of growth and success strategies, powerful exercises, and the revelation that paradigm shifts are necessary to assist in our surviving and thriving in our new "net-less" environment.

The rationale for the paradigm shifts?: an ever-changing global economy that increases competition, decreases profits and margins, and heightens the emphasis on human resources as the key to gaining the competitive edge. Far from advocating a cold-hearted Darwinian approach to business, "Working Without A Net" celebrates the capacity of people within an organization to resolve their differences, pursue corporate goals, and successfully met the challenges of today's high-risk business world. - Ted DeCorte, M.A.

SHECHTMAN IS AN EXPERT ON GROWTH AND CHANGE.
SHECHTMAN IS A FUTURIST WHO GIVES REAL CLUES ABOUT THRIVING IN AN EVER MORE RISKY ECONOMY AND WORLD. A WELL ARTICULATED VALUE SYSTEM, SUBSTANTIAL SELF-INFORMATION, HIGH ACCOUNTABILITY AND A DESIRE FOR GREATER OPTIONS AND CHOICES ARE THE KEYS TO PERSONAL ,PROFESSIONAL AND FINANCIAL GROWTH AND SUCCESS. SHECHTMAN IS AN INTELLECTUAL AND INTUITIVE POWERHOUSE.

Excellent book for those on the bubble
Great book. I will be buying copies for all of the poeple that work for me. In this "high risk" environment, this is an excellent book to help you chart your course. It is also a good book to disucss with your managmenet team as to how you would like to interact and what you expect of them. ... Read more

Book Description

After two years of recession, hiring is on the upswing. Economic expansion is expected to create job gains well into 2005. Though the job market has changed for the better, job seekers who are searching for employment using yesterday's rules are at risk of missing opportunities.

Martin Yate-America's leading advocate for working professionals-guides you through the whole process of job seeking, from assembling your resume to acing the interview to negotiating a salary. In addition, he gives you insider information on the answers you need to impress interviewers and convince them beyond a shadow of a doubt that you are the best candidate for the position.

Do you know an employer's real agenda behind questions such as:

Amazon.com

A vocational counselor for 20 years and the author of five career-related books, Robin Ryan says job interviews are like everything else these days: With time shrinking and distractions growing, you must sell yourself in short sound bites or you probably won't sell yourself at all. And as she believes that--even in job interviews--this means many of us can no longer truly focus our attention for more than a minute at a time, that's how she oriented this snappy career guide. The updated edition of 60 Seconds & You're Hired! (originally published in 1994) incorporates recent hiring trends and some strategies to meet them, but essentially reiterates Ryan's original method for effectively consolidating top attributes into five key themes and then repeatedly communicating them in precise, under-a-minute exchanges. She clearly explains how to distill strengths into verbal bullet points, refine them for specific interviews, and succinctly deliver them in appropriate responses. (For example, "What do you know about our company?" is a chance crisply to combine what the firm needs with one or more of your key themes.) The advice can be absorbed and utilized even the night before an interview, but more preparation would undoubtedly increase results. --Howard Rothman ... Read more

Reviews (11)

The most helpful job book I own (I own a lot)...
While the book requires some soul-searching on the part of the reader, it isn't new-agey or hoakey. It gives practical advice on finding your strong points, then tailoring them to answer specific interview questions.

The salary tips are great, as is the section on questions to ask the interviewer. On my last interview, my now-boss kept saying how impressed she was with my "intelligent questions."

Overall, this book is easy to read, interesting and helpful. It's a keeper.

If I'd only had this book sooner!!
This book is VERY effective. I got the job I was applying for AND the additional salary thanks to Ryan's techniques. My roommates both got jobs they were applying for after I 'loaned' them my copy. Using Ryan's techniques, you can really turn those hard, off-the-wall questions into opportunities to show employers why you're the best job candidate. Pluses include the section of what NOT to say in interviews. I found myself guilty of a couple (I'm not telling which ones though!). Also liked the salary negotiation section, especially the part regarding when it's appropriate to bring up salary questions. This book's got great information that the average job seeker (myself included) just doesn't think of. It really gives you an advantage over the other job candidates. Don't be caught speechless, winding up saying the wrong thing again! Get this book, and I'll betcha you'll never leave another interview saying, "I can't believe I said that!"

Some Great Tips - Some Fluff
(I just paid $13 for this book at Barnes and Noble the other day... gah I wish I had bought it here!)

The interview questions that Robin poses are ones that I have heard over and over again in interviews. I like the fact that she doesn't include "the top 1001 interview questions", and includes the ones which you are most likely to hear (in an order you would be likely to hear them as well). Some of Robin's answers to these questions were great - particularly the questions which are geared towards getting you to bad mouth a former boss and/or co-worker. I'm always very uncomfortable with those types of questions, and while the answers presented in the book are admittedly ways of making you appear aloof to the heart of the question... they do help you side-step a situation where you might otherwise be forced into speaking poorly of others, which isn't something you want to do during an interview. Having said that, there were some questions to which Robin's answers made me laugh out loud. You might score some points for creativity with a prospective boss though if you take all of her suggestions! :D Anyway, these days a lot of people in charge of hiring get into all of that "warm and fuzzy" stuff, and they might actually like an answer like the one below... "One of my faults is that I loose track of time and work late... blah blah blah" ha... I love it.

The 60 second sell, the 5 point agenda... both are very good tips. This aspect of the book is actually based on a common public relations strategy where you keep repeating your key points and incorporate them into every answer you give and every sentence that comes out of your mouth.

Overall, this book will help you prepare for an interview and will most likely keep you from being caught off-guard by some of the tricky interview questions you are bound to be asked. Whether or not you use the examples in the book is almost secondary to just knowing what questions to expect. Everything else in the book is solid and helpful, again it helps you prepare which is the key to a good interview.

very concise
This book is based on the idea that if you prepare for an interview properly, you will be hard to top in the selection process. The author of this book is regarded as one of the top career authorities in the nation. She suggests that the "60 second sell" (sometimes called an infomercial) is the most important part on the interview. The 60 second sell is a concise statement detailing the skills and qualities that would be most useful in working on the job one is interviewing for. The 60 second sell comes out of "a five point agenda" which are five statements regarding one's achievements that are relevent to the targeted position. The other information includes the types of questions one is likely to be asked, some suggested answers, questions you should ask, negotiating salary and pitfalls to avoid. If the information in this book is used the right way, I can't see why a person wouldn't get hired to any job he's qualified for.

I've been on many interviews over the years and failed miserably on some due to a lack of foresight and preparation. I really needed a book like this because there was so much that I was overlooking and now I can see exactly where I went wrong. I will study this book and prepare for my interviews accordingly. I would like to point out that the questions in the book and answers are not to be taken literally. Don't answer all interview questions by memorizing the answers given in this book. Use them only as guidelines to make up variations of the same questions and consider the suggested answers and use your best judgement.

Great book if your aim is to be a corporate drone
I've been on both sides of the desk -- that is, I've conducted plenty of job interviews when I was looking for staff, and I've been on frequent job interviews myself. Almost all the answers to job interview questions that Robin Ryan proposes are pat and shallow to the point of being virtually useless. If I asked a job candidate for his greatest weakness and he followed Ryan's glib, sugary suggestion ("I sometimes become so engrossed in my work I forget the time and work until late at night"), I would mentally disqualify the little brown-nosing dork on the spot.

This might be a great book if you're looking to get hired by a company that's looking for robotic worker bees -- the kind of place where a modicum of creativity is a grave liability instead of an asset. Job seekers who value their humanity and dignity should look elsewhere for advice.

As should those who appreciate the English language. As a writer, Ryan is as dull as a door knob, and I was driven to distraction by her continued use of the verb 'to question' (which implies doubt) when what she means is the perfectly neutral 'to ASK a question', or 'to inquire.' ... Read more

Book Description

Your complete guide to building your information technology career in any economy

 

The IT Career Builder’s Toolkit  features market-focused skills and proven methods you can use to jump-start and advance your career. While other books cover just the mechanics of preparing your résumé, writing a cover letter, and interviewing, this book provides all that plus additional insight from IT career development expert, Matt Moran, to help you plan and create a rewarding IT career over the long term.

 

The toolkit approach allows you to use this book to suit your unique needs:

• Are you new to the IT field? Benefit by reading the book cover to cover.
• Just need to fine-tune your IT career? Choose a topic and dive in.

Understand and prepare for the various and changing factors that affect your career in both positive and negative ways. Learn how to

• Present the value of your technical skills in the job market
• Position yourself as the primary commodity of your career
• Remove the guesswork out of job searches
• Highlight on-the-job skills and gain meaningful professional exposure 

The companion CD-ROM includes career management tools such as résumé and cover letter templates, forms to track important contacts, and self-assessment tools. Start or further your consulting career with sample proposals, opportunity tracking forms, and a time-tracking and billing database. Financial tools, including budget and cash-flow summary worksheets, help you gain financial well-being. Use the Value-Added Technologist presentation to gain a clear understanding of the career-building process and how to use the toolkit to build a dynamic career.

 

Most of all, have fun! Every year, people advance along the path to career stardom. Let Matt help you to be one of them through his career philosophy “Do not accept mediocrity as a career objective–demand more of yourself.”

 

“I want you to see the [toolkit] techniques as one more set of skills to adopt in your overall career development program. They are skills, just like your technical skills, that you will use daily during your career. Just as you adopt new technical skills, use the toolkit to define those soft skills that you must learn and put to use. The result will be a more well-rounded and complete professional skill-set.”

~ Matthew Moran, from the Introduction

 

Companion CD-ROM

The CD-ROM contains valuable tools, forms, spreadsheets, and documents that work with the Toolkit to help you master key areas of your career development.

 

 

Reviews (9)

Nothing new....
First things first: I am happy with my job, and not looking for another... But I read the book thoroughly, and I kind of liked it. But it's not the first book in this field I read, and I hardly did find anything new.
If someone asked for my advice, I'd say: look in your local library, and read it.
But don't spend your precious money on buying it.

A 'must' for any serious IT pro
Matthew Moran's The IT Career Builder's Toolkit could also have been reviewed in our 'business' section for job-seekers, but is featured here because so many IT employees are seeking work, and so many college students aspire to enter the field. This is career prep with no holds barred: Matthew Moran profiles solid, market-based skills and proven methods to advance an IT career or reach a goal. Newcomers in particular receive explicit advice on how to present technical skills value in a tough job market, how to become an essential commodity in an overwhelmed market, and how to gain meaningful professional contacts. A 'must' for any serious IT pro.

Toolkit for Building Many Other Careers as Well
The IT Career Builder's Toolkit by Matthew Moran (Cisco Press, 2005) is actually a useful toolkit for building a career in many other fields as well. The author has taken the trouble to uncover a great many universal truths about the relationship between employee and employer, the bottom-line mentality of human resource management in business, and the effects of the current economy on new entrants to the job market. It was really unusual to see a business book that didn't seem to just echo the platitudes of every other business book on the market, but which instead, by reflecting on the state of affairs in one particular vocation, and focusing on the specific problem of starting out as an entry level candidate, repeatedly illustrated techniques that people can apply in any stage of their career, and in may different professions.

This is because so many of the players in everyone's career are aptly introduced, with numerous tips on how to deal with the ones who may have forgotten to take their medication this morning, or who may have more of an influence on your future than you think. The numerous personas of interviewers, bosses, coworkers, and the people you are ultimately helping-your users-are drawn up so that you can recognize them when you see them, and handle a variety of situations as a professional. For instance, even if a scrap of criticism is too harsh, is there a grain of truth in it? And if you are concerned about a pending performance review or how your supervisor views your progress, you may want to assign a self-evaluation and report the results to your supervisor. The author gives a vivid account of how well that worked for him.

But of course the focus is on helping the young entrant to the IT job market. To this end, he presents the concept of a toolkit, or a complete set of tips and tactics that can be applied at many different stages of a career: the point is to choose the right tool for the situation. The other analogy is that the book is for career building, not just putting together a succession of jobs. The would-be IT professional is encouraged to consider exactly what skills should be honed, what relationships should be developed, what approach should be taken to building a satisfying work life. It is very tempting to plow ahead and get the next hot certification, or to hop to the next job that pays a few bucks more or touches on the trendiest technology. It is useful to be reminded that-even in the post-bubble chill with salaries down from their happy heights and jobs for which you have to compete rather than step into-you can build a more satisfying career by deliberately designing and planning it instead of just adding jobs to the pile.

Still, the author realizes that there are not a lot of choices at first, and so a lot of care is put into describing how to make the most of any job. It compares and contrasts a number of possible situations the new employee might wind up in-enterprise versus SMB, IT department versus a branch of the business-and describes how someone might make themselves invaluable in any of these environments. There is a pragmatic and reassuring sense that by building the foundation of your career, you can then construct the house you want to live in.

There are many other basics covered in the areas of cover letters, resumes, networking, interviewing skills, searching for jobs, seeking promotions-the nuts and bolts of making your way into the market. And among the different options covered are the pursuits of salaried positions as opposed to consulting, and choosing the attributes for which job to take if you get multiple offers (it's not always about the money). The section of negotiating skills, and defining what constitutes an effective negotiation, is an eye opener for anyone who doesn't have those natural poker-playing skills.

The CD has a lot career management tools such as resumes, self-assessment forms, contact tracking forms, and others. There are also sections on consulting tools and financial management tools. There were some broken links but I'm not sure if this had to do with my browser (I was using Mozilla). In any case, you can browse the contents under Windows explorer without needing to use the menus.

For a very carefully written effort to help aspiring applications to the IT market, I'd give this one five stars.

A manutal for your IT Career
Today, I have finished The IT Career Builder's Toolkit, and I an honestly say that I have added it to my recommended reading material.I feel it is a must read for those starting out in life, and to those who have found their lifelong career path.For those starting out, The IT Career Builder's Toolkit serves as a manual for career building.Matt sets expectations for those new to the field, and he helps that on a path to success.For those who are in the field, Matt reminds the seasoned IT Pro to reflect were they current are in their profession, and he urges them to rise to the top of their field.Throughout the book, Matt provides tools, guidance, and experience that can be added to your own career toolkit. I could hear him asking me, "Are you planning on being an average professional?"The IT Career Builder's Toolkit is a must read for anyone in the professional workplace.

Soft Technology
Like a runner benefits from an hour in the weight room after 40 miles on the track,so the IT technician will do well to spend some time reading the IT Career Builder's Toolkit by Matthew Moran. You do not have to be technical at all to read this book.It is full of good common sense advice from an information technology perspective.It is the first Cisco Press book that has caught the eye of my non-technical friends.
Moran emphasizes the development of the soft skills that are so necessary to really succeed in any career.He explains that we must become agnostic about which technology or process we use and more cognizant of the big picture of how technology can accomplish business needs and profitability.Concerning this focus he asks the reader, "Are you a pure technologist or a systems analyst?"
There are 3 helpful sections on the CD.Career Management Tools has examples such as resumes, cover letters, opportunity tracker, self assessment form, and status reports.Consulting Tools has tips on sales presentations, case studies, and solution selling.Financial Tools, includes budget and cash flow planning and sample spreadsheets.
The book is divided into short easy to read chapters.I particularly enjoyed Moran's writing style which consists of well organized paragraphs consisting of tight punchy sentences.The book is the result of the author's years of experience of applying solutions for his employers and customers through managing his own and others IT skills.Before you read one more technical manual, I recommend you read the IT Career Builder's Toolkit!
... Read more

Book Description

Event planners have an exciting, high-paying job that allows them to use their creativity to organize fun and important events such as fairs and festivals, charity fundraisers, parties, conferences, meetings, grand openings, political events, trade shows, reunions and more.

In this book, successful event planners share insider tips and expert advice on how to break into event planning. You will learn step-by-step how to plan an event (including how to get sponsors and celebrities for the event).

The book includes information about more than a dozen types of organizations that hire event planners and the best ways to contact them, where event planning jobs are advertised, what employers look for, how to prepare a resume that stands out, plus other ways to find a job. You will learn how to get practical experience, and create an impressive portfolio even with no previous experience.

The book also explains how to start an event planning business for little or no money. It covers: potential clients, marketing, pricing, and where to get creative ideas for events. Also included are valuable resources for event planners, information to become certified as a professional event planner, and more.

The CD-ROM that comes with the book includes many helpful samples and checklists that can be used to plan events. ... Read more

Book Description

Shows how to carve out a new career path filled with passion and enthusians without leaving your organization for greener pastures elsewhere. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A great career guide
I picked it up and I couldn't put it down.It's got the right tools and advice for a person that career minded.It also made me realize that I can get the brio that I want out of my career, just where I am.This is a great read!

Powerful and Practical
I've read alot of career and self help books about success in organizational settings....they all primarily prescribe a formula for actions and behaviours that if magically applied somehow will lead to a better work life. Although some of these have helped me, non have really focused on the fundamental principle of success which is You.

This book is powerful because it recognizes and starts with the premise that change must happen from within first....it is not about an organizations gifts or limitations but rather yours.

The other powerful thing which I encountered was that it was simple and practical and led me through a few focused exercises that helped me reframe the things I love to do, what an organization is and is not, and then how to apply what I love in an organization successfuly resulting ultimately in a career that will flourish.

This book is refreshing, simple, real, and enduring. It does not rehash all the old business and career advice but rather creates a practical approach to making You and your career work for you.

Finally the evidence is in that career and organization hopping is a fad of the 90's...but not a requisite in the 21st century.

I highly recommend this book...it has helped me deeply and it's effects will be long lasting.


Sarah Winthrop (London, England)

Make it Work Is Making My Career Work . . .Finally
Simpy put, this book changed my career, and in many respects my life.Unlike so many business, career and self-help books, "Make it Work" gets beyond the hype and cliches and offers real principles and a process for building a successful career inside a company.It is both a good read, and a great system.It offers compelling theory and pragmatic principles. These powerful principles (e.g. Passionate Core) are found only here and are immensly useful in surfacing a person's unique needs and bringing them effectively into their work and career.

I have given copies of "Make it Work" to the people I manage as it provides them with the tools to take ownership of their career and bring their passions to work everyday.It's a win for them and a win for the company. ... Read more

Book Description

Monster founder Jeff Taylor, with former editor-in-chief Doug Hardy, has writtenanupbeat, inspirational, and indispensable guide to getting the job you want inthe newworld of work. Rich with real-world advice from recruiters, career counselors,humanresource professionals, and successful Monster members who share their job- huntingexpertise, Monster Careers provides a step-by-step plan for carrying outa super- charged job search—from exploring new career options to writing job-winningresumesand cover letters, to mastering the interview and negotiating a job offer. Apractical andpassionate guide for any stage of your career, whether you’re a seasonedprofessional or arecent graduate, Monster Careers is poised to become the uncontested jobsearchauthority. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

It worked
This book helped me a lot and after reading this book I found this website but I haven't ordered anything. Has anyone else used this website?

Describes the new hiring landscape
As a founder of one of the largest networking groups in New England, I have been exposed to many different types of job-hunting strategies. The information in "Monster Careers" accurately reflects the new hiring landscape. The authors give the reader both the high-level and "behind the scenes" perspectives for these changing times. From describing what motivates hiring managers to negotiating compensation "Monster Careers" provides the tools needed to manage a career through different business climates. This is an invaluable resource at any career stage.

Monster Careers by Taylor and Hardy
This book illustrates how to land a top job with advanced preparation. The authors emphasize the importance of training and
high skill attainment. There are benefits in free agency and entrepreneurship. It is critical to define yourself accurately and to maintain a network grid whether or not you have a job.
Everyone you know can be critical in helping you to secure a top position. Top candidates in new positions display more enthusiasm over experience. The book is valuable in helping to craft a successful career plan. This work would be helpful for a person who works for a company, as well as a private entrepreneur. The book is a solid value because it provides good advice and quality research on strategies that work.

Worked for me
Last winter I was laid off from a very good job. A few weeks later a friend in the publishing business sent me an advance copy of Monster Careers, which I used in conjunction with some private career counseling. Taylor's book was at least as good as the expensive counseling - it's really well organized, easy to use, and smart. He gets you to think outside the box with some great examples and exercises.

That said, you definitely need to do the work - I put in about 5 hours/day with the book, my research, etc., but it paid off. I found a similar job to the one I had - but in an entirely different industry. I never would have looked for it without this book.

Monster is a good place to start
Without a doubt the Monster web site is the number one site for job posting. As matter of fact there are so many posting it can be confusing. This book does a good job of explaining how to use the Monster site.

This is a wonderful book, and I would recommend it. In addition, to this book I recommend reading, "How to find your dream and make it a reality: solutions for a rewarding and meaningful career." This book about the process of discovering who you are, what you can do and what you'll enjoy doing. This book is about showing you how to add value by developing solutions.

It works well with the Monster book and many other books. I highly recommend it. ... Read more

Book Description

This book is a complete manual on conducting a successful job search and interviewing for a teaching position.It tells prospective candidates how to write eye-catching cover letters and resumes that will move them to the top of the "must interview" list.Teachers will learn how