Reviews (34)

The FBI website doesn't even come close!
If you visit the FBI website you'll find only basic and carefully screened information. No surprise there. Although the internet and Ackerman's book both list requirements for the special agent position and other jobs (even though Ackerman's book has more), this is where the similarities end. For example, the FBI will never suggest ways to best describe your educational achievements, employment history, volunteer work, accomplishments, or other aspects of your background on the FD-140 application form or in KSA statements. Ackerman does, and if you've applied for an FBI job you know this can make or break your application because it's the first step in the screening process. The FBI also doesn't tell you how to prepare for and respond to specific types of questions you'll be asked during the structured interview. No surprise there, either. I can tell you from firsthand experience that Ackerman's characterization of the interviewing process is right on the money, and the same can be said for his guidance on the written exams. His description of the background investigation process, including the areas of emphasis that detrmine whether a security clearance is granted, is another example (of many) that you will not find on the FBI website. If basic and carefully screened information is all you need, stick with the internet and you'll be fine. If you want more than public relations material, this book is for you.

A MUST for anyone considering a career with the FBI
This book has been an EXCELLENT resource as I progress through the FBI hiring process. Having read the book beforehand, I knew the answers to 90% of the questions that candidates asked while attending Phase I testing at the local field office.

Here's what I like about this book:

-It provides details for both special agent and professional support positions. It covers the hiring process in detail, tips and strategies to maximize your chances, 10 pages of salary and benefits information, an overview of the training process, and information on sub-specialties in each area.

-The book is well-organized, so I can use it as a handy reference to get answers to my questions quickly and easily as they arise, because you will never remember it all on the first read.

-The Special Agent Application and Selection Process flowchart demystifies this confusing and complicated process.

-In contrast to earlier reviews, I think the copies of the application forms in the appendices do serve a purpose in that they give potential applicants a sense of the time and effort that is required to complete the application process. You will need commitment!!

What I hope to see in the next edition:

-More information about testing that occurs between Phase I and Phase II for some candidates who possess "critical skills," such as foreign language skills.

-A list of places to look, both online and offline, for more information.

In short, I enthusiastically recommend Special Agent Ackerman's book. It is a rich source of data for people who are simply curious about whether or not the FBI is right for them, as well as for those who are actively passing through the hiring process.

-Justin L., Phoenix, AZ

FBI application should question: Have you read this book?
Definitely more than what can be found on the net. Great way to prepare for FBI careers.

Phenomenal book
I cannot imagine attempting to land a job with the FBI without reading Ackerman's phenomenal book first. Even though I thought I knew what to expect and how things worked, it turns out I was completely in the dark. Not any more.

Best out there, bar none.
The material in this book is highly informative, right to the point, and the advice is very helpful. It provides comprehensive all-encompassing coverage of the application phases from the initial application up to and including the background investigation and security clearance interview. Careers with the FBI also are covered extensively, including the qualifications, training, and assignments. Bottom line, if you are truly committed to a career with the FBI, this is the book that will get you there. It is absolutely the best book on the subject. ... Read more

Book Description

Now you can take the guesswork out of hiring by relying on fair,logical ways to identify the best candidates for the job.Thisbest-selling book will help you learn how to use the behavioralapproach to interviewing.By asking questions that probe for pastbehavior, you will be able to identify the candidate best suited forthe job.You'll also discover tips on how to save an uncomfortableinterviewing situation. ... Read more

Book Description

Updated to include the very latest information on the legal guidelines you must follow under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

How many managers have stalled their own careers by hiring the wrong person? Too many.

The most common mistake is believing that if a person can do the job, the person is a good hire. Actually, there are three broad areas that must be probed thoroughly to make the best decision.

* Is the candidate able to do the job?
* Is the candidate willing to do the job?
* And is the candidate going to be manageable?

In Hiring the Best, over 400 questions thoroughly probe these areas and give you the necessary material for the perfect choice. The updated fourth edition of this proven management tool also features an extensive review of the pros and cons of hiring temporary workers, part-time employees, consultants, and independent contractors. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Excellent Guide
So few people have solid interviewing skills, which are critical in ensuring that you consistently hire the best people. This book is incredibly useful in helping you move past the "gut" decision. Several chapters are spent on how to ask various questions so that you neither lead the candidate into giving you the answer you want, nor intimidate the candidate at the wrong time. Very helpful in redefining the typical standard questions (which any decent candidate is prepared for) so that you can really get to the substance.

The book's focus on explaining why certain methods and techniques work better is excellent. In particular it has been very useful in teaching and/or re-assuring the interviewers (both veterans and newbies) at my company that they are asking the right questions and making the correct judgement calls. That confidence is a key success differentiator from the usual randomness in interviewing that often leads to a substandard hire.

Junk!
I recently started as a new hiring manager at a commercial printing company. This book was in the bookcase and I thought I'd read it over a weekend - now I wish I hadn't.
Utterly useless and pedantic.
There has to be something else out there.
Little more than a compendium of scripted questions and very light material, I would be hard-pressed to find much of value here.

An excellent guide to the hiring process
Martin Yate takes us through some of the most important areas of the hiring process and gives good advice. He obviously knows his business. I recommend the book.

Wayne D. Ford, Ph.D., author of "How to Spot a Liar in a Job Interview" and "How to Spot a Phony Resume" docwifford@msn.com

Well worth the investment of your time and money
If you are looking for a solid foundation of your interview process, take a look at this book. It provides helpful ideas on how to approach your job candidates. Can they do the job, are they willing and can they be managed. It provided lots of helpful questions and processes for a successful hiring process. I have to say, that I am not a professional recruiter just someone that needs to hire and evaluate his new employees.

Indespensible tool for Interviewing
This book is fabulous. You quickly learn both interviewing skills and interviewing strategies. There are many examples and sample questions which help elaborate on the ideaa presented. It is so helpful that I've ordered three more copies to pass around at work. ... Read more

Book Description

Appearance. Performance skills. Confidence. All are winning – and attainable – traits that will help you land the job you want. You can acquire these skills by perusing Job Interviews For Dummies. This revised edition incorporates a multitude of updates and covers all the bases in getting employers to say, You're the one!

Written for all job seekers – new entrants, midlevel people, very experienced individuals, and technical and non-technical job seekers – Job Interviews For Dummies is packed with the building blocks of show-stopping interviews. These range from strategies and techniques to sample dialogue and research tips. Interviewing for a job is kind of like a stage performance, and if you want metaphorical standing ovations, then follow the guidelines offered in these pages.

In this book, you'll explore the basics of interviewing, from how to dress to how to answer all sorts of questions – questions about you, your interest in the company, your experience, you education and training, your skills, your age, and questions they shouldn't ask but sometimes do anyway. You'll also uncover information about

• Practicing for your interview, and why it's so important
• Recognizing the mind games of job testing
• Wooing reviewers who give you references
• Identifying various interviewing scenarios you should expect
• Answering questions to sell yourself.
• Understanding the new interviewing technology, such as telephone interviews and video transmissions.

On the stress scale, interviewing for a job ranks with making speeches before a vegetable-throwing crowd. Stress is such a big issue that some interviewees take tranquilizers or beta blockers to reduce it. A better way exists: Master the job-interviewing process. Get the winning ways down pat, and you'll have a special kind of insurance the rest of your working days. This guide can help. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

I got a job thanks to this book!
I was always nervous during my interviews, I did not know what to expect on an interview. After reading this book I feel more confident; it gives you model answers to the questions, professional appearance tips, how to deal with different kind of interviewers, and many more.... I GOT A JOB!!!

Very helpful
I have always been terrified of interviews and found this book to be of GREAT help. Highly recommended!

Entertaining!
Just as entertaining as the other Dummies books I've read.
Substancial, informative, a good read.

Well worth the price of admission
This book's theme is that job interviewing is really performance art and how you can use it to get job offers. Throughout the book the case is made that the job interview should be approached much like an audition for a part in a play. Some of the most important traits needed to win the part are appearance, performance skills and confidence, and this book goes over them in an entertaining and easily readable fashion.

One thing I liked is the way each topic is covered and then tips are given to illustrate the ShowStopper way as well as the Show Flopper way, with breakout boxes discussing areas that are judgment calls in which the experts are divided and it's up to you to decide how one approach or another best fits your situation.

Doing your homework prior to the interview is stressed heavily, as is the obvious value of correcting any deficiencies you may have in your skill set or educational background. The ultimate answer to difficult questions about your qualifications or lack thereof is to either have those skills now or be working on getting them, so you can walk onstage with the confidence needed to land the part.

Joe Buchberger

Hope other applicants don't read this book!
Job Interviews for Dummies is loaded with all the inside scoop information you need to successfully land that dream job! (Provided you're qualified for it). In fact, about the only thing Job Interviews for Dummies cannot tell you, are those rapport building, ice breaking conversation topics for your particular interviewee...does he/she like golf, dogs, etc. You'll have to figure those out on your own!

Job Interviews for Dummies clearly spells out what you should expect, and how you should prepare in order to have a successful job interview.

I highly recommend it! ... Read more

Amazon.com

You've read the how-to-figure-out-what-you-really-want-to-do books and completed their soul-searching assignments. You've prepared a resume worthy of the world's top performer in your field, and you've printed it on discreetly fabulous paper. And you've sent it to the (select, of course) few hundred employers you'd like to work for... and still you're looking for that great job. No wonder, then, that a book with the title Don't Send a Resume has grabbed your attention.

Jeffrey Fox is the ultimate marketer, consumed with and successful at ensuring his product stands out and is snatched up--and in this case, that product is you. Don't Send a Resume is his tip-laden guide on how to make yourself visible, desirable, and ultimately invaluable to your next employer. Dismissing the well-worn routes of sending unsolicited resumes and contacting personnel departments, Fox concentrates on what will turn job-seekers into super salespeople. While occasionally just spiced-up commonsense, his advice is simple, direct, and often ingenious, supported by details and made colorful by the odd illustration. Understand the jargon of job seeking and translate that jargon into meaningful marketing clues. Determine how the job you want creates value for the company and "dollarize" yourself accordingly. Look for a job in the unorthodox places that other job-seekers overlook. Write "boomerang" letters in response to job ads. Don't expect employers to care about your job objective or what you like to do; they only care about what they need. Don't talk and tell in an interview; answer, ask, listen, and sell. Whatever you do, don't order sauce-splashing food in a lunch interview, however tempting the dish. Oh, and don't forget to ask for the job. --S. Ketchum ... Read more

Reviews (29)

Great book
It is very refreshing to read such unconventional advice on job hunting. The author's ideas are very good and I totally agree with him. Overall a great book of the kind that we need more today. 4 stars instead of 5 because:

1. Its reader is typically looking for a job in a business-related field, and the hirer's goal is invariably to make more money, so is the job seeker's emphasis in selling himself. While the 'spirit' of the book is great and theoretically applies to all fields or professions, people who are seeking jobs in, say, university teaching, will find many things not applicable to them. (In one place it's said that cv's seeking for university teaching job often devote page after page about papers published but only 2 lines on teaching. Unfortunately this is indeed what the academics stress when hiring: publication is valued more than teaching.)

2. About how to make yourself stand out: again this should be a mental guideline--I wish it can all work that way, but in the real world, first of all, how busy will the CEO'S be if every reader of this book bypass the conventional resume sending process and instead starts job application by sending an impact letter DIRECTLY to the CEO or president?? How many secretaries will actually pass the letters to the CEO? It takes a smart secretary! Second, even if the CEO gets the letter, the result will largely depend on the shrewdness of the CEO. Regrettably, too many CEO's out there are themselves too conventional to recognize a creative job candidate.

To end the review, it's a great book!

Landed a Job in 8 Days Using this Book
Since I was moving into an entirely different field, I was concerned that my lack of direct experience would cause my resume to get overlooked. After reading this book I realized it didn't matter--I wasn't going to send them a typical resume. Instead I made up my mind to follow the steps of the book and land a job in this field.

I sent out 3 resu-letters and immediately got a phone call for an interview with one company. Several days later I had the interview, which I prepared for using Fox's interview "sales" techniques. The interviewer seemed very impressed with both my anwers and my prepared questions. At the end of the interview I was offered the job.

Of course not everyone is going to have such immediate results, and I feel fortunate to have had such good results so quickly, but the ideas expressed in this book are direct, powerful, and clear. By the time I had finished reading the book I felt confident that I was going to land a job in my new field soon--I just didn't realize how soon.

Trite, Shallow, Banal and Essentially Worthless
On the plus side, although it was a complete waste of time, this book can be read in under an hour. On the minus side, if you ever looked for a job at some point in your life, about the only practical use for this book is to prop up a wobbly piece of furniture. It contains such "helpful" hints as "dress nice for interviews" and "don't drink alcohol at lunch." Wow, truly Earth-shattering! I'm surprized there wasn't an entire chapter called "Change Your Underwear." I can't believe there were so many positive reviews of this book. You guys must all be new grads or something.

A real world test. Good book here are the pros and cons...
Okay I'll start out with the pros first:

I bought this book after I lost my job from a downsizing of the organization I was working for. Needless to say, I was in need of a quick way for me to get noticed in the job marketplace.

I used many of the ideas outlined in this book and they did work. I researched organizations, sent impact letters, spoke to the hiring manager and got interviews. I beat out hundreds of people responding with resumes via email and postal mail.

I got my current job pretty much the same way as my previous successes. However, I wasn't able to find out the hiring managers name, so I sent an impact letter and my resume to the Vice President of the department I would be working in. I assume my resume was forwarded to the top of the pile of the hiring manager's resume stack because within a few days I got a call from the personnel department. I had interviews with many people. I sent follow-up letters to everyone I said hello to and eventually I got the job.

All of this took allot of time an effort. I spent every day for 8 months from 9-am to 5-pm researching, writing, calling, following-up, networking, and more. It's exhausting. It's a tough market and the rate of return is still very low. But these ideas give you an edge. I averaged about 1 interview out of every 30 impact letters I wrote. It's a full-time job looking for a job and the competition is tough. That's why it's important to have at least 6-8 months of living expenses saved in case you loose your job. In this day and age, If you can afford to have a year of living expenses saved, that would be ideal. Being unemployed usually catches you off-guard. If you do loose your job, you're probably going to have to work part-time while you are looking. This will take away from your job hunting time and extend the average when you might secure permanent employment again.

Okay here are the Cons:

If you hate your current job, It's very difficult if not impossible to do use the methods and approaches outlined in this book while you are already working. There is no way you can be on the phone and do research while you are working. So it's almost a book for someone who is already unemployed. I would like to see Mr. Fox come up with marketing tactics utilizing these techniques for someone who is employed full-time and seeking to change employment. How do you do research and talk to decision-makers with your boss breathing down your neck? How do you conduct interviews while still employed full-time?

Also, I would like to see Mr. Fox devote a chapter to the importance of saving money for when you are unemployed. I like to call it my "just-in-case-I'm unemployed" account. Not enough emphasis is given in this area in any job hunting book and I think it very important. As I said before, It's a full-time job looking for a job.

The other issue I had is Mr. Fox tells us not to use "big" words and industry jargon in our letters and resume. I agree. However, speckled throughout this book, Mr. Fox uses words that could have been simplified. For example on page 10 he uses the word "pedantically". Instead, he could have used a more common word or just left the word out and the sentence would have been fine. There are a few other inflated words used perhaps out of habit or to purposely validate and exhibit his education. If you're writing only to Harvard colleagues it's probably acceptable. However books written with uncommon vocabulary for a general audience often sounds aloof.

In conclusion, this is a good book with plenty of good advise and I recommend it.

helpful information in half a day's read.
As with many business books, the worst books to read are those that sound dry and redundant. This book however is tersely written, easy to comprehend and adds some interesting job seeking tools that will assist you in searching for a job efficiently. Although the title says not to send a resume, Fox does feel that a resume can be used as a tool for a job search when either modified and tailored to the specific employer, or used as a follow up piece of literature to accentuate the candidate's skills after first conact with the employer.
In addition to this Fox gives tips on finding leads, writing interview-getting letters, interviewing, and post interview follow ups. Some of the information in this book is commonly found in other books--be confident, sell yourself, stand out from a crowd, be polite to everybody, etc.--yet another 50% of the book has some material that you probably wouldn't see before or find somewhere else--write a resu-letter, write boomerang letters, and other interesting methods.
The flow of the writing is to-the-point written in simple, absorbant, and quickly comprehensible with information that can be used immediately. The book has the pattern of explaining something to you, giving you a story to get the concept to sink in, or giving you the explicit details by listing or giving you examples. In other words, it starts in general terms and becomes more tangible and specific.
Reading this book is a good starting point. Use the book's tips to help you find your job and pass it around to others to help them find a job or even resell it here on Amazon.com. ... Read more

Book Description

More than 100,000 people contact the Peace Corps every year, but only 3,000 are placed overseas. To help more Americans find volunteer opportunities abroad Joseph Collins, Stefano DeZerega, and Zahara Heckscher-all founders of respected volunteer organizations-have written a guide that provides all the necessary information on volunteering in Latin America, Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe. Presented in a user-friendly format that includes case studies, worksheets, and quotes from international volunteers, How to Live Your Dream of Volunteering Overseas provides college students, senior citizens, and everyone in between with information on:

* How to decide if volunteering overseas is for you
* How to choose the right program
* What to do before and after you go abroad
* Fundraising and financing
* How to be an effective volunteer
* Political and social contexts of Americans volunteering abroad
* The Peace Corps
* More than one hundred volunteer organizations
... Read more

Reviews (9)

FANTASTIC
This is a comprehensive REAL guide to what's available for international volunteering. If you are looking for an alternative to Peace Corp.....this is the DREAM book!

Amazing resource for anyone volunteering abroad
I just returned from a volunteering project to rural Kenya and I would not have been as prepared as I was without this book. This book is invaluable, it not only prepares you before you leave, it also helps you while you are abroad. The descriptions of the different organizations were very accurate. I defenitely recommend this book to anyone going abroad.

Invaluable
I am preparing to volunteer in Costa Rica and this book has been an amazing resource for me. It has encouraged me to write out my motivations and expectations for this trip. It has helped me think through how I can be an effective volunteer. Thanks to this book I feel more prepared mentally and emotionally and I feel more aware of what I am getting into.

Thanks for this excellent resource!

This Book is a Treasure
This book is a treasure. It is a good book for anyone in the age group of about 18-75 of any ethnicity, religion and socio-economic background. It addresses safety, among other issues, for women travelers. This book includes more than information one could find on the Internet about particular opportunities and organizations in any region of the world. It includes in depth studies as well as information for the person considering volunteering overseas to examine his/her motivations and come up with criteria to apply to choosing an organization as well as a location. In addition, this book discusses issues surrounding language barriers and how to overcome the obstacles as well as use the volunteer opportunity to become fluent in another language. This book makes a wonderful gift.

Really useful material for serving internationally
I take teams of people on international work projects every year. Presently I have a team going to Bosnia. The material presented in this book is insightful, accurate, practical and worth absorbing before working cross culturally. It is well written, very personal and engaging. Hats off to the contributors, authors, editors and publisher. It will get a lot of use. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Job Hunting For Dummies is a remarkably versatile book. It holds your hand through the arduous and terrifying process of job-seeking, and offers valuable insights relating to résumés, interviews, and networking, effectively playing the roles of mother, pal, spouse, and guidance counselor, without ever losing its temper or asking when you're finally going to land a job.

Max Messmer is eminently qualified to instruct on all things job-related. He's chairman and CEO of Robert Half International Inc., the world's largest specialized staffing firm, and he's penned numerous articles, columns, and books (such asThe Fast Forward MBA in Hiring and Staffing Europe), so Messmer knows a thing or two about how to apply for a job effectively, and he has a few words to say on how not to blow it, too.

He knows, for instance, how overwhelming and intimidating the job hunt can be, and how useful it is to break the monster down into prioritized, bite-sized tasks. There are detailed chapters on organizing, setting targets, and scoping out the field, plus essential chapters on writing a résumé and cover letter that present you in the best light, pursuing job leads, and performing well in the interview spotlight.

Messmer's experience in the field makes his advice reliable. You know that when he suggests how to research a company before the interview so you are somewhat knowledgeable about what they do, and when he warns against pink résumés and sarcastic cover letters, he's offering the collective opinion of hundreds of staffing professionals. It's advice worth reading, no matter how qualified you already are to do the job once you get it. The only misleading aspect of Job Hunting for Dummies is the title, because no dummy would do something so smart as to increase his or her application advantage by reading Max Messmer's book. --Stephanie Gold ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Great book, worth every penny
After several years of complete dedication to my career and to the company I was employed by, I experienced a layoff a few months back. Thus, I suddenly find myself back in the job market and felt ill-prepared to deal with it until I got this book.

I went on a few interviews but had been nervous about certain questions such as; do I tell them how much I was making at my last job? Do I write a "thank you for interviewing" me letter after the interview? etc, etc...

This book covers all the topics that you are nervous about. Examples; what to say in a cover letter, interviewing, salary negotiations + much more. Included are some useful sample resumés and cover letters in different formats.

After reading this book, I feel much more confident that I'm handling my job hunting in a more professional manner. I would recommend this book for anyone who is looking for a job, or even if you have a job but hate your boss and want another one.

In general, I like the For Dummies clear and concise and easy to read format. While there are some For Dummies books that have very little substance, this is not one of them.

The New Job Hunter's "Bible"
"Job Hunting For Dummies" is an easy-to-read book that spells out the most effective ways to find a job and it does so in a clear and concise manner. Even in the best of times, the job market is an imbroglio that is difficult to navigate and that is why JHFD is a must-read for all job hunters.

Although job hunting is serious business, JHFD adeptly uses humor for comic relief as well as to emphasize a point. The section on actual resume' and job interview miscues is both funny and cautionary; readers would do well to take note.

Of all the job hunting books I've read, JHFD is clearly the best. While Richard Nelson Bolles' "What Color Is Your Parachute?" has been acclaimed as the job hunter's "bible," I know from experience that it is a tedious and often contradictory piece of work that has outlived its usefulness. Accordingly, job hunters should consider bypassing "Parachute" in favor of JHFD as it has more to offer its readers.

Crystal clear, easy to read and INFORMATIVE
Max has written the final word on finding a job! It is put together very well - a quick yet informative and in depth read. Hey! This book even helped me get a job at Robert Half International - Max's company! Love ya, Messmer! ... Read more

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

Proving your worth to a potential employer can begin well before the negotiating interview-which is why you need to be prepared. For 15 years, Negotiating Your Salary has been the bible for salary negotiations and, updated for the new millennium, this career classic is back to coach a new generation of job hunters. Nationally known career advisor Jack Chapman teaches you when to bring up the salary issue, how to respond to interviewers' offers, and simple strategies that can help you double your salary. For the already employed, he also covers how to make the most of raises and salary reviews, and much more. This revised edition includes a new chapter on the ins and outs of negotiating with dot-coms and start-ups, and information on stock options and vesting schedules. With NEGOTIATING YOUR SALARY you can be sure to get every last penny that you deserve. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Hands down the best book you can buy for interviewing
Ever wonder if you made the best offer? Afraid friends, peers or subordinates are making more money than you? Sharpen your negotiating skills with proven tactics in this book. Hands down the best book on salary negotiation. Key point? Know your worth, stick to your guns, and be quiet!

Excellent guide to maximizing your compensation package!
I'm a Career Counselor and coach with a number of years of expereince as an Executive Recruiter where I frequently helped my candidates negotiate their salary. This book gives some excellent guidelines on how to postpone salary talk and get the best compensation package possible. It covers such things as how to determine your fair market value for the particular position, industry, and location of your work, in relation to your past experience. It covers how to keep your offer intact, yet still negotiate for what you are worth. It teaches the power behind a few seconds of silence!

I highly recommend this book to anyone who plans to change jobs, or wants to negotiate a better salary in their current position. You should read this book before you have your first interview!

A Quick Read That's Well Worth the Time....
I used Jack's book to negotiate a great compensation package for myself in the software industry. Although all the negotiation was handled through the in-house recruiter, much of Jack's advice still was applicable.

Follow the golden rule, namely do NOT disclose your current salary! In particular I found his advice about waiting 30 seconds before responding to a prospective employer's first offer to REALLY work!

A must read!

Pays for itself 1,000 times over
This is a brief (approx. 170 pps), easy to read book from which job seekers of any profession can benefit. Helpful examples are given throughout the book of blunders and of success stories, so that readers can learn from each. I found only one significant weakness of the book, and that is that the advice given generally is more valuable for (i.e., more directly relevant to) people who are in sales or who work for companies that can put a dollar value on their worth and growth over time. This can be hard to do, however, if you (for example) are a scientist who works at a research university--when you publish a new research finding, you cannot easily put a dollar value on it's worth to the university. Chapman spends little time on applying his advice to a sufficiently diverse range of work settings. Nevertheless, this book has many valuable pieces of advice that will almost certainly strengthen your position as a job-seeker or raise-seeker, and I would recommend it to anyone in any profession.

Buy the book!
This is an excellent guidebook to prepare people for one of the most stressful yet important stages of accepting a new job. The author successfully presents the material in an easy to read format that can be useful to anyone who is or will be negotiating a salary. Given today's economy, you have to go in with a game plan and be even more creative in negotiating the best possible package. The author's use of bullet points, lists, formulas, and worksheets create step-by-step scenarios and solutions, as well as, common sense recommendations that provide an effective, concise series of steps for getting offers, and negotiating the perks. Case examples demonstrate each of the steps and how to (and not to) execute them. The chapters on salary negotiations are particularly good, especially sections on responding to the offer with your researched response and clinching the dealing and then dealing some more to get maximize your handling of the perks and benefits negotiation process. I recommend this book to anyone as a reference guide before making any steps toward salary negotiations. I know it helped me stay focused on obtaining the best package I could during my negotiations. ... Read more

Book Description

Support Your RV Lifestyle! An Insider's Guide to Working on the Road is a complete reference for making money on the road. Based on the author's ten years working and traveling in her motorhome, as well as the experiences of many other working RVers, this how-to manual is broken down into easy to use sections:

* Know Yourself: how much money do you need, evaluate your skills.

* Nitty Gritty of Getting Work: Getting mail and messages, where to look for work, resumes for the road,interviewing, negotiating, as well as unique legal issues that face RVers.

* More than 300 moneymaking opportunities: nine chapters detail more than 300 jobs, job categories and moneymaking opportunities for the RVer.

* Lifestyle considerations: health insurance and other issues RVers face on the road.

* Appendices and resources: 72 pages of references, including URLs.

Whether you are already traveling and working on the road or gathering information, you will want this how-to manual. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Establishing a budget, pursuing more than 300 different jobs
Support Your Rv Lifestyle! An Insider's Guide To Working On The Road by Jaimie Hall is a practical and innovative guide to learning how to support oneself while on the road, all while traveling in an RV. From establishing a budget to pursuing more than 300 different jobs and opportunities to make money while on the go, Support Your Rv Lifestyle! is an practical, "user friendly", and highly recommended resource for any RV traveler looking planning to take an extended journey.

No More Excuses!
Are you one of those countless people who yearn for adventure but feel stuck at your current address and dreary desk job because you fear you can't afford to try something new? Now Jaimie Hall's new book, Support Your RV Lifestyle, provides a no-more-excuses manual on ways to make money and have fun living and traveling in an RV, too. Just leafing through these pages was a vicarious employment adventure, and I kept finding things I was itching to try out from Jaimie's fun smorgasbord of job descriptions. I could sell ads for campground maps ... or sell tickets at the circus ... or even work as a fire spotter for the U.S. Forest Service. Why not?

-- Donia Steele
co-author of Steeles on Wheels: A Year on the Road in an RV...

An encyclopedia for working on the road
I wish we had this book when we started fulltiming 7 years ago. As it is, this book is so full of resources, addressess, e-mail sites and helpful information, that we find we are constantly referring to Support Your RV Lifestyle. And we thought we knew it all by now!! Not even close. Jaimie has given us a multitude of additional ideas and ways to continue to support our lifestyle. If you are among the ever-growing group of RV'ers that must work at least part of the year, you are in luck. Someone has already done all the research for you.

Making Money on the Road!
Jaimie Hall's "Support Your RV Lifestyle" is a well-researched guide to finding gainful employment while living on the road. It provides some excellent excercises and budgeting tools that you can use to find the jobs that can support your dream of "being out there."

The strength of Hall's book is that it provides guidance for not only couples, but also for solo travelers, disabled workers and familes who have elected to live life on a roll. This insider's guide provides great tips honing your negotiating skills and serves to provide a baseline of expectations for the kinds of jobs one can find. Ms. Hall and her husband have worked and lived on the road since 1992 and so much of the information in the book has been discovered through first-hand experience. Buy this book today -- you will not be disappointed!

The Most Comprehensive Guide Available!
Are you dreaming of a new lifestyle that allows you to travel to your hearts content? Are you a seasoned veteran of "road work"? Are you somewhere in between? Then "Support Your RV Lifestyle" by Jaimie Hall is a must read . It will quickly become the most used "how-to" book in your library.

Jaimie's fresh approach to the subject is brought to life through stories gathered from fellow working Rvers during her 10 years on the road. All the basics are covered....and then some. You will learn not only what to do, but exactly how, when and where to do it like a pro. The book is divided into sections, making it possible to utilize the information in several ways.

Your journey begins with learning the 14 mistakes working Rvers can avoid. If you already have some experience working on the road, you may recognize some of these. The information you find here can help you avoid these situations. Hall then leads you through a self discovery process that will enable you to take control of your work possibilities, make decisions about what you would like to do and show you how to make it happen.

How much will the fulltiming lifestyle cost? There are as many answers as there are working Rvers. You will find out how to answer this question for yourself and discover ways to meet your goals. Good ideas for developing and living within a budget are shared through the experiences of others.

The Nitty-Gritty Of Getting Work To Support Rving is a tool box of strategies for finding jobs or volunteer positions, filling out applications, creating a resume and cover letter, interviewing and keeping in touch. The tips in this section will certainly give you an edge over the competition. The advice on how and when to accept an offer will show you ways to increase your pay both directly and indirectly via additional perks. You will find lots of suggestions to help you be successful in meeting challenges you will encounter on the job.

The section covering the Job List and more than 300 Money Making Opportunities contains not only the information you need to find these jobs, but introduces you to many Rvers who share their stories about supporting their lifestyle while living their dream of travel.

RV Lifestyle Considerations covers things like health insurance, unemployment and minimizing expenses. You will learn that there are jobs available that will meet the needs of singles, the disabled and families that travel with children. Concerns about leaving your old life behind are addressed along with suggestions on establishing a new "community".

Several Appendices provide extensive information about various Federal and State agencies that are potential employers and/or information sources to help you manage your traveling lifestyle. Budget worksheets and related information can also be found in this section.

Finally, The Resource section is worth the price of the book by itself. Arranged by chapter, it is a comprehensive list of specific job search sites, employers and resources for locating job openings.

This book has already become "The Bible" of working Rvers and can help you, too, turn your dreams into reality. ... 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

So you think you want to work on Wall Street. The idea of working in the financial markets excites you—and so does the idea of making a big salary. Before you interview, though, you should take some time to consider your career choice more carefully. Do you really want to work 80 hours a week? If you do, in which firms would you best fit? And what kind of banking do you really want to do? Be sure to read this Insider Guide to learn the answers to these and many other questions:

• Firm snapshots—brief profiles of leading firms.
  
• What is working in an investment bank really like . . . beyond all the brochure-speak?
  
• What are the opportunities for undergrads and MBAs in corporate finance? Public finance? M&A? Sales and trading? Research?
  
• What do people really do in each of these areas, in plain English?
  
• Which were the top I-banking firms, by category, in 2001 and 2002?
  
• What are the latest trends in the industry?
  
• What are the best articles to read on the I-banking firms (and what is WetFeet's spin on the bottom line)?
  
• How do industry insiders describe the pluses and the minuses of an investment banking career—lifestyle, culture, perks, etc.?
  
• Talk like a banker. It's time to play investment banking buzzword bingo!
  
• How much do I-bankers get paid anyway?
  
• What are some interviewing tips from industry insiders?
  
• On what measures will your interviewer be evaluating you?
  
• What questions should you prepare for your I-banking interviews?
  

Reviews (5)

Really helpful
This is a great overview to the investment banking industry, and I found it to be extremely current as well, given all the recent layoffs on Wall Street. The profiles of the major firms are helpful, if brief, and the details around the key types of jobs are rich and well researched. I really liked the day-in-a-life profiles. Definitely recommend this book to those looking to research careers in i-banking.

expert information
I found the information in this guide to be very well developed and organized. Wetfeet is a name that many MBAs know and their guides are ones they go to when they want the inside track for getting the interviews and ultimately their dream job. I say this b/c I'm an MBA who looked to this particular guide along with some i-banking company guides to get me prepared for interviews. it's been a tough couple of years, but i managed to snag a key internship last summer with the help of the WF guides, and am recommending them to any other biz types who want to do well in their interviews. oh yeah: my key internship has turned into a full-time job--one of only a handful given out my particular firm. tks to wetfeet. your guides were invaluable.

Really Helpful Info
Breaking into I-Banking is so competitive that I feel I need all the help I can get. This guide was filled with a lot of truly "insider info" such as interview tips, pros and cons of the industry, and how the best companies are doing. The On the Job section gave a good idea of the general career path to follow and how to best leverage my skills. I've been sharing the guide with my classmates (sorry Wetfeet) and they've been so enthusiastic about it, I felt compelled to recommend it to other students. This is a great resource for getting started in your career development in Investment Banking.

THE guide on I-Banking!
If I had to credit it one thing toward getting me my great job (besides my degree!) it would have to be wetfeet.com in general and this guide in particular. To-the-point, detailed, and insider-ish. This has got it all! Can't go wrong with this if you're thinking about a career in finance.

disappointing
This report was disappointing. A more useful report on IBanking is the Vault.com 2002 Career Guide to Investment Banking or the Harvard guide to finance careers. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Costly mistake!
In December 2001 I recruited a person to our business and because I hired on my gutfeeling I made a very expensive mistake. Now seven months later after enormous amounts of energy and resources devoted to that person I had to fire him.

This book has thought me the importance of looking at working habits and past actions when hiring people. Maybe you can teach a old dog to sit - but who has the time and money for that!

If you are hiring - buy this book and do it right!

The Hiring Process - Will make or break your business
"High Impact Hiring" by Del Still is a must read for everyone from the President of a Company to the Dept. Manager charged with interviewing & hiring decisions. Once you have read this book you will find you are more equiped to gather the pertinent information on candidates which will ultimately give you greater success in this most important decision. Hiring the right individual is one of our Corporate clients greatest challenges so we have been giving this book to them to assist in facing the hiring hurdle. With the assistance of the book they are capable of meeting the hiring challenge with confidence. As the President of one of Southern California's premier CPA firms I am involved in all of our own internal hirings and am so grateful to have read this book. My advise to those of you who are involved in this process is "Don't hire without first reading this exceptional book!" Your business cannot afford the wrong individual. Creating an exceptional company can only be acheived with exceptional people within an organization.

"You win by building an exceptional work force"
"Making the right hiring decision is more important today than ever before." Del J. Still writes, "I don't have to tell you about the impact of smarter competition and globalization of today's business on profits. I'm sure you've felt the pressure. If not, you will. Even the smallest company cannot afford to operate as they have in the past and expect to suceed in today's pressure-filled environment. How do you win? You win by building an exceptional work force"(p.19).

In this context, throughout the book, he presents his 7-Step interview model that can be summarized by one seven-letter word- 'PROCEED.' He argues that "It is an acronym where each letter represents one step of the process. 'PROCEED' is your blueprint to interviewing success. You'll be amazed at the results you achieve when you follow this process, step-by-step"(p.42).

Step 1: Prepare

* Identify existing superior performers

* Create a job description for the position

* Identify the competencies or skills needed to do the job

* Draft interview questions

Step 2: Review

* Review questions for legality and fairness

Step 3: Organize

* Select your interview team and your method of interviewing

* Assign roles to your team and divide the questions

Step 4: Conduct

* Gather data from the job candidate

Step 5: Evaluate

* Determine the match between the candidate and the job

Step 6: Exchange

* Share data in a discussion meeting

Step 7: Decide

* Make the final decision

Finally, he writes that "Even though the material I have included in this book is based on years of research and practical experience, it can always be improved. I encourage you to experiment with the methods and discover what works best for you...The cardinal rule is to 'stay legal' and 'play fair.' The 'best' thing you can do is put someone in a job where their competencies closely match the requirements. The 'worst' thing you can do is the opposite"(p.221).

Highly recommended.

The Ultimate Interviewer's Handbook
With all the books on hiring out there, I didn't expect to find one that showed me a system that worked flawlessly. This is a must have book if you are at all involved in the hiring process. It's worth its weight in gold! Buy it before it sells out. Enough said.

Proceduralizes Interview Techniques
Over the dozen years that I've been interviewing and hiring staff, I have "self-developed" many of the techniques the author presents. However, I had not formalized them. This book provides methods and procedures, helps develop a mechanical thought process, to structure the pre-interview selection, the interview, and the post-interview analysis.

I used the book to augment my own "self-grown" interview process recently and with tremendous success.

This book is a "must have" arrow in every manager's quiver; young or old, new or mature. Whether you have "home-grown" an interview technique, had HR force one upon you, or are looking to develop a strategy, this book will help. ... Read more

Book Description

Fully updated and revised 4th edition and the only book about living and working in Spain that is updated annually. Essential reading for anyone planning to live or work in Spain and the most up-to-date source of practical information available about everyday life. It's guaranteed to hasten your introduction to the Spanish way of life, and, most importantly, will save you time trouble and money! The best-selling and most comprehensive book about living and working in Spain since it was first published in 1995, containing up to three times as much information as similar books! ... 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

From the Publisher

Step-by-step, fool-proof instructions to guide any health professions student, graduate, or practitioner through what can be an agonizing process of writing these important documents. Learn how to identify and describe your accomplishments to emphasize your strengths.Includes examples of actual résumés and personal statements. Also details how to use cover and thank-you letters to establish relationships with interviewers. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

An extremely valuable resource for medical students.
Dr. Tysinger draws on his extensive experience advising medical students to share useful strategies for the match process. He offers practical tips for preparing personal statements and CVs, and gives particular attention to the process of identifying personal experiences and strengths and developing "marketing strategies" for residency interviews. Lots of examples are provided to help illustrate the variety of experiences that can be discussed