Job & Edu

Get The Job You Want, Even When No One's Hiring: Take Charge of Your Career, Find a Job You Love, and Earn What You Deserve

From Wiley

Author : Ford R. Myers
Binding : Paperback
DeweyDecimalNumber : 650.14
EAN : 9780470457412
Edition : Original
ISBN : 0470457414
Label : Wiley
Manufacturer : Wiley
NumberOfPages : 224
ProductTypeName : ABIS_BOOK
PublicationDate : 2009-06-15
Publisher : Wiley
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Customer Reviews

Rating:
Summary: Unique, innovative, inspiring, helpful. Great book. Buy it. Use it now!
Comment: I first became acquainted with Ford R. Myers and his book, Get the Job You Want, Even When No One's Hiring (GtJYW), last month (April 2010) through reading a San Francisco Examiner online article by Heather Huhman titled "Recommended reading: Get the Job You Want, Even When No One's Hiring" ([...]), dated June 22, 2009. Get the Job You Want, Even When No One's Hiring is a powerful, relevant experience, moreso, than just a job-search book and career-management tool. Ford's writing style emotes compassion and caring for his audience, and more importantly, collaboration with us-- not only during this economic `perfect storm,' as Ford called it, in which we find ourselves and also throughout our entire working lives. Paraphrasing GtJYW, through researching, defining, then planning our direction/destination, and initiating constructive, congruent, and coordinated ACTION in our job search and/or career management in a proactive, thoughtful, well-planned and well-prepared, sustained effort, we will mitigate, and possibly even eliminate, the negative impact on ourselves of future job search/career challenges.

Ms. Huhman's article is a great read, and the clarity of Ford's job search and career management vision excited me to the prospect of finally finding a job search expert and book that will speak to me in a clear language with actionable, believable, and DO-able steps to move my job search efforts forward productively. I've read much job search/career management material in book form, all manner of online offerings, and various magazines. Finding useful, relevant, coherent information, in this genre has been such a rare discovery, as to almost be non-existent.

I've found Ford, through (1) his book, (2) his website, Career Potential ([...]), and (3) his webinar presentation, to be intelligent, engaging, thoughtful, and informative. His vision and book are both relevant and timely. In reading GtJYW, I needed to clarify a point regarding the use of the online, downloadable Values form and the book (first edition). I e-mailed Ford, expecting for his staff to respond. Ford, himself, responded quickly, and we bantered back-and-forth by e-mail. To be sure I was clear, Ford asked me to call him. I called and left a message for him, again, expecting his staff to return my call. Ford, again, responded himself. He clarified the issue and we talked a bit regarding career searches, his material and my situation. Every positive trait I attributed to Ford prior to conversing with him, he possesses. Ford is an engaging, thoughtful, and intelligent gentleman. GtJYW is an outstanding, relevant, highly useful book.

Book Review:
The book is broken down into 5 parts and 83 talking points, with additional resources, and an accompanying section on Ford's web site, Career Potential ([...] ), including downloadable forms. Several exercises are provided to keep us engaged and to assist us in finding our personal selling points and focus. Additionally, Ford makes excellent of use of "How to" information in numerous vital activities and tools in your job search.

PART I *The Psychology of Job Hunting in a Down Market* reviews the current state of the economy in which we find ourselves today, and sets the stage for Ford's vision of effective job searching for today and the future. Several GEMS to ponder are given: (1) Mind-set before skill set is the number-one secret to job search success; (2) Managing our career is paramount to out happiness and success (We own our career, the companies own the jobs), and (3) Focus and clarity are more important than ever, to move with congruency toward your ultimate goals.

PART II *From Desperation to Career Strategies for Tough Times* gets us thinking about the downside of acting out of desperation, instead acting in concert with our focused, well-planned goals. Exercises included regarding Values, Dreams, free thinking, Strategies, research information, Wish List; All of these points build up to the fact that, "You Must Be Crystal Clear on Your Job Before It Can Become a Reality."

PART III *Leveraging Your Core Job Seeker Materials* Here you will discover the Job Search Survival Toolkit, from which you will work daily to organize and manage upcoming events and record past events for easy recall and follow-up. CRITICAL: Your Résumé Is Your Least Important Tool.

"There are many other critical tools to be developed for one's "Job Seeker's Tool Kit," so that the candidate can use the right tool, for the right purpose, with the right person, at the right time. Since a very small percentage of the job seeker's time will actually be spent in interviews or applying for open positions, the résumé should be seen as the "least important tool. ~Ford. R. Myers (from Huham article)".

Other Gems: (1) Job Search Survival Toolkit is adaptable, is a complete portfolio of career tools, and its goal is to support your goal of using "the right tool at the right time for the right purpose with the right person"; (2) Accomplishment Stories Are Your Most Powerful Selling Tools; (3) Professional Biography; (4) Target Company List; (5) Networking (how to build a list, contact people, track and follow-up; (6) References

Networking is the linchpin of our job search. EIGHTY to EIGHTY-FIVE percent of all jobs are filled before they are advertised through networking! Less competition in the `hidden' job market and more jobs.

PART IV *Job Search Tactics to Use When No One's Hiring* Networking as a topic is covered in only 20 pages, regardless of what some of the negative reviewers say, and the first talking point says it all, "Networking is not Part of Your Job Search--Networking Is Your Job Search" Regardless of how few people you believe you know, the people you know people and they know people, and so on, and so on. Sure some peoples networking will start out being more challenging, but we're not in competition with each other, we're competing against the status quo. Additionally, we keep networking, even when we think things are secure, because you never know.... Yes, networking scripts included and downloadable tracking sheets are available.

Other Gems: (1) Sample Proposal for Service; (2) Online Career Identity; (3) The Résumé `Code' for creating outstanding résumés (samples of different types of résumés given); (4) Strong action verbs; (5) Résumé addendum; (6) Every company is hiring all the time, even in a down economy; (7) Writing a strong cover letter (examples of different types given); (8) Interviewing; (9) Testimonials; (10) Negotiations

PART V *Bulletproof Your Career, Once and for All* Gems: (1) Perpetual Career Management "Beware of a common trap: putting all your time and energy into just doing your job, as compared to managing your career"; (2) Landing your job is not the end--it's the beginning; (3) Never feel helpless again--no matter how bad the job market gets.

*Career Resources*
Gems: (1) Productivity Charts; (2) Other miscellaneous job search information.

One area that I would have enjoyed more discussion, direction, and exercises is in the area of whittling down, then sharpening my focus area and Target Market List. References to other books/material and/or relevant online information, as was done with the job boards would prove very helpful. Regardless, that's only a suggestion, not a criticism. I'll be buying the newest edition this week.

In summation, this is the best job search and career management book I've ever come across. This book is a great "How to" treasure trove of job search and career management information and exercises. Ford R. Myers provides plenty of new, innovative, helpful information to propel us forward in our job searching and professional lives. The GtJYW is outstanding and Ford's writing style speaks very clearly, concisely, inspiringly to me. Get the book! You'll love it! I look forward to my own positive, demonstrable steps in securing more interviews and new work in line with my ultimate goals.
Rating:
Summary: Must read for these new career transition times
Comment: In a world cluttered with "Career Transition How-To Books," most leave the reader with the usual platitudes and standard fare of "do this and don't do that." But Ford Myers' book "Get the Job You Want, Even When No One's Hiring" gives the reader direction, hope, and time tested methods to get to real decision makers and be heard. The author has put together workable, real world tips and techniques that I am personally using to great benefit. I found his "Job Search Survival Tool Kit'' to be an excellent resource for staying on target. I have been through transition twice, and this time the rules have all changed. I strongly recommend Mr. Myers' book to anyone who is struggling to find their next position in these challenging economic times!

Barry Kaeck
bkaeck@yahoo.com



Rating:
Summary: "Get The Job You Want, Even When No One's Hiring"
Comment: I was searching for a book for my nieces, one who just graduated college and one who is looking for a new position. I gifted "Get The Job You Want, Even When No One's Hiring" by Ford R. Myers to them both. They both praised the book in guiding and focusing them with their cover letters, resumes, search approaches and follow-up. I have since given "Get The Job You Want, Even When No One's Hiring" to other friends and family members, and have received only "thank you" on top of "thank you!" I highly recommend this book to both the novice and experienced professional seeking a job. Mr. Myers clearly has the "know how" and the experience to bring such a comprehensive, insightful and practical resource to fruition. This book has become an essential tool helping my friends and family who are in need of employment due to the economic downturn, or who want to change careers.

Rating:
Summary: Great for an emotional pick me up, not so great for anything else.
Comment: If you are one of the millions in this country who have been laid off, fired, or flat out screwed over since this recession began, and need an emotional pick me up this book is for you. If on the other hand you have the cover letter, resume, and thank you letter figured out in addition to knowing that Networking in our current economy is what you need to do this book is not for you.

There are a few tips, and pointers that I took, and built on however, 98% of this book is filled with information that you probably already know, and have been practicing in your job search daily since being laid off, fired, etc...

It's a great book for beginners but, if you are experienced in the career field, then do not waste your time.


Rating:
Summary: Not A Big Help - Unrealistic
Comment: I purchased this book - and read it - and followed some its marginally useful suggestions. However, I also found most of its suggestions for "scripting" various conversations and written communication to be way out of the bounds of normal communications. Really, if someone showed up in my office and spoke the way the Author suggests, I would call security.