Job & Edu

The Unwritten Rules of the Highly Effective Job Search: The Proven Program Used by the Worlds Leading Career Services Company

From McGraw-Hill

Author : Orville Pierson
Binding : Hardcover
DeweyDecimalNumber : 650.140973
EAN : 9780071464048
Edition : 1
ISBN : 0071464042
Label : McGraw-Hill
Manufacturer : McGraw-Hill
NumberOfPages : 288
ProductTypeName : ABIS_BOOK
PublicationDate : 2005-12-16
Publisher : McGraw-Hill
Similar Products

Customer Reviews

Rating:
Summary: Job Search
Comment: An useful book to help focus a job search for professionals. Even if you disagree with the authors main points, th queetions asked are appopriate for any job seeker to ask.
Rating:
Summary: A Missed Opportunity
Comment: This is a mediocre book written about the best job search method there is. There is an interesting interplay between this book and the Lee Hecht Harrison (LHH) instruction manuals called "AIM". In many ways this book is a redaction of those manuals. But the manuals contain many examples, forms and step-by-step processes that are completely missing from this book. I would have had a much tougher time with job search if I had only had this book and not the AIM manuals. The AIM manuals are not for sale new, and therefore those who are not lucky enough to have had their company pay for LHH training are left with only this book (and its companion Networking book, also by Pierson). The AIM manuals can be purchased used on Amazon. I would recommend purchasing them for anyone seriously trying to follow this method. I am left wondering why Pierson wrote a book with all the text explanation of the method, but none of the workbook-style tools that are needed to really understand and use the method in an effective manner. Was he limited by how much of their method LHH would let him put into a general availability book? If that is the case, then how sad. It is like being given a sip of fine wine, but not being allowed to drink the full glass.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful book which leads you in the right direction
Comment: Mr. Pierson has written a well insightful book which gives the reader a sneak peak into what's going on in the manager's office and helps the reader understand the key steps in getting their foot in the door. A well written book which will assist anyone looking for the magic potion to getting oneself noticed.

This book also gives some key steps which are important in any job search to assist the user in finding that perfect job!

Kelly Wibbenmeyer, Author of Any Tom, Dick, or Harry Can Get a Job: A Sure Fire Way to Land a Job
Rating:
Summary: Everything you think you know explained the right way
Comment: PROS: A sober, thoughtful, organized book that presents a definite plan for a job search, organizing many common elements of a good job search into one process.

CONS: Extremely dry writing style may put some off. Despite organization, some of the book's organization is odd.

SUMMARY: A must-buy book for the job search, presenting an organized plan you can use "out of the box" as long as you're willing to do some research.

There are a lot of books out there on doing a job search, and it seems most of them repeat about 80% of the same material, with different levels of enthusiasm and different audiences in mind. We all know about networking, resumes, cover letters, etc. It seems there's nothing new under the sun job-search wise, and even the technical innovations we see, such as social media, only seem to build on common behaviors - networking and sending out resumes.

Orville Pierson's book contains all the advice you've ever heard before - there's no magic in a good job search, but a lot of research, networking, and common sense. What Pierson does that makes the book stand out is give you an organized plan for using good job search techniques. This isn't a pile of advice - it's a plan to get you a job and improve your job searching.

The core of Pierson's work is fourfold:
1) Research one does on oneself, one's potential positions, and one's market.
2) Using that research to create a good resume and "sales tools."
3) Networking with an eye toward the long term, while using resources you have now.
4) Treating this as a project with measurable numbers, information, etc.

These four elements work together, feeding into each other and providing feedback. A list of companies you want to work for (a vital part of the Pierson method) feeds into your sales pitch, your networking tells you about the companies further, your plans modify, and you track your results. In the end you navigate closer and closer to your ideal job, probably faster than you may realize.

Besides the plan, the book does provide a lot of useful advice, and fortunately these tidbits are usually couched in the larger picture. How many hours to put in on a job search ideally, what kinds of job hunting work, for whom and why, etc. You'll pick up a lot reading this even if you're an experienced professional, and there's an entire subsection on forming a support group that's good for all professionals.

The book is not without it's flaws. It's extremely dry writing, reminiscent more of a textbook or a manual, and the few attempts to add some humor don't really work. Despite its organization, there are a few curious asides or re-visiting of past ideas that seem a bit distracting. These are minor flaws, but it's important to realize them tackling the book, especially if you're used to some of the rah-rah go-go job advice books. This is an encouraging book, but it's mostly about getting to work on your job search.

This book is ideal for everyone in the job market except maybe high-level executives. It's smart, intelligent, well-written (if dry), and presents a useful, rational plan that anyone can use in their job search, and that builds good job search habits. It's not the LAST job search book you'll read (especially if you're in a specialized market), but it should be on the shelf of anyone with a job.

In short, I'm giving it my rare "must buy, must read" rating - when you're done with this review, go buy the book.

Also if you're using this book, don't lend it out untill you've got that job you want.- you'll want to refer back to it in the future. If you want, buy extra copies for your friends and family - it's worth the money.


Rating:
Summary: How to withstand the rejection and not waist time finding your next job!
Comment: I have done lots of career coaching in my life but when I heard Orville speak and outline the process he has used to help hundreds find a job, I was inspired and impressed. What he does is make the job hunting process, that no one likes to go through, manageable and systematic. The hardest part is being rejected he says, so he explains how to withstand that! He has fine tuned the job hunt so that if you aren't getting an interview, you need to do "x" and if you aren't getting past the interview stage you need to "y". What I was particularly impressed by is the method used to determine what position you will try to obtain. Using career codes (at the library) and zip codes, you can actually measure your chances of finding a particular career in said location. This allows you to broaden your search or refine it as needed based on that type of job's turn over rate. Now this process is available to us normal folks not just corp people who do not use the want ads to find work. I also have his Networking book which I HIGHLY recommend for job searches or any kind of sales work. It too is excellent. Orville also has a sense of humor so neither book is dry, how refreshing.