Career Book Review - Conquer Job Search Barriers For a Great Job Interview and Career Success

Although technology mandates advanced methods for a job search that may not have been used 15 or 20 years ago, there are still some basic principles that remain timeless. Many books and resources agree on the proper attire, methods of answering questions, and other things critical for a successful job interview.

But one book, while written in the 1990s, still provides exceptional insights into overcoming barriers to employment. "No One is Unemployable," by Debra L. Angel & Elisabeth E. Harney, WorkNet Publications, Hacienda Heights, California, (1997), pp. 274, ISBN: 0-957057-0-6.

Job Clubs Help
Job clubs are a great way of transitioning through the stages of unemployment. As more job clubs are formed across the nation, job seekers have the opportunity of getting expert help with job search skills and practice their networking techniques on a regular basis. If you facilitate a job club, or if you are a job seeker looking for help with your next job, this book would be a good resource to use.

This book is written for the benefit of a job coach or career mentor, and how they can help candidates advance through a job search using suggested scenarios.

On the other hand, a job seeker can quickly find information pertinent to their unique situation, and how to conquer barriers to employment based on their individual circumstances.

Two Sides of a Problem
The authors outline a ten-step process for overcoming barriers to employment. A key element of this, after identifying the barrier, is understanding the candidate's perception of the barrier, as well as the employer's perception of the barrier. This factor, seeing a situation from both sides of the coin so to speak, is part of what makes this book such a great resource.

Half of the book includes an Encyclopedia of Barriers, arranged alphabetically, and how to conquer those barriers. The authors state, "The only barriers which cannot be solved are those which you do not take the time to address, or those which the candidate is unwilling to address."

Proactive Methods to Conquer Employment Barriers
In more than 150 pages of the book, this section identifies barriers to employment, the employer's concern as well as the candidate's concern with that barrier, suggests proactive methods to address the barrier, and cross-references other barriers of similar topics to learn from. There are also mini case studies of candidates' experiences in overcoming these barriers.

Through the use of examples, every type of situation from A to Z is discussed - candidates who are homeless, gang members, convicted felons, overqualified professionals, displaced homemakers, and more. It also addresses physical barriers, such as hygiene issues, disability, obesity, etc. The book also covers emotional, behavioral, and knowledge barriers.

The book also gives hints and tips for overcoming the barriers while developing resumes and other marketing documents, filling out application forms, and while preparing for a job interview.

While this book may be dated, according to the publication date, the information inside is not dated, and is pertinent to job candidates in just about any situation, even today.

By now I bet you are wondering what you need to change in your own resume in order to land a job in today's economy? Get FREE Instant Access to a video series at http://www.HowDoIGetHired.com/getvideo where you will get short, easy-to-understand videos outlining the components of a value-based resume, PLUS additional reports to help you in your job transition.
From Naomi Lolley - Helping You Stand Out In The Crowd During Your Job Search.

View the original article here

Review of Targeting a Great Career by Kate Wendleton

Whether you are casually thinking about making a minor change in your career or in the midst of an all out job search, Targeting A Great Career by Kate Wendleton is a must have book for your library. It says so much without taking a long time to do so. The steps to take for managing your career are outlined very clearly. The author clearly relates to her audience by giving specific examples of targeting industries and sub industries as well as a variety of positions. Her prospective is to be open minded yet focused on what you want. A few pages in you will be determined to get a career that you want and not merely blindly answer every ad that comes vaguely close.

Kate emphasizes that one should network and indirectly state your situation and ask for help in connecting to the right people. Sometimes you will connect to someone who will refer your resume to Human Resources. Other times you will connect to the hiring manager directly. But the goal is to repeat the process and this is of primary emphasis. Networking is a better way than merely answering blind advertisements or overrelying on recruiters. Recruiters work for mostly large organizations and can be beneficial. However recruiters work more for the employer and less for the employee especially in a down market.

The author keeps things in perspective. She realizes that some people may be more anxious to find something right away. Therefore, she outlines a plan for that scenario as well. She emphasizes to research careers for the short term and the long term so that you become knowledgeable and your career takes a definite path. The sections on the seven stories and the life plans are excellent and even go beyond just work. The idea is to make your entire life rewarding and Kate Wendleton is very conscious of this. This is a section you can look back on numerous times to check out where you are at in your career.

It seems as if Kate's Five O Clock Club is a reasonable service. Yes, there are free resources out there if you are a long time between jobs. However, the outline of Kate's services is really fairly reasonable almost comparitive to donating to a good charity or belonging to a special interest club. If you are looking for a worthwhile career for the long haul, Targeting A Great Career is a sound investment in yourself.

My name is Glenn Wiener and I am person with many interests ranging from sports to music to speed dating and more. I have had a long career as a Financial/Operations Analyst in a variety of organizations large and small. In my spare time I am an active member of Toastmasters, an aspiring musician, an active hiker, a part time organizer of speed dating events, music and book review writer, avid fan of sports, museums and music and so much more. Over time, you will see a variety of articles submitted by me on a variety of subjects. I hope to hear from many fellow members with feedback and more information on the many topics that exist on this sight.

View the original article here

Career Renegade - How to Make a Great Living Doing What You Love by Jonathan Fields

"Career Renegade: How To Make A Great Living Doing What You Love" by Jonathan Fields is more than a "rah rah" do what you love book. It's full of practical advice on building a living around what you love to do, and following your passion rather than a paycheck. Fields himself, once a mega-firm lawyer who was killing himself for the job, left his high paying position to become an entrepreneur and follow his passion. You might not picture a high paid lawyer quitting his job to open a yoga studio, but it worked for Fields, and he insists that following your passions and doing what you love can work for you too. This book is his guide to show you how.

Again, I found this book to be much more than a bunch of motivational "you can do it." Fields shares examples, stories of others who've achieved success following their dreams, and resources to assist you make the transition toward your passions. The first part consists of two chapters that get you thinking about what you really want. Part two explores what kind of renegade you want to be. Fields looks at different career renegade paths and opportunities available to make a living while doing what you enjoy.

In part three, Fields covers topics such as getting social online and building on blogging and social media, areas that he has been extremely successful with. Marketing is a key to building a business, and Fields offers some good advice in this area.

The final part focuses on topics such as cultivating the renegade mind-set, not doing it alone, holding on to your life preserver until you can swim, and being your own guru. This final chapter was motivating, but also grounded in reality. I like the Helen Keller quote near the end, "Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing." Fields then asks, "What are you waiting for?"

Some of the stories and examples Fields uses were people and business I was familiar with, and others I'd never heard of, but all of them fit well with the lessons he was sharing. He also provided numerous websites for additional information. I really did feel the book had a good mix of motivation, practical tips, resources, and examples that engaged and instructed the entire way through. It is also a book to look back to as you plan your own career. If you are not making a great living doing what you love, check out this book and it may just provide the stimulus and advice to help you along that path.

Alain Burrese, J.D. is a performance and personal development expert who teaches how to live, take action, and get things done through the Warrior's Edge. Alain combines his military, martial art, and Asian experiences with his business, law, and conflict resolution education into a powerful way of living with balance, honor, and integrity. He teaches how to use the Warrior's Edge to Take Action and Achieve Remarkable Results. Alain is the author of Hard-Won Wisdom From The School Of Hard Knocks, the DVDs Hapkido Hoshinsul, Streetfighting Essentials, Hapkido Cane, the Lock On Joint Locking series, and numerous articles and reviews. You can read more articles and reviews and see clips of his DVDs as well as much more at http://www.burrese.com/ and http://www.aikiproductions.com/

View the original article here