Product Description
Networking, interviewing, and negotiating are key steps in securing your ideal job—learn to do them well, and you’ll have a foothold on a brilliant career. In this WetFeet Insider Guide, Robert A. Fish, founder of Right Management Consultants, the largest outplacement consulting firm in the United States, sets out clear and easy-to-follow advice for landing the job you want. In his extensive career in the recruiting and career management industries, Mr. Fish has counseled hundreds of leading executives of major corporations including Apple Computer, AT&T, and IBM on career transition issues.

Turn to this WetFeet Insider Guide to learn how to

• Capitalize on the many job openings that never appear in the classifieds.
• Set up information meetings with professionals in your desired field.
• Develop brief presentations that will impress employers and contacts.
• Navigate the interview process effectively.
• Dress for any type of interview.
• Respond appropriately to any style of interviewing.
• Deal with weird interview situations.
• Maximize and choose from several offers.
• Handle those offers that never materialize.

Product Description
More and more people are discovering the benefits of sourcing the job market properly. This involves not only access to the best opportunities but also cutting down on the time-wasting and discouragement that is a feature of unstructured job hunting. This book teaches readers how to play the modern job market to their own advantage. It includes: how the modern job market works; how to access the invisible market; how to target your approach; how to design an effective CV; how to use your existing network; and how to get headhunted. ... Read more

Product Description
The Ultimate Interview Book for any professional!Everybody hates job interviews, even the interviewers:This book shows you how to conquer your fear and answer the toughest questions for any job interview. Some questions may be impossible to answer (What are you biggest weaknesses?) but it is now possible know what interviewers really seek in your answer. 65 Interview Questions explains why the interviewer asks the question and shows you how to answer effectively. There are tips for every type of question - so you can answer with confidence.Whether you are new to the workforce, or a veteran project manager this book will come in handy. One of a series of interview questions books, 65 Interview Questions delivers. The table of contents and index are also comprehensive, making it easy to find what you need and help you save precious time. ... Read more

Product Description
Mastering the Job Interview is for every job hunter who wants to ace the interview.It will help the job seeker to turn the job interview into a job offer.It shows the reader how to maximize a salary offer through smart negotiation.It will show the reader how to highlight their strengths and gain more power in the job interview and is complete with tips to start out on the right foot in a new position. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

I got the job, thanks to this book!!!!!!!!!!!
This book helped me land the job I wanted, right out of the box.It taught me how to be prepared, and really helped me realize that one of the most important things about interviewing is what you do after the interview.The follow up is extremely vital if you really want the job.The samples and advice in this book are extremely helpful!!!!!

A Must Have
This book is certainly worth its weight in gold.Kate Wendleton may have written her best guide with this one.The information about researching industries and companies before and after interviews is explained in no nonsense language.By being prepared like that one can certainly eliminate competiting interviewers as well as competing thoughts.Insight is also given for those who are looking to do consulting.

I was actually disappointed the book came to an end.There seems to be so much more Kate Wendleton has to offer on this subject.Five Stars.....Try more like 10! ... Read more

Product Description
The 10 Critical Mistakes to Avoid at the JOB INTERVIEW Book for the Kindle contains excellent information that you need to know to prepare for your job interview. This book details the 10 most common and truly critical mistakes for your initial job interview, shows you exactly how to avoid them, and will teach you how to master the art of a successful interview!
We are pleased to offer thousands of Books for the Kindle. Click on our Editor Name next to the book title above (eBook-Ventures) to view all of the titles that are currently available. ... Read more

Product Description
In these turbulent times, the job-interview game is more convoluted than ever for executives. They face a longer interview process, must demonstrate a vision to meet the prospective employer's challenges, and will undergo intense vetting before receiving a job offer. Top Notch Executive Interviews reveals what employers really want and expect to see in executive candidate interview behavior and content. The book's coverage of the executive interview difference, its case studies of senior-level managers in sticky interview situations, and its broad collection of hiring decision-maker interview peeves and preferences make it the must-have companion volume to Top Notch Executive Resumes.

This vital book includes an insightful examination of critical differences that distinguish executive-level interviews from all others, along with extensive information on leveraging relationships with recruiters, plentiful sample interview questions and suggested responses, and a comprehensive list of sample questions to ask the interviewer.

Special additional features include:

* Detailed tips on how to land an interview and conduct pre-interview research.

* The importance of nonverbal behavior and attire.

* A thorough guide to interview formats.

* An interviewing checklist.

* A chapter on tricky interview situations.

* A directory of executive-interview coaches.

* Post-interview chapters covering thank-yous, follow-ups, references, vetting, and background checks, plus negotiating and weighing job offers. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Comprehensive guide to executive interviews
The U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration does not send anyone into space who is not superbly qualified. The U.S. Navy selects only the toughest individuals for its formidable Seals training program. The most brilliant high school students battle to win full scholarships to Harvard. Similarly, job candidates for executive positions go through a far more intense vetting process than normal employees before they get hired. The costs of hiring, retaining and losing executives is higher, so companies have to get recruitment right. For the candidate, these multiple interviews are by far the most challenging part of the process. You may possess stunning professional credentials and a terrific work record, but they won't help if you cannot handle being on the receiving end of executive job interviews. In this valuable, information-packed - though not especially innovative - guide for businesspeople, employment expert Katharine Hansen discusses what interviewers look for in executive candidates, what questions they ask and how you should answer them to get hired. getAbstract considers this book a very practical resource for individuals who want to win top-level executive positions. ... Read more

Product Description
If you are "winging it" in your interviews, you are probably making mistakes that are costing you money and opportunities. Wouldn't it be better to rehearse your answers to those tough interview questions so that you don't blow any more interviews? Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter tackles 25 of the toughest interview questions and shows you how to answer them so that you don't have to. ... Read more

Product Description
Designed to easily prepare job seekers for all types of job interviews, this book is packed with solid advice, including how to best prepare for different types of interviews, handle stress, observe etiquette, gather information, formulate key questions, rehearse tough questions, dress appropriately, listen effectively, respond to a job offer, negotiate a salary figure, and handle the critical post-interview period. Stresses the importance of preparation at each stage of the job interview. ... Read more

Product Description
Job interviews have changed dramatically in recent years. Both the format of interviews and the questions that are asked are designed to drill deeply into a candidate's personality and behavior, not just his or her job qualifications. The cost of hiring and retaining good employees in the 21st century compels employers to be much more careful about whom they hire, leading to a more in-depth approach to interviewing. In this companion to No-Nonsense Resumes and No-Nonsense Cover Letters, Arnold Boldt takes the reader step-by-step from interview preparation to performance to follow-up, in a straightforward, easy-to-follow manner.

No-Nonsense Job Interviews is a practical, down-to-earth, and accessible guide for candidates of any level: entry level, blue-collar, mid-career, and senior-level managers. It begins with thorough, but easy-to-understand explanations of the 18 different types of job interviews and the key elements of interviewing techniques. Included are the most common and toughest interview questions you'll most likely be asked along with the best way to answer them. Subsequent chapters offer tips on researching the company, asking the interviewer, and evaluating your performance. Included in each chapter are specific tips from professional career coaches, plus samples of thank-you letters and other correspondence related to the job-interview process. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A must for those who want to make sure they land the job they desire
The interview can mean the difference between getting the job and not. "No-Nonsense Job Interviews: How to Impress Prospective Employers and Ace Any Interview" is a guide for not fumbling what many describe as the most vital part of the hiring process. Employers don't want to waste their time with scrubs and people who would only cause trouble for the work place, and one must present themselves as competent and trouble free. "No-Nonsense Job Interviews" is a must for those who want to make sure they land the job they desire.

Great for both sides
No matter which side of the table you are sitting on, NO-NONSENSE JOB INTERVIEWS by Arnold Boldt will help you perform better. Whether you are looking for the right job for you, or looking to find the right candidate to fill your open position, this gem of a book will prepare you for the task.

I expected to find a book filled with questions and possible responses, and the book does have a few dynamite questions to ask, but for the most part this is about much more than just interview questions. This covers the full job search from preparation to presentation to post interview follow up. You'll find lots of ideas that are easy to overlook and that just could be the extra touch you need to set you apart.

From introduction to appendix you'll find practicle advice that is fresh and easy to apply. You'll give a much more productive job interview by following this book, no matter which side of the table you're sitting on. ... Read more

Product Description
With more than 40% of the federal government's 1.6 million employees retir­ing in the next 10 years, now is the time for anyone seeking a government job to take advantage of the massive retirement wave that has already begun. Yet until now, no truly up-to-date or comprehensive book has existed to give readers the tools and guidance they need to get hired for a government job, internship, or fellowship. Entertainingly written by a successful career coach who has served as a federal hiring manager, this reader-friendly book steers prospective applicants through every stage of their job search. Drawing on interviews with more than 100 other hiring managers, the book gives readers:

little-known ways for finding openings * shortcuts for instantly impressing the true gatekeepers on paper and in person * sure-fire tips for negotiating a top salary * and expert techniques for getting quickly promotedIncluding a companion CD filled with sample résumés and worksheets, this is the book to have when seeking a federal job. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (47)

Informative!
This book provides a lot of great insight for the federal job process. As a young professional, I really appreciated all the tips and tricks the author added to really round out the job search process. I highly recommend this book!

What an excellent resource!
I take strong exception to Roger Mart's criticism of How to Land a Top-Paying Federal Job.I wonder if Mart has even read How to Land a Top-Paying Federal Job, because the book provides important, reader-friendly insider advice about federal jobs that other books don't even touch--such as salary negotations that may be worth tens of thousands of dollars, explanations of how hiring managers think, how federal applications are really screened, and templates for quickly churning out applications, to name just a few features.The book is not only comprehensive but also current and up-to-date because it is written by a current federal employee who works in the federal system--not someone who retired years ago.It is clearly the best book on federal jobs available. I whole-heartedly recommend it to seekers of jobs in the federal sector as well as the private sector.

Poor attempt.
I see it as adifficult and weak attempt at being like , The Book of U.S. Government Jobs: Where They Are, What's Available & How to Get One (10th edition) (Book of US Government Jobs) by Dennis Damp.

Great Resource-Helped me get a job!
This book was incredibly helpful to me when I was looking for a new job.I was transitioning from academia into the public sector and this book became my go to resource.It helped me convert my CV into a resume, write a great cover letter, work on my interview questions and get a higher salary!I do not know what I would have done without this book.It gave me the courage to write a non-traditional cover letter, which was read by the prospective employers and probably helped me get the interview.I would highly recommend this book for anyone looking for a federal job or any job.This book is a big reason I have a new job!

Excellent Guide
I really like the insights into the Federal hiring process provided by this book. Since the author is a full-time Federal hiring manager, I find her information refreshing, helpful and enlightening. She provides a "real world" perspective about what to do and what to expect. Although she gives a high level view of how to write a Federal resume, her example resumes are a very good guide to follow. Overall, I like her approach and advice concerning how to land a good job with the Federal Government. I recommend her book highly to anyone that is serious about getting a top paying Federal job. ... Read more

Product Description
No More Job Interviews is the first book authored by an entrepreneur with disabilities to offer business startup strategies tailored to people with disabilities. Step-by-step, it teaches how to optimize prospects for business success and self-sufficiency. It also gives human service agencies the tools to play a powerful role in the process by offering self-employment programs.

Doyel covers little-known opportunities and resources in growing a business that she has found in the for-profit and nonprofit worlds as well as the public sector. She also offers tips on the role of the Internet, both as a way of doing business and as a source of business start-up information. The book also includes four profiles of individuals with disabilities and their business plans.

The book is aimed at people with all types of disabilities and also at the professionals who can help them in their careers, such as vocational rehabilitation counselors, employment specialists, job developers and supported employment program managers. It also is a tool for family members or friends who lend support to someone with a disability in his or her career quest. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

5 Stars!
Thanks so much for getting me the book in New condition, just as described. I would recommend your services to anyone. Thanks for a great book and more importantly; Great Customer Service!
Carpe Diem!

JL

Powerful Resource for Disabled Entrepreneurs
Finally!A guide to self-employment written specifically for people with disabilities and the family members, friends, agencies and organizations that support them!No More Job Interviews! debunks the myths that suggest that people with disabilities are not suitable candidates for self-employment.

Self-employment has historically been overlooked and misunderstood by professionals who provide employment assistance to people with disabilities.As a result, self-employment has been largely utilized only as an option of last resort.Author Alice Doyel takes this issue head-on.

A successful entrepreneur with disabilities herself, Doyel is living proof that people with disabilities can and do succeed in business.Over the past sixteen years, she has weathered the ups and downs of business ownership-from expansion to closure to starting over-all while balancing health concerns and family responsibilities.

Doyel's appetite for business led her to seek out a book on entrepreneurship for people with disabilities.When she found that no such book existed, she decided to write one herself.In her own words, "I felt that I could put together information that would help other people with disabilities succeed because I knew the types of information that I wanted and needed as an entrepreneur with disabilities."

Doyel's "been there, done that" perspective makes No More Job Interviews! a uniquely powerful resource for entrepreneurs with disabilities.Each chapter contains a wealth of information and resources for potential entrepreneurs-some of which is specifically geared to people with disabilities and some of which would be of value to any budding entrepreneur.

No More Job Interviews! acknowledges the important role that employment and human services professionals often play in the lives of people with disabilities, and prescribes a role for them in supporting self-employment as a viable vocational option.Doyel gives employment professionals a basic business "tool-kit" for helping people with disabilities make the dream of business ownership a reality.

Doyel's book does a superb job of addressing the distinct challenges faced by entrepreneurs with disabilities.Practical suggestions help potential entrepreneurs address real-world challenges of disability and business ownership while minimizing their effects on business success.No More Job Interviews! is essential reading for anyone with a disability who is considering entrepreneurship, and for the family members, friends, and professionals who are committed to helping them achieve their goal. ... Read more

Product Description

Quick and easy strategies for preparing for any interview

24 Hours to the Perfect Interview is the one resource job seekers need to quickly prepare for even the toughest interview situation. Bestselling authors and career coaches Matt and Nan DeLuca offer a quick and easy system that walks job hunters through the essential steps of preinterview preparation:

• Researching the company and the position before the interview
• Putting together a professional look
• Preparing important documents for the interview
• Responding to difficult questions about past job experiences
• Knowing what to reveal--and what not to reveal--about past work experience In addition, the authors present proven strategies for following up after the interview and negotiating the best salary and benefits when job hunters finally win that dream job.

Product Description
Offering accumulated observations of interviews with hundreds of job candidates, these books provide useful insights into which characteristics make a good IT professional. These handy guides each have a complete set of job interview questions and provide a practical method for accurately assessing the technical abilities of job candidates. The personality characteristics of successful IT professionals are listed and tips for identifying candidates with the right demeanor are included. Methods for evaluating academic and work histories are described as well. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Good Resource
I bought this book specifically for the Cisco networking interview questions.It has a good set of questions to help assess various interviewing candidates.I recommend this book to hiring managers.

Excellent Network interview questions
This is an excellent text for any IT manager.I was impressed with the coverage for the pre-interview stages and how you can identify those job candidates that are most-likely-to-succeed in the job role.

Better still, I was impressed with the job interview questions.They are designed for a telephone interview, and the IT manager can just ask the questions and compare the responses to the "ideal" answer.

Overall, this book is a real timesaver for anyone hiring a Cisco or Ethernet Network Engineer.
... Read more

Product Description
The interview is often the most important step in job hunting, and solid preparation often spells the difference between a job offer and a friendly good-bye handshake. This bookÂ--each page in the form of a Q & A flashcardÂ--offers ideal preparation for that big interview. Questions likely to be asked by an interviewer are printed on one side, with proven answers printed on the reverse. The book is designed so that pages can be pulled out, selected and shuffled according to need, and used as flashcards for practice. Interviewers are notorious for asking a wide range of questions, and this book covers virtually all of them, with 200Q & A cards that fall into a variety of categories. For instance --

Product Description
"Extraordinary.... A hundred books in one.... This book is a home run."-- From the FOREWORD by Richard N. Bolles, author of the best-selling "What Color Is Your Parachute? A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career-Changers"

The ultimate guide for college students and grads seeking interviews in a tough economy. It explains how to:

(1) transform even modest educational achievements and non-paying life experiences -- from hobbies and travel to family circumstances and extracurricular activities -- into persuasive statements about abilities,

(2) generate job interviews by professionally fine-tuning resumes and cover letters specifically for each application, and

(3) prepare successfully for interviews by writing persuasive resumes and cover letters.

REVEALS RESUME-WRITING SECRETS:

* what to include when you lack paid professional experience

* how to get great references even from people you don't know well

* why to use a summary statement instead of an objective statement in most fields

* when to include hobbies, travel, and technology skills

* why you should NOT list most courses already taken

* what to do if your GPA is unimpressive

* which designs and basic templates work the best

* how to determine the perfect verbs and adjectives for a specific job

* the 5 things you MUST address in a cover letter

SPECIAL FEATURES

* an in-depth index so you can find exactly what you need

* before-and-after samples of rewritten resumes and cover letters

* a helpful flow chart for writing resumes and cover letters

* "Dr. Q’s Tips" based on actual student and alumni experiences

* "Expert Advice" quotations from dozens of publications not online

* a categorized list of "action verbs" that appeal to potential employers

* sample resumes with accompanying cover letters

THE AUTHORS

Quentin Schultze, Ph.D. (AKA "Dr. Q"), is a well-published and prize-winning author, a popular speaker, and an award-winning college teacher with over 30 years experience mentoring students and graduates. Bethany Kim is a writer, teacher, and consultant on teaching English to adult learners.

ENDORSEMENTS

"This superb book explains how students and graduates can demonstrate that they're equipped for a job when they don't have any formal job experience to reference. Wish I had it 20 years ago."-- Gary Van Prooyen, Global Brand Director, Motorola, Inc.

"Practical and inspiring. If more of the resumes that come across my desk used this advice, hiring would be a lot easier. The appendices alone are worth the price of the book."-- Kevin Jeffer, Partner, Chief Creative Officer, re:creative

"I used to teach resume writing without a textbook because none of them really covered all the essentials. That's over. This book has all the nuts and bolts college-aged job hunters need."-- Professor Kathy Bruner, Taylor University

"I am making this book required reading for all my students."-- Professor Kevin T. Jones, Director of Internships, George Fox University

"Great for today’s fiercely competitive job market!"-- Scott Stegenga, Partner Manager, Yahoo! Search Marketing

"Brilliant! Should be required reading for every career-bound college graduate." -- Professor Peter A. Kerr, Asbury University

"Finally, a book I can recommend on writing resumes and cover letters!"-- Professor John Pauley, Eastern University

"WOW!I can't wait to get copies for my students."-- Professor Barbara Spies, Cardinal Stritch University

... Read more

Customer Reviews (18)

Life-changing; Must Read
This is a must read for anyone who has trouble creating the right resume. But its impact is much more poignant than a simple guide to beefing up your fact sheet. It provides the encouragement everyone needs when they are between jobs and wondering where their energies should be spent. It is life changing. In fact, it made me step back and reassess my own career, pull out my resume and tweak it too.

When the idea of writing a review for Quentin Schultze's latest book How to Write Powerful College Student Resumes & Cover Letters came to me, I was more than a little hesitant. It's not because of the author. Of all of my required readings in college, Dr. Q's book Redeeming Television was my favorite. It was the topic that put me in the wrong frame of mind. Reading a book about resumes isn't my first choice for leisure activities; but I accepted the challenge. Before I was finished with the first sentence, though, I was enjoying it more than most other self-help books I've read in the past.

I don't like fluff, and I hate the idea of wading through endless stories to get to the reason I bought a book. This book is no such thing. It is enjoyable to read, easy to digest, and full of practical, poignant advice. Read it with your resume open, and make edits as you go. It'll force you to think about who you are and appreciate things about yourself that you may have overlooked in the past.

I got it two weeks ago, read it in one week and have already ordered three copies to give to friends. As director of outreach (outreach pastor) for a church and board member for a nonprofit community service agency, I recommend this book to anyone involved in the competitive world of job shopping.

Powerful Resume and Cover Letter Book
In today's competitive market, it is essential to present the best possible resume. This book is one of the best that I've read for helping college students develop effective resumes and cover letters.

* Provides step-by-step directions to develop your resume

* Helps you incorporate not only what you have learned in college, but also your life experiences and personality attributes into your resume

* Provides actual resume and cover letter examples--and common mistakes to avoid

* Is chock full of expert advice and practical tips. For example, you should not add your GPA to your resume unless it is spectacular. Or you should not "pad" your resume with keywords that don't reflect your actual experience...great advice!

* Helps you focus your resume on your audience--the hiring manager, and to finely tune it for each position that you are applying for

* Helps you develop a resume that shows that you are the best applicant for the job

* Provides useful information on how to use persuasive and carefully chosen language and precise wording

* Helps you with formatting so that your resume will be easy to read and transmitted properly

* Provides useful information about how to add references and how to write cover letters

* Includes practical tips on how and where to submit your resume

This book is thorough and well researched. Applying the techniques offered in this book will give you an edge over the competition and increase the chances of being contacted for an interview.

If you're looking for a job, you must get this book.
Professor Schultze's teachings on résumé success will give readers a
significant advantage in their careers.Not only did Professor Schultze's
classroom presentations help me in my career endeavors; they also set the
standard in my 7 years of experience as a manager when looking at potential
employee candidate's résumés. Schultze and Kim's well-designed and engaging
book is aimed at college students and college graduates, but it is just as
helpful for employers who have to make judgments about candidates based
largely on submitted resumes.The book sets the standard for both writing
and reviewing résumés. I recommend it enthusiastically and hope that the
authors might write follow-up books on topics such as interviewing and
job-searching. -- Holly Yavanian, Product Manager, InteSolv Business Systems

For graduate and returning students
I teach in the graduate program at Spring Arbor University. Each semester I advise students who are fresh out of college and students who are returning to school (after several years in many cases) so they can advance in their occupations or start new ones.This book is something I plan to use with both groups of students. For graduate students fresh out of college, this book will help them to plan opportunities and seek out experiences that future employers desire. For returning students, this book will help them to leverage their existing work experiences. Graduate students lead busy lives, balancing school, family, and other obligations. Now I have something to give them that is clear, concise, engaging, and filled with practical tips and templates. This book will save me (and students) time and energy.That it is backed by 30 years of experience and sage advice takes the level of my own advising to the next level. In the short and long run, I believe this book will enable me to serve my students better. I've already purchased several copies to give away to students.

Helpful Advice
This book has a lot of advice on (and more importantly great examples) writing resumes and cover letters.It was very helpful to be able to read about how to make a resume great.Especially for someone who hasn't had a whole lot of work force experience.What I found the most helpful, since I am a visual learner, were all the examples of resumes and cover letters in the appendix.This book is a great resource! ... Read more

Product Description
Human Resource Approved Job Interviews & Resumes is an easy-to-read, easy-to-use book that guides a job hunter through the entire hiring process:

• The job search
• Preparation
• The cover letter
• The resume
• The interview
• Follow-up to the interview

Like the rest of the Approved Series, Human Resource Approved Job Interviews & Resumes is research based. It features interviews with 65 human resource professionals and hiring managers from various industries. Their commentary on the various strategies and approaches in the book allow you to use them with confidence.

If you've ever wondered what human resource professionals really think of your cover letter and resume, then read this book and you’ll see what works best. When you get called in for a job interview, learn how to make the best first impression possible, and discover what works for follow-ups.

Covering all the bases for winning the job, this book also includes a Bonus Section (what NOT to do):

• How to annoy the HR experts…guaranteed

Read today…use tomorrow. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Total Dissapointment!
This book was a total waste of money! The author indicates that the book concentrates on resumes and interviews. This book falls short on the resumes. In fact, the resumes that are included are extremely cheap and probably created by an intern rather then a professional seeking a HR job. The techniques/interview insights are insightful to a certain degree.

I also purchased Real Resumes for HR & Personnel Jobs and was highly impressed. The ISBN is 1-885288-29-8

Insights from the other side of the desk....
Too many salespersons (as well as those who supervise them) do not understand the importance of obtaining permission. Specifically, permission to provide information and thereby begin what then becomes a cultivation-solicitation process. So we continue to be inundated with postal and electronic mail we do not want. Telephone calls from persistent strangers invade our personal schedules. And so forth. Why not take the time to learn how best to approach us? How best to obtain our permission to proceed? All they have to do is ask. The same is true of those who recruit, interview, and hire job candidates.

This is one in a series of volumes in the Approved Series, each of which is written from the perspective of "the person on the other side of the desk,"in this instance who buys, interviews, hires, etc. What Schell has done is to interview more than 60 HR professionals to obtain the information which he then carefully organizes within seven Parts:

Effective Job Search Strategies
The HR-Approved Resume
The HR-Approved Cover Letter
HR-Approved Preparation
The HR-Approved Interview
HR-Approved Follow-Up
How to Annoy HR Professionals -- Guaranteed!

NOTE: This last Part all by itself is worth far more than the cost of this book. Reading the previous six Parts first, however, is necessary to derive maximum value.

When concluding his book, Schell shares "Some Final Thoughts" as well as additional information about HR contributors, himself, his research director, and the Approved Series. Those who wish to review -- at no cost, of course -- the full statistical data for all of his surveys are invited to visit the special readers' web page: www.approvedseries.com/readers/hrajir/index.htm. With his reader's permission, of course, Schell will provide periodic updates, special offers, and related information.

As is also true of each of the other volumes in the series, this one really does contain information and counsel of great value to those who sit on BOTH sides of the proverbial desk. That is to say, it will thoroughly prepare HR professionals and others (especially those who are relatively inexperienced) to be much more effective when recruiting, interviewing, and hiring. It can also thoroughly prepare job candidates who participate in that process. Hence the importance of the final Part, How to Annoy HR Professionals -- Guaranteed!

Those who share my high regard for Schell's book are urged to check out Paul Falcone's 96 Great Interview Questions to Ask Before You Hire, Lance A. Berger and Dorothy R. Berger's The Talent Management Handbook: Creating Organizational Excellence by Identifying, Developing, and Promoting Your Best People, Richard Luecke with Peter Cappelli's Harvard Business Review on Hiring and Keeping the Best People, and Bradford D. Smart's Topgrading: How Leading Companies Win by Hiring, Coaching and Keeping the Best People. ... Read more

Product Description
Offering accumulated observations of interviews with hundreds of job candidates, these books provide useful insights into which characteristics make a good IT professional. These handy guides each have a complete set of job interview questions and provide a practical method for accurately assessing the technical abilities of job candidates. The personality characteristics of successful IT professionals are listed and tips for identifying candidates with the right demeanor are included. Methods for evaluating academic and work histories are described as well. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Shockingly bad
I stumbled upon this little gem while browsing around the bookstore earlier today, and was so stunned that I ended up reading the entire thing.Hilarious and horrifying in equal measure!

The book is basically divided into two parts.The first part allegedly describes the characteristics of good and bad job search candidates.The second part is a bank of questions and answers, intended to help a hiring manager with no subject-matter knowledge "wing it" through a technical interview.Alarm bells should be ringing already at this point!


FIRST SECTION:Much of the material is generic to the point of being boilerplate.You could replace all instances of "Java developer" with "Web designer" or "Database administrator" instead... and recycle the entire section to create other books (perhaps the author has done just that!).The boilerplate breaks down as follows:

(1) One-third of the advice is of a nature that shouldn't require being said (e.g. don't hire people who show signs of drug abuse, long gaps in a candidate's resume are a warning sign, etc).

(2) Another one-third consists of information that is just flat-out wrong.I got a particular laugh about "proper" Java developers wearing dark suits with conservative ties!I've been a Java developer in Fortune 500 companies for over a decade now, and I've only heard (secondhand!) of one or two companies where the I.T. developers wear ties.This is of course putting aside the author's obvious sexism... whereas I've never seen a Java developer in a suit and tie, apparently the author has never seen a Java developer with breasts.

(3) Speaking of breasts, the final one-third is bizarre stereotypes and creepy illustrations.There are cartoons of technical workers dressed in drag and sitting atop a stack of pornographic magazines, or sitting in a basement stuffing their faces with pizza... to illustrate the author's warnings about many Java developers being perverts or slobs.I'm not exactly sure what a hiring manager is supposed to do with this "information", but it certainly does reveal a lot about the author.


SECOND SECTION:As mentioned, the second part of the book is a question and answer bank.Other reviewers have already noted that QA was lacking, as there are typos and flaws in the questions.

(1) However, even if these questions had been competently edited, the premise of many questions is flawed.A large number of these questions are of an "academic" nature that never comes up in real-world business... getting it wrong shouldn't reflect poorly on a candidate, while getting it right wouldn't necessarily indicate qualification either.

(2) Taking a step further back, the premise of this entire *section* is flawed.If you have no personal familiarity with a branch of technical subject matter, you *should not* be conducting a technical interview involving that subject matter!Standard management practice is to have an appropriate technical resource conduct the initial screening.Managers just interview pre-screened candidates to select the best personality fit.If you are B.S.'ing your way through unfamiliar technical questions, how can you really tell whether a candidate is B.S.'ing his or her way through the answers?This book is woefully inadequate for such a purpose.


In sum:this is a lazy book, intended for rubes with zero I.T. management experience, written by an author who may or may not have any management experience himself (the back cover indicates that he's a DBA contractor).The author either has an active disdain for technical professionals, or he is deliberately writing that way out of an assumption that it's what his audience wants to hear.To the extent that there is any value in this book at all, it is for entry-level technical professionals to help prepare themselves for poor management traits they will occasionally run across in their careers.Well, that and the creepy cartoons!

Good Starter book for Java interviews
This is a good Starter book for Java interviews. There are some typos etc that authors should have attended to more. But if considered a starter book for Java interviews, this is a decent book. But rarely the interviews in real world are starters. But a useful handbook for quickly refreshing basic questions.

Terrible book
There is something fishy about this book.Some of the answers given for proposed interview questions are just plain wrong.The description of the author says he has some kind of Java developer certification but it doesn't use the right terminology for the Sun Certified Java Developer(SCJD).If he had the SCJD then he would also have the Sun Certified Java Programmer certification but they don't mention that one.Hey author, what's your SCJD certification number so we can look it up?

At one point the author cautions against hiring anyone 60 years or older because if the company provides full retirement benefits at 70, the company would only get 10 years work before paying for a full pension.Is that blatantly discriminatory or what?No wonder it's tough to get a decent job if you're over 50!

Well written for interviewees
I was happy to have this book to serve as a guide during my interview process for a Java apps programmer position. It was well written with an insightful assortment of interview questions - both technical and non-technical. The questions on Java are relevant to all releases of Java 2, but would like to see an update that includes new features found in release 5.0. Other than that, a well written guide.

Very nice Q/A section
I am a manager (and still developing, however as little as possible) for a group of developers working with Oracle Apps 11i and a custom integrated web application for our sales and manufacturing department. I own both the Java and the J2EE version of this book and will be cross posting my comments to both of them. The comments below are both mine and senior members of my staff that have gone through both books.

Both books contain very similar information with regards to the interview process - proper dress code when showing up for an interview, assessing job skills, the values of certification and formal education requirements.

The heart of both the Java and J2EE books, however, is the Q/A section. Both are filled with well written and insightful questions that could be used for many J2EE or Java candidate positions.

With regards to the Java book, I feel that there was fantastic coverage on key features of the language (threads, security, and collections) including basic object oriented design. I did find a few errors, some of which looked like typographical errors, but was able to located the errata on the publisher's site.

Generally speaking, both books are well worth the $$$ and I was very impressed by the quality (and quantity) of the Q/A section. I do see this book as an extremely helpful resource to any candidate preparing for an interview. Hopefully a newer version of this book will address some of the new features found in J2SE 1.4 and 1.5. ... Read more

Product Description
Few of us have ever experienced anything like the current job market. Millions of jobs have disappeared, and everyone from experienced executives to newly minted college graduates are facing the toughest environment in decades. Which is why top-notch interview skills are more important than ever. Top Notch Interviews teaches job seekers at any level, from all industries and professions, the author’s proven technique to increase interview success. Even if you are the most qualified candidate, have the perfect resume, and possess the perfect background, you may still lose the job if you lack interviewing skills.

Top Notch Interviews is organized in easy-to-digest segments that will show you:

Product Description
Why do you want this job?Why should I hire you?Why do you want to leave your current job?

Do you have convincing answers ready for these important questions?Landing a good job is a competitive process and often the final decision is based on your performance at the interview.By following the advice of prominent career and human resources expert Peter Veruki, Director of Career Planning at Rice University’s graduate school of business, you’ll know you have the right answers at your job interview! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

The 250 Job Interview Questions You'll Most Likely Be Asked
Great questions.This really got me thinking.I loved the creative ones like, "What Color is your brain?" I went with green because I'm usually quite calm and I'm good at calming people down.

GREAT situational-interview questions
This book is highly valuable to help prepare for an interview where the interviewer will be asking situational-questions, which many people do.The Stanford graduate who gave the book one star seemed to think that the main purpose of the book was to provide the interviewee with THE answers to the various interview questions.The answers to the questions will necessarily depend on the interviewee's own background and experience.It is not the intent of the book to provide the answer that will suffice in all situations.

The value of the book is that it provides a safe forum for the interviewee to peruse the types of questions that will likely be asked in an interview and provides the person time to think through and develop the answers that apply to his/her situation.After bombing an interview with a pharmaceutical company 10 years ago, I went through all of the questions in this book and sailed through 5 interviews with another global company.After I was hired, I was complimented on my interviewing skills.I have moved up the ranks of my current company and, today, I use the book to supplement the questions we ask of new hires that apply for positions within our company.As with most things, you will get something out of it if you put something into it :)Have fun with it and good luck with your new opportunity.

Must have!
If you need tips on job interview questions than this is the book you must have.

Provides Some Basic Support For a Successful Interview
This audio book provides 250 job interview questions, basic ones, and very short responses that are designed to steer clear of controversy or create a poor impression.

I'm basically always up for reading/listening to another book that discusses interviewing.For me the value is on the side of the interviewer since that is one of my job functions.In case I am the interviewee, I feel prepared.

Books of this nature provide value to anybody that will be in job interviews on either side of the table.I learned the hard way that I need such books, because my first interviews didn't go well due to the fact that I didn't know what to ask.I'm sure I appeared unprepared and even stupid and felt ten times worse.After that, I made it my business to understand the interviewing process well and always be prepared.

The value of this book is limited because it doesn't go into any detail.I think one should be authentic in an interview and not provide "canned answers" where books such as this could lead.Still, if you're being interviewed and you really don't have a good answer or one you're comfortable with, you might as well give a very short memorized answer right out of this book.Nothing wrong with that as long as other parts of the interview are more engaging and authentic!You will appear well-prepared and informed about what makes for an acceptable short answer.

The person being interviewed has to at some point show some leadership in the interview, unless it is for a very low-paid position.Thus, having answers ready is only the beginning of preparation.You should ask questions and get into discussions related to the company and the work itself.

In my opinion, an interview where the interviewer asks questions and the interviewee merely responds is not a "good" interview.That's an interview that both sides can check off as completed but unlikely to go to the next level.This book can provide some basic support, the beginning of one's preparation for a successful interview.

Great service
THis was a key purchase for me due to upcoming interviews, I saw this on the book lists and ordered it promptly.I received quickly within days and was very satisfied with the quick delivery.The book is setup simply so you can jump between chapters to find out what areas you need more strength in.You don't have to read it from page one.I have learned a few things, surprising things since I received it making it a solid purchase on my part. ... Read more

Product Description
This workbook is designed to help job candidates gain a competitive advantage for their job interviews.This book will help the interviewee be as prepared as possible for upcoming interviews by showing teaching them a proven method to answer nearly any question encountered in an interview.The excersises outlined in the book help the reader prepare customized and impactful answers to the most likely questions they will face during the interview.In addtion to focusing on how to best answer interview questions, the workbook contains much more useful information regarding how to best prepare for job interviews ... Read more