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Cracking the New Job Market: The 7 Rules for Getting Hired in Any Economy
The rules for finding professional work once seemed clear and unwavering: capture career highlights in a resume, practice answers to standard interview questions, and do lots of face-to-face networking.
Cracking the New Job Market shows how these rules have changed and delivers new job-hunting strategies that actually work. The key, rather than to emphasize past accomplishments, is to sell your self on the value you can create for an employer. This new approach to getting hired requires new skills. Author R. William Holland, a human resources insider, shows job seekers how to:
• Gather information on what a prospective employer finds important
• Emphasize those skills, accomplishments, and qualities in tailored resumes and interview answers
• Identify the intersection between personal talents and what the marketplace needs
• Unlock the networking power of social media
• Negotiate the best possible offer
Enlightening and practical, this myth-busting book delivers seven powerful rules for landing a great job—even in a difficult economy.
- GenresNonfictionBusiness
256 pages, Paperback
First published August 17, 2011
About the author
R. William Holland
3 books1 followerBill Holland brings a unique combination of personal experience and professional training to those looking for work and planning careers. He has developed a highly successful, no-nonsense approach to the subject that promises to emerge as a cornerstone in the career management industry.The source of his insights come largely from having:
Worked in key positions for several world-class organizations including Chase Manhattan Bank, PepsiCo, the Universities of California(Riverside) and Pennsylvania, Charles Schwab, Andersen Consulting and Right Management.
Been on the leading edge of globalization in the role of Chief Human Resources officer for Andersen Consulting’s Business Process Outsourcing Division.
P & L Responsibility as a senior level executive at Right Management for outplacement and consulting sales in 35 states and Canada.
Worked closely with parents and students to deliver career effective programs for Gen-xers.
Written and lectured extensively about the subject
In 2006 Bill published the first in a series of three books on career management, the award winning Are There Any Good Jobs Left? Career Management in the Age of the Disposable Worker (Praeger).He has now followed that with Cracking the New Job Market: The 7 Rules for Getting Hired in Any Economy(with a foreword by best selliing author Barbara Ehrenreich).
Bill attended Michigan State University on a football scholarship and received his PhD from there in political science. As a graduate teaching assistant at MSU’s distinguished James Madison College he was the recipient of the University’s first Excellence-in-Teaching Citation. He also received the Honorary Distinguished Alumni Award.
Bill has appeared on numerous radio and television programs and is available for consulting and/or speaking engagements.
Worked in key positions for several world-class organizations including Chase Manhattan Bank, PepsiCo, the Universities of California(Riverside) and Pennsylvania, Charles Schwab, Andersen Consulting and Right Management.
Been on the leading edge of globalization in the role of Chief Human Resources officer for Andersen Consulting’s Business Process Outsourcing Division.
P & L Responsibility as a senior level executive at Right Management for outplacement and consulting sales in 35 states and Canada.
Worked closely with parents and students to deliver career effective programs for Gen-xers.
Written and lectured extensively about the subject
In 2006 Bill published the first in a series of three books on career management, the award winning Are There Any Good Jobs Left? Career Management in the Age of the Disposable Worker (Praeger).He has now followed that with Cracking the New Job Market: The 7 Rules for Getting Hired in Any Economy(with a foreword by best selliing author Barbara Ehrenreich).
Bill attended Michigan State University on a football scholarship and received his PhD from there in political science. As a graduate teaching assistant at MSU’s distinguished James Madison College he was the recipient of the University’s first Excellence-in-Teaching Citation. He also received the Honorary Distinguished Alumni Award.
Bill has appeared on numerous radio and television programs and is available for consulting and/or speaking engagements.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
November 2, 2011
This is a very hands-on approach to writing a better resume, making the right kind of networking connections, tapping into the splintered job market, acing the interview, and generally conducting an effective job search that will get you hired in any economy. It's based on Holland's workshops and his background in providing career and job search guidance.
This is a very practical guide, and repeatedly makes the point that it's not about you; it's about the value you can create for your potential employer. Every resume that goes out to an employer needs to be crafted to make clear to the hiring manager how you bring added value and can create the value the employer is looking for.
This includes going through the job listing or the employer's website, and using their language to describe your responsibilities and accomplishments--and then doing the same with your cover letter and emphasizing or calling attention to key parts of your resume. The advice for interviews is equally practical and equally aimed at making sure you talk about how you can create value for the employer.
Holland also discusses negotiation, both the how and the when. Always wait until you have an offer to negotiate money and other aspects of the deal--and be practical and realistic. Be clear in your own mind first what things are "must haves" and what things are simply "good to have," because you've got to be ready to compromise and reach an agreement that's a win for both sides. Being too inflexible can cause the offer to be withdrawn, or, even if you are still hired, get the relationship off to a poor start.
What will for many be the most surprising advice is Holland's position that the "hidden job market" is a myth. It's his position that the job market isn't hidden; it's splintered. There are so many different places, targeted at different audiences and with different target audiences, to list or publicize jobs that many of them never reach the most visible job boards. The jobs you're looking for may be harder to find, but they are findable, with patience, persistence, and knowledge of your industry and the companies you are targeting.
In addition to covering resumes, networking, and interviewing, Holland also includes appendices covering financial planning for an unstable job market; the special challenges of being a professional woman while also taking the time to raise a family and potentially take care of aging parents; and helping your children make the most of college in getting started in their careers. I know some university professors who will not be amused to read his assertion that helicopter parenting is a good thing, but in fairness he isn't endorsing the kinds of behavior that drive them nutty.
Overall, this is a solid, practical book, with more hands-on guidance than is common in books of this type.
Recommended.
I received a free electronic galley of this book from the publisher via Netgalley.
This is a very practical guide, and repeatedly makes the point that it's not about you; it's about the value you can create for your potential employer. Every resume that goes out to an employer needs to be crafted to make clear to the hiring manager how you bring added value and can create the value the employer is looking for.
This includes going through the job listing or the employer's website, and using their language to describe your responsibilities and accomplishments--and then doing the same with your cover letter and emphasizing or calling attention to key parts of your resume. The advice for interviews is equally practical and equally aimed at making sure you talk about how you can create value for the employer.
Holland also discusses negotiation, both the how and the when. Always wait until you have an offer to negotiate money and other aspects of the deal--and be practical and realistic. Be clear in your own mind first what things are "must haves" and what things are simply "good to have," because you've got to be ready to compromise and reach an agreement that's a win for both sides. Being too inflexible can cause the offer to be withdrawn, or, even if you are still hired, get the relationship off to a poor start.
What will for many be the most surprising advice is Holland's position that the "hidden job market" is a myth. It's his position that the job market isn't hidden; it's splintered. There are so many different places, targeted at different audiences and with different target audiences, to list or publicize jobs that many of them never reach the most visible job boards. The jobs you're looking for may be harder to find, but they are findable, with patience, persistence, and knowledge of your industry and the companies you are targeting.
In addition to covering resumes, networking, and interviewing, Holland also includes appendices covering financial planning for an unstable job market; the special challenges of being a professional woman while also taking the time to raise a family and potentially take care of aging parents; and helping your children make the most of college in getting started in their careers. I know some university professors who will not be amused to read his assertion that helicopter parenting is a good thing, but in fairness he isn't endorsing the kinds of behavior that drive them nutty.
Overall, this is a solid, practical book, with more hands-on guidance than is common in books of this type.
Recommended.
I received a free electronic galley of this book from the publisher via Netgalley.
November 3, 2011
Excellent, timely advice! Dr. Holland knows his stuff. Trying to find a job can be very daunting and overwhelming, but this book breaks it into a step-by-step, logical approach. This book has helped me develop my freelance business. I recommend it for anyone, of any age, who wants to find work or is considering entrepreneurship.
October 21, 2013
The purpose for reading this book to see some possible alternatives to help break into the new job market. I have seen the transitions occur since graduating from high school to college and now.
One of the obvious topics the author discusses is to revise your resume to be more focused to the job requirements and to never assume that your credentials and experience will shine on your resume--need a summary of major areas of responsibility to be listed. There is an example of this transition to see the revision of a current job description to the revised one. Sadly, we may have to drop our graduate degrees to tailor to the specific job we are applying (which I've done in the past for some job requirements and if asked on interview about grad degree, will explain accordingly). We do not realize we hurt our chances instead of improving then with our graduate degrees for entry-level positions we may be applying for. The book discusses this as well. Overall it is about value creation, to display your worth.
He shows summary resumes, but when I tried this for a past staffing agency this year, they wanted to see short bullet-ed points and not the summary style which shows less bullets in shortened paragraph format as recommended in the book.
After reviewing all this, I want to hire someone who specialize in creating and developing resumes!
The social medias advised to network to find work, I have attempted to do these things and haven't located a position yet. I have been on these sites over three years. However, I have heard from one staffing agency was trying to find me on LinkedIn.
He gave the protocols on interviewing (which most I'm already familiar with from past resources).
He did speak briefly on "follow your passions or dreams" to pursue after that particular career. I wanted to read on the chapter about re-entry in the workforce. The suggestions was seeking higher education (which some do not see doing in their late fifties), volunteer work (many do not see this as an option if already out of work and have bills to pay), temp work, and update resume.
The book wasn't as helpful as I expected, it fell short for me.
One of the obvious topics the author discusses is to revise your resume to be more focused to the job requirements and to never assume that your credentials and experience will shine on your resume--need a summary of major areas of responsibility to be listed. There is an example of this transition to see the revision of a current job description to the revised one. Sadly, we may have to drop our graduate degrees to tailor to the specific job we are applying (which I've done in the past for some job requirements and if asked on interview about grad degree, will explain accordingly). We do not realize we hurt our chances instead of improving then with our graduate degrees for entry-level positions we may be applying for. The book discusses this as well. Overall it is about value creation, to display your worth.
He shows summary resumes, but when I tried this for a past staffing agency this year, they wanted to see short bullet-ed points and not the summary style which shows less bullets in shortened paragraph format as recommended in the book.
After reviewing all this, I want to hire someone who specialize in creating and developing resumes!
The social medias advised to network to find work, I have attempted to do these things and haven't located a position yet. I have been on these sites over three years. However, I have heard from one staffing agency was trying to find me on LinkedIn.
He gave the protocols on interviewing (which most I'm already familiar with from past resources).
He did speak briefly on "follow your passions or dreams" to pursue after that particular career. I wanted to read on the chapter about re-entry in the workforce. The suggestions was seeking higher education (which some do not see doing in their late fifties), volunteer work (many do not see this as an option if already out of work and have bills to pay), temp work, and update resume.
The book wasn't as helpful as I expected, it fell short for me.
March 25, 2012
Informative in a completely unhelpful way.
September 23, 2012
Great advice for finding a job in today's economy
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews