Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

The Big Book of Job-Hunting Hacks: How to Build a Résumé, Conquer the Interview, and Land Your Dream Job

Rate this book
A helpful compendium of tips and tricks to land the perfect job!

In  The Big Book of Job-Hunting Hacks , experienced job-hunting professionals offer detailed advice on every step of the job-hunting process. From how to navigate the interview process, to how to create the perfect resume, this book will help you stand out from your competitors. With a new introduction by John Henry Weiss, president of a recruitment firm, that contextualizes the current economic state as a result of COVID-19, this book offers hundreds of practical tips for those laid-off, fired, or new to enter the workplace. Some of the information that this book will
Whether you're entry-level or nearing the peak of your career,  The Big Book of Job-Hunting Hacks  is the book for you!

408 pages, Paperback

Published August 18, 2020

5 people are currently reading
1 person want to read

About the author

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
0 (0%)
4 stars
2 (33%)
3 stars
0 (0%)
2 stars
4 (66%)
1 star
0 (0%)
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
Profile Image for Lloyd Downey.
759 reviews
October 20, 2025
When I started reading this book on Kindle, I didn’t, at first realise, that when they said “Big book” they really meant it. It is a very big book and I think there is a lot of repetition there. It’s one of those books, however, that you can dip into and extract whatever you want. And for me....well past the time when people are going to entrust me with a “Job” ....much of it is probably irrelevant. In fact, I found myself wondering why I was bothering to read it. And, I guess the answer is that the previous day I was advising my son about putting in an application for admission to a University program. And much of the same sorts of things applied ....about addressing the selection criteria etc.
I did find the book placed a huge amount of emphasis on producing the perfect cv ...proof reading it ad nauseum etc. Whilst, at the same time, saying that recruiters spent about six seconds on the typical cv and most jobs were awarded via personal contact etc. In fact, that was one of my main ‘take-aways’ from the book......that you really needed to use techniques other than submitting a cv. One technique struck me and that was the suggestion of cold calling. Really hard to do....you get a huge number of knock backs ....but, at the same time.....out of 100 calls you might get seven serious prospects. And, in addition, you were likely to be able to learn a lot more about the various companies and maybe get the name of the recruitment manager etc. (Admittedly, it did seem that most of these sorts of jobs were for marketing or sales). Though a friend who used to work for McKinsey’s commented to me that they would regard a candidate fairly highly who had the chutzpa to front-in to the office. (And, I think likewise).
A lot of it seemed to be written by Librarians with a constant reference to the resources available in Libraries. Inevitably, with American authors, there was a huge bias towards USA practice but much of the suggestions are probably transferrable to my (Australian) environment. But one is left wondering if this sort of system is the best way to recruit people.....it seems very inefficient. And, in my experience, the process of application, cv, interview is not that much better than selecting a candidate at random from the applicants.
I’ve included a few extracts below which give the flavour (and some of the detail) of the book.
Tip #1. Begin by making sure that your online profile and résumé profile are the same.
Tip #2. A successful job search begins with crafting a plan to implement the process.
Tip #3. A job search is a job in itself. Reserve a space in your home to conduct “business.”
Tip #4. The rubrics for conducting a job search are the same no matter what the reason was for your being let go. Even when the economy was in lockdown mode, companies still hiring.
Tip #5. Access the many online, print, and media resources to keep updated.
Libraries often go unnoticed and unused by job hunters.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (www.bls.gov), 52,500 workers are let go every day during a normal economy and many more during a recession....Southwest Airlines receives over 100,000 résumés each year. Google and Microsoft receive over one million each year, most of which end up in the trash because the hiring authority and human resources director never see them.
Here are five of her most important tips for crafting a professional résumé:
Tip #1. Write for the Future.
Tip #2. How Long Should My Résumé Be?.....not always two pages
Tip #3. Focus on Accomplishments.
Tip #4. Yes, You Need a Cover Letter....A cover letter must accompany a résumé, and it must be addressed to a named person with a job title and company name.
Tip #5. Proofread, and Proofread Again.
It’s important to remember that rules for job hunting do not change during a recession or during a full-employment economy. All three books in this compilation emphasize that point.
PART 1: HOW TO GET A GREAT JOB
1. WHAT DO YOU WANT?
Location: How far are you willing to commute? Are you willing to relocate, etc.,
2. STICK TO A SCHEDULE
Putting in the time is not the goal; getting results is..“If you read the odds of your résumé getting you an interview, it’s depressing. Statistics are always against you—just keep at it.
YOUR PLAIN-TEXT RÉSUMÉ In addition to your carefully formatted résumé, you’ll want a plain-text version as well—one that has all formatting and special characters stripped out. You will use this to copy and paste into the body of an e-mail
Show some enthusiasm and verve in describing how much you want the position!
If you can’t find a name that you’re certain will be the end reader, use something like “Dear Human Resources Professional:” or “Dear IT Manager:” as an opener. Anything but the frigid “Dear Sir or Madam:” or “To Whom It May Concern:”!
Have brand-new business cards printed for your job search.
Ask your social network to spread the word of your job search to their networks the people who are most helpful to us are those we don’t know well.. Granovetter told Forbes magazine that “informal contacts” account for almost 75 percent of all successful job searches.
Not sure of your career path? Volunteer for a community or national charity and meet professionals from all walks of life. u.
You can add new skills or strengthen others through the right volunteer position: Want to learn to sell? Offer to fund-raise! Want to master public speaking? Volunteer to give one or more presentations to the local chapter! Want to gain some leadership experience? Sign up to lead a committee, or serve on the board!
Volunteering is also a great way to plug gaps in your work history. If you can point to some professional work you’ve done in the year you’ve been unemployed, it looks good!
“LinkedIn is not the easiest thing to learn, but it includes a page that offers free tutorials on how to use it.”
Keep in mind as you’re searching the web for networking opportunities, posting comments on discussion forums, and entering today’s post for your LinkedIn profile, Facebook page, and Twitter that you should limit the amount of time you spend in online networking.
LIST YOUR CONTACTS, THEN CONTACT YOUR LIST This research aspect of your job search should be an ongoing task; don’t wait to compile a complete list of potential employers before you act:
The key to a successful in-person interview is preparation.....Coming up with real anecdotes, examples, results, and challenges from your previous work that you would like to mention. Then write them down and/ or say them out loud a few times. Memorize any percentages, years, etc., you’d like to include. “Practice telling your stories beforehand,” urges Kao. “Make sure each one illustrates a skill. You can practice short speeches very casually, by telling a friend.”
In order to conquer nervousness, asking a friend to hold a practice interview with you. “Practice each interview as if your life depends on it. Then treat the real interview as if it’s another practice,”
Rehearsing your stories, anecdotes, etc., in front of a mirror, or even videotaping yourself.
Silman says its OK to call the company’s human resources before the interview to ask about the dress code for employees. “
“Don’t mumble. Take your time while talking, and pause. . . . Pauses are a way to turn an interview into a relaxed conversation. They encourage dialogue instead of a lecture.” Another tip: “Talk for two minutes at a time—no more. Let them ask for more information if they want it.”
TAKE CONTROL OF THE INTERVIEW
Try to get the interviewer to talk first—even if it’s just a brief overview of the open position.
If the interviewer jumps right in by asking you to talk about yourself, lob the ball back into his court with a request like “If you don’t mind, can you first tell me a little about the position, so that I can better describe how my experience might fit here?”....
AFTER EACH INTERVIEW
Take notes. As soon as possible, write down your impressions of the company, the job, and the interviewers for your own future reference.....If the organization asked for references, contact those people immediately to notify them that they may soon be hearing from your prospective employer......Send a thank-you to anyone who might have referred you for the interview,......More important, send thank-you notes to your interviewers....
Once the opportunity for negotiating the terms of your new job is over, you’ll never be able to make up the difference between what you get and what you could have had.....It’s very rare that the first package offered—pay and benefits, that is—is fixed. So think of it as a starting point and reach higher. Basic tips for successful negotiation include:
DON’T ask about salary during your interviews. “It’s not considered appropriate,”
Know the salary range for the position. This is the key element to negotiating. You need to research salaries and typical benefits by industry, position, area, and for the current economic climate.
Look at the entire package. “These things will affect your pocketbook and your life,” Palmer stresses. You can negotiate: Flextime/ telecommuting from home Health insurance: if you are already covered by your spouse, or by the military, can you negotiate a higher salary instead of health coverage? Vacation time
Always ask for some time to consider the offer before making a decision.
PART 2: HOW TO WRITE A STELLAR EXECUTIVE RÉSUMÉ
There is a lot of detail here (and elsewhere about how to write a great resume.....but, at the same time they say that most jobs don’t come via a resume but via contacts.
The Interview
Again, a lot of detail about how to prepare and follow-up for an interview. Well worth reading, “The best way to get an interview is to take advantage of your networks. Get out there and talk to people!” Networking is essential to connect to people who might lead you to a job opportunity. Most important, networking will lead you to the “hidden job market”—the jobs that are not advertised but that are waiting for you to fill them!
PART 3: MOVING FORWARD IN MID-CAREER
Mid career workers suffer the most because they have the most to lose. After we cut through the hype about fulfillment, purpose, and mission, this thing called work has a universal purpose—to make money in order to survive.
Alison Green lists ten things to do immediately after being let go: (all good advice) Don’t panic. Don’t freak out. Don’t do anything rash. Don’t sign a severance agreement immediately. Negotiate how your departure will be described. Look over your finances. File for unemployment. Plan to keep in touch with clients and coworkers. Remain objective. Remember that you’re not alone.
Also, look at the employment rate........we have had an average employment rate of 94 percent over the past seventy years.
PROTECTING ALL OF YOUR INVESTMENTS Every worker, regardless of income level, should keep enough money in a cash account to cover at least six months of expenses
The most important classes of insurance are medical, dental, homeowners, automobile, life, long-term disability.
When requesting your termination letter, always ask for a letter of recommendation
FOUR OPTIONS FOR FUTURE EMPLOYMENT Employment with a company in an industry you like and that pays more than your previous position. Employment in a meaningful job that brings you personal satisfaction in addition to an income that provides for your needs. Employment as an entrepreneur by starting your own business. Employment as a worker in an entirely different industry pursuing what you always wanted to do but could never before find the courage to try.
What about those professional résumé-writing services that charge $ 50 to $ 300 for designing your résumé? If these résumé-writing gurus sell their services, they must be good. Right? Save your money. Spend that money to attend a trade show or conference where you will find hundreds of hiring managers in person.
Recognition, Community Service Technology Skills Education
Employers do not come looking for you at home while you are sitting at your computer sending résumés to job boards and career pages. You must seek them out yourself.....there are certain tried-and-true methods for finding employers.
If you are seeking a job in sales, the person you need to reach is the sales manager. If you are pursuing a marketing job, the person you should see is the marketing director etc.
Assume that you make fifteen cold calls per week on potential employers in an industrial or office park. At the end of one month, you will have made sixty calls where you spoke with a real person. Assuming a success rate of only 10 percent, at the end of one month you will have met personally with six influential people.
Treat the gatekeepers with respect. Meeting hiring managers personally is a key step in the process. Cold-calling on companies in office and industrial parks is an effective strategy to find hiring managers.....Studies show that using digital media is the least effective way to find employment with one exception—LinkedIn......Attending trade shows is the most productive strategy for job hunting.....Dress in business attire while attending trade shows.
[There is a long section here on handling interviews ..much of it repetitive with previous section but still a lot of great tips].... The two golden rules for interviews: Be courteous. Be honest
The hiring manager needs someone like you to fill an important position and is under pressure to find the right candidate as soon as possible.
Career counselors perform many of the same services as career coaches but extend their efforts to uncovering any emotional, behavioral, or psychological barriers that might impede your search for the meaning of work and a new career.
The fees can range from $ 75 to $ 500 for a forty-five-or sixty-minute session.
Outplacement is not a mom-and-pop business; rather, it is a large industry with national or multinational companies in its fold. Employers frequently provide bricks-and-mortar or virtual outplacement services for midlevel and above workers they let go. This service is expensive and costs the employer upwards of $ 5,000 per each let-go employee. For high-level executives, outplacement services could cost the employer as much as $ 25,000
per executive.
Selecting a career care provider is a business decision. Always check and verify the credentials of a career care provider. Local providers offer the most effective services. Craft a plan defining your needs and goals before employing any services. Working with a career coach or outplacement firm will keep you focused on your objectives and provide direction to find your way out of the dark cloud of unemployment.
Places of worship are noted for providing courses of every kind after Saturday or Sunday services and throughout the week......To learn what is being offered at a local church, simply Google its name and look at the website. For example, I entered “Old St. Patrick’s Church in Chicago.” What I found was an impressive list of services provided by the church staff, including personal counseling from a parish member whose credentials include an MBA from Northwestern and a master’s degree in counseling.
Everyone who lives within reach of a college or university will find career-related initiatives that come in different flavors. Some are informal discussion groups; others are formal classes held on a regular schedule.
So what's my overall take on the book? Repetetive...could have used a good editor. But a lot of useful information and tips there. Some really useful tips on what to do when you are fired, for example. Four stars from me.
Profile Image for Alicia Velice.
247 reviews
June 5, 2024
A big book about creating a Resume and searching for jobs, and interviewing once you get the callback. We shall see if it is useful in the Job search I am currently launching.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.