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THE JOB HUNTING BOOK: Career mentoring and job seeking tips - graduate edition
AUSTRALIAN CAREER BOOK AWARD 2023 FINALIST!
Searching for your first graduate job is an exciting time, but can often leave you feeling lost and frustrated. So here's a secret—it's not all about you! Getting a job interview is also about your employer. Added to this, the tools that recruiters and job seekers use have changed, and to be successful, you'll In this practical, step-by-step job hunting guide, industry veteran Ian Allan will become your personal career guidance mentor. You'll be given a foolproof process for writing a resume and cover letter that will go straight to the top of the "yes" pile, and a method for job hunting that includes identifying your skills gaps—and what to do about them. Plus, Ian will teach you useful strategies for finding the four out of five dream jobs that aren't advertised, and share actionable tips on how to build relationships so you get that job interview. Draw on Ian's decades of experience as an employee, employer and consultant to ensure you become an ideal candidate and land the job you've always wanted. Bonus Four hours of video training and job hunting resources, including LinkedIn profile tips, downloadable templates, and real-world examples of successful job applications.
Here’s what the reviewers are saying. . .
"Well written and incredibly researched" – Amazon reviewer US⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
". . .definitely a resource I will recommend to my student[s]" – Amazon reviewer CA ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"Straight talking and practical book" – David Shindler, Career coach and author (Goodreads)
"[Ian]. . . helps [you] develop a process that attracts recruiters." - Brandon Farrar - Talent acquisition strategist (LibraryThing)
Searching for your first graduate job is an exciting time, but can often leave you feeling lost and frustrated. So here's a secret—it's not all about you! Getting a job interview is also about your employer. Added to this, the tools that recruiters and job seekers use have changed, and to be successful, you'll In this practical, step-by-step job hunting guide, industry veteran Ian Allan will become your personal career guidance mentor. You'll be given a foolproof process for writing a resume and cover letter that will go straight to the top of the "yes" pile, and a method for job hunting that includes identifying your skills gaps—and what to do about them. Plus, Ian will teach you useful strategies for finding the four out of five dream jobs that aren't advertised, and share actionable tips on how to build relationships so you get that job interview. Draw on Ian's decades of experience as an employee, employer and consultant to ensure you become an ideal candidate and land the job you've always wanted. Bonus Four hours of video training and job hunting resources, including LinkedIn profile tips, downloadable templates, and real-world examples of successful job applications.
Here’s what the reviewers are saying. . .
"Well written and incredibly researched" – Amazon reviewer US⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
". . .definitely a resource I will recommend to my student[s]" – Amazon reviewer CA ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"Straight talking and practical book" – David Shindler, Career coach and author (Goodreads)
"[Ian]. . . helps [you] develop a process that attracts recruiters." - Brandon Farrar - Talent acquisition strategist (LibraryThing)
192 pages, Paperback
Published November 8, 2022
About the author
Ian Allan
6 books2 followersI write nonfiction to help launch people into their careers. I read fiction for pleasure, and to improve my nonfiction writing.
Life has a way of throwing up challenges. Mine happened in my late teens. In the final year of my apprenticeship a nasty workplace accident forced me to rethink my career.
Fast forward to my early 30s, I’d been a furniture restorer, a furniture removalist, a bingo caller, a pedestrian accident researcher, a condom tycoon (for some reason that failed to impress my girlfriend's mother), a software engineer, and a lecturer and researcher in spatial science. I won jobs, sometimes due to my tenacity, but looking back, mostly through word of mouth.
In the 90s I started a consultancy and did spatial modelling for universities, the water industry, all levels of the Australian government and the UN. Magically, consulting work and now my employees came via word of mouth.
So, after 40 years as an employee and as a consultant, I’ve learnt that the secret sauce for getting work is relationships, especially professional relationships. These need not be insincere or manipulative. Opportunities naturally arise for those who make the effort. The trick to giving relationships their best chance of yielding work is to put yourself in the other person’s boots and empathise with their problems, their hopes and their dreams. Getting work becomes a simpler exercise when you’ve customized your offering to meet someone’s needs. And that idea is essentially what THE JOB HUNTING BOOK is about.
I’m a teacher at heart. Now, in my 50’s, I can look back on my career as an employee looking for work, as a consultant winning work, and as an employer hiring and firing. The guidance I give you was not around when I was starting out. In the absence of a mentor, I had to work it out for myself. And so here it is for you. For all you career changers and early career job seekers, I hope THE JOB HUNTING BOOK makes your job seeking journey an easier one.
Life has a way of throwing up challenges. Mine happened in my late teens. In the final year of my apprenticeship a nasty workplace accident forced me to rethink my career.
Fast forward to my early 30s, I’d been a furniture restorer, a furniture removalist, a bingo caller, a pedestrian accident researcher, a condom tycoon (for some reason that failed to impress my girlfriend's mother), a software engineer, and a lecturer and researcher in spatial science. I won jobs, sometimes due to my tenacity, but looking back, mostly through word of mouth.
In the 90s I started a consultancy and did spatial modelling for universities, the water industry, all levels of the Australian government and the UN. Magically, consulting work and now my employees came via word of mouth.
So, after 40 years as an employee and as a consultant, I’ve learnt that the secret sauce for getting work is relationships, especially professional relationships. These need not be insincere or manipulative. Opportunities naturally arise for those who make the effort. The trick to giving relationships their best chance of yielding work is to put yourself in the other person’s boots and empathise with their problems, their hopes and their dreams. Getting work becomes a simpler exercise when you’ve customized your offering to meet someone’s needs. And that idea is essentially what THE JOB HUNTING BOOK is about.
I’m a teacher at heart. Now, in my 50’s, I can look back on my career as an employee looking for work, as a consultant winning work, and as an employer hiring and firing. The guidance I give you was not around when I was starting out. In the absence of a mentor, I had to work it out for myself. And so here it is for you. For all you career changers and early career job seekers, I hope THE JOB HUNTING BOOK makes your job seeking journey an easier one.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
November 18, 2022
The Review
This was a well-written and incredibly researched book. The author did a fantastic job of showcasing a clear line of connection between a person getting a job by identifying with the employer themselves. The balance of personable and professional writing styles really elevated this book. It allowed the subject to shine brightly without getting lost in other areas of discussion in the job market.
The clear-cut guide and interactive element of the book that challenges the reader to utilize these steps for themselves were inspiring to read and watch unfold on the pages of this book. The way the author delved into the impact on the job market these last few years have had, from how COVID-19 has changed how we work experience to the importance of having an online presence for many employers, really made the book feel relevant and accessible to a wide range of readers who are seeking employment in this new world.
The Verdict
Thought-provoking, engaging, and insightful, author Ian Allen’s “The Job Hunting Book” is a must-read nonfiction book of 2022. The educational value alone will keep readers invested. Still, the relatable and thoughtful way the author approaches the subject with such honesty and conviction will have readers eager to engage with the author’s guidance and practices and in the field looking for work ASAP.
This was a well-written and incredibly researched book. The author did a fantastic job of showcasing a clear line of connection between a person getting a job by identifying with the employer themselves. The balance of personable and professional writing styles really elevated this book. It allowed the subject to shine brightly without getting lost in other areas of discussion in the job market.
The clear-cut guide and interactive element of the book that challenges the reader to utilize these steps for themselves were inspiring to read and watch unfold on the pages of this book. The way the author delved into the impact on the job market these last few years have had, from how COVID-19 has changed how we work experience to the importance of having an online presence for many employers, really made the book feel relevant and accessible to a wide range of readers who are seeking employment in this new world.
The Verdict
Thought-provoking, engaging, and insightful, author Ian Allen’s “The Job Hunting Book” is a must-read nonfiction book of 2022. The educational value alone will keep readers invested. Still, the relatable and thoughtful way the author approaches the subject with such honesty and conviction will have readers eager to engage with the author’s guidance and practices and in the field looking for work ASAP.
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October 27, 2022Editorial review
"The world of work is undergoing seismic changes as a result of a global pandemic, financial crises, and advancing technologies. With this context, Ian Allan mentors graduates through the job hunt in this straight-talking and practical book. I like how he filters his advice through the experiences of two fictitious characters, Alex the job hunter and Lou the hirer. The book is well-structured and easy to read in four main parts built around a pyramid with stages from research to application. The focus is on relationships and building your presence or personal brand as the foundation for engagement. The style places ownership on you, both empowering and challenging you to do the hard work involved in the job hunt. It's an effective mix of 'how tos' with supporting resources via a website. Because the author's experience is from Australia, there are one or two cultural differences from the UK, but they don't detract from the helpfulness of the book. Overall, this is an up-to-date resource that graduate job hunters will find very useful." - David Shindler, Career and Performance Coach, Author of 'Learning to Leap'
February 17, 2023
This is "the job hunting book". If you are hunting for a job, this book could be very helpful for you. It seemed to be quite comprehensive. Part 4 "examples of job applications" was a valuable chapter. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 14, 2023
I loved to read that book. It helped me to change my way of thinking when searching for a job and to explore new options. A great book when searching for motivation to find the dream job.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews