Ditch the Flip-Flops: Ace Your Job Interview Fresh Out of College

I am sure that in the coming months you will attend a college graduation party. Or you may know a recent college graduate. If you are agonizing over a gift for that person, look no further than Ditch The Flip-Flops: Ace Your Job Interview Fresh Out of College by Sylvia I. Landy. I was provided a reviewers copy of this book. Contents: Introduction Chapter 1: Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish Chapter 2: Get the 411 Chapter 3: Draw Some Blood Chapter 4: Step Outside the Box Chapter 5: Spend More Than Chump Change Chapter 6: Ooze "the Right Stuff" Chapter 7: Sweat Simple Around the Clock Chapter 8: Bring Along an Entourage Chapter 9: Assume the Versatile Chat Position Chapter 10: Seize the Moment Chapter 11: Turn the Tables Chapter 12: Up the Ante Chapter 13: Pull Out Plan B Chapter 14: Strike Pay Dirt! Conclusion Sources Index Sylvia Landy has created a book specifically for the recent college graduate looking for their first job. Through several businesses, Landy has always hired recent college graduates, mostly as a cost savings measure. She knows what she is talking about, and wants to provide her experiences, and those of others, to assist college graduates with the tools needed to successfully land a job. Not only does she provide the standard resume writing tips, but she also shows the reader how to answer the predictable and not-so predictable interview questions. Things that you may think are common sense, like don't go out to a party the night before an interview, clean up your Facebook and MySpace pages, and record new voice mail greetings, are included. Throughout the book she throws some humorous, and not so funny, anecdotes, that will add to her points. She also addresses those readers who did not graduate with stellar grades or many activities. There are many books that will help with resume writing, interviewing, and job searching. This book ties it all together for the recent college graduate in a well written and very worthwhile book. Now that you have graduated, you are competing with over a million graduates. You need an "edge," and this book delivers it. I was impressed at the breadth of the topics that Landy covered, not only how to write a letter in advance of your interview, but also how to handle illegal questions (age, sexual preference, religious affiliations), videoconference interviews, what and how to order if you are meeting someone over lunch, and more. Whether you are competing for an internship or full-time employment, this book will provide you the tools necessary to stand out in the crowd and land that job. My only problem with this book is that it wasn't available when I graduated. :-)

Based on the title, I was first attracted to this book as a possible graduation gift. I didn't really see anything else out there with job interviewing fundamentals for twentysomethings. As graduation gifts, I bought a few copies and before wrapping them up, I decided to read one myself. I was really impressed. I can see how Ditch the Flip-Flops was sorely needed for both internship and full-time employment interview tips. It's definitely geared toward college students and their unique situation in meeting recruiters for the first time. The Q & A section is right on the mark, as are the chapters outlining wardrobe malfunctions as well as interview follow-up strategies, and the management of both phone and in-person meetings (on campus, in the corporate office and other locations). I think the material is definitely written in a straightforward manner that appeals to college students. While every reader won't tackle Ditch the Flip-Flops cover to cover it's a great resource that can be easily accessed on a chapter by chapter basis. I continue to give this book as a graduation present because I'm always thanked for it!

If you think that finding a job is comprised of simply submitting a crudely drafted resume on a company's website, you're solely mistaken. Ditch the Flip Flops is the handbook for any recent college graduate who wants to land his or her dream job. Ditch answers all the question a reader could ask about the interview process. It covers everything from how to prepare for the interview, how to answer questions and how to leave a lasting impression even after the interview is over. I had some reservations about reading a 300 page book pertaining to the interview process, but Landy's wit and humor kept me entertained from start to finish. Passages like, "Speaking of oily ... this is not the way to get noticed in your interview" still make me laugh when I skim through the pages before I have an interview. Ditch is not only the quintessential interview handbook, but it is also an enjoyable read.

Since graduating from college in May and immediately enlisting in a full-scale job hunt, I can only now fully understand the difficulty of separating yourself from the flood of other recent graduates clamoring for post-college employment. The importance lies not only in "selling yourself", but also in determining the qualities you possess which will set you apart as a unique candidate for a desired position. Ditch the Flip-Flops acknowledges this importance and effectively guides readers into determining what positive attributes they have to offer future employers. The book goes above and beyond your typical interview handbook by dealing with the smaller yet equally important details frequently overlooked by most authors. From specific wardrobe advice, to the pre-interview morning routine, and even to what your body language reveals about you, Ditch the Flip-Flops leaves no stone unturned and acknowledges the seemingly insignificant, yet sometimes crucial particulars that often slip readers' minds in preparing for job interviews. Author Sylvia Landy takes what could have become a dull, lackluster how-to manual and infuses it with humor and encouragement. While the book's advice is straightforward and practical, Landy provides effective, amusing (and sometimes slightly horrifying) anecdotes to illustrate her points. Readers can approach the job industry with boosted confidence as the book equips them with the tools and attitude necessary to come across as informed, qualified job candidates. The book covers every step of the job-search process from beginning to end; not simply the interview itself, but finding a job opening, building a resume, and even weighing post-interview job offers. I have no doubt that customers who purchase Landy's book will profit from its advice and gain a new-found confidence in their abilities not only to attain jobs, but to succeed in any future career pursuits.

This should be required reading for ANY college graduate hoping to enter the work force. Not only does it provide solid advice for navigating the process of interviewing, it also helps candidates pinpoint career goals. Highly motivated new graduates with Liberal Arts degrees can utilize the soul-searching techniques found in this book to help them find a job that they will enjoy and excel at. Relevant checklists and useful strategies for successful interviewing are numerous throughout the book. In the era when people communicate keyboard to keyboard rather than face to face, it's wonderful to have guidelines for the etiquette and body language required in looking for meaningful employment. Ultimately, this book helps develop the goals and confidence of college graduates to find a job they will love.