The Ultimate Job Search Guide

I'm a pretty intelligent guy, but I'm not a very effective speaker, so I have trouble selling myself. When faced with a personal question that I'm not expecting, I often find it difficult to compose an answer on the spot and deliver it without stumbling over my words, and without awkward pauses as I search for the best way to phrase something. I also don't have much experience with how the business world works. Hence, as recently as a few weeks ago, a job interview seemed like the stuff of nightmares. Thankfully, I found this book. Its comprehensive advice is as useful as it is easy to understand, for every aspect of the job search. Knock 'em Dead answered my questions about how to identify the best job opportunities, how to craft my letters of introduction to catch an employer's interest, and most importantly, how to handle any interview situation smoothly and confidently. Within an amazingly short time, I got myself a better job than I would have believed possible for someone with my background, and at a better salary than I had hoped for. Job interviews still make me nervous, but to be honest, it's the anticipation more than the actual process that bothers me now. Once the interview starts, I find myself actually quite comfortable, because I know that I've prepared thoroughly for whatever's coming. Even if you can't necessarily anticipate every last question an interviewer will hit you with, you can certainly come close, and the more prepared you are, the easier it is to deal with the few unknowns. I don't doubt that I would have been tripped up several times in my job interviews had I not read this book first. With it, I was never unsure of myself, never came out of an interview thinking, "If only I had done this differently." I can't recommend it enough.

Yate's books about interviews are the ideal companion books to Bolles' annual "What Color is Your Parachute." This book not only provides good verbiage for difficult questions during an interview; it also provides a checklist of body language and the rationale for using same. It helps decode certain nonverbal behaviors, e.g. putting one's hands behind their head causes one to appear smug and arrogant. Yate also provides a check list of appropriate attire and stresses the importance of good hygiene and good grooming. He cultivates a professional appearance, yet writes with a sense of humor, e.g. "nobody appreciates a Monday morning quarterback," in re offering advice to an interviewer as a moot point. An excellent tool and one every job hunter should keep at close hand. While on an interview, you might want to keep a copy of this in your briefcase so you can refer to it as a refresher prior to your interview.

This is by far the best strategy book I have ever seen for job hunting. The questions offered to help you interview the company, and the excellent responses he recommends for those tough interview questions most everyone will receive, especially those used on men, will turn around your interviews to get your prospective employer to possibly even chase you with offers you thought unimaginable.No, this is not your dandy dating book for flirting through the interview, no siree. This book shows you how to negotiate the deal, prepare yourself for ivestigating the career paths of those who have gone before, the culture and environment you'll be working in, and how to tread new inroads to bring about a more meaningful paradigm of personal excellence and the perks to help you make this all come true.I made outlines of three chapters, reading them between each interview and practicing what I learned at every interview, even engaging some where I had slight chance of getting the job but squeezed every element I could bring to bear to make the interview an experience to learn from and try these techniques as best I could so I'd be better prepared when the better opportunities came along.This book and the other Knock 'Em Dead books offer the skills that should be passed down from generation to generation so that no young person should ever have to go through life with the trial and error that stifles their career growth and constipates their financial viability. Preparation Yate sets you free.

This is an excellent book. I found it after losing a job in 1993 and it completely turned my interviewee skills around. I have returned to it and referred others to it ever since. I have received an offer from every job applied for since first reading it. It provides comprehensive advice including preparation, professionalism, appearance, technique, communication, confidence, body language, mistakes, intro/cover letters, follow-up/thank-you letters and calls, questions to ask and/or defer, and how to separate and distance yourself from other interviewees. It also contains helpful advice for proactively recognizing potentially poor employers and/or interviewers (based on bad or illegal interview questions.) It may have some "b.s.-ish" suggested responses, but the author notes such as general guidelines and recommends paraphrasing such in one's own style and demeanor. A must-have for any professional's library.

I have used this book as my job-seeker's bible for years now (I still have the 1993 version) and would highly recommend it to anyone who is serious about getting the job. Yate hits the nail on the head when it comes to preparing for the tough questions and regarding sending correspondence to prospective employers. I am planning on buying the 1998 version immediately because I know he will keep me moving with the current trends. By the way, I have been offered every job I have interviewed for since I read the book and I absolutely credit his insights and suggestions.