Explore five books recommended by local career coaches and job seekers offering tools and strategies that will inspire any job seeker.
Five Books That Will Impact Your Job Search
The number of resources available to job seekers can seem overwhelming. While it's tempting to utilize as many resources as possible, time is of the essence when looking for a job. The library offers excellent resources on-site and online, but what about quality books you may want to purchase? This month we're exploring five books recommended by local career coaches and job seekers that offer solid job search advice.
- First up, authored by Dayton native Russ Hadick, Competitive Job Search, is unique in that it takes the job seeker through all the stages of the job search. This book not only teaches you how to look for a job, but more importantly, how to secure the job you want. Mr. Hadick teaches hidden methods, such as getting up to 90% feedback on all resumes sent out by the job seeker. Russ founded Hadick and Associates 27 years ago and continues to help job seekers in retirement. His years owning and operating a recruiting and outplacement firm is a winning combination sure to inspire any job seeker!
- Julie Bauke is a Cincinnati native and Career Strategist. As President of The Bauke Group, Julie focuses her business on educating and motivating individuals to build the career of their dreams. Dynamic and highly interactive Julie authored Stop Peeing on Your Shoes: Avoiding the 7 Mistakes that Screw Up Your Job Search. Whether you're just beginning your search, or are smack in the middle of it and feel like you are getting nowhere, this insightful, humorous book will spotlight your search and keep you from making mistakes that derail job seekers everywhere. Full of common sense advice; you'll cringe, cheer, and be forced to look hard at your search. This book delivers tools and the strategies to put your search on the right track.
- Don Asher, a writer and speaker specializing in careers and higher education, has authored twelve books, including several best sellers. He's written columns for a plethora of journals and websites and frequently appears on radio and television shows. Asher's book, Cracking the Hidden Job Market: How to Find Opportunity in Any Economy, provides today's job seeker with conventional and unconventional strategies for a successful job search. Asher shares how to break through to the hidden job market and consider some hard truths. How to find jobs that are never posted anywhere, talk to potential employers, and build a network with professionals where you want to get a job - even if the company "isn't hiring".
- If you are interested in a career in the nonprofit sector, you want to check out The Nonprofit Career Guide: How to Land a Job That Makes a Difference by Shelly Cryer. The guide will help you find the best opportunity for you and your interests. Amazon says: "This hands-on guide is filled with practical advice from real people... In detailed profiles, you'll find out what their work is like, the career paths they followed, and what they look for when hiring new staff… you'll find the most up-to-date information on how to: Prepare for a nonprofit career; conduct targeted job searches and network effectively; handle interviews with aplomb; write persuasive cover letters and stellar resumes; negotiate a competitive compensation package…you'll get the competitive edge you need… in the nonprofit sector."
- Finally, the highly popular book StrengthsFinder 2.0 by Tom Rath. Too often, we focus on remediating weaknesses. This book will help you identify and utilize strengths by taking a simple assessment to identify your top five talent themes. Find a way to better define yourself to employers and other professionals, excel in a way you may have never considered. Recognizing what you do well will also help you perform better on your job, make your time really count, and find out where you have the most potential to grow as a professional. The beauty of this updated version of StrengthsFinder is that once you know your top five strengths, you receive a "talent profile" that hones in on your individual strengths. If you like the idea of building on the strengths you already have as you plan for your next career step, rather than following the adage "you can do anything you want if you just try hard enough," this book is for you!
While you are job-seeking, it is crucial to update yourself professionally with resources that are good investments. You'll feel you've invested your time wisely by checking out any or all of these books.
Now…go grab a book and a cup of coffee!
Next month’s topic: The gift of job-seeking
