Books: “The Job-Hunter’s Survival Guide”
Richard N. Bolles, Ten Speed Press, 112 pages, $9.99
Patricia Baldwin, McClatchy-Tribune News Service
“The Job-Hunter’s Survival Guide” is slim, 5 inches by 8 inches, and contains 112 pages. But there is nothing small about the book’s job-hunting tips — probably because author Richard Bolles has been writing about the job marketplace for more than 35 years and is best known for his “What Color is Your Parachute?” series of job-hunting books.
So, why another book now? Because there were more than five job hunters for every job opening in April, according to a recent U.S. Labor Department report.
The optimistic Bolles reminds readers, however, that the statistics also show that people are finding jobs every day. His advice: Be laser-focused. Be able to describe in detail exactly what you have to offer and what kind of work you are seeking. He provides specifics about where to look for jobs, the best and worst ways to look for jobs and how to market yourself. One of the most useful parts of the book is titled “Do I Need a Resume?” This chapter discusses “old” versus “new” resumes in the electronic marketplace.