JOB SEARCH RESOURCES

This list of books is intentionally small, mentioning only a few of the thousands (yes, thousands) of job search books out there.

As you’ve probably noticed, practically anyone can write a book these days and publicize it on TV and the Internet. But the fact that they wrote a job-hunting book doesn’t prove that their advice is good.

This book list concentrates on a few career authors who have been in the field long enough to really understand it and have the right experience to give good advice. You may not agree with all of it, and we don’t agree with everything in all of the books below either. But this little collection is reasonably consistent in its advice, and certainly a good place to start.

A systematic overview of the effective search project

The Unwritten Rules of the Highly Effective Job Search: The Proven Program Used by the World’s Leading Career Services Company
By Orville Pierson

Written to be the starting point for a successful search, this book covers how to plan the search project, target the best target employers in your personal job market, create a powerful Core Message about yourself, talk to Decision Makers before they announce job openings, and measure your progress to a new job, even before you have your first interview. It also covers the use of Job Search Work Teams, based on a method scientifically proven to help people find jobs faster.

See it on Amazon

Resume writing

Resumes that Knock’em Dead
By Martin Yate

No resume knocks anyone dead, but this book generally gives good advice on how to write one. In Yate’s examples you’ll sometimes see lists and bullet lists that are too long for anyone but a computer to sift through, and some of the sample resumes are a bit crowded, but all-in-all, the content is very useful.

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Executive recruiters (and employment agencies)

Kennedy’s Pocket Guide to Working With Executive Recruiters
Kennedyinfo.com

This is a must if you are in the executive category, earning $100,000 or more. It’s also useful for people below that salary level, especially if their careers are in business and their resumes show strong, recent experience in the kind of work they’re looking for. In addition to this book, Kennedy offers directories and databases of recruiters, online and in print, searchable by specialty. The directories also cover employment agencies handling jobs in the $50,00 to $100,000 category.

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General job search advice

The Complete Job Search Handbook (third edition): Everything You Need to Know to Get the Job You Really Want
By Howard Figler

This is a classic job hunting book covering pretty much all aspects of job search except resumes, salary negotiations and progress measurements. Figler discusses the Internet, but neglects its value in researching your personal job market. We agreed with the “walking-in” part only if you’re going for jobs under $15 an hour. You’ll find some excellent tips throughout the book on job search techniques and maintaining the right attitude in using them.

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Through the Brick Wall: How to Job Hunt in a Tight Market
By Kate Wendleton

This is a pre-Internet book, but also a classic in the field, giving generally good advice on most aspects of the job search process in a thoughtful, organized manner. Includes career decision making, resumes, interviewing, search techniques and salary negotiations. Does not include anything on progress measurements in search.

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Choosing the best career direction and general job search advice

What Color Is Your Parachute, 2004, 2003, 2002, etc., etc.
By Richard Bolles

If you’re contemplating a major career change, Bolles should be at the top of your reading list. His strong suit is helping people figure out what kind of work they want to do, and he’s certainly one of the best authors on that topic. His general job search advice is also very useful, but a bit rambling and certainly not systematic.

You don’t need to have his latest edition since the annual changes are usually minor. He now and then includes references to his Christian beliefs (He’s an Episcopal minister.), but generally sticks to the work of job hunting. This is the best selling job hunting book ever written, popular for over 30 years.

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