Rating: 
Summary: Trite, Shallow, Banal and Essentially Worthless
Review: As with many business books, the worst books to read are those that sound dry and redundant. This book however is tersely written, easy to comprehend and adds some interesting job seeking tools that will assist you in searching for a job efficiently. Although the title says not to send a resume, Fox does feel that a resume can be used as a tool for a job search when either modified and tailored to the specific employer, or used as a follow up piece of literature to accentuate the candidate's skills after first conact with the employer.
In addition to this Fox gives tips on finding leads, writing interview-getting letters, interviewing, and post interview follow ups. Some of the information in this book is commonly found in other books--be confident, sell yourself, stand out from a crowd, be polite to everybody, etc.--yet another 50% of the book has some material that you probably wouldn't see before or find somewhere else--write a resu-letter, write boomerang letters, and other interesting methods.
The flow of the writing is to-the-point written in simple, absorbant, and quickly comprehensible with information that can be used immediately. The book has the pattern of explaining something to you, giving you a story to get the concept to sink in, or giving you the explicit details by listing or giving you examples. In other words, it starts in general terms and becomes more tangible and specific.
Reading this book is a good starting point. Use the book's tips to help you find your job and pass it around to others to help them find a job or even resell it here on Amazon.com.
Rating: 
Summary: helpful information in half a day's read.
Review: As with many business books, the worst books to read are those that sound dry and redundant. This book however is tersely written, easy to comprehend and adds some interesting job seeking tools that will assist you in searching for a job efficiently. Although the title says not to send a resume, Fox does feel that a resume can be used as a tool for a job search when either modified and tailored to the specific employer, or used as a follow up piece of literature to accentuate the candidate's skills after first conact with the employer.
In addition to this Fox gives tips on finding leads, writing interview-getting letters, interviewing, and post interview follow ups. Some of the information in this book is commonly found in other books--be confident, sell yourself, stand out from a crowd, be polite to everybody, etc.--yet another 50% of the book has some material that you probably wouldn't see before or find somewhere else--write a resu-letter, write boomerang letters, and other interesting methods.
The flow of the writing is to-the-point written in simple, absorbant, and quickly comprehensible with information that can be used immediately. The book has the pattern of explaining something to you, giving you a story to get the concept to sink in, or giving you the explicit details by listing or giving you examples. In other words, it starts in general terms and becomes more tangible and specific.
Reading this book is a good starting point. Use the book's tips to help you find your job and pass it around to others to help them find a job or even resell it here on Amazon.com.
Rating:
Summary: Highly Recommended!
Review: For a book that tells you not to send a resume, the author spends an awful lot of time telling the reader how to write resumes (or "resu-letters") and what to do with them next. Don't be fooled by the clever title. Jeffrey J. Fox hasn't banned resumes, he simply wants you to understand how to write versions that will work for you. He explains what to do - and not do - to land a terrific job. In bite-sized chapters that get right to the point (in a book so small you could fit it into a leprechaun's briefcase), he guides you through job-hunting research, planning and marketing the product of you. Some of what he offers is innovative; some is standard, common-business sense. Even if you only dig out a few gems, we [...] note that this is a fine place to begin your job search - and a very fine place for job search beginners.
Rating: 
Summary: Only for the innovative!
Review: For companies and candidates that are open to new ideas and shared responsibilities this book is great! Note the ideas behind this book are those associated with Open-Book Management (see the book by the same name by John Case). If you are a job seeker who likes to be told what to do and who sees work as a four-letter word, this book may get you a job, but you will not be able to live up the expectations these methods would set for you so please don't bother. On the other hand, for those who enjoy the opportunity to innovate at work, this book tells you how you can *SHOW* that to prospective employers and thus sell them on you.
Rating:
Summary: Only for the innovative!
Review: For companies and candidates that are open to new ideas and shared responsibilities this book is great! Note the ideas behind this book are those associated with Open-Book Management (see the book by the same name by John Case). If you are a job seeker who likes to be told what to do and who sees work as a four-letter word, this book may get you a job, but you will not be able to live up the expectations these methods would set for you so please don't bother. On the other hand, for those who enjoy the opportunity to innovate at work, this book tells you how you can *SHOW* that to prospective employers and thus sell them on you.
Rating:
Summary: Very Useful Book
Review: Great, useful, simple, fast read book. Highly recommended.
This book, along with one other related book, helped me overcome my nervousness about having to interview with HR type people for the first time in my 16 year career life. Less than a month after I started looking for a new position, I've been called in for interviews for both positions I've applied for, was called back in for a second interview for both positions and have already received an offer from one of the companies.
Rating:
Summary: Fox's techniques work if you are willling to devote the time
Review: Hello all. Back again with an update. I am a PR executive by trade as well as a volunteer PR director and trainer of a career group in NJ... After first posting here that recipients of Mr. Fox's direct mail letters had difficulty understanding intent, I have come to see this book as one of the single most effective books that you can use to re-enter the job market. I have since sent several letters and you might surprised to hear that some very well known CEOs have had their folks pick up the phone and give me a call after receiving a letter. I am now gainfully employed. Particularly outstanding is Fox's formula for an "Impact Letter," where you as the candidate present to the reader ideas on how to improve their business based on your area of expertise. The effectiveness of this approach is, in part, determined by the amount of research you do on your target company and the ideas that you bring to the table. How do get the information? There are many ways - networking, the local dive bar near the company, their vendors -- but start at the largest library in your area. Based on my execution of techniques in the book, I have some points on how to improve your letters: 1.) Think of ways in which you can help a company make or save money. Your letter is a business proposition. Demonstrate that YOU understand the business process. 2.) Write concisely. As you can imagine with such intense competition for positions, get to the point immediately and try to hook the reader from the very first line. 3.) Always add a postscript (P.S.). Studies show that 80% of readers read the postscript when one is present.
4.) Always send your letter to the CEO unless you were referred to another executive with the power to hire you. Writing these letters demonstrates your desire to work for your target company as well as your passion for your chosen or intended field. That alone is a strong value, and should earn you an appointment to speak with the proper hiring influence at the company. And once you are hired, read Fox's other outstanding books, including: "How to Become CEO."
Rating:
Summary: This is the one to read if you are job searching
Review: I am a career coach and have read over 100 books on job search, such as What Color is Your Parachute and Rites of Passage. This is much more relevant for today's job market. Skip chapters 12-14 as internet and other published jobs are not worth pursuing..
Rating:
Summary: This book got me a job, Thank You Jeff Fox
Review: I attribute reading this book AND APPLYING what I learned to landing a job recently. I am a recent college graduate and the market is tough right now, so this gave me that little edge that helped me distinguish myself from other candidates. I began to look at myself as a solution to problems instead of just an employee. The books is an easy read, and once you pick it up its hard to put down. I highly reccomend reading it.
Rating: 
Summary: One Good Piece of Advice
Review: I got one good piece of advice out of this book and it was worth what I paid for the e-book. Don't buy the hardcover! I'll share: Keep points for what you do in your job search and try to get to 5 points per day. Great motivation tool and it works! So, assign points like 1 point for company research and 2 points for sending resume and 3 points for an interview. Keep a log of what you do each day and add up the points - goal is to get to 5 each day. Has kept me on track and moving forward. The rest of the advice isn't backed with many concrete examples or success stories. He has a unique approach, but much of the advice I don't agree with and didn't make sense. I gave it 3 points because it's not all bad and there are nuggets of good info like I shared above. You can probably do much better. The e-book is the best way to go on this one if you really want it.
|
