Rating: 
Summary: Insider's view on Recruiters
Review: The book covers the essentials of job change at the upper end of the job market. It deals with all aspects of job change, however, the unique contribution is that it provides essential reading for anybody who changes jobs through 'recruiters'. - independent of what the salary is. The value of the book lies precisely in the detailed and authoritative explanation of what is going on behind the scene, i.e. in the recruiter's mind. The author - being a recruiter himself walks the reader in detail through the potential pitfalls of dealing with a recruiter. The different ways of working with a 'retained' versus a 'contingency' recruiter are in essential knowledge for you if you ever receive a phone call.
The writing is easy going but competent, suggestions on what to do are given ranging from your first thoughts on job change to negotiating the contract.
A particular highlight for me was the Appendix: ' Behind the Scenes with the Retainer Executive Recruiter' which walks you through a fictitious recruiting process from the recruiter's standpoint.
Shortfall of book: The book could have benefitted from a more marked breakdown in major parts, rather than going directly into 20 chapters. I highly recommend the book based on its insights.
Rating: 
Summary: High level workers with ADD and LD will love this book
Review: This book is for people who are in the middle of their career and making good money, but the suggestions can help most people; It is written in an entertaining style and is ADD and LD friendly. It suggests asking people for a reference rather than a job, networking, executive recruiters, and direct mail campaigns. Not a good book for entry level workers, but excellent for people who have worked for awhile (even those who are not close to 100,000 a year.)This review was adapted from one that was in the Annotated Bibliography of Learning A Living, A Guide to Planning Your Career and Finding a Job for People with Learning Disabilities, Attention Deficit Disorder, and Dyslexia
Rating:
Summary: Most complete career management book I have ever read.
Review: This is a complete revision of what was already by far the best book in the field. I know. I bought the original about 10 years ago. I also bought the prior complete revision of about 5 or 6 years ago. The others were excellent, but this one-"Rites of Passage at $100,000 to $1 Million +"- puts the others in the shade. Now, for the first time, it also covers the Internet as an executive career development tool. Today, if used knowingly, the Web can safely bring huge advantages. I find this book (like its predecessors) to be the quintessential guide to taking charge and managing one's career. Whether you are currently unemployed, employed but itching for something better, or you're just scanning the marketplace, this book is unlike any other I've seen. It is a reference guide, a "how-to" manual, and a collection of practical tactics and strategies to help you avoid common and potentially devastating pitfalls. This new edition's focus on the Internet and technology is superb. Knowledge of current technology, such as email and web-site navigation, has become table stakes in business today. Regardless of what your resume states, your actions can speak much louder to convey your true abilities. This new book provides a road map to safely using the Internet to save you lots of time and effort. Meanwhile, it also expands the proven inside information (from a top headhunter) on resume preparation, networking, interviewing, managing recruiters, and personal organization in the previous versions. As professionals, we get no classes in career management. We are left to learn these concepts on our own. "Rites of Passage at $100,000 to $1 Million +" is the only reference book I feel I can trust for this critical self-study course. Plus it's subtly humorous and fun to read. Walter W. Winkel III Director of Corporate Acquisitions & General Counsel, Siemens Building Technologies, Inc.
Rating:
Summary: Plethora of Valuable Tips
Review: This is a no nonsense book explaining the vagaries of the executive recruiter "game" and how to work within the system to your advantage. John Lucht explicitly explains the Catch 22 of retained executive search and that you are NOT a better candidate if you contact the company directly (money is already out the door to the recruiter). He also discusses why your resume may not be shared among a retained recruiter's colleagues within the same firm and how to try to circumvent the trap. All and all, an execllent book for executives.
Rating:
Summary: Internet Version of Rites of Passage is Superb!
Review: This is absolutely the best book on using the Internet to find a job. This time I dropped the direct mail campaign and did exactly what Mr. Lucht tells you to do on the Web. I agree with everything Mr. Bakewell says about Rites of Passage, having also used it several years ago. But he apparently doesn't realize that now there's the 2001 book shown in the picture above (which talks about "INTERNET Tools" on the cover). He's talking about the old Rites of Passage. The new book still has the lowdown on how to use headhunters at the senior executive level, and it's extremely helpful, as he points out. But it also is now loaded with the Internet information he is asking for. Today, that's it's Best feature. I know. I junked the direct mail approach and got my CFO job just using the Internet ... but cautiously, as the book tells you about. Just thought I'd set the record straight.
Rating:
Summary: Best job-hunting book there is
Review: This is by far the best job-hunting book available. As a retained executive search consultant, I constantly deal with people who are looking for work, and am dismayed at how poorly most people do so. Lucht's book will change your mindset on job-hunting. He reminds you to use all of the major job-hunting techniques, including networking, direct mail, recruiters, and want ads, and teaches you new techniques for doing each one of these. He also has a chapter on how to be interviewed that is easily worth the $30 you'll pay for the book. In addition, the book is readable and fun; it's obvious that John really cares, and wants the reader to be successful. I recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a new job; anyone who plans his job-hunt without reading this book risks selling themselves short, because they'll be missing too many avenues.
Rating:
Summary: Rites of Passage at $100,000 to $1 MIllion by John Lucht
Review: This is the finest book of its kind ever written. It is current, accurate, brutally insightful and absolutely truthful in describing the modern job search / hiring process. Rites of Passage is widely regarded as the classic book in its field. John Lucht is an experienced pro who cuts through the nonsense and tells you how the real recruiter / personnel / interview process works for senior executives and those aspiring to become senior executives. If you are seeking a senior level position, no matter what else you do, buy and read this book. Then implement the advice contained within. You will be amazed at the results.
Rating:
Summary: Solid!
Review: Yes, it is a very good book. However, I knocked off a star for the following:
1. It sells its website RiteSite.com SO HARD that the book at times comes off as being somewhat of a written infomercial.
2. The use of so many bold-faced words in varying font types and sizes I found distracting and unprofessional.
Other than these minor issues, the book is a MUST! It does a good job without bias in explaining the contingency and retained recruiting side of the business. The tips I got from this book alone was well worth its cost.
Note - One solid advice that should be mentioned in this book in the next edition is the following - headhunters use tracking software. So if you are registered on sites like HotJobs and Monster and allow cookies to be read, it is possible under certain circumstances that they can see which companies and opportunities you're interested in. My guess is so they can "float" your resume there and put a price tag on your head. And if you think they can't get a hold of your resume, these headhunters do talk to each other. Bottom line - Network! Network! Network!. And if a recruiter cold calls you, tell them to speak to the dial tone! Ha!
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