PCs to Corporate America: Military Tactics to Corporate Interviewing Strategy

Rating:
Summary: Try something else with less pretension.
Review: I too was a former JMO who bought and read the book, went to the Indoctrination Sessions, typed out the forms, and interviewed with C-B. For those of you interested in working with Cameron-Brooks for career placement following your brief military career, save yourself the $20 plus shipping. Attend his free sermons instead and he'll provide ample peripheral information and war stories. The advice contained in the book and his speeches are anecdotal at worst and common sense at best. Sure, avoid the military jargon in your explanations and try to avoid those acronyms in your resume.Yes, try to learn how the world of profit works rather than the world of appropriations [but for God's sake don't bother talking to your grocery store manager to figure out how to buy shelf space]. Buy Hart, Schaffner and Marx suits [or anything from Sears] and don't forget the cordovan wingtips. Don't arrive in a stretch limousine at the front door of corporate headquarters and then charge the company for it [doh!]. If you spot your interviewer ahead in a long hallway, don't forget to pick up pace as you rush up to shake his hand [Jesus, is this real?]. The answer to the question "When confronted with a problem, what would you do?" is... [The answer is not "avoid it"-check your dictionary first.] Do bring a tape recorder to your Cameron-Brooks interview [Roger the guru will think you're serious because you listened to his precious advice]. Oh, but first don't forget to ask the concierge at his hotel what his suite number is so he can appear important to the hotel staff . Include your high school transcript [yes, it's important to see what kind of person you were] in your application. He fired his own employee, so and so, because he never did anything but always appeared to work long hours [note the great interviewing and screening ability eh?]. He hired Chuckie and bought him a house [so now Chuckie will be a loyal, subservient employee for life]. The X Industry and/or Company Y doesn't hire any developmental candidates, so that's why Roger doesn't represent them [uh huh-they probably don't need his help and his fees]. Please don't tell Roger you don't want to work in expensive and overpopulated California or wintry and staid New York State. Remember, he invented this industry and he's the only game in town. Read his book and thou shalt be enlightened [and yes, his book is a New York Times Bestseller]. Yes, folks, The Roger Cameron Show has rolled into town at a military base near you. That Roger Cameron has placed some candidates is not in doubt. But let's face it folks, he's no kingmaker (though he likes to come across as one) and there are many other successful recruiters which subject you to much less dogma and ego. There is no silver bullet for interviewing well and no secret for having a successful career. Don't believe anyone who gives you a laundry list of things you absolutely must do to prepare. What every interviewer is trying to do is to acertain the following: a) Can this guy do the job? and b) OK, if he can, is he a total jerk? Interviewers are trained to avoid biases, technicalities, and glibness which have nothing to do with a candidate's actual capability to perform. Roger however, seems to overemphasize the superficial trivilities which the industry and HR folks in general seem to bask in. This book gives you the impression that it's everything. Yes, don't ramble, do think about your accomplishments, strengths and weaknesses, etc. Try not to sound like an inarticulate dropout, but realize you don't need to be Jesse Jackson either. You can read about all of this at your local library. It is also clear that Roger himself is no technical wizard and doesn't have a faintest clue what engineers, scientists, or IT folks do. So don't rush out and enroll in an MBA program or sign up for Macroeconomics class because you won't need it. Companies hire technical people to do technical work, not to go shuffling around in databases or write Excel macros [if ya gotta know some of it, open up the program and run through the tutorial-finis!]. Nobody gives a hoot that you're a Cameron-Brooks alumnus [really, it's true!] or which agency placed you. Lastly, accounting and HR staffies don't run any company, although the folks on any Board Finance Committee do hold sway on some major financial decisions. However, they don't get to pose or frame the choices they have to make. That's your job, and it's infinitely more exciting. One last disturbing thing. Roger also strangely has a veiled contempt for JMO's. It's hard to place a finger on, but it seems he thinks they have to prove themselves worthy first. Comments like: "You chose the military before, and now you have to show to me why you want to join Coporate Uh-meh-reeka." [Uh, to get a job after I get out...], and: "P&G has operations in over 300 countries while you only have a few overseas bases [Well excuse the heck out of me!]" don't help his case. Or maybe he's just a pompous, self-important windbag whose time has passed. If Roger were really part of Corporate America, they would have downsized him years ago. PCS to another recruiting service and book. If you must have your hit of Roger, buy a used copy on eBay and enjoy a good laugh.

Rating:
Summary: Outdated and loaded with fluff!
Review: Roger's book was my baseline and continued reference in my preparation for transition to the civilian sector. He does not mince words and tailors transition advise for those currently in the military planning to begin interviewing for civilian work in the corporate sector. His book offers readers a guide for honing their interviewing skills with a focus on the entire process of facing corporate recruiters. The book details the dynamics of an interview and points out that presenting and selling yourself with substance and confidence is much more important than the resume that got you the interview.

Rating:
Summary: Highly suggested reading for those leaving the military
Review: Roger's book was my baseline and continued reference in my preparation for transition to the civilian sector. He does not mince words and tailors transition advise for those currently in the military planning to begin interviewing for civilian work in the corporate sector. His book offers readers a guide for honing their interviewing skills with a focus on the entire process of facing corporate recruiters. The book details the dynamics of an interview and points out that presenting and selling yourself with substance and confidence is much more important than the resume that got you the interview.

Rating:
Summary: Outdated and loaded with fluff!
Review: The author is extremely condescending and lacks any insight at all. He says he tells it like it is, but in reality, he tells it how it used to be. Don't waste your hard earned money on this book. You will be extremely disappointed.

Rating:
Summary: Pass on this one
Review: This book has valuable information but there are better books to spend your time and money on. Paul Krieder's book "Interviewing Handbook for Military Leaders" is cheaper, less dated, and more enjoyable to read. Roger gets condescending; his tone and attitude are distracting. While he offers some great advice some of it is boarderline ridiculous (i.e. he advises against salting your food before tasting it at a dinner or lunch interview because the interviewer will think you make rash decisions -- in reality no one will notice or care). Don't waste your money.

Rating:
Summary: I landed a corporate job due to preparation from this book!
Review: This is a great book! Believe it! This is in your face Corporate America interviewing. I am not a military officer. However, this book was recommended to me by one. At the time, I was on my first job out of graduate school and was already getting a bitter taste of Corporate America. I ordered this book and recommended it to a friend. We both received offers from Top 5 companies. When the opportunity came to interview for a "Real Corporate America Career", I was prepared. The six panel interview lasted 3 hours on a Saturday morning. That's a long time to spend with strangers answering thought provoking questions and role playing. The exact questions Roger wrote about were being asked over and over. While reading the book, I wrote those questions down and I answered them as honestly as I could. Then I decided the best answer to use if I were asked that question. Study this book and add your own experiences!!

Rating:
Summary: I landed a corporate job due to preparation from this book!
Review: This is a great book! Believe it! This is in your face Corporate America interviewing. I am not a military officer. However, this book was recommended to me by one. At the time, I was on my first job out of graduate school and was already getting a bitter taste of Corporate America. I ordered this book and recommended it to a friend. We both received offers from Top 5 companies. When the opportunity came to interview for a "Real Corporate America Career", I was prepared. The six panel interview lasted 3 hours on a Saturday morning. That's a long time to spend with strangers answering thought provoking questions and role playing. The exact questions Roger wrote about were being asked over and over. While reading the book, I wrote those questions down and I answered them as honestly as I could. Then I decided the best answer to use if I were asked that question. Study this book and add your own experiences!!