Wednesday Workday Book Review: 44 Secrets That Will Get You Hired

For this "Wednesday Workday" post, I'm reviewing a fantastic book I just finished called, " What Does Somebody Have To Do To Get A Job Around Here? 44 Insider Secrets That Will Get You Hired" written by Cynthia Shapiro, MBA, ELC, PHR.

It's perfect for people entering the job market. Oh...like MOMS! Whether you're a stay-at-homer, a work-from-homer, or traditional nine-to-fiver. Chances are we all at some point are going to need to interview for a job or a project.

Because of my career in public relations and lots of experience with news media, I considered myself a people person. I also think I'm a great interviewer. Still, after reading this book I realized some subtle mistakes I'd made during past interviews that probably made the difference between me or somebody else getting the 'gig.'

Cover of book, "What Does Somebody Have To Do To Get A Job Around Here?" by Cynthia Shapiro

Let's be honest. Nobody ever tells you why you DIDN'T get the job or client or account. Using this book I was able to go back and figure out exactly why certain career opportunities I was pursuing didn't go my way in the end. Yes, its that valuable. Shapiro gives practical advice that drastically improved my resume and cover letter. I was confident in these documents before reading this book, but her advice helped me look at them again with critical eye. The eye of a recruiter.

Honestly,  don't know what made me get this book over others. Actually, in hind sight it was probably the title. Something about '44 insider tips.' It sound specific and manageable. Something I could put into use in my own life. Well, it was a great decision on my part because the book is chock full of practical advice for job seekers. I can't recommend it highly enough. I ended up reading the entire book in two days because I found it so useful. The author is a former human resources executive and career coach and she shares lots of insider information on the process from application - to interview - to hire.

I appreciate how she breaks her advice up into "tips." This means her advice is really specific and frankly, actionable. She even includes sample right/wrong phrases. I found it so helpful, that I finally grabbed a stack of paper clips, so I could flag pages I wanted to reference later. My plan was to go back and update my resume and cover letters based on her advice. She also includes a great reference section that includes lots of resources. ts easily digestible.

Some of my favorite tips include:

For improving your resume:

1. A resume should be crafted to support your career goals and objectives.
2. A resume is a billboard. Not a book. It should be brief and eye catching.
3. Ditch the Objective. Using one will signal to hiring managers that yours isn't professional or contemporary. Best part is she tells you what to do instead.
4. How to use key words to get your resume noticed

For the unemployed:

• Her first bit of advice is that the longer you are unemployed the less desirable you are to future employers. Translation: find a job while you have a job.
• What to do if you find yourself in an employment gap? Make it look intentional and put it in a positive light. I interpreted this to mean fill this time with something useful like volunteering your time and talents on a passion project. Or learn a new skill you can add to your resume.

During the interview:

• An interview is not a safe place to discuss your personal issues and preferences or private information. 
• Recruiters are trying to eliminate you and interviewers will trick you. Shapiro covers subtle ways recruiters and interviewers may trick you into revealing personal information that they can not ask. One example I recall was a recruiter calling a candidate on the weekend and feigning "it was the only time available." The recruiters actual goal is to get you flustered and/or relaxed so you ultimately reveal details about yourself. Good news though. Shapiro gives readers a professional and polite way to decline and reschedule for a mutually convenient time. Another trick is to have pics of kids on display in reception area. All under the guise of getting interviewees to comment and then reveal personal information about their own children. I found this section particularly relevant to my readers as many of you have kiddos  I must confess this part was hard for me to read. I love children. I always have and its never been a secret I've kept to myself. I found myself wondering how many jobs I missed out on because I openly talked about children (not my own). I notice a cute kid. I comment. 
• I'm also a Christian and practice truthfulness in my daily life. I don't like the idea of lying, so the idea of lying about whether one has children bugs me. I also know first hand that mothers and fathers are some of the hardest workers I've ever known. Anyway, I ended up reading this section a second time and it sunk in for me. Not volunteering whether or not you are a parent is different than lying. Shapiro goes on to explain that a job candidate must always be aware that the interview is not a confessional or a safe place to share the details of your personal life. This is the time you demonstrate you are highly qualified to do a particular job. She also shows how the gender bias against parents impacts your salary. 

After you get the job:

• How to negotiate your salary, title and benefits without being a jerk or screwing up the original offer.
• How to become invaluable to your employer. 

In a nutshell. This is a great book. If you're thinking about making a career change or reentering the work force after a gap in employment, be sure to read it ASAP. You can order a copy of the book on Amazon.com or reserve a copy at your library. Either way its a great read!

What are your favorite resources for job seekers? Extra points for low cost and no cost resources because you know I love a good deal! Please share in the comments below.