Moving Forward in Mid-Career

March 1, 2018

The trauma of losing a job is devastating; psychologists have ranked it near the equivalent of losing a loved one. Weiss (Operation Job Search; Welcome to the Real World), president of executive recruiting firm Weiss & Associates, outlines the process of recovery, reassessment, and reentry into the job market. Regrouping after being let go from a position, reassessing your skill sets in midcareer, and determining a blueprint for your job search while protecting your finances and paying the bills are all part of Weiss's step-by-step outline. With compassion and practical guidance, Weiss pays particular attention to the barriers and stumbling blocks of midcareer workers, including defining new goals, addressing the loss of a job in a cover letter or r'sum', finding and talking to hiring managers, interviewing rules, overcoming objections to your job candidacy, and negotiating a job offer. VERDICT This well-written and well-resourced guidebook, with concluding chapter takeaways and short "to-do" lists at every stage of the process plus additional resources included in appendixes, is a must for anyone who has been laid off.--Jane Scott, Clark Lib., Univ. of Portland, OR

Copyright 2018 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 1, 2017
Executive recruiter Weiss lives up to his title's promise with fast-reading, frank, straightforward advice to laid-off workers. In fact, he goes further and lays out immediate, short-term, and long-range agendas, step by step, for finding the right, next position. The stats are astounding. All working Americans will have at least six jobs during their careers, and 21-million workers are fired and laid off every 12 months. Much of the guidance is practical: mind your insurance; protect investments; manage family challenges. (Although, when it concerns a number of money matters, readers should consult their financial advisor, not Weiss.) At each chapter's conclusion are key takeaways and a list of print/digital resources. Though his content does overlap with that of other find a job guides, Weiss excels in his recommendations for a proactive job search. He gives advice on finding decision makers and hiring managers, scripts for trade show conversations, and tips to improve your candidacy. Appended with useful information on convention centers and trade shows.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)