Redman, Peggy. How to Get the Job You Desire.

Dorrance Publishing Co., Inc.. 2009. c28p. ISBN 978-0-8059-5637-5. $14.95.

In this extremely brief publication, Redman (Owner of Peggy’s Job Preparatory Services; B.S. degree, Business Management, Concentration in Human Resources, Hampton University, Hampton, VA), a business owner with recruiting and job placement experience at Ortho Pharmaceutical Corp. and other companies, publishes a very concise guide to obtaining the job that you desire. Dividing into her book into seven chapters, the author covers the basic elements of a job search including job applications, cover letters, résumés, references, interviews, and keeping the job once you get it. Subtopics are not limited to follow-up methods, samples, tips, interview questions, proper dress, and more. This publication’s chapters are too short, averaging only three to four pages each. The longest chapter is the one on interviews, which extends over eight pages. Chapters also may consist entirely or predominantly of examples and blank forms. The chapter on references consists entirely of a blank form while the ones on job applications, résumés, interviews, and keeping the job include some additional content besides examples and blank forms. The chapter on interviews contains the most value-added advice and input from the author. The “mini dictionary” comprising the last chapter may be too general for more experienced job seekers to the extent that it defines words and concepts that may be familiar to them. Lacking sufficient advice and input from the author, a bibliography, and an index, this book will be of interest to general readers, who only may want to read a very concise guide or basic outline for conducting a job search. This publication also best suits job seekers, who may not mind paying more than fifty cents per page for a guide which functions more as a workbook than as a reference resource. Mostly due to its briefness, lack of sufficient value-added content, and costly price, this publication is not recommended for most libraries. Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book as a member of the Dorrance Publishing Book Review Team. Visit dorrancebookstore.com to learn how you can become a member of the Book Review Team. Availability: Amazon.com, Dorrance Publishing Co., Inc. Online Bookstore

Kennedy, Susan and Baker, Karen. The Job Coach for Young Professionals: the Workbook for Landing the Right Job.

Intern Bridge, Inc.. 2009. 144p. ISBN 978-0-9799373-5-4. $19.95

Here experienced cofounders of Kennedy Baker Associates (now known as Career Treking, LLC)-- a career coaching organization designed to assist entry level job candidates though the job hiring process—Kennedy (B.A./B.S. Psychology/Elementary Education) and Baker (Bachelor’s degree) partner with Intern Bridge, a leading college recruiting research and consulting firm, to provide recent college graduates and young professionals who have been working for a few years with an empowering, interactive handbook filled with useful resources that will assist them in finding the right jobs in any job market. While college graduates usually are able to find employment after they graduate, the high turnover rate of 64% within the first three years of employment indicates that many young professionals graduate without the life skills that they need to begin and develop their professional careers. Here Kennedy and Baker walk young job hunters through the job search process and help them master skills they will need throughout their professional lives. Organized into 4 parts presenting the proven strategies that the authors have used to coach entry level job candidates as part of their job coaching business, this guide sets forth four steps to being successful: Assess Oneself, Prepare Oneself, Sell Oneself, and Succeed. While this workbook is not divided into chapters, its arrangement follows the aforementioned steps. The authors cover most relevant topics, not limited to envisioning one’s future, completing skills and values inventories, researching jobs, industries, and companies, setting goals, developing one’s story, writing resumes, cover letters, and thank you notes, interviewing, networking, creating a job search action plan, securing the right job, and managing one’s career. Filled with examples, diagrams, worksheets, reproducible forms, and more, this publication unfortunately lacks an index and a select bibliography of helpful, proven, printed and online resources for job seekers. Concise, clear, well- organized, and easy-to-read, it will benefit many college graduates, young professionals, and even experienced workers. Highly recommended for general readers and many public library collections (even though it primarily is intended for personal use and consumption)—C. A. Lajos