For Executives Only: Applying Business Techniques to Your Job Search

by Bill Belknap

For Executives Only: Applying Business Techniques to Your Job Search covers what you need to know to execute an effective job search. These techniques are based 25 years of research by The Five... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0944054129
• ISBN13: 9780944054123
• Release Date: January 2007
• Publisher: Five O'Clock Publisher
• Length: 216 Pages
• Weight: 0.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 7.4" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

A Great Investment For Your Career

For Executive's Only is a valuable career resource. The authors provide a practical and actionable plan to not only find your next job, but more importantly, find out what your next job should be. This is far more involved than a typical self help book that gives resume pointers. The book walks you through an entire self assessment and career targeting process that is based on Strategic Planning processes used every day in business. The punch line - Why put any less effort or strategy into building your personal career? A quick read - I read it on a plane trip - that can provide years of useful advice.

No nonsense perspective for executives

Bill Belknap has been a consultant of mine for several years, and his pithy, straight-forward style is embodied in this book. I would describe it as a "see the forest through the trees" perspective on self-assessment and selling oneself. Whether it's selling a product, consulting services or oneself, Bill's perspective is high level, to the point, and action oriented. Very useful!

Not only painless, positively inspiring.

If you've just heard that your department is being reorganized, or you've simply had one too many bad days at work, order this book rush delivery and set aside the next night for an easy, practical and inspiring solution to your next job search. I was able to get through the book in one night, and then start the next morning out of the box with a solid game plan, knowing exactly where to start on my search. There's no fluff here, just a straightforward guideline of what to do the first day, the first week, and on through negotiating your offer and starting your new position on the right foot. This is not a self-help book; this is a tactical guide emphasizing strategic planning. It suggests one should dedicate the same energy, research, preparedness, long and short term organization, and confidence that we give to any presentation or business initiative to our search for the next great career move. And in doing so, just as you'd never suggest your firm enter a market you didn't truly believe in, you should only consider industries, companies and managers where you're certain your values and skills will be a successful fit. "So here is your challenge: don't settle for just a "good job". Plan for a great job. And to plan for a great job means you must seek work where and how you will perform best." This really resonated with me, it is true that for every work challenge I'd prepare vigorously, anticipating questions, laying out a timeline, etc. but I was not giving that same level of attention or forethought to my job search. It's hard to believe that such a quick read can encompass 1) a confidence-building and eye opening assessment of your past successes and interests, 2) a reminder of the importance of a whole-life balance (if your life outside of work is neglected, your job performance and morale will inevitably suffer), 3) the importance of finding a firm that supports your core values, 4) clear steps towards researching your target industries and firms, 5) a manageable networking plan including great ideas for new contacts ("my mother in law plays bridge with the mother of the CEO of ???") 6) the importance of and how to hone a polished answer for the interview question "so tell me about yourself" 7) and - boy do I wish I'd done this before signing on to my last job - performing due diligence on your new manager, and your manager's manager. This book is a winner, intelligent and savvy, and laid out in a way that reduces job search anxiety. You know exactly what should be on your to-do list each day, and how to tell if you're staying on course, and if not, how to steer it back in the right direction. Even if you think you know everything there is to know about finding your next position, buy this book. I guarantee you'll have many "aha" moments, many reminders of what you've been doing right, what you can do better, and a winning crib sheet for any aspect of your search.

Marketing Yourself

The Five O'Clock Club strategy shows you how to build an entire cadre of self-marketing tools for the job search including the all important, attention-grabbing resume. Advice is specific and down to earth with great examples. You'll swear they walked in your shoes. Carol O'Brien

Easy read, great advice

I first encountered the Five O'clock Club approach to job hunting back in 1993 and have recommended the growing series of books to many friends and colleagues since then. This book, For Executives Only: Applying Business Techniques to Your Job Search, captures the essence of the entire approach to managing your career and undertaking a new job search. It complements the other books in the series, but provides some specific advice for individuals who have had lengthy and successful careers. It is easy to read (a one to two evenings read) and really makes sense, common sense that is. There are no fancy maneuvers, but really clear ideas on ways to manage the process of seeking out new opportunities. Sometimes it is so simple, you may wonder why you needed a book, but part of the understanding comes from knowing what has worked for the many clients coached by the authors and their colleagues at the Five O'clock Club. Once you have read the book, you can review each area, as needed, for further work. The book includes the structure for each stage of an effective job search, with a few supplementary worksheets and questions to ask yourself in the back. I highly recommend it!