Employment Books

Throughout my college career, I have become more and more aware of America's history in regards to inequality. Class Action brought up one of the most publicized forms of inequality in our nation, which is the inequality between men and women, especially in the workplace. Today, women are still only making $0.74-$0.76 on the dollar that every man makes, but that is only a mild form of the inequality that occurred only 30 years ago.

On March 25, 1975, Lois Jensen begins work at Eveleth Taconite in the mines to earn enough money to support her young son so they both could get off welfare. While the pay was very good, Lois, and other women who worked at the mines, endured sexual harassment that ranged from sexual comments to inappropriate touching and coercion by the male workers. Twelve years later, Lois finally decides that the only way to deal with the sexual harassment is through legal action since none of her bosses in the mines will correct the male workers' behaviors. Unfortunately, Lois only endures more hardship through trying to gain support of the other women at the mines, retain her job, and keep her sanity while being harassed even more. Lois's commitment to "right the wrong" of how the men treated the women at the mines brings up many questions of our society and what is legal that reside within.

Class Action helps us evaluate male privilege in the workforce, laws such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII) and how they were upheld, the immortal power of companies, and the human cost to achieve social change. It is astounding to read the type of harassment that these women endured and to realize that it happened in other parts of the country, and to some extent, still does today. The only things that Lois Jensen truly wanted was knowing that women would not have to live what she did through the company adopting a sexual harassment policy and an apology. She never got the apology, but thankfully, the former occurred on December 30, 1998.

The was a great book if you are interested in Civil Rights history and activism, women's rights, the jural system in relation to gender, and the economics of inequality. While Lois, other women, and the mines settled in 1998, the women essentially lost. After all that had happened, to achieve this precedent for sexual harassment law the women had to sacrifice their lives. This ultimately brings up the issue of how we have to be martyrs to make any social change truly happen.

The book is so much better than the movie. It gives you a much truer sense of what the women went through. Which is to be expected, of course, but I was surprised at the changes in the movie.

I assume that you will have seen the Movie first. I would have never heard of this book, without references in the DVD. BUT it is not necessary that you see the movie first. AND if you see the movie after reading the book be prepared for differences. But aside from comparisons, this is a terrific read about the first successful Sexual Harrassment case in the USA. It is set in the North Country made famous by Mr. Zimmerman. In fact some of the scenes and some of the characters are from Hibbing. Hero is one of the many misused words in Americana. But hero could be safely applied to the Lawyers who defended Lois Jenen.

I grew up on "da range" and I'm familiar with the mines. My hometown is Hoyt Lakes, not very far from Eveleth. My dad and one of my uncles worked at LTV Steel outside of Hoyt Lakes, I think even my brother worked there for a while. I don't remember hearing anything of the trial. Back in 1998 I was 9 years old. I became familiar with it, when they were filming the movie North Country while I was going to the community college in Virginia. I've watched the movie multiple times. Then this summer in one of my English classes we were required to read Class Action. By the time the class finished I hadn't finished the book yet, but that didn't stop me from reading it. This is a really great book, and I've had a hard time putting it down. Its so interesting to learn the facts of the case, and was even more surprised when I recognized some of the last names of the people. I haven't quite finished yet, I have about 60 pages to go. I keep finding myself getting irritated with the rulings of Judge McNulty. This is a very important book, and in my opinion everyone should read it.

Like some other reviewers I came across this book after seeing the movie North Country. The movie though is just good entertainment pulling at the heartstrings and very loosely based on the legal problems of single mother Lois Jenson.

The book, I'm pleased to say, is much more gripping and will keep you turning the pages until the end. I thought it raised various issues like:

*Why did the legal aspects of this case take from 1984 until a settlement in 1998? In 1997 a judgement from the Eighth Circuit court commented on the 'inordinate delay' and that it simply was not possible for the parties to get justice 'when a final outcome is issued more than ten years' after the case was filed and more than fifteen years since Lois started her class action.

*Why did the mineworkers union maintain such a male chauvinist view towards its female members? I always assumed that Minnesota folk, historically populated by hard working European immigrants in a hostile physical environment would have been much more sympathetic to the sexual harassment that went on year after year in the mines. In fact very few males come out of this story with much credibility, from the mine management down to the union, they are really shown to be sexist and ultra conservative when females start to (legally) work in their domain.

*Why did it take so long for the mines main insurance company, who were going to be the ultimate payers of any compensation, to get to grips with the case? When they did get closely involved in 1998 the problems seemed to evaporate and the ladies got their money

The authors write in a simple straightforward style fortunately avoiding flowery generalisations that seem a staple of non-fiction writing. The story unfolds in a logically time frame from March 1975 to the final financial settlement in November 1998. Early on there is an excellent historical overview of the Mesabi Range and the importance of the raw materials lying just under the surface. A nice touch I thought was the frequent explanations of points of law and how these affected the progress of the case.

A couple of points occurred to me as a read the book: I would have liked to see a listing at the start describing the principals, frequently a name popped up and I wondered who the person was having seen a mention maybe a hundred pages earlier. So much of the story describes the mine and other buildings, a simple diagram of the plant layout would have been helpful.

'Class Action' is a powerful narrative about a hostile working environment and the legal system and it reminds of a quote by Thomas Noon Talfourd:
Fill the seats of justice
With good men not so absolute in goodness
As to forget what human frailty is.

BTW. I wanted to see photos of the four heroes of the book, the wonderful Lois Jenson and her legal team Paul Sprenger, Jane Lang and Jean Boler and I found them all through Google Images.

It's unbelievable that these conditions existed in America so recently. I was born in 1932, so this was still prevelant during my lifetime. Never had I heard of this misuse and abuse of the black man after slavery...and that it continued so long. My father was born in 1889, and left Texas in 1920; we knew he left "under cover of darkness" as he had "displeased" a white man--but I never knew of the urgency surrounding his leaving until I read this book.

This is slow reading for me. Not that the book isn't gripping and enlightening, but I must take breaks from the realities in the book.

I have purchased three copies--one as an e-reader, one for the "coffee table" and one for a gift. I highly recommend this book.

Not all of american history is pleasant. But it should be made known in order to strengthen our understanding of what contributed to the development of this great nation. Slavery By Another Name opens a part of america's history, though unpleasant,is history nevertheless, and should not remain hidden.

Every american would benifit from the knowledge of this history by reading the above entitled book and gain a greater appreciation of the struggles and suffering endured by some to bring about growth and development of this nation state called americaSlavery by Another Name: The Re-Enslavement of Black Americans from the Civil War to World War II

Several weeks ago, I listened as Douglas A. Blackmon spoke in an interview on Bill Moyer's Journal (PBS). I sat there in disbelief as he spoke about the research he had done to produce this incredible book: Slavery by Another Name. I say incredible because I have just finished reading a work that has certainly impacted my thinking. Although I live in the South now (if Miami Beach is really the South), I was born in the North and taught high school English there. So my knowledge (well, lack thereof) of slavery is sketchy at best. What bothers me, after having read this work with its depth of research and fine writing, is simply this: why have we allowed ourselves to be so ill-informed about the sins of our fathers? Unfortunately we are still a racist nation. Just look at what the racists are doing to vilify Barack Obama! Thank you, Mr. Blackmon. You have made a very valuable contribution to American history. To bad so few will have given themselves an opportunity to read this book.

In a society in which history is being cut from budgets in schools across the nation, this book brings to light why history is so important:so that we can learn about these forgotten stories and how they have shaped the nation and the world in which we live.

Blackman does an outstanding job in telling the stories of the slavery that continued after emancipation that most people are not aware of. It is a very touching, dark, and real portrayal of life for African Americans in the Jim-Crow South.

While I would have liked him to further explain when the actual freedom of some of these men actually did occur, and by what means, in further detail, I found the book thoroughly enjoyable.

As a history undergrad, I believe that this book should be required reading in schools to teach Americans the true cruelty of the slavery that continued for so long in America.

Douglas Blackmon has created a classic historical book covering the "dark ages" in American Negro history, namely the period from Reconstruction to the start of World War II. The estimate of the length of this period may vary, but I put it at approximately 75 years, during which Negro slave labor was still actively building fortunes for many companies internationally known as key members of institutional America. This book should be on the coffee table or desk in the home of every African American family in America.

While the advice on making money is not revolutionary, the book is well written and well organized. The title is a little misleading as the book does not describe a perfect business but instead seeks to offer some inspiration and some sound advice about creating a low overhead micro enterprise.

If you do not have a lot of experience in business and are considering starting your own enterprise, the book is worth your time to read. It will help to inspire you and give you a useful roadmap on the journey to find a perfect business for you.

This book was great for explaining practical ponts about making it in your business independently. The best feature of the book is the inspirational tone and content. The book lifts your spirits and encourages you. It is not a How To book, but rather a "You CAN!" book.

Some of his earlier books were a little light, but this one is excellent and I highly recommend your reading it. My copy is heavily underlined.

He covers a lot of territory and synthesizes this material down to essential points. The book is interesting to read.

You might want to also read "Getting Business to Come to You" by Paul Edwards, Sarah Edwards, Laura Clampitt Douglas, Laura Clampitt. This is an excellent book on starting up a small business. And, don't forget Don Lancasters "Incredible Secret Money Machine" regarding making money from technical crafts.

You should also read any of the E-Myth books by Michael E. Gerber - who takes a different view... that of creating a growing company with employees. Comparing these views will help you decide your course of action.

This book by LeBoeuf will remain in my library for periodically reviewed books.

John Dunbar
Sugar Land, TX

The Perfect Business by Michael Leboeuf is a very comprehensice book about starting a home-based business.

It did not give you specific example of what business to start, but rather, he gives tips on networking, marketing, self-discipline etc. If you are looking for a all-in-one type of business guidiance book, this may be the one.

However, some of the stuff Michael talks about are just stating the obvious, like sell something that customers want to buy and not what you like (isn't this obvious?). The chapter on buying office equipments, I think, is a waste of time.

All in all, I hope to see some specfic example, but were disappointed. But still, this is quite an inspirational book.

I would give this book a perfect score were it not for the fact that the title and cover material does not represent the book's contents entirely accurately, so some readers may feel misled. The book presents itself as a practical guide for home-based businesses when in fact it is more of a self-help success guide in the genre of "Think and Grow Rich". This may be exactly what most aspiring home-businesspeople need; still, I would imagine that readers seeking practical specifics may be disappointed.

As a self-help success guide, however, this is a fantastic book; one of the best I've ever read. It contains no original or revolutionary ideas. Instead, it distills the best ideas of the countless success manuals written over the past 100 years into a clear and logically consistent philosophy, and applies this philosophy to the subject of self-employment.

I wish all college students would read this book. Provides insights and truths about the real world of work. Great examples of individuals who have navigated the world of work, and struggled with their careers. How do people decide on careers, is it okay to change, what if I'm not certain about what I want to do, what if I don't like what I'm doing. This could save many students a great deal of frustration when sorting out their career plans.

Others have written good reviews so I'll keep mine short. This is an excellent book, in part because it's very readable (you don't feel you're being lectured). Also, the lion's share of the book is personal stories of Liberal Arts grads finding their way into career paths, with plenty of ups and downs. If experience is the best teacher, this book gives you the benefit of 30 other people's experience. Highly recommended!

As a sophomore in college, I'm almost to the point of entering the "real world." But instead of feeling unprepared and anxious about this process, I am actually looking forward to it. This is entirely due to Smart Moves, and I cannot even begin to emphasize how much this book has already helped me - even though I'm still 2 1/2 years from graduation!
What really makes this book a pleasure to read is it's format. At the beginning are extraordinarly helpful pieces of advice on what to do in and once you graduate from college. Next, the book goes on to provide real-world examples of people who are enjoying their careers in just about every major field. Smart Moves chronicles their stories while not only including their successes, but their mistakes as well.
At home, my mom and my 17 year old brother looked through the book while it was laying down on the coffee table. They both loved it. Here is what my mom had to say:


"Your purpose in life is not to find yourself...it is to create yourself."
My son, a student at Duke University, received this book from the University the summer between his freshman and sophomore years. He asked me to read it, and I was delighted to find it offered, through biographical examples, some truisms that we had been trying to explain to him.

1. Follow your passion; your happiness and enthusiasm will attract the money you need to survive.
2. Be willing to work hard.
3. It doesn't always matter what you major in, there is a good chance you will change careers several times in your life.
4. Every job you have will teach you something about yourself and give you the experience to make yourself available for the next opportunity.
5. Remain open and flexible.
6. Remain curious and research-oriented.
7. Use your summers between school years to take internships or volunteer in the areas of your interest.
8. Explore the career counseling center early during your undergraduate years.

I felt the lively and entertaining writing style of the authors, Sheila Curran and Suzanne Greenwald, made this book a fun and informative read for both undergraduate students and their families.

Beth Zarian, author, Around the World with Historical Fiction and Folktales.


Once again, I'd recommend Smart Moves to anyone who has an open mind!
-Paul Zarian

A refreshing and timely read for every recent college graduate. Curran helps job-seekers (and their parents!) understand the challenges - sychological, cultural & socio-economic - facing every graduating liberal arts major. Her years of experience counseling the best and brightest of the country's youth has taught her a simple truth - happiness is in doing what you love to do.

What's so fascinating is the complete relevance it has to the day-to-day decisions that my 22-30 year-old peers are making every day. I can't tell you how many times I have felt compelled to share the "Smartest Moves" chapter with colleagues who find themselves "disenchanted,"
"disengaged," or otherwise, with their current career path.

Every college graduate should read this book - and so should their parents.

A college sophomore at Duke University, NC, I received a copy of 'Smart Moves' over the summer, at a time when I was extremely confused over which major I should choose, which career path I should follow etc. That was, until I received this book.
Through the stories of 23 other students, all ranging in a wide variety of careers and fields, I have realized that the next 3 years of my life will be about finding out what my passions are and where my interests for the future lie, rather than about working my way towards a preordained career goal on a predetermined path which I might regret later on in life. Several of my course selections and internship plans are now being reinforced after reading this book.
Smart moves has been a really useful eye-opener and myth buster for me, and I highly recommended to all students in liberal arts colleges, regardless of whether they were in a similar position as I was in or not. Read this book, and you would have made your first of many smart moves.

I bought this book for a friend who wanted to get into pharmaceutical sales, but she had no outside sales experience. She read the book cover to cover, referenced it daily, and in 3 months, she had her dream job. Thank you Tom!

If you are even remotely thinking of breaking into the pharmaceutical or medical sales industry - BUY THIS BOOK!! Because of this book I just got hired with Johnson & Johnson as a pharmaceutical sales rep. I had no prior experience in this industry and I beat out 3 other qualified candidates because I followed Tom's advice to a T. I highly recommend this book if you are seeking a job in the pharma or medical sales industry. It is an extremely difficult task to get hired in this industry but once you do you will be so proud of yourself and on your way to a fulfilling life-long career.

Pharmaceutical sales can be an intimidating industry. Tom Ruff's knowledge will point you in the right direction towards success.

I greatly enjoyed the book and have suggested it to many on my friends that are looking into entering the field of pharmaceutical sales. I thought it was extremely beneficial to read to get a flavor of what a pharmaceutical representative do on a day to day basis and how to get into the field. Read this before revising your resume and interviewing for positions it can also save you time in the end if you decide Pharm sales isn't for you.

It is so important for job seekers to get advice from people actually working in their desired industry. If you are interested in a career in pharmaceutical sales, Tom Ruff is the ideal advisor. Tom is the founder of Tom Ruff Company, a recruiting company specializing in the pharmaceutical industry. His book provides a true insider's guide to the entire process of finding and winning a job in this popular and competitive field.

What I particularly like about Tom's book are the many tips that only someone in the pharma industry would know. He shares lists of common interview questions, big mistakes to avoid, inside info on the largest pharma companies (and the differences between them) and sample resumes and email messages that will help readers stand out from the crowd.

This book is a must-read for anyone seeking a job in pharma sales--or even those who are thinking about doing so.

Lindsey Pollak
Author, "Getting from College to Career: 90 Things to Do Before You Join the Real World"

I had the good fortune to take a course given by Steve Slaunwhite, and he covers the B2B market quite well. His website is quire well organized, and I brought this book, not knowing he was the same author of the course I took. This book is very practical, and I recommend it, for its down-to-earth approach. Steve made a successful career transition
From being in sales to becoming a top B2B freelance copywriter. He inspired me go plunge into the freelance copywriting world, after being downsized by a major corporation.
Randy Kemp
http://www.randykempcopywriting.com

This is a very well written, entertaining, informative, and helpful account of what it takes to start a freelance copywriting business. Everything from suggestions on how to write different types of marketing copy to advice about how to manage money and run the business is included. This is probably the best single volume on the subject.

Steve Slaunwhite's, "Start & Run a Copywriting Business" is a true work of art, unparalleled by any other book on the subject. Every concern and question one may think of is covered in this book from how much money is needed to start your copywriting business all the way up to handling and managing your business and cash flow to invoicing and acquiring clients. This book far exceeded my expectations! Steve Slaunwhite knows his stuff.

When you are ready to start your freelance business, turn to this book. Not only is the information right on target, but there are plenty of ideas and insights to help you succeed. This is not a "get rich quick" book, but is for the serious person who truly wants a lucrative business doing something they truly like to do. Get this book, read it, follow the guidelines, and you will have your business.

I've read quite a few books on writing over the years, but I have found this to be one of the best I've read yet for freelance copywriting. It's full of great information and he even gives you details on how to complete many different projects. The cd it comes with is also a great benefit. I would recommend this book to anyone that is interested in freelance copywriting or writing. Well worth the money. I was not disappointed on this one, it's a keeper!

If you or a woman you know needs to understand how to move forward through the dynamics of change and career, Now What Do I Do is the right place to start.

I recommend Chapter 10, devoted to working for yourself and starting your own business, to my interior redesign students. Good business basics and ideas, worthy of frequent review.

Too often the older woman is passed over in the competitive workforce or senses age discrimination. This upbeat, positive book helps that woman oversome self-made issues and attitudes of others that may be out there working against her goal of self-staining or career enhancing employment. Written in an easy-to-read style, this book makes the experience positive by giving guidelines, exercises, and wonderful recommendations. We all need our own thirty-second commercial.

This book is primarily written for the women who are experiencing mid-life choices.
The author leads the reader through many self-evaluation lists on how you are doing at mid-life and what direction you want to go in the next phase of your life. There are self-assessments that help you decide if you prefer a job, start a business, go back to school or become a volunteer.
Ms. Cannon provides resource lists for finding or creating a support group to help you with your decision. There are also resource lists for company directories, non-traditional jobs, volunteer organizations, non-profit groups, as well as a section on how to start your own business.
"What Do I Do Now?" is a well-written, thoughtful, informative book full of ideas and information that can guide women, who are looking for a change, in their life the direction they need to go. Dr. Cannon's book is a must read for all women.

Reviewed by Tammy Petty Conrad for Reader Views (10/06)

Today we look at employment differently than our parents did. We change jobs more often and know we'll work longer before retirement. Jan Cannon, president of her own career counseling firm, smashes the concept that career changes must be made prior to mid-life. In fact she helps her readers embrace changes after forty, and even fifty. She focuses on women of this age group because this population has been previously ignored by career planners. "Now What Do I Do?" is for people considering changing jobs or those who have to. It is even helpful to those who want to start their own business or just want to do volunteer work. "The right job...is one that meets psychological, emotional, and financial needs as much as one that uses your skills."

The author goes through the mechanics required in searching for work, but also helps readers get to know themselves, their skills and their preferences. The book reads quickly, but it is also a workbook full of assessments which allow the reader to ponder their attributes and desires so they don't settle for the first available job, but instead find where they are meant to be. Rather than being too late to realize our dreams, "Mid-life is a time for exploration and self-expression, not resignation." Being closer to mid-life than my twenties, I find this very reassuring!

I especially liked the "Exploring the Want Ads" exercise. Previously I only circled the jobs I knew I could get. But the author suggests circling anything that interests you, whether you are qualified or not, because you're not looking for a specific job in this case, but what interests you, and therefore motivates you. This exercise includes other steps to make it as valuable as possible.

Jan Cannon suggests many types of support tools, one of which is your own "Success Team." This is a group of people you select who will support you during your job search. We have support groups for everything else, why not job hunting? Lastly the resource section overflows with websites, books and associations to benefit your search.

Even if you don't think you want a change, read "Now What Do I Do?" It will give you the confidence to step out of the box. After all, there's plenty of time left.

"Now What Do I Do?" is an easy to read guide for those looking for a fresh start. The book's primary audience is middle-aged women who have decided to reenter the workforce or to take a new direction in their careers. It walks the reader through many hands-on exercises, all the options for work (working for someone, working for yourself, or volunteering), and is sensitive about the subject of how to manage ageism (age discrimination).

While I am not part of the book's intended audience, I, as a young woman, found the book very useful. It is rich in advice, resources, and thorough exercises that would help anyone uncover her skills, interests, and passions. The handful of comments about age were the only few points in the book that I did not find immediately relevant.

Several of the exercises (e.g., writing a future autobiography) and ideas (e.g., importance of networking, thinking positively, creating a support group for change) were not new in that I've come across them in other books, but this is advantageous because Cannon compiles a comprehensive set of exercises in one easy to access reference.

The bottom-line of Cannon's book is that we have to do our homework in preparing for a life transition. She hits this point so hard with all her assignments that at times, the book feels a little overwhelming and preachy. It would have been nice if she balanced out some assignments and advice with more stories or alternative approaches. She shares some very inspiring anecdotes about herself, famous people, and her clients, which left me thirsty for more.

I also think the book would flow better had she brought some of her finishing points to the beginning of the book because I found myself "getting sidetracked" already during the initial chapters. However, all the information is there to help one get started, and she who takes full advantage of Cannon's book no doubt will enjoy much success in her new career.

The career coach who has "Now What Do I Do?" on his/her shelf also has a great library of materials to help clients find their direction. Members of women's professional organizations (e.g., Society of Women Engineers) can benefit in particular because they can tap into their membership pool to buddy up with someone or create the much-needed "success team" as they embark in a new direction or into the world of work for the first time in a while.

I must say that I really enjoy this book. It is well written and provides alot of very good information. It is a good resource book to keep in your RV. I am planning to go full time RVing in the next couple of months and this book helped me to make that important decision. Read and enjoy folks!

We found this book a very valuable resource for planning on our eventual fulltiming phase of life. It is a very easy read, but it also has the information you need. It's very well laid out! Thanks for a great book!

Support Your RV Lifestyle: An Insider's Guide to Working on the Road (Second Edition)
is a wonderful resource -- it's well-written, filled with great information, and is inspirational and encouraging, as well. Jaimie Hall is knowledgeable and enthusiastic about her topic. It's obvious that she's a seasoned traveler -- and has been both working on the road and talking to many other RVers who have worked while enjoying their travels.

The book summarizes over 350 jobs (in categories like work at rv parks and resorts, christmas tree farms, state parks and national forest areas, concessions, seasonal jobs, sales of rv related products, crafts, writing and consulting). Details like how to handle resumes, long-distance job interviews, contact information and communication while traveling, and the right questions to ask about jobs are also covered. In addition to the many options it lists, it points out possible problems and challenges one may encounter on the road while trying to find a job or while working.

If you (like us) are thinking about traveling in an RV, this is the book to have in the planning stage -- and I assume it will also be helpful when on the road.
Also check out the author's website and enewsletter.

My husband was intrigued by the idea of full-timing in an RV. This book gives you ideas of working while moving around in your RV. Maybe working a seasonal job in a theme park or with a tour group, on a guest ranch or in a national park appeals to you. Some jobs offer free campsites.
Ultimately I chickened out on the idea, but if you think the open road is for you and want to make some money along the way, be sure to read this book.
It includes a ton of info in the appendix: including contact information for state tourist bureaus, state parks, state revenue offices and state motor vehicle and licensing bureaus and more, plus an additional 32 pages of resources.

Many people who contemplate living the RV lifestyle probably equate it with a leisurely retirement. But what if you combine RVing with a lucrative work life? You may discover that you can hit the road at a younger age and reap more rewards.
Support Your RV Lifestyle spells out in great detail exactly how to live this dream life. Jaimie Hall speaks from her own experience and culls information from a wealth of other sources to create a comprehensive tool for planning to live and work on the road.
Just as you wouldn't set out on a trip without a road map, you would be miles ahead by consulting this guide before embarking on this life journey. There's a lot more to consider than where to park your vehicle each night. Don't assume you'll just "find a job" when you reach your destination. There are many considerations, from tying your marketable skills to a job on the road, to balancing work and fun, to tax implications. Because Ms. Hall is so thorough with her guidance, you will be well-equipped to make decisions about how to combine work with pleasure.
It is likely that some of her 100-plus pages of worksheets and resource lists would assist travelers in general, not only those traveling and working out of an RV. You'll recoup the price of this travel guide many times if you choose to follow its course for living and working on the road

As an already-successful author (Rewired, Rehired, or Retired? Jossey-Bass/Pfeiffer 2002) and sought-after international speaker, Bob Critchley is eminently qualified to speak with authority on the labour market of the future.

Whilst not alone in ringing the warning bells, Critchley has much more to offer than an alarmist message ... and he couldn't make it easier for us. He goes beyond illuminating the impending labour crisis, he has the strategies and solutions too.

Company Directors, CEO's, Management and especially HR advisers need to have this book on the top of their "must read" list!

So how does an organization maintain and maximise a multi-generational workforce, remain flexible yet successful and also be seen as an employer of choice? Critchley's answer is clear ... "Doing nothing is Not an option!".

Exactly what to do is made abundantly clear in this eminently sensible and readable book from someone who has impeccable credentials and vast experience. Carolyne Burns, MD, Influence InterPersonal Profiling, Sydney Australia

We all know the importance of trusted and experienced people in successful businesses......why then are they often overlooked in favour of the "new model" or the "grass is greener" scenario? Critchley really brings home the message that these people are key and will be absolutely key for organisations to main tain their position and advantage.The book is a must not only for HR professionals but also for all managers and company directors....from an author with extensive practiocal knowledge and successful experience of practising what he preaches.

Bob Critchley has produced an outstanding people management guide. The author's deep practical experience is evident as he shares his insights into effective management of people in all age groups. At a time when there is a growing shortage of talent in most developed economies, knowledge from this book can help put results on the bottom line in most business organisations. This book is easy to read and hard to put down! Colin Durand, The Insight Executive Search Group, Sydney Australia.

Bob Critchley's book provides a powerful and compelling argument for "thinking outside the box".

The population demographics are inevitable and organisations ignore them at their own peril.

Unless organisations adopt flexible ways of engaging employees and think laterally about how to maximise the contribution of every single employee, they are doomed to become victims of the demographic reality.

Critchley's book not only provides the evidence and demonstrates the inevitibility - but he also provides a compendium of ideas about how to respond.

An invaluable guide to any forward thinking HR professional.

Time marches slowly on and we all tend get caught up in our day to day and short term activities. Just like when global warming incidents started to occur. In isolation they meant little and then a pattern and explanation emerged. Critchley pulls together the signs in our demographic and employment changes. Dramatic shortages in skilled labour arise; a lack of investment in infrastructure becomes apparent; retirement and aged care issues start to be reported in the media; the funding of retirees becomes a federal budget issue; government start to create incentives to get people back to work. For those who run businesses other symptoms become apparent. So often the employer has to convince the prospective employee why to join them; the employer becomes aware of impending skill losses as older employees approach retirement age; people talk about not wanting to fully retire and having flexible arrangements; the employer can't find the right people.
Critchley's book suddenly pulls all these incidents and changes in attitude together into one easy flowing cohesive read. He paints a picture of why things are happening and what is likely to continue to happen. More importantly he canvasses what needs to be done for organisations to be successful in this environment. Many organisations pay lip service to people being their most important asset and often they have a short term focus. Critchley really sets down some ideas and a framework that organisations, who really do value people, will need to adopt to be successful in the long term. A must read.

I have been in the retained search business for over 18 years and Lou's book is the only book and related seminar program to "hit the proverbial nail on the head" when it comes to interviewing and assessing top talent. Lou gives numerous case studies and examples to illustrate his ideas, unlike many books which leave you with such a superficial level of information that you sense they were nothing more than hot air. The best part of Lou's book is that you could skim the contents and walk into an interview and gain a very high confidence that the candidate can achieve the results you desire. Lou gives a step by step methodology for conducting the interview and assessing the results. Many of my clients, ranging from Fortune 100 companies to entrepreneurial DOT COM start-ups, swear by Lou's approach to interviewing and candidate assessment. I give a copy of Lou's book to all my clients. The other great part of Lou's book is that it is supported by a world-class web site for hiring and interviewing, POWERHiring.Com.

This book gives a solid foundation to interviewers on good hiring techniques and a box of tools to help conduct better selection interviews. I recommend the book.

Wayne D. Ford, Ph.D., author of "How to Spot a Liar in a Job Interview" and "How to Spot a Phony Resume" docwifford@msn.com

I've been a hiring manager for over 10 years. After reading Lou Adler's common sense approach to hiring in "Hire With Your Head, a rational way to make a gut decision" I ordered copies of his book for each of my hiring managers. This sensible approach to hiring has forever changed my approach to personnel staffing.

I have used Lou Adler's POWER Hiring for over 3 years now. I have been a recruiting/ employment professional and consultant for 32 years and have seen a great number of methods, processes and procedures come and go. I have to say, this is by far the best of the best! Not only has this proven successful for me, but I have taught the methodology to quite a few of my clients. The response has been overwhelmingly positive. In my consulting capacity, I have the opportunity every day to observe the candidate/employer selection process. I also see the end results of the selection as I talk to employees who tell me about the latest hire that didn't work out very well. I frequently hear from the candidate who didn't match the new position and has a desire to search for a new position, often due to the misinformation presented in the interview process. I have observed that mistakes are made in a very high percentage of cases. It takes a lot to make an effective match. An employee might perform above average in one situation/culture and very average or below in others. For example, a Controller position in one firm may differ dramatically in terms of size and scope of responsibility, skills required, expected deliverables, etc. Just as not all Controllers are created equal, neither are the jobs. POWER Hiring is very effective in focusing on the factors of the specific position vs. the skills and talents of the candidate, with the end result being a drastic reduction in hiring errors. My suggestion; note the overwhelmingly positive responses by the readers on this site, buy the book and you will experience and enjoy the positive results you will achieve when employing these principles!

According to articles in three major publications, the problems and recommendations in Lou Adler's book do address the correct issues. A recent Harvard Business Review article identified ten major interviewing mistakes -- known to most professionals -- but a constant struggle unless a technique like POWER Hiring is used. Training Magazine has a current article calling for something more than traditional "behavioral interviewing" to deal with increased preparation (and sometimes lies) on the part of interviewees. The POWER Hiring approach probes much deeper than traditional behavioral interviewing -- and solves this problem by switching from "having" to "doing." And Fortune Magazine recently recognized Adler's book as the "best" on addressing the ever more complicated issue of navigating the internet.

I've trained hundreds of human resources and management professionals on interviewing techniques. I've never seen a technique as strong as Adler's POWER Hiring. I've counseled hundreds of job seekers in a volunteer job seekers program -- they've reacted very positively when I've suggested that being prepared to answer Lou Adler's questions would really set them apart.

POWER Hiring, as suggested by Adler, is theoretically solid, based on sound management principles that hiring managers often forget -- and it works!