Careers Books

I work with people who are at different phases of job and career development. This book is an excellent resource for all of them. I've even bought a couple of copies to lend to those who have not yet established a reliable income for themselves. It's a great tool and I thank you for writing it in a style that is accessible to so many different people.

I enjoyed the author's common sense approach to the resume miracles often promised by other books and resume services. Functional resumes do hide a lack of experience but employers already know that. Tricks with format and fonts might look neat but most resume reviewers are going to look past the presentation at some point. This book focuses on the basics, words that work, emphasizing accomplishments over position, keeping things simple, clear, concise and easy to read. But once you get past the large list of action words, there really isn't much more to this book. Personally, I like the formatting ideas in books like Resume Magic and the emphasis on using keywords which are often how resumes are filtered in the Internet age. While the author of The Elements of Resume Style seems to belittle these stupid resume tricks, they do seem to work.

Still,in spite of this quibble I'm giving this book a good recommendation because I found the information on grammer, fonts, style and basic format very helpful, as well as the grain of skeptism that comes with it. But comparing the sample resumes presented in this books and the ones found in other like Resume Magic, and putting oneself in the place of an employer, I think the visual formatting and style does make a difference. This book is a good start or even a complement but not the last word on resumes.

This is an easy read. The descriptions are concise. The author explains the reason for his suggestions. There are numerous examples for form and format. The one thing I found missing was how to set up a resume for those who have worked for one company for over 30 years but have had several jobs and titles within that time frame.

Mr. Bennett leaves no stone unturned here...he takes readers through each step of writing a resume so diligently that I feel as if he has practically re-written my resume himself! Throughout the book he reinforces the importance of being honest about work histories and teaches readers how to position job hopping and gaps in employment. (Now I can feel confident in selling myself despite the many detours I've taken in my career!) He puts readers in the point of view of the employer and goes into great detail about how to use language and visual layout of the resume to make the most impact. He supplies tons of descriptive words and shows how to turn terms like, "strong interpersonal skills" and "great team-player" into actionable statements with evidence that actually mean something to employers. (This was very enlightening to me!) He also explains best practices with cover letters, inquiry letters and replying to salary history requests...you NAME it and this book's got it. Mr. Bennett clearly has a lot to teach on the subject and I feeled armed with a powerful weapon in being able to re-position myself on paper and get myself hired. This book is a must buy!

This is the one to get. Trust me, I write resumes for a living.

"Escape from Corporate America" doesn't have the glitz and personality, the audacity and intensity, the big dream and the big promise, of Tim Ferriss' The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich, a book I found both inspirational and thought-provoking. On the other hand, "Escape..." is a good deal more practical, in that while Ferriss sort of glossed over the part about setting up a stand-alone business that generates thousands of dollars with little or no effort, Pamela Skillings leaves nothing to chance in helping you decide whether "escaping" is right for you, and if so, how to do it.

Leaving a job, even an unhappy one, is no small matter, and if the reader takes nothing else from "Escape from Corporate America," it would be that you need to give that the hard work and planning such a change deserves. Whether you're burned out, bored, or just vaguely unsatisfied, this book serves many of the functions of a professional "lifestyle coach" (at a fraction of the price). From helping you get to the bottom of why exactly you're unhappy with your current situation ... to showing you how to identify alternatives and weigh the pros and cons ... to helping you tell the boss you're leaving without burning any bridges, there's a lot of useful information packed into these pages. She even gives you seven pages of financial-planning worksheets to help ensure you have a clear picture of what you'll need -- and what you don't need -- as you make the big shift.

The dream of escaping corporate America takes as many forms as there are people to have the dream, of course, and Skillings has something to offer a wide variety of dreamers. Whether you're an entrepreneur who wants to conquer the business world as your own boss rather than someone else's wage slave ... or poet, artist, or musician who took a straight job to pay the bills and discovered with a shock that you now have a decade-long career you never counted on, I think this book can go a long way toward helping you start achieving what you're looking for. That might not be tangos in Argentina à la Tim Ferriss ... but even if it is, you need to start somewhere and "Escape from Corporate America" may help give you the tools you need to achieve what you want.

This book not only provides stories on real people who have escaped, it is a wealth of on-line information. It definitely inspired me to consider hanging up my corporate hat. I recommend this book to anyone who has ever felt that they didn't belong in the corporate world but were too afraid to try something different.

Pam's approach to escaping corporate America is realistic, direct, and is almost as if she's walking you through the process while standing right next to you and making sure you tackle every step without any obstacles. Her approach is extremely practical and doesn't even need to be read by the corporate worker; anyone looking for some sort of job change (or even a book for leisure reading) will get ideas and inspiration from Skillings's detailed writeup of how you can take charge of your career, find happiness, and pursue your dreams.

A well-written, well-researched book with great personal stories. Escaping corporate America is a hot topic, and this is a hot book. Read it. Enjoy it.

This was a nice little book. I especially liked the cheery yellow cover. It is divided into three sections and 12 chapters as follows:

I. Plan your escape (1-4)
II. Exploring your escape routes (5-11)
III. Going over the wall (12)

1. This is not your father's job market
2. The trouble with the rat race
3. True callings and wrong numbers
4. Let's get practical
5. Corporate jobs that don't suck
6. Take a break
7. Swim in a smaller pond
8. Go solo
9. Build a business
10. Follow your creative dreams
11. Make a difference
12. Going over the wall
A. Have a nice escape
B. The escape toolkit
C. Meet the escape artists

I thought the book was well written and well organized. I liked the 5-page quiz entitled "Are you a corporate casualty? The author has invested 12 years in corporate America. And then she bailed. She now operates her own consulting shop. She says she spent 3 years talking to 200+ people in order to research this book. And it shows. The book's content makes sense, sounds like it has been well researched, and provides value to anyone who is thinking of following the author's lead and "escaping."

Since I am a SCORE (Senior Corps of Retired Executives) counselor who helps members of this book's target audience on a daily basis, my favorite chapters were 8, 9, and 12. Those are the topics I usually discuss with my SCORE clients. But this book covers all the basic options available to someone who is tired of the rat race and wants something different. 5 stars!

This is an excellent book and really easy reading. Lots of good information and the CD that comes with it has a lot of helpful forms for wedding planning. This book is definitely worth the money.

A very informative read. The authors don't beat around the bush and get straight to the point. A wealth of internet resource information that is very helpful. Outlined "everything" you need to know about becoming a wedding planner. The writers of this book REALLY did their research. Highly recommend. I give this book an 'A'.

I really thinks that was the best book I have bought. As an event planner, it covers all the basis and some you forget. It is a must have!!

Received this as a gift after eyeing it for a while. Really great book for those interested in becoming a wedding planner. CD that is included is a great help and includes sample contracts, checklists, and more for your company.

I was really pleasantly surprised at the professional way this book is set up. Anyone can has a fabulous record of all required to start your business from start to finish. Wonderful guide. enjoy!

I collect books about TV writing, from way back in the '50s (Paddy Chayefsky, et al.) through today, and Masello's is the funniest, most informative, most well-written, most encouraging and most useful of them all. I hope he continues to revise and update A FRIEND IN THE BUSINESS as the years pass, in order to keep it current, because it really is an invaluable reference.

This is both a fun book, and also a very infomative book, about the screenwriting business. It is full of academic truths about screenwriting, and it also contains alot of street smart realities that the writer (and author) learned over time. It has alot of good stories about the authors trials and tribulations, and shows how he approached the business, and then made alot of necessary corrections. I would give it a 4.5 without any hesitation. Very fun and informative.

..and this book creates a brilliant, candid portrait of this madness. "Friend in the Business" was recommended to me by someone when I told them I was thinking about breaking into TV, and this book has told me everything I need to know to hold onto both my sanity and my soul while doing so.

I enjoyed reading this book, and found it interesting to hear the trench stories of one man's journey into Hollywood. However, there is something about the book that I didn't like, and I can't quite pinpoint it....there is a feel that the author was not as successful in Hollywood as he wanted to be, and decided to at least leverage his limited experiences by writing a book about them (versus some books out there that seem to be driven by a true desire to impart hard-earned wisdom), while settling some scores in the process. Kind of like, "I'll show them...." (more subtle, but still there).

I'll give one example, and perhaps it's not the best one. He mentions that he was always hip-pocketed by the agencies, not signed, and tells us that info as if that is a good thing, like phew, he beat the system. OK, yes, being hip-pocketed is better than nothing at all, especially at the beginning, but let's face it, if an agent never wants to sign you, you did not pull one over on them. It just felt like he was trying to justify a lot of this kind of stuff. There are so many books out there that after reading, I am dying to have lunch with the author to meet him in person....whereas here, I found myself not having that experience at all.

But, the book was funny and had some good intro-to-the-business info.

I work in a college career services office & bought this book for our resource center. It arrived last week and has not yet made it onto the shelf--because I can't put it down! Many career books are dry "how to" manuals which may have valuable information, but lose the readers' interest before it can be imparted. Not this book. Mr. Masello's engaging, witty writing keeps the reader riveted. And while being entertained, you also learn a good deal about succeeding in TV writing. (Which, granted, appears to be much like its cousins in radio/movies etc...somewhat dependent upon luck, timing and perseverence).

At any rate, if you are contemplating a career in TV writing or looking for a good book to add to your career library, this is a must have. Note: I see he has another coming out in April on getting books published...I plan to order it as well!

From Cinderella to CEO was a great read, a lot of fun; Full of good advice. If you've had a job, you'll see yourself in many of the stories; I know I did. This would be a wonderful gift for a new graduate.

Cary's delightful journey into all the archetypes that fairy tales present helps us realize that the big bad wolf, the wicked witch and the trolls under the bridge whom we encounter at work can be sidestepped to our advantage--and gracefully.

She taps the age-old wisdom that helps us find our path safely through the forest of the corporate world. I've known Cary since she was about 10 years old, and she's always been wonderfully refreshing. The same Cary shines through in Cinderella to CEO .
Patrice Dickey, author of BACK TO THE GARDEN: Getting from Shadow to Joy

Cary Broussard's terrific new business book is filled with straightforward and powerful advice on how to get where you want to go in business. The great thing is that she does it by using our favorite fairy tales as metaphors for life in business. She takes us back to a time (our childhood) when we believed that anything was possible. By taking us there, she makes us see that in fact almost anything really is. It's a book, you'll come back over and over again.

Absolutely loved it! This book is a great tool for a woman at any point in her career. It's appropriate for men too!

I started the book and finished it over the weekend. I wasn't expecting to want to read the book cover to cover, but I couldn't help it! I am buying this book for all my girlfriends for Christmas.

This "simple" little book is powerful and to the point. The author writes with an openness, humor and generosity that imbues the book with a sense of "You can do it!" And do it with grace and ease. It is easy to read, easy to engage and easy to absorb the concept of not being STUCK! There is a humility in the writing that includes you in the life of the author, letting you know that he comes from experience and not just intellect. It is real and deceptively profound.

Thank you John Seeley.

I read the book in one sitting and thought it was a great way to reinforce the tools needed to re-evaluate your life and move on. The questions at the end of each chapter really makes sure you're focused on the goals. Great for someone like myself whose always on the go.

Wow! If you learn eighty percent of your "programs" (your unconscious behavior patterns) by the time you are 8 years old and another fifteen percent by the time you're 18, you definitely need this book to help you use the other five percent to change the first ninety-five percent. Otherwise, you will often find an 8 year old running your life (this isn't always the best idea). Seriously, pick up this book and put it into action. My copy is so highlighted some pages appear to be printed on yellow paper. Enjoy!

If you are considering a personal coach, you may want to read this book first. I read Get Unstuck in one day, and through this easy to read book gained some valuable insights. Each of the 12 chapters contains practical steps you can take to improve your life. The author talks to you, not at you!

In 12 short, easy-to-read chapters John Seeley presents powerful tools to help you get in touch with what you have in your life, what you want more of and what you want less of. Each chapter opens and closes with a famous quote, includes anecdotes, short exercises, and thought-provoking questions that will guide you toward greater awareness and more effective action.

I have read many personal growth books and found this one helpful. I recommend it for people in the healing and helping professions, including life coaches, therapists, and pastors, and anyone who wants to enjoy more and worry less. People seeking coaching could use this to help themselves navigate the challenges of life with greater ease. Great book, inspiring reading!

Rachel Albert-Matesz, Nutrition Educator, Cooking Coach, Personal Chef, and co-author of The Garden of Eating: A Produce-Dominated Diet & Cookbook

Steve Chandler and Duane Black present an approach to management that promises to lower your stress level, increase your happiness and allow everyone in your organization to be more creative and productive. The idea is that old-style, hands-on micromanagement does not engage today's workers. The book tries to persuade readers through emotional appeals, which can be illuminating but sometimes appear strained. The book includes interesting quotes from all kinds of people, including Peter Drucker, Deepak Chopra, Napoleon Hill (whom the authors criticize), Voltaire and others. We say the authors' core ideas are persuasive, but the style might lean a little too much on intangible insights for some readers. However, this is a great book if you are a stressed-out manager who wants to find a new approach. Read this, calm down and stop micromanaging.

The Hands-Off Manager's chapter headings include uncomplicated titles such as "Using the Power of Neutral" (Chapter 3) and "Letting Go of Judgment" (Chapter 11), but this book is far from simplistic. I began reading with the thought that I would skim the book in an hour or two. I soon found that there are truths here that deserve a slow, careful read.

The book's writers, consultant and author Steve Chandler and construction executive Duane Black, have outlined a plan for transforming a company's culture from one of judgment and criticism to one of leading employees to contribute more than any goal or KPI will motivate them to achieve. The book makes a logical, persuasive case for managing people in a way that gets them thinking about how they can contribute to the success of the company, and in doing so, make work fun and rewarding. It teaches managers how to create constructive relationships with their employees, and in doing so, significantly reduce their own stress levels.

In my work as a corporate trainer, I began incorporating principles from the book into several training courses a few months ago. The effect the book has on each group of managers is the same. They recognize the truths contained in the book, see how applying them will reduce stress and make them more effective leaders, and ask for more training based on the principles in the book.

Read this book with thought and care, and you'll change the way you think about management and leadership.

Great Book! I give this 5 stars. There are few people in life and business that look within and do their own internal work. There are a lot of teachers in the world that have helpful information. Then there are those few teachers that consistently look inside themselves and these are the true leaders of our world.

Duane Black is one of those leaders that is consistently walking his talk. As a successful small business owner for more than 20 years, I have recently found myself holding the position of manager of a small group of entrepreneurs. Duane Black and Steve Chandler's ability to take all different types of information and philosophies and bring them back to personal responsibility has been done with grace.

We are all observers of the people around us. A great manager is one that is observing himself and is by doing so, much more effective in assisting others in empowering themselves.

Great reading!

Grant Helgeson
Scottsdale, Arizona

I have experienced this type of success when leading volunteer groups but haven't been able to define the formula until reading this book. When people volunteer, you can't fire them. If you lose them you have to do all the work yourself! You have to figure out a way to use what they have to offer. The principles in this book work!

Managing the folks in today's workforce is very different than it was a few decades back. They usually don't take well to rigidity, conformity, or being told anything. Steve Chandler and Duane Black believe there is a great way to manage them and to improve their life and yours. They call it hands-off managing. That is, you don't try to control them by turning and pushing them (metaphorically) in a specific direction. What they believe is that you should spend more time helping your employees understand who they are as people and why they can use their work to help them express that unique self they have to contribute. Sounds a bit squishy? Yeah, me too. However, there really is a solid core behind the kind of soft metaphors they use to express it.

Much of the book is focused on getting you to treat yourself this way. The idea is to lower your stress levels by not forcing yourself to be a certain way, don't worry so much about overcoming and willing things into existence. Rather, relax and find your own core and your true gifts and then you will be ready to lead others this way. Several times they say (probably too many times) that the best gift you can give another is the gift of them self.

The book is full of anecdotes from their own coaching experiences to illustrate their points. They also use quotes from the likes of Deepak Chopra (this always raises my concerns about the point being made), Napoleon Hill (whom they also bash for using the work think), Voltaire (!), and many others. They also make some really odd comments. One being that DeNiro was channeling a dead boxer in "Raging Bull". Hmmm. Jake LaMotta was not only alive when the film was made (he was born in 1921), he is alive in 2007.

While I quite enjoy their point about the new work force, not trying to force things so much, focusing only on the present and the one most important task, I found the packaging of the ideas a tad saccharine. It is up to you whether you will find it appealing.

Hit a Grand Slam is about Alex Rodriguez as a kid and growing up. It teaches you to be kind. I recommend it to people ages 7 and up, even if they don't like baseball. It's also a really good sports book for kids who like sports. It's one of the best sports books I ever read.

I loved this book because I got a chance to learn about Alex's life and how he handled his dad leaving. I like how he expresses his feelings and doesn't keep his feelings inside. I would recommend this book to people of all ages.

This book really affects kids in a positive way. It informs the reader "It's nice to be important, but it's important to be nice!" This having been said ever so elegantly by A-Rod himself.

Alex and his team did a great job of affluently connecting the pictures with his stories in such a way that it is one you won't want to put down until finished.

Alex is a great role model, and his book is an excellent reflection of him. His positive outlook shines throughout his book, which in turn inspires the reader, the kids.

Children are constantly searching for role models in the public spotlight. Alex Rodriguez's book introduces them to an outstanding human being who has experienced many of the obstacles in life that young children face today. Alex shares his memories of his past and the events that shaped his youth. Children will identify with his struggles and the concerns that he faced in his own childhood. Wonderful pictures fill the book and are sure to delight any fans of Alex. Most importantly the book carries the message to children that they CAN succeed with hard work, no matter what hurdles life throws at you!

This is a wonderful book. This Book shows how even through adversity you can still rise above, and achieve success. It is a book for all ages, Alex had difficult times, but he did not let it stop him..that is an inspiration.

FADE IN...You network, network and network some more. Just keep smiling as you get S%$@!. The book really is excellent and a must read before taking the leap to LA. As part of the rules, I really shouldn't be letting you know about it. The book will not tell you how to get that luck break, but it will save you some pain along the way. I would also suggest Hollywood 101: The Film Industry for a excellent break down of the various jobs that are need to make a movie. FADE OUT

When I bought this book, I was prepared to read the words of someone who had watched Swimming With Sharks and The Player one too many times. However, this is not a book that teaches you how to be a player. This is a book that teaches you how to get noticed. You can tell that "Anonymous" knows his or her stuff about how to set yourself apart in Hollywood-- by playing by the right rules. There are insightful tips in this book that it would take three years worth of meetings to realize yourself. It is like the Hollywood version of Strunk & White's Elements of Style. Don't leave the east coast without it.

I am a writer and found this book to have helpful information in it for me. It is geared towards the film industry but is a good read with some good information if you are a writer, actor or in the entertainment industry or want to be.

This book not only specifically applies to how one should comport themselves in "the Biz", but has lessons that apply to all industries across the board. A must-read for all who choose to succeed. Buy it! You won't waste your money.

The Hollywood Rules - this book has a special aura about it. It encourages you to understand your talent and how it will most likely be perceived and handled by those in power who can enhance/create your career in movies. It brings Hollywood to your living room for some brief moments, making you believe that you can find the way to whatever you're striving for. And not only that - it shows you the way, providing that you are prepared to work hard, play by the rules, break the rules, and dream on until you make it [...]

Amazeed by this chemistrt review book. It's like a large textbook, condensed in a smaller version but you have everything you need at your finger tips. I need to refresh my my mind on some basic chem for a next year, pre entrance exam for nursing and I have to say is "I don't need to take a class." The author explains everything in lay terms and you understand, quickly. Even if you have to read certain things over again, you pretty much get it after looking the material over for the third time. I read the first two chapters and mostly everything is still in my mind. The author makes chemistry interesting by using real life examples to reinforce the material. He has the gift of gab and ANYONE who is struggling with chemistry whether it's high school and college chem, this book with HELP you get an A. I'm very impressed and happy that I bought. But I also want to thank the folks before me that reviewed this book. If it wasn't for them, I wouldn't have bought it. THANKS GUYS!!!!!

Let me start by saying anyone who lands on this page, and who has either only a little or NO chemistry experience should BUY THIS BOOK. I am NOT exaggerating! The 11 dollars that you spend on this book could make all the difference between achieving your schooling goals or not. It did for me. THIS author is AMAZING. I found his book while already registered in an Intro the Chemistry course. The class required text book had me running around in circles. I almost quit. Then I found this book. This book made a huge contribution not only to passing the course but to getting an A. Know this: I failed every science course I ever tried to take when I was younger. I am trying to get back into school and have to take Chemistry, Microbiology, and Anatomy and Physiology. I could not take any of the other courses without first passing chemistry. Chemistry is a pre-req to many other courses so that is what I mean when I say this book can mean the difference in your achieving your schooling goals or not. Still if your teenager has to take chemistry and NOTHING else, then this is still the book for you. Without this book I would not be moving on to my next science. Listen I could go on and on about this book but ask yourself this: for 11 dollars is it worth not at least trying out this book? This Author in my opinion has given many of us a gift: an affordable book that is completely understandable! NOW there are some typos in important areas but guess what: this guy's teaching style is SO amazing that you will know enough to see the typos when they come. MY only suggestion is READ IT FROM COVER TO COVER. Make that commitment. DO not try to skip around if you are new to chemistry or even know a little chemistry. Now admittedly this book covers what some call the "basics" of chemistry. I would like to re-phrase that and say what this book does is cover all the FOUNDATIONAL stuff one needs to be able to understand chemistry. Let's be clear without a good foundation NOTHING is easy. TRY this book. Think of all the ways we daily waste 11 dollars. This11 dollars could give you a 500% return on your investment. This guys writing is amazing! He makes important chemistry knowledge not only accessible but affordable! This 11 dollars is giving me a chance to achieve goals that I never could before.

This book was written with the student in mind. It just makes sense. The book is full of examples and explanations. This probably saved my Chemistry grade and helped me understand everything for the final. The book is seriously amazing. If you need help in Chemistry, you HAVE TO get this book. I swear, you won't regret it.

The book makes it seem like you have a tutor teaching it to you.

This is a pretty good review of the basics of Chemistry. I'm also reading the Calculus, Physics, and Biology books of this series. They all seem to be good reviews of the basics.

This is actually not a bad book, the only reason I give three stars is that its meant for students with little or no chemistry background. Its a good book for students of chemistry 101 or maybe even 111.

Its clear that the author wrote the book with the student in mind. The author explains the chemistry concepts very well so that even the least chemistry orientated can learn a thing or two.