The Quick Job Finding Pocket Guide: 10 Steps to Jump-Start Your Career . . . and Life! (4th Edition)

Jam-packed with engaging self-tests, checklists, exercises, examples, tips, fill-in-the-blank documents, and recommended resources, this popular interactive give-away can help anyone seeking employment. Literally designed as a handy 3¾” x 4¾” pocket guide (fits into shirt or pants pockets or handbags), it’s a 24/7 personal reference and action companion. Once finished, users will be in a much better position to land a rewarding job or start a business. Best of all, they will acquire important attitudes, skills, and motivations to continue finding or creating jobs for the rest of their lives!

64 pages. Softcover. Copyright © 2021

EBOOK VERSION:  Browse and purchase through your favorite eBook distributor, such as Amazon, Apple, and Barnes & Noble.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

QUICKLY FIND A JOB  1

• Do You Need a 30/30 Job, NOW? 1
• You Lost Your Job – Now What? 4

BASIC JOB SEARCH TIPS & TECHNIQUES  7

• 10 Steps to Job Search Success 7
• What’s Your Job Search IQ? 8
• How’s Your Attitude? 11
• Identify Your Transferable Skills 13
• Know Your Motivated Abilities/Skills 14
• State a Clear Objective or Goal 15
• Complete Winning Applications 17
• Avoid 45 Resume Mistakes 18
• Use the Internet Wisely 20
• Community-Based Opportunity Networks 21
• Attend Targeted Job Fairs 23
• Start Your Own Business 25
• Find a Federal Job 27
• Network Your Way to Success 28
• Prepare for Job Interviews 31
• Avoid 40 Job Interview Errors 32
• Handle Red Flags Tactfully 34
• Prepare to Answer 58 Questions 35
• Ask Informative Questions 38
• Close and Exit the Interview Properly 39
• Follow Up the Interview Quickly 40
• Avoid 20 Salary Mistakes 41
• Accept the Job Offer 42

JOB SURVIVAL AND SUCCESS  43

• Survive and Thrive on the Job 43
• 10 Job Survival Strategies 44
• Conduct an Annual Career Check-Up 44

DOCUMENTATION AND RESOURCES  45

• Personal Information 45
• Education Snapshot 47
• College/University Attended 48
• Other Education/Training 49
• Work History/Experience 50
• Other Noteworthy Experiences 51
• Identify Your Best References 52
• Key Contacts/Directory 54
• Research and Contact Local Employers 55
• Job Search Contract/Commitment 57

KEY JOB FINDING RESOURCES  58

THE AUTHOR: Ronald L. Krannich, Ph.D., is one of today’s leading career and life skills writers who has authored more than 100 books, including several self-help guides for people with difficult backgrounds: No One Will Hire Me!, The Ex-Offender’s New Job Finding and Survival Guide, The Ex-Offender’s Re-Entry Assistance Directory, Best Resumes and Letters for Ex-Offenders, The Ex-Offender’s Job Interview Guide, Best Jobs for Ex-Offenders, The Ex-Offender’s Re-Entry Success Guide, The Ex-Offender’s Quick Job Hunting Guide, The Ex-Offender’s 30/30 Job Solution, 99 Days to Re-Entry Success Journal, The Re-Entry Employment and Life Skills Pocket Guide, The Re-Entry Start-Up Pocket Guide, The Anger Management Pocket Guide, The Re-Entry Personal Finance Pocket Guide, and Re-Imagining Life on the Outside Pocket Guide. He has also authored several books for military in transition: Military-to-Civilian Success for Veterans and Their Families, The Military-to-Civilian Transition Guide, The Military-to-Civilian Transition Pocket Guide, The Military Spouses Employment Pocket Guide, The Military Spouse’s Map Through the Maze Pocket Guide, The Military Family Education Pocket Guide, The Military Family Benefits Pocket Guide, and The Military Personal Finance Pocket Guide. A former Peace Corps Volunteer, Fulbright Scholar, university professor, and management trainer, Ron specializes in producing and distributing books, DVDs, training programs, and related materials on employment, career transition, addiction, anger management, criminal justice, and life skills. For a complete bio, including a list of publications, see Ronald L. Krannich, Ph.D.

Your attitude may well become your most important asset in both work and life. Indeed, it’s the first key step (page 7) in conducting an effective job search. Your attitude will especially become important when you start encountering rejections and feel discouraged – a normal experience and typical feeling that are part of this process. You need to stay positive!

Take a moment to examine your attitude. Does your attitude show in what you say and do? Do you communicate enthusiasm and energy? Are others attracted to you in a positive manner? Do you have a “can do” attitude that propels you to success or a “can’t do” attitude that drags you down? Do you look upon new situations as opportunities or potential problems? Do you start the morning by looking forward to having a wonderful day or do you dread getting up? Do you make excuses and complain a lot or do you usually take responsibility for your actions? Are you a positive or negative person who tends to attract negativity in your life?

Check the current state of your attitude by completing the following exercise. Indicate whether or not you primarily agree (“Yes”) or disagree (“No”) with each statement:      Yes     No  (❑    ❑)

1. Other people often make my work and life difficult. ❑    ❑
2. When I get into trouble, it’s often because of what someone else did rather than my fault. ❑    ❑
3. People often take advantage of me. ❑    ❑
4. When I worked, people less qualified than me often got promoted. ❑    ❑
5. I avoid taking risks because I’m afraid of failing. ❑    ❑
6. I don’t trust many people. ❑    ❑
7. Not many people trust me. ❑     ❑
8. Not many people I know take responsibility. ❑    ❑
9. Most people get ahead because of connections, schmoozing, and politics. ❑    ❑
10. When I worked, I was assigned more duties than other people in similar positions. ❑    ❑
11. I expect to be discriminated against in my job search and on the job. ❑    ❑
12. I don’t feel like I can change many things; I’ve been dealt this hand, so I’ll have to live with it. ❑    ❑
13. I’ve had my share of bad luck. ❑    ❑
14. Employers try to take advantage of job seekers by offering them low salaries. ❑    ❑
15. I didn’t like many of the people I worked with. ❑    ❑
16. There’s not much I can do to get ahead. ❑    ❑
17. My ideas are not really taken seriously. ❑    ❑
18. I often think of reasons why other people’s ideas won’t work. ❑    ❑
19. Other people are often wrong, but I have to put up with them nonetheless. ❑    ❑
20. I sometimes respond to suggestions by saying “Yes, but . . . ,” “I’m not sure . . . ,” “I don’t think it will work . . . ,” “Let’s not do that . . .” ❑    ❑
21. I don’t see why I need to get more education. ❑    ❑
22. I often wish other people would just disappear. ❑    ❑
23. I sometimes feel depressed. ❑    ❑
24. I have a hard time getting and staying motivated. ❑    ❑
25. I don’t look forward to going to work. ❑    ❑
26. When I worked, I sometimes came to work late. ❑    ❑
27. The jobs I’ve had didn’t reflect my true talents. ❑    ❑
28. I’m worth more than most employers will pay. ❑    ❑
29. I’ve been known to do things behind my boss’s back that could get me into trouble. ❑    ❑

TOTALS   ______

If you checked “Yes” to more than six of these statements, you may have some negative attitudes that affect both your job search and your on-the-job performance. You should seriously consider changing these attitudes since they are most likely significant barriers to getting ahead in work and life! Start with this gem of a book – Attitude Is Everything.