KIRKUS REVIEW
Common-sense advice for first-time job seekers.
Without much fanfare, this short debut covers some of the essential steps of job hunting in just over 40 pages: where to look for a job, how to write a resume and cover letter, and how to prepare for an interview. It also includes two brief chapters with useful counsel for the already employed: “Do I Have to Enjoy What I Do?” and “Keeping the Job Once You Have It.” There’s nothing in this book that isn’t addressed in more detail in numerous other books; the key difference is its brevity, which makes for easy reading. In addition, most other books for job seekers are written by recruiters or human resources professionals, while Peters writes from a more personal perspective. He recounts his own challenges searching out employment, including his rise from doing menial work at a fast-food restaurant to working as a manager. This aspect gives the book an authenticity and impact that similar manuals don’t have. Early on, he urges readers to “Never think of a setback as a failure. It’s only a failure if you don’t get back up again.” About job longevity, he advises, “One thing you should avoid is getting trapped in a job that you can no longer afford to quit.” Throughout, the author’s positive attitude is laudable; at one point, for instance, he congratulates a job seeker who lands a position: “This is your moment, the thing you have been waiting for, and I know you are going to kill it.” These pearls of wisdom, sprinkled throughout, are sure to engage readers. Still, some basics seem to be absent; it’s a bit surprising, for example, that the book fails to mention online job-posting websites as a resource. Also, a chapter on interviews doesn’t indicate how best to answer typical interview questions.
Rudimentary and somewhat superficial, but saved by the author’s candor and upbeat tone.
