The Harvard Business School Guide to Finding Your Next Job

Following the Roadmap to Your Next Job

As fast as the business world is evolving, so is the search for the right job. Forces such as the changing nature of the employee/employer contract, globalization, consolidation, the quest for work/life balance, a workplace in constant flux, and lack of job security means that more professionals are looking for new jobs more often. Yet developing and managing effective job search can be a daunting task for even the most experienced professional.

Whether you are searching for a new job or just considering a change, The Harvard Business School Guide to Finding Your Next Job offers a road map for planning and conducting your search. The guide covers all the key elements of the job search process — from creating a résumé to dealing with emotional side of job loss, from choosing references to staying motivated, and from using various search strategies to negotiate job offers. Practical direction is given for allocating time effectively and focusing on those job-search activities that are most likely to be successful.

Concise yet comprehensive, The Harvard Business School guide to Finding Your Next Job puts the demanding job search process on perspective for experienced professionals and first time job seekers alike.

• Introduction
• "It Depends" Is the Answer
• But Networking Is Key

1. Getting Started
• Preparing for the Job Search
• Coping with Job Loss
• Financial Considerations
• Considering a Career Change
2. References
• Selecting References
• Creating a Reference List
• Using and Respecting References
3. Résumés
• Résumé Prework
• Creating a Résumé
• The Major Sections
• Header
• Objective and/or Summary
• Experience
• Education (and Training)
• Other Sections
• Résumé Formatting and Style
• Finalizing a Résumé
• Other Résumé Versions
• Functional and Combination Résumés
• Scanned Résumés
• E-mailed Résumés
4. Preparing Effective Job-Search Letters
• For Each Letter
• In General
5. Planning and Executing a Search Campaign
• The Planning Stage
• Basic Equipment and Tools
• Research
• Execution
• Getting Out and Doing It
• Considering and Implementing Options
• Getting and Staying Organized
• Being Realistic
• Effective Telephone Use
6. Primary Job-Search Strategies
• Networking
• Starting Up
• Getting Out There
• Other Networking Tips (and Tools)
• Targeting Organizations
• Using Agencies and Search Firms
• Responding to Ads and Other Job Postings
7. Special Topics
• Doing a Long-distance Job Search
• Job Fairs
• Preparing
• Participating
• Following Up
• Overcoming Age Discrimination
8. Interviews
• General Preparation
• Before a Specific Interview
• During an Interview
• Arriving
• At the Start
• Throughout
• Near the End
• The Follow-up
• If You Don't Get the Offer (or Get Invited Back)
9. Persevering in the Job Search
• Checking Your Progress
• Staying Motivated
• When Out of Work
• Whether or Not Currently Employed
• The Emotional Side Revisited
10. Negotiating Job Offers
• Preparing for Negotiation
• The Negotiating Session
• After Accepting or Rejecting an Offer
• Starting a New Position
11. Final Job-Search Tips
• Overall Considerations
• To Start the Process
• Throughout the Process
• Hanging in There

• Selected Bibliography
• Overall Job Search
• The Emotional Side
• Self-Assessment and Career Change
• Financial Considerations
• Résumés
• Job-Search Letters
• Research
• Networking
• Search Firms
• Responding to Ads
• Interviewing
• Related Topics

Pretty useless, unless you have no idea whatsoever on how to write a résumé.