Cracking the Hidden Job Market

February 28, 2011
In his latest effort Asher (How to Get Any Job) invites job seekers to develop strategies for finding jobs—before they've been posted. He provides specific rules for figuring out what job is the best fit, and offers templates for structuring informational interviews, e-mail, conversations, and other forms of contact that can be adapted for use according to individual job seeker's needs. The book is packed with well considered and occasionally counterintuitive advice, such as "…resumes impede networking for information." He even outlines a strategy to get past e-mail filters, automatic answering machines, and other electronic gatekeepers. Asher also alerts job hopefuls to pitfalls and scams that may be coming their way. His strategic and high-energy approach involves creating an active network of contacts in order to be in the right place at the right time: "You get jobs by talking to people, so your goal is to talk to a lot of people." In addition, he offers advice for when using more conventional job hunting techniques. Readers get a menu of job search options with motivation to keep moving through this long complex process. Valuable assistance from a leading authority.