Product Description

Courting Your Career is an edgy new job-search book that uses dating as a metaphor to break down the process of finding a great job. Each chapter of Courting Your Career contains detailed anecdotes and advice appropriate for every stage of a typical job search, from what initially attracts us to a potential employer, to strategies for landing that dream job.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #892841 in Books
• Published on: 2007-09
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 194 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9781593575120
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

Review
"By drawing parallels to challenging and hilarious dating situations, Shawn has demystified the process of taking that next career step." -- Keith Ferrazzi, Author, Never Eat Alone: And Other Secrets to Success, One Relationship at a Time (www.NeverEatAlone.com)

"Courting Your Career will appeal to thousands of young people who need a friendly guide to the career process." -- Sheila J. Curran, Fannie Mitchell Executive Director, Duke University Career Center

"Introduces us to an easily understood and mastered analogy that exposes the essential, subtle interpersonal elements of the career search." -- Al Cotrone, Director, Career Development and Student Affairs; Stephen M. Ross School of Business, University of Michigan

"A thoughtful and intelligent look at how job hunting correlates with the pursuit of personal relationships." -- Howard Figler, Ph.D., author, The Complete Job-Search Handbook

"Whether looking for specific advice or a snapshot of proven strategies for finding the right job, I highly recommend it." -- Tom Osmond, Global Head of Corporate Training and Development, Goldman Sachs International

About the Author
Shawn Graham has extensive career counseling experience having worked with more than one thousand undergraduate and graduate students at the Universityof North Carolinaat Chapel Hill (UNC-Chapel Hill) and WestminsterCollege. He is currently Associate Director of MBA Career Services at UNC's Kenan-FlaglerBusinessSchool. Prior to joining MBA Career Services, Graham was an Assistant Director with University Career Services at UNC-Chapel Hill where he presented more than 40 career-related workshops annually to hundreds of students each year and was selected to teach a career exploration course for graduate students.

Graham has contributed as a career expert in both online and print publications including a popular blog at FastCompany.com, articles for CollegeJournal.com and The Charlotte Observer, and commentary for The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and The News & Observer.

He received his M.Ed. from WestminsterCollegeand his B.A. with honors from the Universityof Pittsburgh.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
Go for the goodnight kiss: How to close the interview strong

The close of an interview is a lot like the end of a date. In both cases, you're nervous, anxious, and asking yourself whether the person you're with wants to give you a goodnight kiss or the awkward and always disappointing "let's be friends" hug. Although you'll never, and I repeat never, actually go for a goodnight kiss at the end of an interview, there are some things you can do to seal the deal.

Reaffirm your interest in the position (the dating equivalent of "call me"). Doing so lets the interviewer know that you're still very much interested in the job. Start by highlighting two to three reasons why you're the right candidate. Also be sure to repeat why you're interested in working for that particular company; what makes them uniquely different? Saying you want to work for them because they're an industry leader isn't enough; there could be a different industry leader tomorrow. Although your answer will vary for each company, people and corporate culture might be at the top of the list.

Ask about next steps in the interview process (the dating equivalent of "Will I see you again?"). Knowing when the company plans to notify candidates of whether or not they made it to the next round of interviews can be incredibly valuable. Not only does it help ease some of your anxiety so you're not waiting by the phone for weeks on end, but the timeframe is also something you can refer to if you decide to follow up if you haven't heard from the company.

In addition to closing strong, you'll also want to spend some time shortly after your interview to reflect on how you thought everything went. Even though analyzing your interview performance can be just as stressful as a sleepless night wondering if the person you went on a date with earlier that night likes you as much as you like him or her, it's something you must to do if you want to improve your interview skills. Don't agonize over every sentence you uttered during the interview. Instead, assess the interview calmly and rationally. Reflecting on your interview while it's fresh in your mind helps you identify the things you think you did well and the things you might need to work on before your next interview. And it will also help you write your personalized thank-you note to show the interviewer you appreciated his or her time.

Customer Reviews

Relevant and useful career advice
After reading this book, I have to thank Shawn Graham for his practical and novel approach to finding the perfect career. I have found that building great relationships is a major key to creating fulfillment and success. Mr. Graham builds upon this idea by relating the job search/career preparation process to the world of "courtship."

I believe current students, recent graduates, and those already many years into their careers will benefit from reading this book. The networking section (ice breakers, introduction seduction) alone is worth the price of the book.

If you or someone you know could use help finding a soul-mate (read "career-mate" in this case), do them a favor and send them this book.

Fresh and Fun Job Search
Courting Your Career addresses the job search in a way that is fresh and fun with a topic that most young men and women can relate to. The information is easy to read and fits so many stages of the job search campaign that this is a book that will be able to be referenced again and again throughout the reader's life.

A Clever and Substantial Approach to the Job Dating Game!
Shawn Graham knows his territory: his 'regular job' is with a Career Management Center in North Carolina. Having had extensive experience counseling college students on the successful ways to career life after college has resulted in this very entertaining and useful guide COURTING YOUR CAREER: Match Yourself with the Perfect Job.

Graham uses the helpful analogy of thinking about career options, making decisions by elimination procedures as to what job market is most compatible with the candidate, and then goes about the steps in approaching the desired career by using the same kind of information and etiquette and presentation that maximizes effects in successful dating and partnering! It may sound simplistic when condensed in a review, but Graham is a shrewd and perceptive guide, giving solid examples of how to manage every step of the job search (and research!), the interview, and the final negotiations that result in making the right choices for the perfect job. And if this 'personal dating' analogy seems a bit like 'Job Hunting for Dummies', then this smart book is probably meant for you. Graham carefully draws attention to the many steps and pitfalls, sound advice and encouragement, and even check lists for accomplishing goals. It is a tightly written, very useful manual that may be aimed at the young graduate, but it is also a fine tool for people of any age who have decided to re-enter the job force or make a career change. Don't be put off by the Magritte-like cover: this is a learned, accessible manual! Grady Harp, November 07