Book Review
from Arizona college student to California careers executive. It seems cliché, but Junge latches on to words like “mindset” and “attitude” as good places where job seekers can press ahead and seize the day.
In the early part of the book, Junge re- counts the story of an Air Force colonel locked away in a North Vietnamese prisoner of war camp in 1965, who, while a stellar pilot, also was an ordinary golfer. But to get through his unimagi- nable seven-year confinement, the officer visualized himself playing round after round of golf, playing each hole, each club selection and each shot exactly as if he were out on the links in person. According to Junge, “Instead of focusing on all of the countless things he couldn’t change, Colonel (George) Hall focused on two things he could control – his mindset and imagination” which he could do through golf to survive, Junge writes.
Then, for additional introspection, ac- cording to Junge, “Take a moment to think about how you relate to work. How do you describe your job to some- one you are meeting for the very first time? What do you say when you talk to friends about your day to day business? What’s your immediate reaction to wak- ing up on a given Monday and knowing you have to go to the office?”
Moving through the book to the practi- cal, Junge describes the modern-job market as “complex and fast-moving.” What is incumbent on candidates is to
with candidates directly and request per- sonal introductions, these sites provide rapid access to otherwise inaccessible resources,” Junge writes.
While job seekers often throw up their hands trying to keep track of the various methods for displaying their credentials, Junge notes that employers, too, are struggling with the same equation— sorting through voluminous reams of potential applicants while trying to zero in on a small fields of high-probability candidates, or “purple squirrels” who fit narrowly defined search criteria, as head- hunters call them.
“Work doesn’t have to be a form of ser- vitude. With the right attitude, it can be much, much more.”
In equating the story to job search and career progression, Junge says many candidates might be stuck in jobs they don’t like or in situations that lack op- portunity. But he urges them to main- tain a positive attitude no matter how painful or uninspiring their work lives might be right now. Junge says to avoid having a “disempowered outlook.”
“Work doesn’t have to be a form of ser- vitude. With the right attitude, it can be much, much more. If you’re willing to improve your attitude, a good place to start is with a simple reality check. Take a moment right now and think about where you are in your career. Are you achieving all of the success you know to be possible? Spend a minute describing where you currently are and how the results stack up with your expectations of yourself. Be brutally honest, and write down whatever shows up for you,” Junge writes.
28 HISPANIC ENGINEER & Information Technology | 2012
understand what employers are search- ing for in candidates—and where, how and why they go hunting for talent.
Getting that perspective is fairly easy, according to the book, as the job search process is made more dynamic today by way of the multitude of tools available for job seekers to employ. They include digital platforms like job boards, search engines, online networking sites, resume blasters, affinity groups and databases. Junge, with his deep background in recruiting, tells readers in good details about the various tools and how to use them.
In networking, he is particularly high on a platform like LinkedIn. “Every day thousands of recruiters, HR professionals, and hiring managers sign in to LinkedIn and similar sites to identify and hire talent. They scan the sites for candi- dates using keyword searches and other qualifying parameters such as location and employer name to find qualified individuals who fit their specific needs. Combined with the ability to network
What’s the solution for bust- ing through the maze? One is for job seekers to be more targeted in the job hunt. Use the same key words, phrases, descriptions and qualifications that are commonly used by employers to find and dif-
ferentiate talent, he writes—noting that keyword scanning software and rele- vance-finding algorithms are central to how employers ferret through resumes.
In the chapter, “Attracting Motivated Employers, Junge implores candidates to make efficient use of today’s tools to stand out from the crowd and be found by employers desperate for fresh talent. “Regardless of your location and skill set, new tools have emerged that make it possible for employers to find you within a handful of keystrokes, or for you to find and apply for relevant opportunities anywhere in the world almost as easily,” Junge writes.
For those who think the job search is fruitless, one statement from Junge seems to sum up the opportunities ahead: “Your biggest problem going forward isn’t finding open positions; it’s figuring out which of them is actually worth submitting your resume to and distinguishing yourself from the compe- tition.”
www.hispanicengineer.com
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