Introduction:
How to Get the Most From Using This Book
Who Should Use This Book?
This book is aimed at executives, managers, professionals, and senior staff who have several years of work experience and wish to search for a new job or explore a new career. Many of the examples relate to my own job and career search, and the executives and managers I encountered during the seven years I owned and managed an international executive search business or worked with as a career coach.
Although the concepts and recommendations are geared toward executives, they apply equally well to most experienced workers from 30 years of age and on. I’ve organized the text so you can use it as a workbook. Chapter 1 starts with how to initiate a job search or make a career change. Each successive chapter takes you through a process that builds on the information you learned and the exercises you completed in the preceding chapters.
How Should You Use This Book?
Scan the book first to get an overview of the entire process, so you know what to expect as you progress through the five sections and each chapter. Then go back and start with Section 1 Chapter 1, reading it and completing the exercises. I don’t recommend moving on to Chapter 2 or successive chapters until you’ve read and understood the material and completed the exercises in each chapter. The Milestones section at the end of each chapter provides a checklist of what you need to accomplish before moving on to the next chapter.
To get the most from this book, you will need to complete some tasks. When I believe you can complete a task with limited guidance from me, I call it an Exercise. When I believe a task would be more involved and you would benefit from using a pre-defined format, I’ve developed a Worksheet that you can use. These Worksheets are available on my Website. In a few sections, I’ll refer you to Reference material that provides more extensive information you will find useful in your search, and is also available on my Website where I can keep the content current.
You can easily download all of the following Worksheets and References at www.ExecGlobalNet.com in the Career Center:
Worksheets
1.1: Identifying Your Values
2.1: 8 Categories of Achievements
3.2: Skills With Intangibles
3.3: Skills With People
3.4: Job Profile
3.5: Your Preferred Skills
4.1: Personal Living Preferences
4.2: Workplace Preferences
4.3: People Preferences
6.1: Personal Information Inventory
6.2: Resume Checklist
10.1: Preparing for Interviews
10.2: Post-Interview Notes
11.1: Calculating Your Salary Requirements
12.1: Contact Sheet
References
1.1: Myers-Briggs Type Characteristics
1.2: Career-Related Reading List
4.1: Where to Get Additional Information