Monday, February 6, 2012
"how to INTERVIEW LIKE A PRO" Review
I recently was given the opportunity to review a book by Mary Greenwood, JD. LL.M. Before getting into the specifics of the book, I wanted to share with you a little bit about the author. It is important to me that you get to know the author, gather an understanding of her background and qualifications before I tell you about her latest book entitled: "how to INTERVIEW LIKE A PRO: forty-three rules for getting your next job"
Mary Greenwood
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Mary Greenwood is an Attorney, Mediator, and Author of the award-winning books, How to Negotiate like a Pro: 41 Rules for Resolving Disputes, which has won six book awards and How to Mediate Like a Pro: 42 Rules for Mediating Disputes, which has won twelve book awards. Her latest book is How to Interview Like a Pro, 43 rules for getting your next job, has won ten book awards.
Mary has been quoted in the New York Daily News, the Kiplinger Retirement Report, the Orlando Sentinel, Philly.com, State Farm Good Neighbor Magazine, 70 Tips for Interviewing, CBS Money Watch, FlexJobs, Career Column, MSNBC, Triadcareers.news, Meidation Digest and BusinessInfoGuide.com
Mary has worked as Human Resources Director at Winter Park, Hollywood, Miami Beach, Monroe County, Keys Energy and Roger Williams University. She has worked as Legal Counsel at Winthrop University, University of North Carolina-Greensboro, and Colorado College, Manatee County and Monroe County. Mary has taught Labor Law and Employment Discrimination at St. Thomas Law School, Stetson Law School, Winthrop University, St. Leo's University and is currently an Adjunct Professor at Barry Law School.
Greenwood has a BA from New School for Social Research, an MA in English from the University of Southern California, a Law Degree from California Western School of Law and an LL.M. in Labor Law from George Washington Law School.
Mary is a mediator, arbitrator and negotiator. At last count, she has had at least twenty-five jobs and wishes she had How to Interview Like a Pro available at some of her interviews. Greenwood lives in Orlando, Florida with her Boston Terrier Annabelle.
ABOUT THE BOOK
How to Interview Like A Pro: Forty-Three Rules for Getting Your Next Job by Mary Greenwood
Description:
If you can't seem to get the interviews and job offers you want, it's time to learn How to Interview Like a Pro. Written by longtime human resources director Mary Greenwood, the author of How to Negotiate Like a Pro and How to Mediate Like a Pro, this guidebook offers strategies and practical tips about the interview process. Learn how to prepare for your next interview and how to answer the difficult questions that leave other candidates stuttering. You will learn forty-three rules that will help you get your next job. Here's a sample of the types of tips you'll get:
PREPARING AND DELIVERING A GOOD ELEVATOR SPEECH IS ESSENTIAL FOR SUCCESS.
BEING NOSEY ABOUT THE INTERVIEW PROCESS CAN WORK IN YOUR FAVOR.
THE RIGHT OUTFIT, THE RIGHT HANDSHAKE AND THE RIGHT DEMEANOR ARE ESSENTIAL.
Let The Parties Tell Their Story
ASK THE RIGHT QUESTIONS AT THE INTERVIEW.
This guidebook is the perfect mix of reference materials, case studies, state and federal resources, and checklists. Discover the edge you need to produce results and learn How to Interview Like a Pro.
PERSONAL STATEMENT:
Let me proceed to tell you, that I am not a personal friend of Mary or a close associate, other than being given the opportunity to review her latest book, we have no direct affiliation, all opinions and ideas expressed beyond this point are words of my own creation based on my reading of Mary's newest book, "how to INTERVIEW LIKE A PRO: forty-three rules to getting your next job", so you can rest assured that I have no personal bias invested in this review. I requested the opportunity to review the book because I have a direct interest in the read and felt that by reading/reviewing the book, it could possibly assist me in my personal journey to landing MY NEXT JOB, so I was very excited to have been selected to review it.
Here's my personal review posted on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads, Shelfari:
Do's & Don't of Interviewing, Glossary of Terms, the Federal Laws Prohibiting Discrimination and even State Fair Employment Agencies. I'll admit that I've used the Glossary of Terms as a reference several times throughout the book to confirm or familiarize myself. Lastly, I loved that this appealed to every audience and provided powerful knowledge and insight for both local and non-local interviewing and job search. All in all, Mary Greenwood's: how to Interview Like A Pro, was a phenomenal and informational read that has changed my view about interviewing and how I interview. I'm walking away from this experience with more knowledge than anticipated.
Some additional Key Points:
As I was reading how to Interview Like A Pro, I took time to takes notes in the margins, mark/highlight important ideas and began implementing them into my job search regimen. I was prod to learn that I had already used some of Mary's 43 rules/tips, but was also able to learn new ideas and information, which made this book, impossible to put down.
Rule 2. Prepare a good elevator speech.
I'd always been baffled by that age old question: So, tell me a little bit about yourself, what exactly do you want to know interviewer, my life story? My job experience? Do I detail my resume for you? NO, your resume can speak for yourself, an elevator speech is essentially a blip about you, what you have to offer and bring to the table(job), thirty seconds or less, and make it count. Mary details what this should include, why its important and how it can be used, she also shares with the reader HER elevator speech. I have no fully created my elevator speech just yet, but this has definitely intrigued me and encouraged me to create one, that will not only express who I am and what I have to offer, but finally give me an opportunity to NAIL that question that generally gives me much pause.
Rule 3 & 4: Make a list everyone you know and tell them you are looking for a job.
You'll want to take a moment to jot down all of your contacts, acquaintances, friends, family members near and far, previous co-workers, etc., this will create your own personal network of individuals that you can reach out to, inform them that you are currently looking, you never know who has the inside edition of jobs that will match your qualifications and be able to put you in touch with someone. Say it loud and say it proud, share your elevator speech, ask to visit their job. The more active and the more visible you are, the better off you'll be. Use your network to your advantage.
Rule 7. Prepare a great cover letter.
Now this rule is pretty standard, however, as I read Mary's insights, it made me think about my cover letter, how I've withheld one in the past and how my current cover letter could use a little tweaking. But to add to this, I've also learned to include an enclosures note at the bottom of the letter, but also to label in the footer of your resume(if it has multiple pages) your name and page ___ of ___ just in case the pages get separated.
Rule 14 & 15. Be prepared and Check the employer's website and its competitor's websites.
Familiarize yourself with the company, ask questions about the interviewer, know what kind of interview you will be attending, research the employer and the company, get to know the field they are in, by doing this, you'll be better equipped to respond to that last question: "Do you have any questions?", I almost always say no, but if you're backed with knowledge about the employer, you are able to formulate applicable questions for the interviewer that will show them that you're not only prepared, you are uniquely interested and have done your homework. (This goes with Rule 25. Never say you don't have any questions)
I actually appreciated and am capitalizing on much of the information given in this book, I especially loved the ENTIRE CHAPTER 4. How to answer interview questions, yes, something I would have never imagined that would be included in a book, this how to is really an amazing tool and full of so many helpful entities. "Tell me about you and your background?", "Why are you interested in the position?", "Why do you want to work here?" and so many more that always give you that pause, which is never appealing to the interviewer/s.
I know that I've shared quite a bit of information here, and there is more of the book that can be shared/explored. I mean literally it maintained my interest all the way through, even when I got to the "Law section", I found this book to be like a bible for Interviewing and the process that follows. In my opinion a complete MUST READ!
Mary Greenwood
email: howtointerview@aol.com
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