Fifty years ago, workers strove to move steadily up the ranks of one or two stable companies. Today'¬?s workers jump from company to company, building contacts, expanding skill sets, and increasing salaries at each one. Job security has taken on a new meaning, referring to security within your chosen career, rather than a single company. In THE NEW JOB SECURITY, executive career management consultant Pam Lassiter teaches early- to mid-career professionals how to navigate this new work environment by mastering five key skills: waiting for the right job, taking control, reciprocal marketing, career networking, and broad-based negotiating. If you'¬?re looking for ways to take control of a current job, or struggling to manage the transitional period between jobs, Lassiter'¬?s proven advice shows workers at all stages of their careers how to stay competitive and achieve their professional goals. Emphasizes strategies for lifelong career success, not just job-hunting tactics. Targeted to professionals operating on outdated career management principles, employees who realize they'¬?re at risk in current jobs, and workers in transition.

Average Customer Review: ( 6 customer reviews )
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The book provides a comprehensive, cohesive, and logical approach to career management. Its highlights are: excellent use of humor, and a great attitude and style throughout; two dozen practical, but not overwhelming, "homework" exercises (with extra blank forms provided); particularly strong coverage of networking and negotiating; over a dozen realistic, short tales of people in different career phases; and excellent, up-to-date references to additional print and on-line resources.

I am a career and job search counselor who strongly believes that "it depends" is the answer to almost all job search-related questions. So, my favorite parts of the book are the many "caveats" that have been inserted. Just when you think Pam may have made a point a bit too strongly, she seems to quickly acknowledge the opposite view, or provide an alternate approach. That's nice work!

Realistic, comprehensive, practical, instructive, and fun, the book is a valuable addition to the career management literature.

2 of 2 found the following review helpful:

Indispensable for many career changers!Jul 08, 2003
By Dr Cathy Goodwin
If you've been working in the corporate world and you know how to handle yourself in business settings, you absolutely must use this book. Don't wait till you need it! Start reading now.

This book is not for everyone. If you're a certified maverick (like me), or you haven't ever fit in to the corporate world, your efforts to apply Lassiter's strategies can backfire. Corporate managers know how to read between the lines. When you try to follow Lassiter's scripts, you have to know the tone to use and the body language to complement your verbal communication.

With that caveat, Lassiter's book is one of the most comprehensive and realistic I've come across. These days, she says, you can't just look for a job. You must proactively identify needs and demonstrate that you can fill them.

A few highlights:
Come up with some PAR statements: Problem, Action, Resolution.
When negotiating, it's not over till it's over! Keep your options open till you've got a written offer...even while you're new on the job..
Don't show that you're desperate!

Networking is the only way to make career moves -- and Lassiter actually offers tips for would-be networkers. Most books focus on simplistic networking tips that don't work for senior-level managers.
Her discussion of executive recruiters is superb -- and frank.

If you've got a track record in some organization, this book will be the best you can get. Lassiter doesn't say much about changing careers -- just briefly warns of the difficulty and says "not too often." She's really presented in a small book the information you might get from a high-quality outplacement service. I'll even forgive her references to Myers-Briggs -- you might score "introverted" and still be a great salesperson!

1 of 1 found the following review helpful:

Great Find!May 27, 2003
By Jon Mello
This book presents the reader with a no nonsense, realistic approach to truly managing your career. Lassiter's philosophy drives a significant change in the way you "look" for a job...it's not about a job search any longer, it's about bringing networking into your everyday life and building your career into everything you do. This book is a refreshing honest approach to looking at yourself and improving how you go about making changes that are right for you. It is filled with great examples that we can all relate to. Hats off to Lassiter for a great job! I'll be impatiently waiting for the next one!

1 of 1 found the following review helpful:

Great Find!May 27, 2003
By Jon Mello
This book presents the reader with a no nonsense, realistic approach to truly managing your career. Lassiter's philosophy drives a significant change in the way you "look" for a job...it's not about a job search any longer, it's about bringing networking into your everyday life and building your career into everything you do. This book is a refreshing honest approach to looking at yourself and improving how you go about making changes that are right for you. It is filled with great examples that we can all relate to. Hats off to Lassiter for a great job! I'll be impatiently waiting for the next one!

1 of 1 found the following review helpful:

A Great Find!May 23, 2003
By Jon Mello
The New Job Security gives the reader a refreshing look at how to approach a career change. I have read many "HOW TO" books and this one is the most realistic and comprehensive guide to date. It challenges you to look at yourself, and review one's philsophy on how to manage your career while incorporating the "job search" into your everyday lifestyle. This book is full of real life (and often humorous) stories that we can all relate to. This is one of the few books that tells it like it is. Lassiter certainly has proven herself to understand the market conditions and the motivation of the people who know how to survive and thrive. A great find! I'll wait impatiently for her next one. JM

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