Title: YES, I got the job
Author: Isabel Mutasa
Publisher: Transformation Dynamics
Pages: 65
IN the aftermath of the global economic crisis that has seen a downturn in the availability of jobs, job hunting can be equated to the arduous enigma of searching for the Holy Grail.
Isabel Mutasa a human resources consultant has come a long with her step by step motivational guide to clinching the dream job.
The author claims that the book was inspired by events that she witnessed at the turn of the new millennium.
She laments how many-a-student from poor families who graduate with even first class degrees find it extremely difficult to find a job despite being called for numerous job interviews.
On the other hand you have the third class graduate from a rich family who snatches a good job.
Many claim it is because the latter parents have friends in high places.
Could this be the case?
The reason behind the third class graduate clinching the job is that the youth that go through private schools receive career guidance and etiquette training which their counterparts from down town do not.
However, jobs are given to the most suitable candidate for the post not the best candidate.
Due to their training the suburban youth edge out their ghetto and rural colleagues to the good jobs.
Mutasa starts off by asking readers to carry out a self-evaluation process involving their interests, goals and what motivates them, be it recognition, success or financial rewards.
“If you are currently employed and are unhappy with what you are doing, you need to figure out why it is so,” says Mutasa.
Having gone through the self-evaluation, one can then go on to search for a job that suits them instead of taking up whatever comes their way as this has dire consequences of possible fatigue and stress, some years down the line.
As the saying goes, “first impressions last longest”, Chapter one of the guide prepares the interviewee by readying them for commonly asked questions.
Preparing answers to commonly asked questions is a sure way to ensuring that you will not be caught off guard and appear ill-prepared.
One does not have to stumble over basic questions which require no thinking as they are straight forward.
It is common to have the interviewee failing to answer such basic questions which then shows that one is not the suitable candidate for the job inspite of the impressive results.
Asking the panel questions is also encouraged as an interview is a two-way process.
Chapter two addresses the importance of effective marketing as seen by the author’s statement that, “even the best product remains unsold without effective marketing”.
However, Mutasa goes on to give a lukewarm account of the marketing process.
She does however, note the importance of joining an association in one’s field as this is an excellent way of networking
On page 8, the book addresses the importance of engaging headhunters in searching for a job.
“Headhunters can open doors that are normally closed to the average job seeker as they will know of openings that are not even posted or advertised,” says Mutasa.
However, the writer does not devote enough attention to the topics on headhunters and connections in the job seeking process as more and more employers are turning to these to fill vacant posts.
In chapter 3, Mutasa stresses the need to stand out from the crowd and advises on researching on the company, customising the curriculum vitae and cover letter and the most suitable formats for CV writing.
The author discourages the common trend of lying in one’s CV as this is inevitably going to lead to more lies culminating in the person losing their job.
Upon receiving the job offer, many will tend to overlook some important issues that need to be ironed out before putting pen to paper.
One rushes to sign a contract without understanding its meaning because one is so excited about the prospect of getting a job.
She points out that one is allowed to take the contract home and fully understand it before putting pen to paper so as not to have misunderstandings later after getting engaged.
Issues involving salary, holidays, insurance, medical aid, benefits and leave days are but a few of some issues Mutasa notes in her book.
The book does not claim to be a magic wand to getting the dream job but is rather helpful although at some points the author goes on and on stating the obvious.
Could be of great use to those who have attended one too many interviews and failed to secure the job and are wondering where they got it wrong.
Should be a guide even to those who are in college and intend to job-hunt any time soon.
Forewarned is forearmed.
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