Confessions of a Recruiting Director: A Top Recruiter Reveals Why He Said No to Thousands of Candidates--And How You Can Get the Yes

By Brad Karsh

Book Overview

A college grad has specific questions when trying to land the first job after school. How are just a few candidates chosen from a stack of hundreds of resumes? What exactly do recruiters want to hear in an interview? What are the common job-hunting mistakes students make time and time again? Confessions of a Recruiting Director gives the inside scoop on the entire hiring process- from a top recruiting director who's seen and heard it all-and delivers a specific, step-by-step approach to beating the odds. Step 1- Resumes-how to pass the 15 Second Test Step 2- Networking-how to use connections to get a job Step 3- Cover Letters-why nine out of ten never get read Step 4- Ace the Interview- the shocking truth about what recruiters want Step 5- Thank-You Notes- making a lasting impression Step 6- Follow Up-the fine line between persistence and stalking Plus- Real-life before-and-after resumes, cover letters, thank-you notes and the answers to ten necessary interview questions.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0735204047
• ISBN13: 9780735204041
• Release Date: April 2006
• Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 0.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.1" x 9.1"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

For the doom of job hunting

I have just graduated college. Like many of my class I was thrilled at the graduation ceremony and celebrated the end of 16 year confinement callled "education." This joy was quickly replaced by my daily exercise of hair pulling about 2 weeks into my job hunting. I thought with a diploma from one of the top 5% college in the nation and skills such as trilingual should have no problem getting a job or catch the eye of the recruiter. Well I was wrong no recruiter probbaly even saw my resume. About a month into the job hunting I really started to worry. I did what I always do when I run into a dead end. Went to the book store and started to do a little research to find out what I was doing wrong. Out of the entire section dedicated for "careers" this was the book that caught my eye. Instead of giving myself more headache going through thousands of resume samples or cover letter samples I wanted to know what exactly did the HR department do. I felt like at this point that they were just too lazy to look at any resume and just sit around did nothing. I was half right. So instead of picking resumes that i could sample from a huge book that reminded me of the days of SAT, this book was able to give me ideas and explained some of the frustrating "WHY!!!!". About two weeks after I read it I manage to land a interview with the company of my choice and the position of my choice. The book answers alot of the "myth" about the function of HR departments that I can finally lay it down.

An important resource

As an employer, I found Mr. Karsh's book full of valuable advice for job candidates. Kids coming out of college are usually ill-prepared for the interview process, and this book contains lots of helpful hints on how to get your foot in the door, and how to get that job. This should be required reading for all college seniors!

Great resource

I've always hated reading those over stuffy research books written by doctors who throw out big words just to sound impressive. I love "Confessions" because I feel like Brad Karsh wrote it for me. He knows he's advising college students, so he uses a conversational and real tone. AND his book isn't a compilation of research, interviews, and hearsay. All of the outstanding advice on resumes, interviews, and cover letters comes from Brad's personal experience as a Recruiting Director. A Recruiting Director is going to be the actual person who decides if I get the job - not my friends, parents, or professors. I needed the "inside guide" to get my first job, and "Confessions of a Recruiting Director" delivered. I highly recommend this book!

Excellent advice!

The resume section of this book is amazing! It's direct and easy to understand, and it gave me the specific steps to dramatically improve my resume. As a perfectionist and inquisitive college student, I was constantly bugging my professors and career center with questions on my job search. What should I include in my cover letter? Will my posted, online resume get noticed? Do I have to send all of the interviewers a thank-you note? How long should I wait before following up after an interview? This book answers all of those questions and more - and my busy professors are very thankful!

Essential read for college students

Brad Karsh uses wit and personal anecdotes to add some spice to the typical dry and humdrum career book. Brad gives the cold truth about the do's and don'ts of the hiring process with an enlightening insight that makes this book an enjoyable read.