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Land the Tech Job You Love
As a techie, you're a special breed, with special challenges facing you in the job search. Your competition is smart, tech-savvy, and highly resourceful. Expectations among employers are higher. Your competition will run you over if you're not up to the challenge. Land the Tech Job You Love gives you the background, the skills, and the hard-won wisdom to bypass the mistakes of those who don't prepare.
You might not think you need this book. Conventional Wisdom has it that finding a job is simple: send some resumes, go on some interviews, and take the offer that sounds best. But that's only the start. You've got the background and skills to work the Web and other resources that the general job seeker doesn't. This book shows you how to take advantage of those skills or be left behind by competing techies who do.
It all starts with an examination of you, your strengths, and where you want your career to take you. Without a roadmap, you'll wind up in any old job. Life's too short to spend in a job that you don't love. From there, you'll see how to find the job you want that fits you and the employer, using your technical and web savvy to find the hidden jobs that never make it into the classifieds or Monster.
"Marketing" is not a dirty word, and you'll learn how to present yourself, your skills, and your background in the way that shows the hiring company that you're the right person for the job. Create a resume that tosses out conventional wisdom, write cover letters that sell your background, and assemble a portfolio of work that will wow the interviewer.
Social networking has been the darling of the Web in the past few years, but it's no substitute for the sort of personal interaction that makes relationships that help in future careers. As one manager said, "One recommendation is worth a million resumes." This book shows you how to make and maintain the connections that will drive your future career moves.
Land the Tech Job You Love pulls no punches and lays out the details for what gets you an interview, and gets you hired in a job in the technical world that makes you happy.
267 pages, Paperback
First published December 15, 2008
11 people are currently reading
193 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
July 23, 2012
This book wasn't quite what I was expecting. I thought, based on the title and description, that it would be focused on how to find jobs that fit one's personality, how to distinguish between cubicle grinds and interesting, stimulating work. It's always been on my reading list, and I figured I might as well give it a read.
Well, the book does have some of that stuff, largely in the first chapter, but for the most part it's focused on how to write a resume, how to write a cover letter, how to do an interview, and that sort of thing. "Job Hunting for Dummies" but focused specifically on technical work.
Such a book definitely needs to exist. Lots of the "rules" of resume writing and interviewing do not apply to technical and programmer jobs, in fact a lot of advice is downright incorrect, such as having objectives on your resume and always wearing a suit to the interview, both of which hurt one's chances in my experience. I'm glad Andy Lester wrote this book, and it's very good, but a lot of it was stuff I already knew.
I definitely picked up a lot of tidbits here and there, and I really really loved the section with good questions to ask a company you're interviewing with (something I always struggle with). When I get some time, I intend to go back over my resume and update it based on some of Lester's advice, and I'm going to follow his rule that I should be able to add something to my resume at least once every six months (otherwise, it might be time for a new job) to ensure I'm growing as a developer.
The book contains lots of good advice, largely surrounded by stuff that anyone who has been in the industry for a while already knows. I'm happy at my current job, but like Andy says, you should always be keeping yourself on the lookout for your next job, so I'm glad I read it.
Recommended for any developer, extremely highly recommended for new developers just starting out.
Well, the book does have some of that stuff, largely in the first chapter, but for the most part it's focused on how to write a resume, how to write a cover letter, how to do an interview, and that sort of thing. "Job Hunting for Dummies" but focused specifically on technical work.
Such a book definitely needs to exist. Lots of the "rules" of resume writing and interviewing do not apply to technical and programmer jobs, in fact a lot of advice is downright incorrect, such as having objectives on your resume and always wearing a suit to the interview, both of which hurt one's chances in my experience. I'm glad Andy Lester wrote this book, and it's very good, but a lot of it was stuff I already knew.
I definitely picked up a lot of tidbits here and there, and I really really loved the section with good questions to ask a company you're interviewing with (something I always struggle with). When I get some time, I intend to go back over my resume and update it based on some of Lester's advice, and I'm going to follow his rule that I should be able to add something to my resume at least once every six months (otherwise, it might be time for a new job) to ensure I'm growing as a developer.
The book contains lots of good advice, largely surrounded by stuff that anyone who has been in the industry for a while already knows. I'm happy at my current job, but like Andy says, you should always be keeping yourself on the lookout for your next job, so I'm glad I read it.
Recommended for any developer, extremely highly recommended for new developers just starting out.
June 18, 2011
I've read other "how to get a job" books in the past and this is easily the best one so far. I enjoyed that it was geared to technical jobs but much of what is advised can be applied to non-engineering type jobs as well. His recommendations on how to work with your resume seem like good advice as is the advice around providing salary history. I recommend reading this book prior to needing a job because there is some work to be done to establish your work portfolio and get your on-line presence in order. In short, I would recommend this book to almost anybody who has to go through the job search process.
July 5, 2019
If you are searching for a job, stop. Read this book and then continue.
Every time I pick this book up I find it very hard to put it down. And it's a book on searching for a job, it's not supposed to be fun. But it is! It's exciting reading it!
I would tell anybody searching for a job, specially in the tech world: don't bother sending even one resume or CV before reading this book; stop, read it, and then continue and you'll use your time much more efficiently.
Every time I pick this book up I find it very hard to put it down. And it's a book on searching for a job, it's not supposed to be fun. But it is! It's exciting reading it!
I would tell anybody searching for a job, specially in the tech world: don't bother sending even one resume or CV before reading this book; stop, read it, and then continue and you'll use your time much more efficiently.
March 3, 2012
This book is a wonderful primer on how to prepare for job searching, interviewing, and continued job success in the technology field. In fact, I would say that the information is so insightful in what comprises a successful career path that it can be used to help those in practically any field.
January 19, 2016
Lots of great advice.
I am surprised at how detailed it was.
There were parts of it that I think I nail, but whole other sections that I had not put thought into. If/When I go job hunting I'll have to give this book a second read.
I am surprised at how detailed it was.
There were parts of it that I think I nail, but whole other sections that I had not put thought into. If/When I go job hunting I'll have to give this book a second read.
March 6, 2011
Useful book on the phases of finding, applying, interviewing and accepting tech jobs. I don't agree with everything he says, but lots of good bits that get you thinking.
September 1, 2011
I can recommend this book for every software developer.
January 30, 2021
This book has helped me break into careers that I didn't yet have the experience for. It helps you to convey your passion and write a resume that actually shows you get stuff done. Such a helpful book that has payed for itself multiple times now.
September 28, 2022
Some advice are quite outdated due to the age of the book (sending physical thank you notes to your interviewer?) or very US-centric but surprisingly enough a lot of the book content still hold for today. A great refresher before jumping in a new round of interviews.
November 15, 2020
The book aged very well and is as relevant as it was at the time of publishing. If you search for a tech job you should read this book first.
August 9, 2009
This book really made me appreciate the Career Services department at my alma mater (Illinois Wesleyan University). A lot of the material in the first few chapters, while solid, was advice I had already received. I wouldn't call this a flaw in the book, however.
The main reason I bought this book was so I could learn how to effectively search for jobs using sites such as Facebook and LinkedIn. To my surprise, the author only devotes a single paragraph to such sites, but he does it for a good reason. Instead of focusing on how Facebook can help you find a job, the author shows you how important *relationships* are, and how they transcend address book and communication applications.
He then gives excellent advice on the types of online activities that are crucial for technical professionals who want to build relationships, enhance their reputation, and sharpen their skills. This was my favorite part of the book, and for my needs, worth the price tag.
The main reason I bought this book was so I could learn how to effectively search for jobs using sites such as Facebook and LinkedIn. To my surprise, the author only devotes a single paragraph to such sites, but he does it for a good reason. Instead of focusing on how Facebook can help you find a job, the author shows you how important *relationships* are, and how they transcend address book and communication applications.
He then gives excellent advice on the types of online activities that are crucial for technical professionals who want to build relationships, enhance their reputation, and sharpen their skills. This was my favorite part of the book, and for my needs, worth the price tag.
May 22, 2013
Land the Tech Job You Love is a solid book about how to apply for technical jobs.
The advice makes sense and is largely worth following. The data on where people actually get jobs is interesting, there is solid data on how many technical jobs are not obtained via an advertised position.
The book could be boiled down to keep a good record of what you can do and have samples available for people to look at and be aware that you always need to be on the lookout for a new job.
It's well worth reading for anyone who wants a new job. I've not read a better book on getting on technical jobs.
The advice makes sense and is largely worth following. The data on where people actually get jobs is interesting, there is solid data on how many technical jobs are not obtained via an advertised position.
The book could be boiled down to keep a good record of what you can do and have samples available for people to look at and be aware that you always need to be on the lookout for a new job.
It's well worth reading for anyone who wants a new job. I've not read a better book on getting on technical jobs.
March 7, 2016
I'm not the target audience for this, but the advice and examples are clear and well thought through. Even though it's a few years old, it's not dated at all; the only advice I thought might be difficult to follow was to have your phone interview on a landline, and not a landline your at current work, instead of a cell phone (do I know anyone under 60 with a landline? Can I get to their house at 10am on a weekday morning?). That's my only quibble. Perhaps the most entertaining vocational guidance book I've read.
March 31, 2014
This book could apply to any job search. It doesn't say anything groundbreaking but it contains a really good description of the hiring process and how to handle it.
Using a curated list of steps, do's and dont's. You will review what it is expected from you during the hiring process, and how to take care of every step.
A must read if you're new looking for a job. And good to read for the rest, you might lear something you didn't know or see things more structured.
Using a curated list of steps, do's and dont's. You will review what it is expected from you during the hiring process, and how to take care of every step.
A must read if you're new looking for a job. And good to read for the rest, you might lear something you didn't know or see things more structured.
January 27, 2014
If you are in a technical field and are planning to job search (or in the middle of a job search), this book is a must read. It's particularly designed for people who are not just looking for any job, but who know what they're looking for and want to make sure they wow the places they want to work.
August 5, 2016
Great book! Though it's a little old (in tech industry years), most of it is still applicable to the tech scene right now. Highly recommend it for anyone who has ever struggled communicating their technical abilities.
July 14, 2014
A highly useful guide
October 16, 2014
At some point I will learn to check the Amazon reviews of a book for astroturfing before purchasing it. This book can easily be avoided.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews