#Entry Level Boss-How to get the job you want: How to Get Any Job You Want

by Alexa Shoen

Banging your head against the wall about the job search? Wondering why nobody's even bothering to send you a rejection letter (much less an interview request)? You are not alone. This process is a beast, but there's good #EntryLeveLBoss is the book for you. This is an easy-to-follow roadmap for transforming yourself from frustrated job seeker into hired, happy, productive human. One part behind-the-scenes memoir, one part playbook, #EntryLevelBoss lays out career coach Alexa Shoen's proven 9-step methodology for approaching the job search during these crazy times we're living through. Think of it like a fitness plan-except instead of killer abs, you wind up with multiple interviews for a bunch of jobs you actually want. Cool, right? This is not another manifesto about finding your passion. (Alright, let's find your passion, sure, but the rent is also due and I would assume you're interested in getting paid.) This is a real plan that's based on the real rules of the game. You'll learn how to effectively identify your future hiring manager, for example, and slide into their DMs in the least creepy way possible.Alexa Shoen is the internet's leading confidant for panicking job seekers. She has guided thousands of people into full-time employment using these exact steps. Even if you're convinced you're the least hireable person on the planet, Alexa's got you covered.

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help

288 pages, Paperback

Published September 15, 2020

Reviews

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are some reviews on both posts of this book going off that the commenter went to an ivy league and their career office says all the advice for in this book is wrong....for their job in a more traditional field like medicine, financez or engineering. Did the hashtag in the title not clue you in that maybe you're not the target market here.

I also went to a top tier school for what I do, before that I transfered from an ivy league. Do you know what those two schools have in common? Career offices that are at least 10 years out of touch with reality for any career path that's not super traditional. Do you know what else both schools had in common that always gets glossed over? Competent students who anxiously struggle to explain themselves in cover letters or reach out to their network without feeling like the biggest loser. I'm one of those students. Pre-pandemic every job I ever got even in retail and housework was by word of mouth, so when I graduated mid-pandemic and things got shaken up...I've been anxious, panicked, and lost when it comes to cover letters, networking emails, and not appearing too desperate.

This book has its moments: the resume section and bit on game of thrones as an example date the book, others are right there. But all jobs related blogs, books, and advice are going going be dated if they're going to be at all helpful. I have a jobs book from 10 years ago and do you know how dated and cringey it is? Very. It was still writing from a time that assumed you wore a suit to tech job interviews and that blue hair in creative or tech jobs was unprofessional. Career center, book, or blog advice from even 5 years ago is now outdated and often unhelpful in ways most job seekers can sense, but don't know how to remediate.

The examples of letters, emails, resumes, etc even the ones that are a little risky even in creative fields, or maybe not 100% there, are still helpful with getting the ball rolling and having things working and ready to go for the frazzled and nervous job seeker. This book might not be a golden ticket but it does help for the audience it's writing to: the enthusiastic nervous wreck who can't seem to get work despite everything.
The audience it's for is clear in the title and cover art, and if your retort is only that it's wrong because your ivy league career center said so for YOU and nothing more...well maybe you didn't get into that good school by merit or critical thinking skills.

[Carly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't write book reviews very often but I want to start doing it more so here we go. I would probably give this book a 4.2 out of 5 but goodreads is weird and only lets you rank in full stars. I'm in the job search process (it sucks) and this book makes me feel a lot better about it. Whenever I feel like I'm never going to get hired I just open this book to a random page to feel ✨️inspired✨️ (lol I didn't know if emojis were going to work). Anyway this book was a pretty easy and casual read and I would recommend it to anyone fresh out of college who feels perpetually unhireable. Will this book make you get hired any faster? No. But will it trick your brain into actually trying to find a job or improve a certain skillset? Absolutely.

[Samantha LaBat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! I’m mid-level in my career and still found 75-80% of it to be applicable.

Alexa is funny and conversational, it was like reading advice from a trusted bestie. I appreciate that she opened with an introduction explaining why I should trust her. She’s very clear that this strategy is not for people who need a job right now to pay bills because it takes a lot of time, and remains true to her tagline “how to get any job you WANT” - not any job you NEED.

I picked this up when I was panicking and frustrated and it definitely helped me calm down and reevaluate.

Will be returning to this throughout the job search process and for future job searches.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Specifically did not like when she referred to the reader as “henny,” but otherwise very informative and will be trying this approach

[Marley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book that was easy to read and had so much information. This book is amazing for job searching, applying, and networking. It is not a braggy book like other "how to get a job" type books. It is realistic and outlines the best practice for being "your own CEO" and marketing yourself to any employer.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always struggle to take advice from people who aren’t “professionals” in their field, and it’s strange to take career advice from a peer on the same level as me, but I came across Alexa on TikTok (I know, I know) and her personality drew me in so I decided “Why not have a listen?”. Like many millennials who are facing an incredibly tough job market (for the second time), I needed a fresh perspective on the application process and never ending frustration that goes with it. This book was such an easy listen and definitely gave me more than a few tips to spice up my application as well as lots of ideas on how to network. It was way less “bro-ish” than a lot of other career self help books which I really appreciate, but what I loved most about it was that the author was very upfront with her experience (and lack of “official” qualifications). While she has talked to lots of professionals during the course of writing, she herself is not a recruiter or hiring manager or career counselor. But that was part of the charm? It felt like I was just listening to a friend or wise older sister sharing what worked for them and saying “Give it a try! You have nothing to lose!”.

[Alexis Tao · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is definitely more helpful for entering creative or more modern industries, and less applicable for rigid fields like entry-level engineering where education and playing the numbers game can matter a lot. However, it still gives good insight about how the hiring process works, and gives great tips about networking and defining your career goals that can be applicable for anyone.

Also, this will probably be more helpful if you’ve already graduated college, or you’re ordering your cap and gown in the tab next to this one.

[Jenna Avery · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book literally helped me get the job I have now. I owe it a lot!

[Tram Nguyen · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good! This book is so fun to read on such a "boring" subject. Welp, it brought some good luck to me, so it might do something good for you and your career. Just read it!

[Rory · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book saved me from job search burnout, existential dread, and a looming episode of depression. Thank you Alexa Shoen!!

The conversational tone helps to keep everything feeling friendly and fun while Alexa expertly guides you through a series of activities backed up with studies and anecdotal evidence. Each chapter is ended with a checklist of small tasks to complete. Doing the tasks as you read along helps make job preparation feel managable. She includes templates for writting CV's, cover letters, emails, networking messages and more.
I took my time reading, taking notes and working through the activites, and I started feeling more confident and self assured just one week after begining the book.

I wrote my CV and cover letter using the templates and had way more sucess than I used to — I've even been complemented on my CV by a recruiter.

Alexa's advice and optimism tells you to dream big when everyone else in your life is saying give up and just take what you can get.

The other week I found out I was accepted into my dream internship which I never thought I would get. My sucess I think I can largely attribute to all of Alexas brilliant advice.

She's put into a detailed plan what everyone is just expected to learn along the way. I would reccomend this book to anyone struggling with job searching especially if you're neurodiveregent like me and benefit from clear and direct instructions.

I am happy to say I'm not nearly as scared as I used to be and I'm actually excited for where my career will take me.

[Dave Irwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

While this book could easily be categorized as the self-help guru styled consultancy fodder, I actually think it was the exact opposite. It is filled with practical steps you can take, with clear actions you should follow and ways with which you should conduct yourself when searching for a job. With example text, formats and personal histories of a variety of people across various industries. It reminded me very much of Platform by Cynthia Johnson but with an even more focused subject matter.

Definitely worth a read if you want to spend less time spamming resume and more time working on yourself so you can start working for that company you next apply for.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book I've read on the topic of job searching, and I really enjoyed it—especially because Alexa's voice feels like that of a friend who loves giving pep talks.
I appreciated how she emphasized that the recruiter is just another person, which helps you approach your job search with a light-hearted perspective. This book provided a wealth of great ideas and insights, packed with practical tips.
Although I took my time with it, highlighting key points and making plenty of annotations, the book was still easy to read.
I hope it serves me well on my hamster wheel ride in the corporate world. 💓

[Gabriel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great resource for job seekers and the employed alike. Alexa teaches the reader to understand the complexity and interconnectivity of the variables in the modern workforce using imagery and great analogies. There is an emphasis in communication and networking. I personally didn’t agree with the resume and cover letter formats, however there are still many gems to be mined throughout each section of Alexa’s job seeking process.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's directed towards entry-level young people. However, as a Senior-level worker, the same process still applies. It was helpful to brush up on skills and learn new details relevant to the latest job market.
I got to senior level work without applying a lot of the steps included in this book. If I had this book at the start of my career, I would be even farther.

[Becca · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m actually obsessed with this book. It is so incredibly helpful and such a great perspective on how to approach the job search. I’ve bought five copies for all of my friends looking for jobs and continue to recommend it to everyone I know.

[Danica Holdaway · Rating 5 out of 5]

Should be handed out at high school graduation, college graduation, and when creating a LinkedIn account. Must read for all adults, any stage of your career!

[Ciara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book really help me refocus my mind on the right things I needed to be doing.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super helpful. Straight forward and to the point

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book takes a light hearted and practical approach to finding your next job. I plan to recommend it to the new hires on my team and college students who reach out to me.

[Amber M Sherman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very solid career guidance book - a lot of great tips that so many don't think about.

[Madi Burke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book! It was so easy to read that I got through it in less than a week, reading 30-50 page chunks at a time. Alexa incorporates her personal experiences and online resources to change the way you think of the hiring/job application process. I’ve already started implementing her tactics in my own search!

[engrkindle · Rating 5 out of 5]

"All any company is ever trying to say with a job description is: ‘We need someone who kind of knows about this kind of stuff, who could help us do something kind of like this. We think that’s what we need, anyway. Is it you?’"

[Ella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4✨ | Date finished: 29th June 2022