How to Control Your Career for Life: Helpful Techniques for Getting, Keeping, and Changing Employment Opportunities
by Donald Ford
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I wrote How to Control Your Career for Life to help you find a new and better job, keep your job and how to change jobs.
It is based on a career development program I designed and implemented at American Express.
The Rising Star designation is given by my publisher to less than 10% of their books. It is for books by a first time author, is well written and which meet a current need. The major current need is to get millions of people back to work.
They have further reduced this list to 40 top books. I feel very honoured to have my book on the short list.
Let me encourage you to read and re-read my book and apply it to your work life. It will help you look after you and your family and make the world a better place.
Let me add a personal note. You sometimes get the idea that some authors do everything right and do not make mistakes. I am not like that, I have made mistakes and I have also had successes. I have had the experince of being terminated twice and promoted a number of times.
My book is based on my experience, the experince of others and reading 22 books. I keep reading, learning and passing on what I learn on this website under the heading Career Tips or new sections.
Who would benefit from my book?
1. You who are looking for a job; either the first one or you who have been packaged out and are unemployed. Chapters 2,3 and 4 tell you how to get a job.
2. If you are employed but need help with developing your career and keep your job. Chapter 5 will help you.
3. If you want or need to change jobs, including those recently retired. Chapter 6 is all about changing jobs.
4. If you have the responsibility of implementing a career development program in your company or organization you could base your program on this book.
This book is based on the career development program I implented at American Express.
5. This book would be an excellent premium for companies which are looking for an incetive to buy their product or service.
Here are the chapter headings and a summary of their contents.
Preface
Chapter 1: Basic Foundations for Controlling Your Career
This chapter covers things like the importance of planning a career, the ideal job, get a mentor, you are unique and extraordinary and accept the responsibilty for using your abilities.
Chapter 2: What are Your Skills ?
This chapter forms the foundation of your career by showing you how to discover your skills and develop a skills inventory. This includes the skills you take from job to job and your technical skills.
It also emphasizes the importance of knowing your weaknesses. These are the actions which can destroy your career.
Chapter 3: Where Do You Want to Work ?
This chapter tells you how to research the job market, how to select job targets and how to make sure you will fit the proposed position.
It shows you four ways to research different jobs: reading about them on the internet or in the library, talking to people, shadowing and information interviews.
It also has key section on self employment or home businesses. I personally believe that everyone should have a home business, especially during these uncertain economic times. You also never know when you will be forced to stay home due to an accident.
I am developing a separate section of my website devoted to self employment.
Chapter 4: How Can You Get the Job You Want?
First, develop a comprehensive career plan, then develop your short term goals. Take a look at yourself and decide if you need more training before applying for the job.
It shows you four differnt ways to apply for a job: direct application, if an internal position; apply in person; apply via the internet and apply by mail.
Then this chaper shows you how to make a cover letter, if you need one, and detailed instruction about making a resume including scannable resumes. Making a resume helps you anaylize your skills and abilities even if you do not need one.
Finally, it gves detailed instruction about the interview which is the culmination of your efforts. Don't blow it. This is a crucial skill.
Chapter 5: How to Keep Your Job & Stay Productive
This chapter shows six essential things to do the first week, a dozen vital on-the-job-skills and developing a personal career control plan.
It also has an improtant section on working on impovement projects.
Chapter 6: How to Move Up or Move On
This chapter show you five ways to move: improve your job, move up, move sideways, move down or move out. It also gives some powerful indicators that tell you it is time to move.
Conclusion
Action plan
Appendix
List of Charts which can be photocopied
The book has 13 charts which makes the book practical and useful.
Bibliography
Suggested Reading
Helpful Websites
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