Knock 'Em Dead 2000 (Knock 'em Dead)

Rating:
Summary: Excellent way to get yourself focused
Review: As Career Planning and Development Host at Bella Online, and instructor of employability and lifeskills for a local college, I found Yates Knock Em Dead books invaluable.

Much of the information we already know, but Yates pulls out some of the key ingredients in the job search - things that many people overlook in their hunt.

I particularly like the basics of interviewing - helping people to see what the interviewers are looking for with specific types of questions. Having realization that there is a specific goal for certain questions helps the job-hunter prepare the best answers - the ones that demonstrate the qualities the interviewers are asking about, instead of flailing while trying to figure out what they want. Preparation is key in interviews, and Knock Em Dead helps us consider our answers to even the most difficult questions.

I have been on both sides of the interview table, and yet I still find this a useful book. I used it in my teaching, and still refer to it regularly.

Rating:
Summary: I got the job, thanks to THIS book!!!!!
Review: I had NEVER interviewed for a company position in my life. During HighSchool and College, I spent summers doing construction work and side jobs to earn money towards my Industrial Engineering degree.

You know what really got me ready for my interviews, more than anything else? The book called "Knock 'em Dead" by Martin Yate (would never forget it). My VERY intellegant (and rich, I may add) college professor let me borrow his copy.

Anyways, my point is this is the guy who helped me with my resumè and who recommended the book. I read the thing, and studied various chapters before every interview. After I used the book (after having NEVER done an interview for a company in my life), I was totally prepared for the interviews I was to have with Accenture (then Andersen Consulting), a "Big 5" Consulting Firm. This book goes through countless questions that can and are asked, giving very detailed answers and explaining the keys to what the interviewer is looking for. It has chapters on what to wear, what it is like "on the other side of the desk" (the interviewer), how to discuss salaries, etc. If I ever will switch jobs, I will buy the book for sure to have my own copy available to me. It is like the Bible of interviewing.

I cannot stress enough how prepared I was for interviews with this book. Again, I had NEVER done an interview in my life, and then I was able to go in and land a job with the first company I ever interviewed with, a "Big 5" Consulting Firm nonetheless!

Rating:
Summary: This book enabled me to get 5 written offers to choose from.
Review: I quit my last job and focused entirely on generating several job offers simultaneously using Martin's methods. While he does not recommend quiting, he is dead accurate on the way to go about generating written offers to choose from. His interview skills section is excellent and I utilized several of the recommendations when appropriate. His advice on the resume as well as working, working, working the network all paid off for me. I have recommended this book to many people personally in the past, many of which now have new jobs. I am writing this review today as I'm ordering it for a few more folks.

Rating:
Summary: I "knocked 'em dead!"
Review: I was telling a colleague of mine that I had been turned down on 3 interviews for similar positions within a period of 2 months. I have excellent qualifications for all 3 of the jobs I didn't get. I had a vague feeling that my lack of success had something to do with my interviewing skills, but couldn't figure out exactly what I was doing wrong.

This colleague suggested I read "Knock 'em dead!" She told me that since reading that book she has gotten every job she has applied for, so that evening I went to the bookstore and bought it.

The day before my next interview, I spent the whole day reading the book. I knew in advance that I did not meet one of the most important qualifications for the job, namely, experience with a Linux server. As a matter of fact, I know nothing about Linux. Before I started reading, I was already telling myself to just give up! I was wasting my time by interviewing without knowing Linux. However, the book explained how to work around problem areas like this, and reminded me to remain confident, no matter what! I put everything I read into practice during the interview. I really didn't think I would get the job, so I was just testing out the book to see if it worked like my colleague said it did.

Well, IT CERTAINLY DID WORK! In fact, I was interviewed by a committee of 6, and was hired on the spot, regardless of my lack of knowledge of Linux! I was astounded, as it is virtually unheard of to be hired on the spot after an interview by a hiring committee!

I later found out that they began interviewing for this position 6 months ago, and there was a lot of competition, including some "insiders!" And to think I was hired on the spot!

In some interviews, outstanding qualifications are not enough. If you don't present these qualifications in a very appealing manner, you may be overlooked. This book actually put my dream within my own reach by providing me with the skills I needed to capture that dream. "Knock 'em dead!" is a masterpiece, and I highly recommend it to anyone who needs a strong edge on the competition!

Rating:
Summary: I "knocked 'em dead!"
Review: Knock 'Em Dead 2001: The Ultimate Job-Seeker's Resource provides effective answers to tough interview questions as Martin Yates demystifies the job search process in all its aspects. Provided for the job seeker are updated resume databases, job search web sites, online research and networking resources, advice for dealing with executive search firms, tapping the "hidden" job market, safety networking to protect a job and career, recharging a stalled job hunt, negotiating the very best salary and benefit package possible, and exiting gracefully. Knock 'Em Dead 2001 is enthusiastically recommended for first time job seekers, men and women seeking to climb the corporate ladder, relocating because of corporate downsizing, as well as anyone re-entering the workforce after raising a family, early retirement, or a health-induced absence.

Rating:
Summary: GREAT Resource, no matter what you hear
Review: The people who did not like the book aren't realizing the value it has. Not every section of the book is going to be what you need, and if you read cover to cover, you will not come away feeling like it was useful. Many people may fail to realize too, that the answers he gives to questions are "examples". You should in no way take them word-for-word. Martin Yate just helps get your thought process going on what you should say and maybe his examples will spark something within you to where you say, "oh right, I have a situation similar to that" and you can spawn an answer off from there.

My suggestion, and how I used the book, was that I read the sections that applied to me. The book is invaluable in giving you an insider's look at what the interviewers and looking for. Then, after interviews, I would check the section about what is to be done next.

The book sincerely helped me in being PREPARED for an interview, which is the key to landing a job.

Rating:
Summary: Quite helpful for serious job seekers
Review: This book impressed me with the variety of helpful tips and techniques provided to the job hunter. Martin Yate is a pro and shows it in this strong guide to more effective interviewing. I recommend it.

Wayne D. Ford, Ph.D., author of "The Accelerated Job Search" and "How to Spot a Liar in a Job Interview". [e-mail]

Rating:
Summary: for the generic job huntress
Review: This book is for somebody looking for a job in Corporate America. I also suspect that this book was meant to be read alongside the rest of the Knock 'Em Dead series, which I will admit to not having read. There is a lot of helpful advice on interview tactics and negotiating, but the chapters on job hunting (what to do?) and selling yourself on paper (resume!) are thin and sparsely detailed. However, this would probably be a stellar book for somebody well-versed in resume construction who knows what job she wants, but has difficulty with phone calls and interviews.

Rating:
Summary: I got the job!
Review: Very helpful! Gave me confidence! It can be used by interviewee's and interviewer's.

Rating:
Summary: This book offers great tips for getting the job you want.
Review: We've all seen the rows and rows of these job-hunting books at the bookstore. I found this one particularly insightful. It is well organized and that structure works well for the intended reader (a job hunter). When job hunting, there are times when you have all the time in the world to casually flip through chapters... Then there are times when you frantically rifle through it, looking for the *one* stage you're dealing with right then! I used this book the last time I was looking for a job and it had the answers I sought at each stage, and gave me peace of mind to be slightly more relaxed during the interview process. (I got the job) There are good tips on unconventional methods of getting your foot in the door of a company that you like. Most valuable to me were: Tips on dressing for an interview. Tips on negotiating salary (very helpful).

I highly recommend this book!