Customer Reviews

Great Work, Great Career

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I know many people who are out of work or are dissatisfied with their current jobs. I myself am not actively job hunting nor am I particularly dissatisfied with my job. However, this book can be read, enjoyed and applied by anyone who has an earnest desire to find that "great career" or to create a "great career" at his or her current job. For those job seekers, the end of the book does include some suggestions on crafting a resume, cover letter or even on giving presentations to prospective or current employers outlining your plans for success.

If you have read 'The 7 Habits of Highly Successful People', you'll notice a lot of familiar language.

In discussing the nature of our current economic times, the book talks about such concepts as the "Abundance vs Scarcity Mentality", "Circle of Influence vs Circule of Concern", "Emotional Bank Accounts" and changing our Paradigm to look at the workplace through the lens of the Knowledge Worker age rather than the Industrial Age. The book talks about (though I don't think it ever used the '7 habits' terms) "production vs production capability."

And it spends a considerable amount of time talking about problem solving, identifying needs, turning needs into opportunities and creating your own personal Contribution Statement based on your own strengths, talents, passions and your moral compass or conscience.

The book gives advice for taking that Contribution Statement and actually conducting a "Need-Opportunity" presentation rather than going to job interviews. It presents ideas and methods for helping yourself stand out from the crowd to a prospective employer or even to your current boss. There are suggestions for expanding your "Circle of Influence" to better meet your talents and passions.

The authors also go into some depth about "Building Your Village"...a 21st century mindset around networking and working through people you know to achieve your goals. The book talks about creating a village through your friends and co-workers but also about about the importance of carving a space out for yourself on the Internet...diving into social networking such as LinkedIn or even Facebook....creating your own webspace by writing a blog about your passion/expertise...maybe even writing an e-book. The authors emphasize that your village should be based on "real" relationships rather than just a bunch of names who can "do something for you"...focus on building that Emotional Bank Account and then use your village to synergistically achieve your goals.

Like many books in this vein, there's not a lot here that felt "revolutionary"...on the contrary, it all felt like "common sense" and a lot of it feels like those "aha" moments where you smile, nod and wonder "why didn't I think of this earlier". The writing style is simple and easy to understand. There are a bunch of inspirational stories and examples and there is plenty of great advice.

So whether you're on the hunt for a job, trying to improve your current position, or self-employed and looking to solidify your own contribution, this book should have something to help you develop, focus on and come up with a plan to achieve your long-term career goals.

****
4 out of 5 stars

Offers a reminder on the following points: 1. What would you do even if you weren't being paid? 2. Draft a contribution statement--how would you solve the company's problems with the specific skills and talents that you bring?"

Loved this little book. The writing is immediately applicable and I can see how I can build my current job into a great career. I loved the contribution statement information and tips and the Build Your Village section has already been invaluable.

I was confident that Stephen R. Covey would put together a good book, but this one really exceeded my expectations. My resume is so much more powerful than it was before reading this book. I have been invited to interview with every company that has reviewed my resume since I used the techniques in "Great Work, Great Career" to help me reform it.

What might sound like a series of clichés coming from a typical business writer could, out of reverence, be called "tapping into the zeitgeist" when it is presented by a bona fide guru. In a quick 156 pages (including a Frequently Asked Questions section), Stephen R. Covey and co-author Jennifer Colosimo work to overturn the ordinary ways people seek and acquire jobs. Like the authors of a diet book, Covey and Colosimo ask you to make healthy choices to shape your work's waistline. Choose a meaningful career, not a job. Think of yourself as a "volunteer," not an employee. Adapt to the "Knowledge Age" and leave behind the "Industrial Age." Use a job interview as a "research opportunity," and see a résumé cover letter as a chance to define yourself as the solution to an employer's problem. Granted, if you don't want to be told to change your paradigm, or to invent your own job if you can't find one, you might want to invest your dimes elsewhere. Then again, if you're tired of the patterns in your professional path, Covey and Colosimo's new career-seeking terminology might be just the jolt you need. Old habits die hard - maybe it's time for some new ones. getAbstract recommends this book to job seekers, bootstrappers, service industry personnel, Covey fanatics and all workers in a rut.

This book is a great resource for defining your unique contribution, fine-tuning your resume, and coaching you through a career transition. What I didn't anticipate was the tremendous value for someone not in transition. Great Work Great Career gave me a new ideas for applying my talents, passion, and conscience to my employer's needs, as well as valuable insights into research, proposing solutions, and quantifying my successes. Highly recommend!

This book is very inspirational if you are
a. looking to change careers if you are unsatisfied with what you are doing
b. out of work and looking for a career (not just a job)
c. looking for better career opportunities in the company you are in
d. ready to break away from "common" and follow your dreams

If you are looking for a book that will give you prescriptive step-by-step instruction on finding a job, this isn't what this book is meant to do. However, it will get you thinking and it will serve as a motivational pep talk if you are intimidated or unsure.

The overall theme--don't be a victim. Stop saying "my boss has it out for me" or "the economy is bad" or whatever excuses you may come up with. Instead, use your community, your skills and most of all, your passion and interests to find or create your ideal career. Transition yourself from the industrial age way of thinking to the knowledge age. My favorite two quotes from the book: "You are not a 'job description' with legs," and "If you are weak in a hard moment and sleep in instead of getting up, it becomes the first of many little failures."

The key to what makes this book special? The anecdotes that the authors give us to highlight real people that have used their very cool skills to stand out. The next best think about the book? The activities at the end of each chapter that will get you grabbing a pen and paper to dive into your thoughts about how to get your dream career.

The only reason this isn't a 5 star? I would have liked just a little more on resume writing and interviewing. Information is there -- but it could have had a bit more attention. They are both still key skills if your dream job happens to be in a company as opposed to working for yourself.

These authors know their stuff! If they had a seminar in my area, I'd sign up in a heartbeat.

Disclaimer: I received an advanced copy of this book through Goodreads First--and I'm so glad I did.

I am a current college student and after reading this book I am so much more confident in finding a job. If I can be a problem solver and contribute to a company I can get hired. Looking at a career from a Knowledge Age Paradigm is much more rewarding and I know that anyone who reads this will be able to accomplish what they want to in their career. Fantastic information for this time.

The audio book was received on time, in the state that was expected ( new)

Great service!!!

If you enjoy Stephen Covey, you'll love this book. If you are fresh out of college, or have been stuck in entry-level jobs, this will be great tool for you. If you're trying to figure how to make that "real contribution," this will be great book.