Customer Reviews

Screw the Recruiter

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I found this book to reflect the climate in America today. Unethical, shady and immoral. But I enjoyed the pure honesty of the entire book. Does my review seem mixed, read the book and you will see what I mean. A must read. If you need to get a job by any means necessary this book is the template. It will show you what you do.

This book sort of took me by surprise. The writing type is one of a story but as I'm reading it, I'm also learning a thing or two about the in and outs of resume writing and interviewing techniques. I like the author's sense of humor too, I wasn't expecting to be smirking and laughing while I read, but you get caught off guard with this style of writing.

His work experience is completely different from mine, he does some kind of computer programming or something like that. So, when the he talks about specific aspects of his resume, a certain type of software program for example, I'm totally lost. But I do like how when he's going over why he put this text in his resume, he explains the rationale behind his reasoning for it. If you appreciate witty humor , you'll enjoy reading this book.

If you liked What Color is your Parachute you'll love Screw the Recruiter. Without the highschool guidance couseler angle, Mark Teller actually tells it how it is. We've all wondered what we can and cannot get away with when it comes to lying on a resume or in an interview. But it's a fine line. By knowing the ins and outs of the system you can work your way into the position you want. In Screw the Recruiter, Teller will show you how to back it all up.

Not sparing an ounce of sarcasm Mark Teller walks you through his experience getting a job with no resume, and the ups and downs he experienced until he was finally bringing home the type of money most people can only dream about. Whether you're looking for a job or not Screw the Recruiter is a must read.

The title alone, "Screw The Recruiter", should grab your attention and let you know that this is not a read for someone looking to be coddeled. Author Mark Teller uses strong language and a no-holds-barred approach to getting his point across in a way that makes this book an enjoyable read.

Will you agree with all of his tactics? If you're faint of heart, probably not. If you're ballsy and willing to take a chance, then yeah.

Do I believe that he really did and said even half of the things he claims in the book? Well....that is where you have to ask yourself if this book is a "self help" book, designed to give others a kick in the pants to go and get get motivated, or if it is a biography. I guess it is a little of both. And that is the point. Who says self help books have to be preachy? Apparently not Mark Teller!

You will be amused, entertained, heck, you may even be shocked. And you also just might learn something. It's worth checking out.

No doubt this writer is a very talented writer. He is entertaining, engaging and writes in such a way that I found myself laughing A LOT! However, based on whether or not I would implement his suggestions in my own resume, I have to lower my rating. I don't believe anyone should lie on their resume or resort to any tactics that would otherwise take a job from someone who actually earned it. Sorry, that's my take.

Mark Teller's Screw the Recruiter offers timely advice for the older worker who suddenly finds himself or herself without a job. And in this day and age, that could happen to anyone--at any time. Since it was written based on firsthand experience, it resonates with truth. As a person in 50+ age bracket, I could relate to his struggles to land the next job; and I found his insights into the interview process to be particularly refreshing. If he sounds a bit cynical, well, he's earned that right given what he's been through. Sure, he offers great advice on how to rewrite a resume so that it will stand out from all the rest in the slushpile; but what I think was really remarkable in this book was his study of the organizations for which he worked and why the managers had gone seeking additional outside help in the first place. As a former instructor of Organizational Theory, I was very impressed with his analyses of the large private and government run organizations for which he went to work. His message there can well come as a warning to all faltering companies trying desperately to improve their performance--you can try to implement all the new measures you want; but if there are certain key people in the organization who cannot or will not assist in the implementation of these measures, your attempt may well be all in vain. And the financial cost to these companies is simply enormous when they cannot recognize that it's just as much a personnel problem as well was a technological problem! Additionally, he stands out as a person who knows that in order to land a good job these days, it's important to keep up with the latest technology. The job you're applying for requires Peoplesoft or Excel skills--skills you don't have? No problem! Pick up a book and learn all about it in one weekend--that's his solution! All in all, Mark Teller is a bit unorthodox in his methods, he's a little rough around the edges, and you might not want to follow all the steps he took to get where he is today; but his book offers a great deal of insight into how to get that job interview and how to change careers. Check it out!
Nancy J. Maloney

I liked this book for two main reasons;

1) I found the examples extremely helpful. The way the author showed the reader examples of different cover letters and resumes, and then went on to share the changes he made as he learned what worked and what didn't was very insightful.

2) The entire book reads like a story, and an entertaining one at that. Of course it's a true story, but all the same, it makes the reading much more enjoyable.

And the fact that the author has a good sense of humor and is able to express it on paper makes this book one I'd feel very comfortable recommending.

I highly recommend this quick and highly entertaining book! Mark Teller writes about his experience conveying his dark humor and wit in every chapter. He reaches into his soul and shares his humiliation, then WOWS the reader with his triumphs over the absurdities he faced as he was forced to work with numerous inept recruiters and supervisors. I found myself on the edge of every page as I anticipated what his next challenge would be and how he would solve it.....reading this book is so much better than watching the APPRENTICE! Mark brings to the reader's attention how insidious incompetence is and how it affects all of us by chiseling away at our mental health and on the macro level OUR ECONOMY. I wonder how many of the business owners that went under in Santa Cruz ended up collecting food stamps. This book has given me new insight into my own job market search, so now I am off to CREATE my own resume.... and CREATE my future. I feel the sense of adventure in my search for a job now ....this book is empowering!

I don't know what I was expecting when I ordered this book. What I most certainly did not expect was that I literally could not put it down, and the wealth of information I gleaned from it! Not written for the faint of heart (due to some strong language) the Author's ability to engage and keep me captivated on a subject that has become the pain of my existence--finding employment--is uncanny. I dare say, this book describes why so many people opt for self-employment.

Anyone that has ever had to find a new job will relate to the author's gripping tale of going from welfare to earning $8,100 a week in 18 short months without the benefit of prior job history, references or a resume. Along the way you will become aware of the shortcomings and idiosyncrasies we all know exist (but nobody talks about) of the hiring practices of businesses and the job placement industries. I learned more from this easy to read book than I learned from any other job search related book on my bookshelf. I would highly recommend it to anyone that is wondering why he/she can't seem to get hired or is embarking on a job search journey.

So how does somebody go from being on welfare to making a huge amount of money per week? Mark Teller's tale of how he does just that is fascinating. Using an irreverent tone throughout, Teller traces the ups and downs of his job search, with stories of sleazy recruiters and incompetent bosses that would seem unbelievable if they weren't so commonplace in corporate America. Along the way, Teller gives some excellent pointers for job seekers. Should you lie on a resume to get a foot in the door? You betcha, as long as you can get away with it like he did. You may question some of Teller's ethics, but you'll never question what a great read this is.