Customer Reviews

Where's My Oasis

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I found this book after browsing the author's very informative website and I am delighted to say that the book exceeded all of my expectations. It is clear, positive, focused and every element is based on the realities of competing in today's job market. As someone who hasn't attended an interview in a long time, I can only say that I am almost looking forward to the one I will be sitting in a few weeks time.

I have read a number of books on this subject recently in preparing for my job move, but this excellent book really stands out from the others - I only had need for the interview material, but I very much enjoyed the other elements. The material is deeply thought out and very well presented, with a nice balance of 'stop and think' moments and teaching material. I was surprised at how much I learnt from my first reading and I have been drastically revising my strategy for my forthcoming interview as a result of the simple comon sense approach that Mr Manahan suggests.

I couldn't recommend it more - put this one on your wish list.

UPDATE: I GOT THE JOB!
An update from my last review - I got the job! I have written to Mr Manahan to thank him personally for his ideas and his inspiring writing, but I just had to say it here too.

The two interviews I had to undergo didn't ruffle my feathers at all having read and practised the ideas in Oasis. I dread to think what would have happened if I had been asked some of the more thorny questions a few weeks ago, but the profiling, mapping and rehearsal strategy that Mr Manahan outlines made all the difference.

I hate interviews and always used to dread them. Now, I won't have to sit one for a long time and if I do, I am not worried. The feeling of confidence that I had going into the interview just grew and grew as I could see the answers I had developed reassuring the interviewers and positioning me for the role.

I can't recommend this book enough. I hope it transforms your life as much as it did mine.

I have read this book, and am very impressed. The author has distilled the current state-of-the-art thinking in relation to the hiring process and has presented this valuable information in a clear, concise and entertaining way.

I would go so far as to suggest that if you are applying for employment you cannot afford not to have this book, so vital is the content to eliminating common (and not so common) errors which diminish success.

I cannot think of one person I have interviewed (and there have been many) who would not have improved their interview performance by reading this book.

This is set to become the standard text in this field and is essential reading not only for anyone applying for a job but for MBA and HR studies students.

This Book doesn't just contain everything you need to know and do to succeed in getting your perfect job, it teaches you how to prepare yourself for every stage of the process.
Manahan knows his stuff, and has a particular talent for getting his point accross. Every point is made clearly and with (often hilarious) humour - I am experienced both as an interviewee and an interviewer, and not only have I learned something from every page of this book but I have laughed too .
Every possible aspect of the career searching process is covered, with astounding attention to detail and no waffle. Reading the book it is obvious that this guy is vastly experienced has managed to write it all down.

This book contains every secret the interviewers don't want you to know! If you do what this book teaches you, you can't go wrong.

This guy is great! (I was sooo sorry to see that he is married and lives on the other side of the world) He should be on TV! This is in your face, no time wasting stuff. The book is clean and simple, covers everything I was concerned with, in a lovely writing style with plenty of cross-referencing. He also uses great quotes and references throughout - I'm definitely going to lift some of them for my next presentation.

The writer has obviously been in the trenches (so much of what he says sounds familiar to my experiences) and his approach is based on giving you an understanding of what/how the other guy is thinking. From that, you develop a job-hunting strategy, rather than a tactical, reactive approach. It just makes sense and I know it is going to work. My confidence was boosted just by reading the opening chapters. Reading this book is like having a conversation with the writer - I'd love to meet him!

I have been thinking of moving company, and I picked Oasis up in an airport bookstore - what a stroke of luck. Every page held another gem (or nugget) of information. I have completely put my plans on hold, cos I have a LOT of work to do before I make my next move. I have been downsized twice since the NASDAQ crash in 2000 and this book will help make sure that that never happens again - or if it does that I'll be ready for it.

I've read Bolles and Lucht and Jackson and many others, but Wheres My Oasis puts them all in the shade. Buy it - you will not regret it.

Simply excellent. I haven't read too many books of this sort, but this one answered all of my questions and provided me with a strategic, long-term approach to my job search which has boosted my knowledge and greatly boosted my confidence. I have never before understood why interviewers ask the questions they do, now I am armed with more information on the interview process than most interviewers I have encountered! For me, the best parts of this book were that it was user-friendly, very well organized and laid out, easy to search through and very well written.

Other get-the-job-you-want books have bored me to tears. In contrast, this book is funny and a quick read.

The author makes it clear exactly what needs to be on (and off) your resume so they'll call you in - and what they do and don't want to hear from you during your interview.

If you're looking to land your dream job I'd say this book is a must-have. I'm very glad I read this book and I'll be recommending it to family and friends.

I feel like keeping this book a secret, but I have to give credit where it is due. This brilliant and exciting work is quite simply the A to Z for job-seekers who need to give the whole area of Interviews/ HR the serious respect it deserves.

I cannot think of a single section I would change in this 400 page blockbuster.

As an Engineer with over 20 years experience this insightful guide has refreshed my thinking about the tools necessary to maximise my Career i.e. great interview skills and seeing things from the Employers perspective.

Forget 'What Colour is my Parachute' this is far better, much more insightful and more to the point.

Dont tell your friends but let this great book be the secret of your success. Thanks Rowan.

Here is my UPDATE..

28th August 2011
I bought Oasis 6 months ago in February 2011. The economy was, and still is in a deep recession.

As soon as I read this book I felt that I had discovered a precious jewel as somehow Oasis is much more than the sum of its exhaustively researched parts.

That is not to say that I did not have a mountain to climb in terms of virtually all aspects of my job hunting technique, I did, but it was like having been given the map of where I was going (and a GPS!) and that was a huge relief to me.

I am pleased to report that 6 months later I have landed a job that I would only have dreamed of 6 months ago. No really!

You as the reader need to know that I referred to Oasis all the time during this job hunting period. It sat on the front seat of my car everywhere I went or was in my laptop bag and taken out over cups of coffee.

I always knew that I was in safe hands with Rowans advice. All the time I was able to check my progress along the way, after interviews etc, with the advice in this book. I came to know what mistakes I made as soon as I made them and I quickly became a good study. Also the whole thing is honest in its approach, it was never about trying to find ways to trick Employers.

Rowan inspires confidence and I felt I was an apprentice to a winner. I only had to worry about getting the work done myself and as quickly as possible. I would say that it took me 3-4 months to begin to get into shape and develop my own methods of working too, such as using Indeed.com

My job hunt was a slog but I never ever doubted what I was doing or lost hope. That was because I knew I was following the advice of a winner and bit by bit I was seeing things more clearly than ever before. Every interview was a challenge that I relished and learnt so much from. Even just getting them meant my CV and cover letter were improving and better than most other applicants.

As soon as all the pieces came together for me I was successful.

If you are out of work then I believe this book will help you. It really did for me. Give it as a present too, as it is quite funny/ like Oscar Wild.

I have recommended this book to 7 or more people. It takes pressure off and prepares one for each phase of job transition. Many friends and colleagues report they have excelled at interviews just by knowing what to expect and how to act.

If you don't get the job after reading and following the book, it isn't from a lack of preparation. Even though not getting the job might sting, it's better than knowing you also didn't put your best foot forward.

For me, this book has helped immensely for sitting interviews and for conducting them as well. Good luck to all the job hunters out there!