AMACOM
The EQ interview; finding employees with high emotional intelligence.
Lynn outlines ways that managers and interviewers can assess job candidates' emotional intelligence. She reviews five areas (self-awareness, self-control and self-management; empathy; social expertness; personal influence; and mastery of vision and purpose) and how they improve job performance, with examples of competencies, and provides about 250 behavior-based questions for evaluating how applicants have used emotional intelligence in past jobs. Lynn is associated with an international consulting and training firm that helps leaders forge trusting relationships and provides resources for trainers, coaches, and human resource professionals. (Annotation ©2008 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)
Going lean; how the best companies apply lean manufacturing principles to shatter uncertainty, drive innovation, and maximize profits.
Ruffa describes the concept of lean dynamics for use in improving business during uncertain times, which combines lean manufacturing with initiatives that use internal measures to deal with external conditions. He argues that efficient operations and innovation do not have to only occur in times of stability and uses examples from companies like Toyota, Southwest Airlines, and Wal-Mart for illustration. Ruffa is an aerospace engineer and researcher who originated the concept of lean dynamics. (Annotation ©2008 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)
How to become an expert on anything in two hours.
Hartley, a former military interrogator, teams with noted author Karinch on this guide to processing information on a subject quickly in order to demonstrate a certain level of expertise. The authors emphasize that faking a way through a topic can easily backfire, and they offer step-by-step instructions on how to assimilate small amounts of pertinent information in a very short time in order to convey confidence and familiarity with almost any subject. Written for general audiences, this book also teaches readers to recognize the signs that others are not buying their pretenses to expertise. (Annotation ©2008 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)
How to land a top-paying federal job; your complete guide to opportunities, internships résumés and cover letters, application essays (KSAs), interviews, salaries, promotions, and more!
Whiteman works as career columnist for Federal Times and also writes for the National Science Foundation and The Washington Post. Here she advises readers on ways to find federal job openings; offers writing tools for perfecting an application; and discusses techniques for interviewing, negotiating a salary, and responding to an agency's decision. The application section deals specifically with writing to sell one's qualifications, mastering online applications, crafting resumes and application essays, writing cover letters, and waiting for a response. The appendix contains tip sheets for veterans and applicants with disabilities as well as formatting tips. The accompanying CDROM offers directories of internships and fellowships, and worksheets and templates for application tasks. (Annotation ©2008 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)
How to succeed in business using LinkedIn; making connections and capturing opportunities on the web's #1 business networking site.
California-based Butow is with a Web design and marketing firm, and has written 12 books on related topics; Taylor is with an executive talent firm focusing on high tech emerging growth companies in the U.S., and has some ten years of experience in her field. They present a practical guide to LinkedIn, a Web site designed to connect business professionals to share information, get answers, and promote themselves and their businesses. Coverage includes signing in and changing account settings, creating a profile, searching for people, adding and managing contacts, finding and recruiting for jobs, looking for and becoming a service provider, adding recommendations from others to your profile, using LinkedIn Answers to connect with other members in your network to exchange information, options for contacting other members, and other business networking web sites. (Annotation ©2008 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)
Jewish wisdom for business success; lessons from the Torah and other ancient texts.
Rabbi Brackman and finance journalist Jaffe open their self-help book with the statement that a disproportionate number of Jews are successful in business. When they asked themselves why, their conclusion was that even non-practicing Jews were raised with the tradition of the Torah and the Talmud and that these books provide all the guidance one needs to overcome obstacles to success. Each chapter lists suggestions for tackling internal blocks, such as self-doubt, fear, hubris and negativity, or gives plans for strategies to succeed. Religious examples are given, not as much from the Torah as from the Midrash and Kabala (books that do not have the same authority as the Hebrew Bible). They also provide case studies from contemporary life. Each chapter ends with a meditative exercise. While their initial assumptions seem flawed, the emphasis on ethical behavior in business is refreshing. Those seeking a spiritual dimension to their commercial enterprises might find this book useful. (Annotation ©2008 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)
The joy of retirement; finding happiness, freedom, and the life you've always wanted.
This guide outlines a process for recent retirees or those thinking about retiring. Using many self-assessment tools, Borchard guides them through considerations of their vision, goals, identity, and values, to help them decide on how they can use their talents after retirement, where best to retire, how to live a meaningful life, and how to improve relationships during this period. He does not discuss retirement planning. Borchard, a counselor who works with adults to identify their passions and develop the stages of their lives, is a former college educator and active organizational consultant specializing in career management coaching. (Annotation ©2008 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)
Saving the deal; how to avoid financing fiascoes and other real estate deal killers.
Real estate transactions can often falter just before the closing paperwork is signed, and this practical guide shows buyers and sellers how to avoid the pitfalls that can jeopardize or even kill the deal. Rumsey, a noted real estate expert and former mortgage loan officer, maintains that a thorough knowledge of real estate matters, coupled with a rigid attention to detail, is the secret to smooth closings. Real-life examples are provided to show readers how to deal with judgments and liens, mortgage issues, complications from divorce, contract disputes and home inspections. (Annotation ©2008 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)
Scholarships 101; the real-world guide to getting cash for college.
This guide helps all students, regardless of their amount of preparation or school support, and their parents through the process of applying for college scholarships. Stezala describes what to do each year of high school, finding help and resources, tips on college preparation, essays and resumes, and understanding the award. No bibliography is provided. Stezala founded an online scholarship clearinghouse in Wisconsin and writes a column on the topic. (Annotation ©2008 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)
Working longer; new strategies for managing, training, and retaining older employees.
Many corporations are biased toward younger employees, and neglect the fact that knowledge and expertise tend to be exercised more consistently among seasoned workers. This idea is the foundation of Working Longer, which shows corporate managers how to coach and retain their most valuable and experienced staff members. Rothwell (Penn State U.), Spokus (Penn State U.), Reaser (National Older Worker Career Center) and Stearns (U. of Akron) discuss such topics as Human Resource concerns toward older workers, and how to motivate older employees to continue with training and apprentice programs to adapt to changing technologies. A chapter is also devoted to recruiting qualified personnel from the retiree base. (Annotation ©2008 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)
