Title: Navigating the Career Marketplace: Preparing for the Marketplace Engaging in “Situation”/Position Search
Author: Len Rishkofski
Publisher: Xlibris
ISBN: 978-1-9845-4653-1
Pages: 248
Genre: Career Planning, Business
Reviewed by: Jason Lolus

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Navigating the Career Marketplace is an extremely helpful book for anyone interested in a career transition, that first job out of school, or career planning in general. Author Len Rishkofski lays out a strategic plan which goes way beyond submitting résumés and waiting for a response. This book includes all the tools, structure, and daily routines you need to change jobs or further your career. The book is a guide detailing a process of continual self-reflection and is geared toward re-evaluating who you are and what your skills are. The method in the book is built upon discovering what career makes the most sense in terms of happiness, logistics, and compensation.

You begin with learning how to manage your time and family life during this transition and career change. You will need a structured setting for your new job of finding a job. The book covers very useful strategies for the research of prospective companies/employers, the industry itself, and changes in the ever-modernizing workplace. This includes motivation and resources on learning current software and computing skills. The author covers networking in detail. In his method, networking is the key to so much. Notably, it’s the best way to find the many unadvertised or “hidden” jobs. Rishkofski adds that these hidden opportunities comprise an astounding 80% of positions that are filled! This book gives you the tools to find those jobs.

All along the way, the author stresses frequent reflection on your research and on yourself. Focusing on planning, execution, reflection, and follow-up. This method is thorough and organized. You are given the tools to learn your respective industry before you get the job and the self-reflection techniques increase the odds of discovering what you want to do and where you want your career to go.

Rishkofski provides numerous worksheets, exercises, and techniques for structuring this transition period. In the final section of the book, he gives many resources 50+ pages worth dealing with all aspects of the job search. The book helps you learn how to sell or market yourself. Be confident, humble, optimistic, and persistent: You’re getting a coach as well as a career planning routine. Also included are strategies, samples, and templates for the science and art of résumés, cover letters, approach letters, emails, phone call business etiquette, and interview techniques and strategies. I could keep going. Everything is covered: even beginning the new job itself. As a guide, the book is invaluable, and you’ll learn more about yourself through the journey of finding that next career.

If you are contemplating a career change or currently immersed in the process, getting your copy of Navigating the Career Marketplace: Preparing for the Marketplace Engaging in “Situation”/Position Search is a valuable asset in seeking your goals. After all, good advice – well taken, is the sign of an intelligent person. This book would be a great resource for parents, teachers, guidance counselors, librarians and anyone interested in a career transition.