JOB HUNTING: THE NEW RULES
Rob Yeung

If you consider the whole job-hunting process, it would seem at a first glance that the rules of job hunting haven't really changed that much over the years. You still put together a CV listing your skills and experience; perhaps you try to mention a few interesting hobbies or interests to grab the recruiter's attention. You still submit your CV to an employer or perhaps through a third-party recruitment consultancy or executive search firm. And if you are lucky, you are still invited to interview. Yes, it all looks pretty familiar so far, doesn't it?

But while it all looks safe and familiar on the surface, the reality is that job hunting has actually changed hugely in recent years as a result of increasing competition between organizations to reduce costs. More and more organizations are trying to offload employees by restructuring, downsizing, offshoring, and outsourcing. More and more jobs are being handed to contractors, consultants, and other temporary staff. And for the employees that remain, they are being asked to be more adaptable and hard working. After all, the same (if not more) work needs to be done – just by fewer people.

All of this has meant that organizations have got that much more careful about hiring people. Human resources departments and line managers are now much more canny at screening candidates and putting them through many more challenging tests and interviews to choose the very best.

As a business psychologist, I am hired by interviewing programs. And having interviewed hundreds of candidates and designed dozens of assessment centers in organizations ranging from international investment banks and law firms to airlines, insurers, and transport companies, I am going to share with you some of the unspoken rules and guerrilla tactics that will capitalize on your strengths and boost your chances at every stage of the job-hunting process.

ISBN: 978-0-462-09928-6