The Successful Candidate

This review gives a verdict on the book based on three options:

• Bypass: Little of value. Give it a miss.
• Borrow: Some value but insufficient to warrant a purchase so borrow from a library.
• Buy: Valuable ideas and information, a worthwhile investment.

Title: The Successful Candidate

Subtitle: How to be the person they want to hire

Author: Ros Jay

Publisher: Prentice Hall Business

Nationality: English

Year: 2004

RRP: $26.95

Flavour: Ros Jay is a freelance writer who specialises in management-related subjects. The book is a guide, translating recruitment-speak into plain English so that readers understand what employers want and how to say it to get the job. For each popular expresssion, the book tells you:

• other common phrases that mean the same thing
• what exactly the employer is looking for
• how to demonstrate you've got it both on paper and face-to-face at interview
• what hidden meanings to look out for and what questions to ask to gain further information.

The book starts with a very brief general guide to applying for a job. The bulk of the book is organised into seven parts:

• personal qualities
• communication
• personal image
• work style
• customer relations
• management
• general skills

While this is useful, the lists under each section show how arbitrary such categorisations can be. For example, Personal Image covers mainly personal qualities, like enthusiastic. Work Style is a mix of skills and qualities. Management includes Skilled leader.

The tone of the book is conversational and the examples given to show how to demonstrate each term are at times fairly general and/or geared to middle to lower level jobs. Non-work examples are also used to demonstrate skills and qualities.

As a resource for gaining insight into the meanings of terms like innovative, mature, ability to manage change, ability to demonstrate accuracy, the book is good value.

The book has an index but no bibliography.

Verdict: Useful reference. Buy or Borrow.

Dr Ann Villiers, learning guide, professional speaker and author, is Australia's only Mental Nutritionist® specialising in mind and language practices that help people build flexible thinking, confident speaking and quality connections with people. Visit www.mentalnutrition.com to learn more about Mental Nutrition. Visit www.selectioncriteria.com.au for free resources unlocking the mysteries of public service jobs.