Job Reconnaissance: Using Hacking Skills to Win the Job Hunt Game

Let me state right away – whoever did not read this book missed much.Thing is, this is not that conventional book where you are getting known what you shell expect to be asked at an interview, or what you should or should not tell in an interview. So forget about this book existence and get another one if you need quick recipes style of a cookbook.But if you get this copy you’ll look at the job hunting process from a different angle with Josh More (the author) who targets a more mature and experience audience of seemingly IT pros, just like me and probably you who rarely have more verbal expression skills than discussing recent news with a neighbor.In my opinion, this book is not for recent grads or those who need yet another job, quick, just “to pay the bills”.“Job Reconnaissance” book is for those who want a position to have fun, blend into the company culture, get work that is also rewarding and lasts. Both parties win. Makes a lot of sense, right? I think so.I say the book fits best and actually must be appealing to the IT related or technically savvy people because it requires some familiarity with scripting, using the Shell may be desired and general OS tasks, but not knowing all these will not stop you from getting the most out of the book.In return a reader would get a comprehensive set of absolutely or almost no cost tools one never suspected existed and a ton of reference to aid in a successful job hunt – this is the main treasure of this book.I rate this book 5 out 5 because it delivers on the promise. It has the right length and difficulty level, but best read by a person who is in early stages in planning leaving one’s present employer.Again, this book is a companion-like book about teaching you how to get a better job, will equip you with a wealth of tools, yet will allow you growing career-wise with it and it I trust remain relevant for a very long time.Disclaimer: This book was given to me for free as part of the blogger review program by O'Reilly Media.

It wasn’t that long ago that a cover letter, resume and fax number was all that was required to apply for a job. Using that approach in 2014 will likely restrict your ability to get your next job.In Job Reconnaissance: Using Hacking Skills to Win the Job Hunt Game, author Josh More notes that since people will only look for a job every few years or perhaps once in a decade; even though they have excellent technical and people skills, that may not be enough to land them their next job.The book assumes the reader has followed all of the stock guidance (effective resume, good LinkedIn profile, prepping for the questions you will be asked in an interview, etc.) and is looking to separate themselves from the masses in order to get their next position.More writes that that book is about the best way to get a job: where you choose the company. He notes that this is a slower, but more active process. But if you succeed, you will be happier as you have found a job that fits you and your time will be spent doing things you really enjoy.The book makes a critical point in that with most of today’s resumes being submitted and processed online, your fancy resume is no longer as important as it once was. The main differentiator is the effective use of keywords. The book notes that most jobs are assigned a series of keywords and any resume that doesn’t match a certain percentage of these keywords is filtered out.Much of the book is around using hacking skills to find a job. The book using hacking as a metaphor for a more aggressive approach to finding a job, rather than simply relying on the stale and hackneyed approach that most people use. More cautions several times that hacking does not mean lying. Anyone who is dishonest in their job search will likely be discovered later on, and it won’t have a pleasant ending.Using this hacking approach, the book is somewhat unconventional. But it is specifically that unconventionality that is now required to get a job in today’s competitive marketplace.For those looking to find their next job, the right job; Job Reconnaissance: Using Hacking Skills to Win the Job Hunt Game is a great resource to help you get there.

I've been on both sides of the hiring desk for tech jobs and I can say that the techniques in this book are sound. I would group the book into three sections, the first section is for people entering the tech job market. People who match this profile are going to benefit greatly from the first four chapters. Following the author's advice to create a professional online persona will help you differentiate yourself and show that you've got at least a small level of technical ability.The second part of the book, the next couple chapters, are going to make more sense to experienced workers. When you're new to the industry you don't know what you want and sometimes you have to do the dirty work a few years to figure out what it is you truly love. I'd call this the pre-reconnaissance section of the book. Its targeted at people who are tired of doing the dirty work and know what they want.FInally, the second half of the book contains some of the most interesting, most devious techniques I've ever heard for standing out from the pack. Different markets have differing needs, with some places having too many job hunters and too few good jobs. Getting your opportunity to get an interview can be tough, but I have a hunch that the processes described here will likely get you a chance.This book is definitely written for technical people. I think the techniques would work for any kind of job, but the audience it is targeted and is narrowly focused. I think that's fine, because that group tends to be rather introverted and needs more coaching than, for example, your typical sales manager candidate. The book is slender but it's written at an advanced reading level. Overall, I strongly suggest reading it.