BKHOKHIR.RVW   950313
 
"Hook Up, Get Hired!", Joyce Lain Kennedy, 1995, 0-471-11630-0, U$12.95
sunfeatures@aldea.com
%A   Joyce Lain Kennedy jlk@cts.com jlk@sunfeatures.com
%C   605 Third Avenue, New York, NY   10158-0012
%D   1995
%G   0-471-11630-0
%G   0-471-11629-7 (cloth)
%I   John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
%O   U$12.95 800-CALL-WILEY 212-850-6630 Fax: 212-850-6799 Fax: 908-302-2300
%O   U$29.95 (cloth) jdemarra@jwiley.com 416-236-4433 fax: 416-236-4448
%P   256
%T   "Hook Up, Get Hired!"
 
Unlike all too many books exploring special aspects of the online world, this
is *not* just the normal, hackneyed job search advice with a few nods to
communications technology.  It is obvious that a very sincere attempt has been
made to look at the new functions and tools which the Internet provides to the
job searcher.  As well, the book tries to provide information which a new user
would need in order to get onto and use the Internet.  Unfortunately, Kennedy's
lack of experience with the net shows in both the tutorial material presented,
and in the aspects of "online life" which are emphasized.
 
While much of the book (almost all of chapters one, two, and six, plus numerous
small entries) consists of "success stories", there is a lot of material
introducing the new user to the net.  Chapter three looks at connections and
applications, while chapter seven presents some basic information about using
data communications with your computer.  Chapter eight brings up software
"assistants" but confuses the commercial service "front end" packages with UUCP
mail and news agents and straight terminal packages (such as Qmodem and
ProComm).  Chapter nine offers miscellaneous tips, such as a section about
online etiquette.  For those who *do* know the net, chapters four and five
collect the primary job search entities on commercial services, BBSes and the
Internet.
 
For those who do *not* know data communications and the net, be prepared for
some work and frustration.  The most effective use of the net is probably going
to be in "networking" -- building your circle of professional or related
contacts.  Very little, however, is said about mailing lists and Usenet news,
the primary sources of such contacts.  No source is given for the "list of
lists", and nothing is said about contributing and making a name for yourself. 
(Kennedy's inexperience also shows when she states that "no studies" prove that
the majority of jobs posted on the net are technical.  A few days reading of
misc.jobs.offered would prove it readily enough.)
 
Those who seriously intend to use the net for job searching will want to send
out resumes continually.  A couple of short sections give a few tips on
uploading text, but there is no discussion of screen versus line editors, the
fact that MS-Word has *two* "text only" formats, nor the use of screen layout
and "white space".  The advice on sending unencoded copies of formatted
wordprocessing files should be eliminated:  the chance of finding an HR person
who even understands the technology and has the same wordprocessor and printer
as you do, is vanishingly small.  The probability of finding someone willing to
go to the trouble is even smaller.  If your formatting is that important, then
either the net is not for you, or you need to set up your resume in HTML on a
Web site.
 
An extensive bibliography could have gone far towards overcoming some of the
technical shortcomings.  Unfortunately, this one, though annotated, recommends
each and every book, without exception or distinction.  (Also, despite the
importance of cybermanners and netiquette to the job search, neither book (cf
BKNTQUTT.RVW, BKCBRMNR.RVW) on that topic is listed.
 
Although several hundred jobs are posted on the net every day, getting onto the
Internet is no guarantee (despite the title) of employment.  Still, the
pointers to resources here are probably easily worth the price of the book to
the job seeker.  Hey, it's cheaper than a "user pay" employment agency, right?
 
copyright Robert M. Slade, 1995   BKHOKHIR.RVW   950313

======================
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