I have shared many different resources over the last several months on my blog, this will be the first time to do a book review. Through a Linked In blogging group connection, I was asked by new author Hammad Siddiqui to review his self-published book, Bootstrapping Your Career. It was my pleasure and a delight.
The book is broken down into eight different chapters that are full of knowledge and great tips. Chapter one kicks off with true career stories. Siddiqui shares stories from his experience as a volunteer career counselor. He states up front that he has issue with the term “dream job.”
“What is a dream job? As a young graduate you are inspired by the youngish CEO of a multinational company, driving a posh car. Without knowing how this chap really reached this position, you wish to be like him. He becomes your inspiration and conception of a dream job,” wrote Hammad Siddiqui. (p. 2)
Siddiqui highlights inspirations and what are life time opportunities. He travels with us through job search night mares and shines a light on fears that recent graduates can face. He encourages the reader to develop their own unique selling proposition that can help them enter the job market. Most importantly he states to be honest about your skills and abilities.
Siddiqui includes fun and simple graphics. I have to be honest, there were times when I was challenged sometimes by non-American English phrasing. However, this book appeals to graduates of colleges and universities worldwide. As social media opens up doors to new worlds this book offers key components to take advantage of these new offerings. In fact, Siddiqui highlights social media in chapter 5: It’s a Social Era. Check out his ten twitter tips in chapter 5 on page 65.
I am not a beginner in the career world by any means, however, as the job world and ways to search is changing rapidly; those of us that have more than a decade of experience could use some of the tips to re-invent ourselves and start another career. Social media like Linked-In and Twitter are changing the way that people market themselves and network. As Siddiqui notes, stand out, stay ahead, and get noticed on social media.
I was pulled in by Chapter 6 as well on The Success. What is success? “Success is progressive with various degrees,” commented the author. Adding, success is never stagnant.
One of my favorite parts of the book is his list of the top emotions to power success:
- Love and warmth
- Appreciation and gratitude
- Curiosity
- Excitement and passion
- Determination
- Flexibility
- Confidence
- Cheerfulness
- Vitality
- Contribution
So whether you are starting out the gate as a new graduate, re-entering the job market, or re-inventing yourself for a new career, check out this new book, Bootstrapping Your Career with Hammad Siddiqui. The author developed his own real life institution of learning, as a former employee of the Trade and Investment department at the British Consulate in Karachi, Pakistan. In the early 1990’s, Siddiqui sorted through thousands of applications, short-listed candidates, set up hiring tests and sat on countless interview panels. He highlights what he learned from that experience and what he values now.
Take a step forward pull up your boot straps and move your career in a new direction.
Resource
Siddiqui, Hammad. Bootstrapping Your Career.©2013.ISBN-978-969-9908-00-2
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