update

Update: Quest for Employment!

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Well I’m adding new content to “Quest for Employment,” my upcoming job-search inspired guide to the variances and techniques I found for the job search.  Fortunately, I found I had to more enhance or add to content rather than add huge amounts of new information.  It’s going quicker than I thought and I hope to have a new beta this weekend.

I like the fact I can keep it tight and effective, so hang in there – and when it’s done I’m also planning to return to my job search coaching!

So for a quick taste, the contents will cover:

  • Regional issues.
  • Resume issues beyond the obvious
  • Job search boards and their idiosynracies
  • Networking being more than it seems
  • Being yourself -in a way you may not have thought of
  • Going on a blitz and running a job search campaign.
  • A bunch of miscellaneous tips I REALLY couldn’t justify giving chapters!

It’s also heavily oriented on “to do’s” so you can get applying what I learned.

– Steven Savage

Steven Savage is a Geek 2.0 writer, speaker, blogger, and job coach.  He blogs on careers at http://www.fantopro.com/, nerd and geek culture at http://www.nerdcaliber.com/, and does a site of creative tools at http://www.seventhsanctum.com/. He can be reached at https://www.stevensavage.com/.

Book Update 3/22/2010

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Wow. The book has been out one week – though as I've been busy with many things I haven't done as much as I'd like with it.

Updates:

  • I've submitted it for worldwide distribution via Lulu.com.  I just have to approve it and was frankly waiting for a few people to look at their copies.
  • I actually had some people buy copies already.  That felt pretty good.
  • I gave a few away to people who have been supportive, and one as a prize at Chibi-con.

Findings:

  • Lulu.com's printing works good in multiples, though in a bulk order I placed, one had some odd detritus on the back cover.  I'm checking into a return.  It doesn't harm the book, but it's annoying.  However it is probably a case of "stuff happens."
  • Lulu.com's bulk printing is also shockingly FAST.  It came as fast as single printing.
  • The global distribution option at Lulu.com is pretty easy – but it does cost $70.00 so it's not free.  However, you do get a lot of opportunities – you end up on Amazon.com, other sites, etc.  It will take me a few more weeks to end up there.
  • People take you incredibly seriously when you have a book out, even self-published.
  • There is something very heady about finishing a book.  I want to rest, but I have some others I want to start . . .

So it's done.  Now to move on and do some promotion.

Oh, and feel free to buy the book.

– Steven Savage

Book Update 2/22/2010

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OK the latest update of the book:

  • I had to reset the layout – again – because I found some issues with PDF conversion.
  • The cover was tweaked slightly.
  • I have ordered a test copy.  I already found some layout/paging errors before it even shipped, so live and learn.

What I've learned:

  • Go over proofs very, very carefully.
  • Pay attention to any alerts from your word processor.
  • Pixelmator for Mac is a good, cheap Photoshop substitute.
  • Doing cover and layout work at the end was a lousy idea.  This is probably best done during a book's writing/production to both help you plan ahead and act as a break.  Put together they are frustrating.

The book still looks like it'll be out late March/early April, on Lulu, and the available through other outlets 4-8 weeks after that.

– Steven Savage