A little while ago I did an interview with Alexa Shoen - family friend, founder of Entry Level Boss online course aimed at graduates needing help navigating the job market and jazz singer. Now though, she’s translated the genius that is her online course into a book ENTRY LEVEL BOSS and, I can tell you from personal experience, that this is NOT just a book for graduates.

The current climate amid the shitstorm that is Covid-19 has many of us worrying for our careers. Freelancers are struggling to pay the bills, companies are struggling to pay wages and we’re all taking some time to reassess our priorities. Whatever happens after covid-19 (whenever that will be) is unknown, but one think I’m sure of is that there’ll be a ton of movement in the job market, not to mention a potentially highly competitive situation if the economy doesn’t ‘bounce back’. If jobs are scarce, you’ll need to make sure you know how to play the game.

And trust me, Alexa Shoen knows how to play the game. I haven’t just read the book - I’ve worked it. With my husband’s earning potential as a touring musician decimated, I’m job hunting and in case you’re not sure, looking for a job during a global pandemic is not the easiest thing in the world. After weeks of applying and not getting anywhere I’d lost my confidence. It’s been 15 years since I last applied for a job so to say I was a rabbit in headlights is, frankly, being kind.

Then Alexa sent me a press copy of her book and it was a moment of serendipity that they write about. She had no idea I was in the situation I was in and even though this book is written with graduates in mind, it’s 100% applicable to anyone looking for a job.

The advice is clear, straightforward and simple. The days of firing off 100 CVs and cover letters have gone. Starting with the counter intuitive advice to stop job hunting until the book is read, Shoen explains that it’s time to take the control back. Typical job hunting leaves us in a state of stasis - suspended in fear as we anxiously wait for replies from companies that may not even get around to reading your CV in full. It’s an old-fashioned machine that simply doesn’t work but thankfully there are loopholes, tips and tricks that are easy peasy to exploit and help you get the job you always wanted.

Top tips from Alexa’s book:

1. You know more than you think you do.

   Those ‘hobbies’ that you have? That time you volunteered? All of that stuff counts. Identify ALL your relevant skills even if you don’t have a piece of paper to show them off.

2. Narrow it down

   Saying you want a job in marketing is nice and all but not very helpful. What area of marketing? Where? Full time, part time, contract? What industry? Get that straight and you’ll narrow the job market down.

3. Upskill

   While you’re job hunting you may come across stuff in job descriptions that you’re not sure of or haven’t heard of before. Well, thank god for the internet, because trust me there’s nothing that a quick Google search can’t teach you and yes, before you ask, that counts when it comes to your CV.

I’ll leave the rest for you to read but whether you’re job-hunting or you’ve got a relative that just graduated or you know someone who’s struggling to get work, I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

Entry Level Boss is out NOW. BUY IT HERE.