Search - Bait and Switch : The (Futile) Pursuit of the American Dream (Audio CD) (Unabridged)

I thought this was exceptionally well written and a good approach at what exists in the job market today. Yes, there were issues with the experiment regarding the level of background the author could reveal but this was covered in the beginning and a plausible background was created given her talents with references (the few people in on her undercover work). As a person who worked in the Human Resources field, who also had a work gap which had to be explained. I felt her experiences were accurate.

Great CD.

Interesting first hand report by a well-known, experienced writer who goes undercover to find a job in the professional world. Though she attends workshops and networking groups and hires personal coaches to reform her resume and her wardrobe, it is months before she has even a glimpse of a job offer and even then it's a commission-only offer without benefits or an office.

I'm a freelancer and found this scenario brutally honest...gave me a new perspective on those in mid-life who are suddenly unemployed and must find a way to support their families.

Worth the points!

Barbara Ehrenreich is for sure a flaming liberal and that powers certain comments she makes in the book I'm sure (white collar corporate workers have no dignity?). Putting aside those kinds of comments, if you want to know what job searching is like for white collar workers this book describes it perfectly. Written in 2005 it is just as applicable now as it was then. I just spent 11 months looking for a job - trust me on this one. From useless career coaches to the futility of networking with other unemployed people she strikes the perfect tone of irony and compassion. Sure she starts from the point of view of an anti-corporate socialist, but her description of trying to find a job in today's America is dead on. I liked this one so much I listened to it twice back to back. I'm And if you're currently unemployed, this book serves to remind you of that one very important thing: it's really not you personally that is being rejected despite the fact that is how it feels.