Get a Job, Build a Real Career and Defy a Bewildering Economy

This is an extremely good book that provides advice on the most fundamental and intelligent approach to obtaining paid work of any kind, for people of any age or situation, and in any kind of economy. Charles Hugh Smith is an unusual man: both an acute intellectual, and a practical man of business. His analysis of the market for work is based on his analysis of what organisations actually want when they search for either employees or contractors to do particular work.Most young people assume that “getting a good degree” from an accredited university is the major hurdle that delivers “a job,” and these days they often end up with a debt that will take decades to pay back, and a diploma that fails to deliver employment. In brief, Smith regards all conventional universities as cartels that generate scarcity and astronomical fees for degrees, but which deliver standardised coursework that acts as a proxy for professional competence, but incorporates none of the skills or social competence needed in today’s working environments.Smith uses the word “professionalism” to denote eight skills that comprise a common approach to mastery in any vocation:1. Learn challenging new material over one’s entire productive life.2. Creatively apply newly-mastered knowledge and skills to a variety of fields.3. Be adaptable, responsible and accountable in all work environments.4. Apply a full spectrum of entrepreneurial skills to any task, i.e. take ownership of one’s work.5. Work collaboratively and effectively with others, both in person and remotely.6. Communicate clearly and effectively in all work environments.7. Continually build human and social capital, i.e. knowledge and networks.8. Possess a practical working knowledge of financial records and project management.Perhaps the most valuable part of the book is Smith’s injunction to work-seekers to “accredit themselves.” In other words, instead of merely studying to obtain a diploma, which research indicates proves virtually nothing about a student’s fitness to do any specific type of work, job-seekers should actually seek out and do appropriate work to build up a portfolio that really does exhibit their proven competence. Smith shows how such a track record can be built up even when actual jobs are unavailable, and how working for multiple organisations – if necessary without payment – can generate testimonials from respected individuals that are far more convincing that the typical resume put together by students.I thoroughly recommend this book for its powerful new ideas and its practicality.

I will keep this review short, but this book was a breath of fresh air. I've been reading into economics for a little over a year, teaching myself with the power of the Internet, so I knew about some of the content of this book already. But, the way Charles Hugh Smith writes is clear and concise, and, for a rational person such as myself, the material he covers really clicks. I'm looking into more of his books, since this book left me hungry for some more knowledge. I took off a star for the book being so short versus what I paid for it, but that's just a personal issue not related to its content.As far as content goes, you won't be let down. If you bought this book, then you're probably in the same boat as I am. That is, still trying to figure out where my potential is most suited. Are we here just to make a paycheck and go home? I don't like to think so.

This is an excellent book. It will make you grow as a person. The first part is a discussion on how our current economy structures employment. And the vested interests keeping it that way. Charles Hugh Smith then lucidly explains why its decline is inevitable. Somehow we knew all that and were too scared to look. Charles shows how this is part of the natural cycle of decay. Then, slowly, like the sun rising, Charles illustrates a new cycle of growth that is beginning, a new economy that, once your eyes are opened, you can see examples of everywhere around you. This is so obvious once it is shown. He shows how and where the new jobs are being created and it is possibly not what you might think. He provides a detailed path of action that can be followed by anyone to become a part of that new growth curve, to deal yourself in to this new world. I can see how my job was subject to the forces he describes and I can see a new path ahead. I am 58. This book is equally valuable to a school-leaver, graduate, ex-employee as to a retiree. This book makes changes inside your brain. Read it all and read it carefully. It is life-transforming.

My husband ordered this book and rated it a 4.5 stars. He heard about it on a talk show that he really likes and decided to go ahead and buy it . He has only two years left to complete his 20 year service with the Army and is researching what he will do when he "retires." He thought this book was spot on about the changing economy and helpful in getting him thinking in a more competitive way about the job market. I will be reading it next so that I can be on the same page as my husband and help him in pursuing his next career.P.S. This book is not about getting a government job. To the contrary, it is about moving away from government dependency into "the real world."

This book works on many levels. It does a fantastic job of:1. Explaining the unsustainability of the existing college and corporate paradigm.2. Providing a basic skill template and approach to developing one self in the long term3. Explaining that it isn't about finding that magical career. It is much more about developing a long term philosophical approach to life and what you choose to do in itThe last point is far and way the book's strongest quality. For those with young children, this is an especially useful book for you and them in thinking about their development. Highly recommended.

Given the dynamic workplace today due to technology, the web and increased globilization- and given that the old model of "get a degree, get a job and working the same place for 40 years is dying (and in many places already gone)- Charles Hugh Smith presents a valuable perspective. This book is both for the young reader starting out on lifes' path- and for the older reader either forced into, or contemplating the retooling of their skill set and mindset- a different way to understand the workplace- and a different methodology and perspective to prepare for what the world is moving into .I highly recommend this book.

I was deeply impressed from the very beginning of this new book. Suddenly economics gave real meaning! Not just related to flowing abstractions, like with Keynes and contemporary politics in USA and the EURO-zone. Thoughts about one's own possibilities became real and meaningful. And one's reservations against those things got substantiated. So this was something of a revelation, at least to myself - though tested it with a friend, that felt the same.

Ich lese regelmäßig den Blog von Charles Hugh Smith und hatte deshalb große Erwartungen an das Buch. Leider wurden diese nicht erfüllt. Er schreibt und schreibt und schreibt, aber kommt meiner Meinung nach nicht zum Punkt. Seine Gedanken sollten am Ende jeden Kapitels zusammengefasst werden, denn so wirkt das Buch sehr unübersichtlich und ist schwer verständlich. Auch Übersichtsgrafiken wären nicht falsch gewesen.Ich hoffte mir einen Guide zu finden, der mir die Richtung meiner zukünftigen Karriere und beruflichen Laufbahn aufbereitet, dagegen empfand ich mehr allgemeine "Systemkritik". Schade

As someone going through a minor career crisis, this was just the book that I needed to provide the clarity and confidence to move in a new direction. I've spent a lot of time with career-oriented/self-help type books in the past while, but nothing has been as comprehensive and convincing as this. Smith begins with a very easy-to-read, pertinent, and informative lesson on the economics of work, and then moves on to providing a framework for navigating the realities and uncertainties of the new job market.I skimmed nothing and took notes on almost everything. I'm very thankful that I found this book.

A no nonsense articulate account of how to understand today's world of work, and some of the important economics behind why things are the way they are, and what to do about this understanding.This understanding gives me hope again to get back off the scrapheap where otherwise I was at a loss. I would have liked more detailed information about different types of sectors, but now I can follow up with that sort of research in a more informed way.

Deep and positive reflection on capital, value, their relationship and how to prioritize own learnig and habits. If security is not garantee by institutions anymore, we need better understanding to nsvigate a costantly changing landscape.