ELON COLLEGE – Not many people can say they were solicited by e-mail to write a book. But that was case for Bob Orndorff, director of the career center at Elon College.
His book, “The Unofficial Guide to Finding the Perfect Job,” will be
published in February by Macmillan. The book, which is part of the publisher’s best-selling Unofficial Guide series, will be available in major bookstores nationwide.
“I had always wanted to write a book,” says Orndorff, who has written numerous articles for publication, “but it was a big jump to write a major one right off the bat.”
The book is for anyone who is looking for employment. The book differs from other job search publications in that it offers tips from some of the nation’s top recruiters. “I interviewed 11 recruiters from such companies as Anderson Consulting, Bell Atlantic and Johnson & Johnson. Their comments correspond to the topics covered in the book.”
In researching the book, Orndorff says he discovered that more recruiters are using behavior-based interviews to evaluate potential job candidates. “They are asking questions that assess past behavior of a candidate to predict future performance. For example, instead of asking how you generally deal with conflict, the interviewer asks you to tell about a specific conflict you previously had and how you dealt with it. This questioning really forces you to look at your past experiences.”
With unemployment so low, companies also are more selective about
hiring people who really want the job, he says. “Because employees have more options and are changing jobs more frequently, companies are concerned about employees leaving after a year or two,” Orndorff says.
Good interpersonal and teamwork skills are two of the top skills employers are looking for, he says. “They want employees who appreciate diversity, confront people tactfully, have a sense of humor, and maintain a positive attitude. Basically, recruiters want to hire candidates who can relate well with a wide variety of people.”
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