Book excerpt: “A no-holds-barred view of career management in a turbulent world . . . provides a reality-based perspective that should be of value to all who read [it].” —Len Schlesinger, president emeritus at Babson College, Baker Foundation professor, Harvard Business School In these uncertain times, The Job Search Navigator is a reliable guide to every step of the twenty-first–century job hunt, whether readers are laid off, wanting to change careers after surviving cutbacks, or seeking a better full-time gig in a stagnant marketplace. Author Matt Durfee writes from the perspective of someone who has both recruited for some of America’s biggest companies and navigated his way through nine of his own job losses. The book combines practical real-world perspectives with the technical knowledge job seekers need in order to excel at every aspect of their searches. Drawing on the knowledge Durfee accumulated through his own experiences, searches, and big-brand corporate hiring responsibilities, The Job Search Navigator abandons the “clinical approach” of many other career-advice books. Instead, Durfee gives easy-to-follow strategies and, perhaps more importantly, recounts in illuminating detail the kinds of mistakes that led him to develop these strategies. “From the strategic to the emotional to the tactical—this is one of the most practical and useful books on career management I’ve read in a very, very long time.” —L. Kevin Cox, chief human resources officer, American Express Company “Matt’s expertise in this space is unmatched. We live in a world where constant reinvention is the rule and The Job Search Navigator is essential reading for those who want to take control of their career trajectory.” —Scott Westerman, executive director & associate vice president for alumni relations, Michigan State University