Rites of Passage at $100,000 to $1 Million+: Your Insider's Lifetime Guide to Executive Job-Changing and Faster Career Progress in the 21st Century

John Lucht has been a recruiter for 30 years and has been writing executive guides for nearly as long. You need to get this edition as he has thoroughly updated his material to explain rules, procedures, and protocols for job-hunting on the Internet. I was an unemployed executive for nearly a year before landing my current position and Lucht's book is the roadmap for any similar journey. He has insightful sections on resumes, cover letters, severance negotiations, outplacement, networking, references, as well as the better known how-to-guide for dealing with all stripes of recruiters. Don't get hung-up on the title. While Lucht is most familiar with recruiting at the C-level, most of this applies equally well for managers, directors, and experienced professionals. The only criticism I have is that Lucht is focused on job-hunting in strong markets, and needs more analysis of today's humbling markets. He is fairly critical of the typical outplacement service that considers it a success when they place laid-off software executives as owner-operators of ice cream parlors and coffee shops and franchisees of muffler and transmission repair stores. Lucht also thoughtfully debunks a lot of media myths about finding work without a resume or a network. His promotion of direct mail as a marketing tool sounds old-fashioned but it works if you understand that less than 1% of your mail will yield leads, but these are likely leads that would not have been otherwise obtained. Lucht also has built a useful website and avoids the high fees and endless cross-promotions that his competitors favor.

This is by far the best job-hunting book available. As a retained executive search consultant, I constantly deal with people who are looking for work, and am dismayed at how poorly most people do so. Lucht's book will change your mindset on job-hunting. He reminds you to use all of the major job-hunting techniques, including networking, direct mail, recruiters, and want ads, and teaches you new techniques for doing each one of these. He also has a chapter on how to be interviewed that is easily worth what you'll pay for the book. I first read the book long before I moved into executive search and was able ti use the techniques described in it to develop a number of job offers. In addition, the book is readable and fun; it's obvious that John really cares, and wants the reader to be successful. Some have complained that this book doesn't pay enough attention to internet job boards. It doesn't, because it shouldn't. Job hunters who spend their days probing the internet to find work get disappointed (less than 10% find work through job boards). I recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a new job; anyone who plans his job-hunt without reading this book risks selling themselves short, because they'll be missing too many avenues.

The book has some excellent sections that are very relevant and extremely helpful in job transition. These parts transcend the changes in the web and job posting environment and are helpful in planning and working any job transition. There are some parts, however, that are out of date and could possible mislead the efforts of someone "new" to job transition. This is due to the publishing date of the book and the technical changes since the publication - not due to bad information, if considered from the point of the original publication date.

Helpful and accurate information.

This book came recommended to me by my old boss and it definitely did not disappoint. I do not necessarily take everything in here as gospel (nor would John want you to), but there's so much good advice in here that I built my resume according to many of his philosophies. He would actually tell you NOT to take everything as gospel. Take the pieces that work well for you and move on with the rest. It also has incredibly helpful information about the recruiter world that will come in very handy when you deal with recruitment firms.

The Rites of Passage belongs on anyone's bookshelf who's interested in actively managing their careers and gain that extra edge. Even if you're not close to $100k, the book gives you valuable insight into that realm. Understanding your boss and your boss' boss will make you a more valuable employee and may advance your career more than you realize. If you are at $100k+ I can't imagine successfully managing your career without Lucht's insight. His decades of experience will help you manage transitions properly and in a proactive manner. My only minor gripes are (1) The typesetting. I have a nagging feeling he did this himself, it could definitely be done better (2)The minor section on usage of the Internet is dated and could be done better. I doubt John had someone appropriate look this over. Still, he earns top rating. Thanks to manager-tools.com for recommending this book.

This provides a perspective that only a few other sources can provide, and all of them are more expensive and time consuming, and less useful that a good read on the weekend to get your mind wrapped around the task of job seeking. It does need to be read in conjunction with a $90 subscription to his service. That opens up all the options, gives the rationale behind the steps necessary to find a new position, and ensures that your email inbox is filled with opportunities. It provides input on interviewing strategies, but the resume re-writing is assumed - consult others on that point..

First written in 1993 and now updated in 2001 to include "Internet coverage / tools"; if you are interested in outdated information provided in long form and returning low ROI--then this book is for you. In reading the book and rereading the reviews here one might conclude that the positive reviews were self-generated or paid for. As an executive headhunter/recruiter myself, I suggest you save yourself from an excruciatingly painful 581 page read and pass on this one. Certainly not written for an executive-level audience; poorly written and even more poorly edited (seemingly unedited). If you still feel otherwise compelled buy one, consider one the many used editions currently available through Amazon; in this case the used book reseller is providing much higher value and greater service than the writer has.

Note that there is a 2014 edition of this book available on Amazon at https://www.amazon.ca/RITES-PASSAGE-100000-LUCHT-2014-03-01/dp/B019TLOJDE/ . It is more expensive and there are not many left in stock as of this writing, on Wed Oct 9, 2024. It is the last edition that John Lucht completed before he died.

I was recommended this book but I was aware of possible ageing. It is still quite valid and I do not give 5 stars because there is a bit too much of its own website advertisement through the book. In any case still good.

I wish someone had guided me to this book earlier in my career. amazing and wonderfully written. Will help you with rest of your professional life. And then you will be able to guide others too!

Excellent condition. Very happy with this purchase

Great experience, prompt shipping and top-notch quality of print.