Book Reviews

Read the latest reviews of Teens and the Job Game...

Smartgirl Suggests, March 2008

Review by Smartgirl editor, Tiffany:

When I was in middle school, I didn't spend a ton of time thinking about getting or having a job, and what that involved. I wasn't old enough to go out and apply for a job yet, and because of that, it didn't really occur to me that there were still ways I could be preparing myself to start work, and that the earlier I started, the easier it would be for me to find and have a job once it was time. I wish someone had given me a copy of Beverly Slomka's book Teens and The Job Game because if they had, I would have gotten my act together!

Teens and The Job Game is a wonderful book written by someone who really knows what she's talking about. It is based on the philosophy that succeeding at work has to do with developing your whole person, and that you can start doing that today, no matter how young you are. Reading it, I was impressed by how many topics Slomka covers. When she says the key to getting the job you want is developing your whole self, she truly means it. She touches on many subjects including the clothes you wear, the way you carry yourself, how you feel about yourself, writing and communication skills, time management, and peer pressure, just to name a few. Her point is that whether you are years away from looking for your first job or already have one, these are things you can think about and do something about right now, and - this may come as a surprise - they all impact getting and having work. How?, you might ask. That's a good question - and it's one that she answers. Instead of simply telling you that these are all important factors and assuming that you'll just take her word for it, she takes the time to explain why you should give them some thought, and why you should do it sooner rather than later. I think this is one of the best aspects of the book and what makes it so motivational.

The book doesn't just walk you through how to prepare yourself for finding for that first job. She takes you all the way - from where to look for job advertisements to your first day of work and beyond, all while providing practical tips and advice. The book includes many great resources as well, such as sample resumes and cover letters and lists of websites and books to check out if you need or want more help. All of this is delivered in a very easy to read and understand format.

This is one of the best nonfiction books for teens I have read in a long time, not only because it deals with an important topic (after all, Slomka points out, work - whether you want it to or not - is probably going to be a major part of your life) but because it deals with that important topic so well. Thinking about finding and starting a job can be tremendously overwhelming, especially if you've never done it before, and she takes the care to walk you through it step-by-step, showing you that it actually is a manageable process - and one you can excel at! You might be thinking that you can't - that you aren't sure what sort of job you want to have or that you've already done things that may have put you at a disadvantage when it comes to finding work - but she would disagree with you. I encourage you to find a copy of Teens and The Job Game so that you can read Slomka's encouraging words. Because, as she might write, it's never too late and it's never too early!

From www.kidsbookshelf.com
Review By Christina Lewis

Every teen has the ability to succeed when they have the right skills and begin developing a positive work image." When searching for a job, how you present yourself is important. This 99-page book is packed with great advice, tips and information taken from the author's years of experience in the corporate world. You'll find chapters on how to present yourself, education, choosing a career, searching for a job, behavior in the workplace and more. Each chapter has a section where you can write your reflections about yourself and your career path. You'll also find sample resumes and cover letters that are a great way to help you get started. A wonderful guide to help you get on the path to finding your dream job. (Young Adult)

From www.bookviews.com - January 2008 Book Picks

Review by Alan Caruba

Though Bookviews tends not to note self-published authors these days, former Merrill Lynch vice president Beverly Slomka’s Teens and The Job Game ($12.95, iUniverse) is a book that offers teenagers interview tips, sample resumes, and cover letters, along with a lot of very good advice on how to prepare for jobs the offer fulfillment and, yes, good money. Thus, tips on appropriate dress, attitude, and people skills are an important part of understanding what is required to truly succeed. On her website, Slomka offers employment and career news for teens at www.teensandthejobgame.com. Give your teen a competitive edge. Give them this book.

From www.flamingnet.com - New and Advance Book Reviews

(Young adults rating books for young adults)

Flamingnet Student Book Reviewer YG
Are you a teen looking for a job? Then this book is right for you. Inside this book, you will learn the skills necessary to find a successful job. There are five chapters in the book: Developing your whole self, Education and Workplace Relations, Choosing a Career, Searching for a Job, and Behaviors in the Workplace. For example, it explains how to develop as a whole person by looking from all perspectives, and encourages readers to set realistic goals. Scattered in each chapter are quotes from high school students just like you. Furthermore, there are reflective questions at the end of each chapter designated to help the reader focus on their goals, and earn their way towards those goals. It is essential to have good study skills, and this book teaches you just that. After learning about how to become an excellent applicant, the reader will learn about how to create an excellent resume and cover letter. Most importantly, it will teach how to contact the employer and ace the interview. After reading the book, you will be ready to find your dream job!

I believe this book is very inspiring, and really does try to motivate the reader to get out there and find a job. Not only does it motivate the reader, it also teaches the reader how this is accomplished. There are reflective questions at the end of each chapter that helps the reader reflect and plan their future goals. Also, there are tons of quotes from actually high school students and teachers, which is very inspirational for me. I pretty much agree with every sentence in the book, and believe that this is a very helpful book for people who are looking for a job, but don't know how to get one. After finishing the book, I feel very optimistic about the future. Who won't?

Reviewer Age:14

Reviewer City, State and Country: Urbana, IL USA

From The Tablet - December 8, 2007
Offers Advice to Teens About Getting Good Jobs

By Marie Elena Giossi

If you’re looking for a practical Christmas present for your favorite teenagers, give a gift that will help them invest in their future – “Teens and The Job Game:

Prepare Today – Win It Tomorrow,” Brooklynite Beverly Slomka’s newly published handbook to prepare young adults for the working world.

“Young people today are not getting the preparation they need for the workplace. It’s not just talent or education you bring to a job, you bring your whole person,” according to the author, a former Merrill Lynch vice president and business manager who recruited all levels of personnel for over 20 years.

Written in a conversational tone, Slomka’s 101-page guide is designed to help 13-18-year-olds develop as “whole persons” so they will eventually possess a comprehensive set of tangible and intangible skills applicable to any part-time post, summer internship, volunteer activity or full-time job.

The author decided to write the book after seeing youngmen and women with “high potential” – polished resumes, proven skills and previous experience – overlooked for jobs because they didn’t know how to conduct themselves in a professional environment.

Appearance, demeanor, communication skills,

deportment, judgment, perseverance, flexibility and work ethic, Slomka says, will not only determine whether or not someone is hired, but also his or her future success in the company.

An October, 2006, study from the Society for Human Resource Management, supports that argument. When over 400 U.S. employers were interviewed regarding job candidates’ readiness, 70% said high school and college grads lacked advanced workplace skills, such as good communication abilities, work ethic and professionalism.

Putting Yourself Together

Slomka begins the first of five concise chapters by encouraging readers to discover who they are – their hopes, dreams, feelings, and attitudes – and how they present themselves to the world.

Slomka then talks readers through the process of discerning their unique niche in the world as she reveals the link between school and work and the equation for choosing a suitable career.

Personal preparation is followed by professional preparation as the author readies readers to go out into the world by offering a model for job hunting and “workplace behaviors 101.”

“I try to be inspirational,” Slomka said. “These are the future leaders of the world. If they try and persist, they can succeed.”

Chock full of real-life job experiences – hers as well as those of high schoolers and college grads, the book also has sample resumes, cover letters and each chapter concludes with reflection questions and blank pages to “encourage introspection.”

As background for the book, Slomka interviewed two directors of volunteers at two Brooklyn hospitals. Both agreed that 14-18-year-olds overwhelmingly lacked job readiness and communication skills when they signed up as volunteers.

The author also surveyed 17 volunteers, aged 16-18, at one Brooklyn hospital. Three responded that they had received workplace preparation in their schools; 14 admitted they had not.

Slomka completed her book in 2005 and received fourth place in the 2006 National Writers Association’s Non-Fiction Book Award Contest for recently written and unpublished books.

She decided to self-publish her work in October, 2007, through iUniverse.com.

The author, who was educated at St. Patrick’s School and Fontbonne Hall Academy, both Bay Ridge, has a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s in education/rehabilitation counseling. After retiring from Merrill Lynch, she moved into a human resources position in the healthcare field.

She and her husband, Edward, have lived in St. Bernadette parish, Dyker Heights, since they wed 31 years ago. For almost six years, the couple has volunteered as extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion and on-call chaplains at Lutheran Medical Center, Sunset Park.

While the book doesn’t have a spiritual aspect per se, the author does incorporate Christian values, such as volunteer service, a strong work ethic, constructive conflict-resolution, and respect for oneself and others.

“I say in the book that you are a precious, unique person. No matter what you’ve done in life, you can move ahead,” said Slomka, who’s also a breast cancer survivor.

Although she’s always enjoyed writing – she currently works as a content producer for AssociatedContent.com – she never before thought about writing a book.

“I decided to write this and it was like words were spilling on the page,” she said, adding that she believes “it was God or the Holy Spirit’s influence.”

Available to Speak

Slomka exhibited her book at a N.Y.S. Dept. of Education Career and Technical Education Resource Center Conference in October and she is available to present it at local high schools.

“Teens and The Job Game” is available on iUniverse.com, Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com. The book is also downloadable in Adobe eBook format from iUniverse.

Slomka’s also has a website, www.teensandthejobgame.com, which serves as an introduction to the book and as an ongoing resource for readers.