careers Archives - Awful Library Books

Find a Job

May 3, 2023 Mary Kelly Working 9-5 7 comments

How to Find A Job on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, MySpace and other Social Networks
Schepp and Schepp
2010

Career books are always going to be my trigger in collection management. Social media leads for jobs isn’t outdated, per se, but this book is now over 10 years old and that already makes the information questionable. The platforms themselves have been changed several times since this was published.

“The pandemic is now becoming a mile marker for collection development. There will be items throughout the range of topics that will render many items obsolete. The large shifts in how the world works has dramatically changed the entire employment landscape from both the employer and employee perspective. “The pandemic is now becoming a mile marker for collection development. There will be items throughout the range of topics that will render many items obsolete. The large shifts in how the world works has dramatically changed the entire employment landscape from both the employer and employee perspective.

Best Way in the World for a Woman to make money

Women’s Work

August 3, 2020 Mary Kelly Working 9-5 21 comments

The Best Way in the World for a Woman to Make Money
King
1979

This is one of those relics from the 1970s giving women some career advice. This time it is for a sales career. The book’s general premise is that a sales career can give women a serious leg up financially, and that women do better than their male counterparts. He asserts that women are more talented and intelligent that then men competing for the same jobs. Basically, the author believes that women are an untapped and overlooked resource. Women are supposedly more sociable, nurturing, and better suited to a people oriented career.

There is advice about presenting a more masculine resume. Supposedly, if you have a hobby like woodworking, it shows that you can comfortably deal with a man’s world. Typical of career books for women, there is advice about office decorum, dress, business lunch, etc.

Some Day I’ll Be a Librarian

January 15, 2018 Holly Librarian's Choice 8 comments

Some Day I’ll Be a Librarian Splaver 1967 Submitter: This gem is still on-shelf at [University], where I attended library school. The writing is pretty good overall, but it was the text on page 16 that first had me howling

Your Future as a Dental Hygienist

April 5, 2016 Holly Working 9-5 17 comments

Your Future as a Dental Hygienist Paige 1969 Submitter: I found this golden oldie in the careers section of my local public library. I love the look of those old uniforms and Section 8 at the end of the book.

Dress Like a Pro

November 6, 2015 Holly Looking Good 18 comments

The Woman’s Dress for Success Book
Molloy
1977

Submitter #1: I am submitting a fun little book from the late 1970’s that advises women on how to dress for success in the workplace and the bedroom. By fun I actually mean horrifying. The author tries to acknowledge the sexist world women were grappling with at the time, but is definitely blinded by his own impulses in that direction. There’s some racist sections, too, so black women get a double whammy.

The attached photos include some of my very favorite sections, including the intro titled “Bedroom or Boardroom-Your Choice”, a wonderful illustration of a “Don’t” workplace outfit, a section explaining how black women lawyers should dress for optimum impact on white men and black men, and an intro to the section on attracting a nouveau riche man.

Submitter #2: This book is so over-the-top ridiculous I don’t even know where to start. I can’t believe it was on the NY Times best seller list and I can’t believe we only just weeded it this past year. Inside John T. Molloy assures us that all the information in the book was very scientifically compiled from interviewing employees at “Fortune 500 companies” which he does not deign to list. I would feel so much better if he just admitted that he made it all up in his head or from throwing a darts at women’s clothing catalogs.

Butcher, Baker, Cabinetmaker

July 2, 2015 Holly Working 9-5 14 comments

Butcher Baker, Cabinetmaker: Photogrpahs of Women at Work Saul and Heyman 1978 Submitter: See all the jobs a woman can have. Not only is it way out of date, but it’s way too young and embarrassing. Holly: The text does seem to

Get a Job!

June 25, 2015 Holly Working 9-5 18 comments

How to Get a Job If You’re a Teenager Pervola and Hobgood 1998 I really like the way this book is organized! It’s thorough with mostly good advice, and only 62 pages including the index. Great format for teens! As

Getting Fired in 1974

September 22, 2014 Mary Kelly Working 9-5 4 comments

Getting Fired
An American Ordeal
Tarrant
1974

Note the publication date. Yes, it was still on the shelf of a medium public library as of this writing. As many of you know, old career and job information just chaps my MLIS.

The author has a book sprinkled with personal accounts, some career advice and even marriage advice (cuz the little woman at home woman at home won’t understand). The best story from this chapter comes from a guy that hid the firing from his wife and banked his severance until he had another job. God forbid, if his wife found out and he was regulated to chores and childcare. Notice “tell your family” is not the first item on the list.