Rebound by Martha Finney is one of the best career books I’ve read in a long time. The author focuses on a single topic: getting laid off when you’re in mid-career.
While some reviewers claim Rebound offers nothing new, I would say Rebound puts the information together in a compelling style that’s easy to follow. Following the current trend in book publishing, she presents short, tightly organized chapters that answer very specific questions. What should you do when you anticipate being laid off? How do you handle the emotion? How do you deal with former colleagues?
Finney’s advice is sound. Her chapter on networking is especially good. Most of my own career clients think “network” is a 7-letter word like some others I can’t use in a review. They think of glad-handing and fake cheer. Finney’s examples relate to my own clients: finding a new job from the source you least expected to deliver.
As another reviewer noted, Finney assumes that readers will want to get back on the horse (or treadmill, depending on your view). They will seek a new corporate job. I would never encourage anyone to stop searching. I sometimes recommend getting a temporary job just to pay the bills. But for some, self-employment can make more sense than pounding on pavements.
Another gap is the lack of reference to hiring help. While I agree with all Finney’s suggestions to cut back financially, many people need an objective outsider to assess their situation. Most career consultants charge $150 – $250 or more for a single hour (sometimes including follow-up and reading documents). But if a few hours can move your search faster by even a week or two, it’s money well-spent. The key is to know how to choose your coach or consultant. A few tips wouuld have been helpful.
Definitely recommended.