Get Hired Now! by Ian Siegel Summary

Get Hired Now! by Ian Siegel is a step-by-step guide to accelerating job searches, offering data-driven strategies for resume writing, interview preparation, and salary negotiation. Drawing from insights as ZipRecruiter’s CEO, Siegel explains how employers hire and provides actionable tactics to stand out, from optimizing LinkedIn profiles to following up post-interview.

This book is ideal for job seekers at any career stage, including recent graduates, career changers, and professionals aiming for promotions. It’s particularly useful for those navigating competitive industries or seeking clarity on modern hiring practices, such as leveraging social media and acing virtual interviews.

Yes—readers praise its practical, no-fluff advice rooted in employer data. The Wall Street Journal bestseller provides frameworks for avoiding common job-hunting pitfalls, and multiple reviews highlight success stories of landing dream roles using Siegel’s methods.

Key strategies include:

• Resume optimization: Tailoring resumes with keywords from job descriptions.
• Proactive networking: Using LinkedIn to connect directly with hiring managers.
• Interview mastery: Preparing STAR (Situation-Task-Action-Result) stories for behavioral questions.
• Negotiation tactics: Researching salary benchmarks before discussing offers.

Siegel emphasizes creating an ATS (Applicant Tracking System)-friendly resume by mirroring language from job postings, quantifying achievements, and avoiding generic summaries. He advises splitting resumes into “Core Skills” and “Career Highlights” sections to quickly showcase relevance.

The book details how to:

• Research a company’s culture and recent news before interviews.
• Practice answering common questions using the “Challenge-Action-Result” framework.
• Send post-interview thank-you emails that reinforce qualifications.

Siegel recommends delaying salary discussions until after receiving an offer, using sites like Glassdoor to benchmark rates, and negotiating non-monetary benefits (e.g., remote work options) if pay flexibility is limited.

Unlike generic advice, Siegel leverages ZipRecruiter’s employer data to debunk myths—like the inefficiency of “spray-and-pray” resume submissions—and emphasizes speed, with strategies to shorten job hunts by 30–50%.

Some reviewers note the advice leans toward corporate roles over creative industries. Others mention that experienced professionals may find portions repetitive, though the data-driven insights still offer value.

With remote hiring and AI-driven applicant tracking systems now standard, Siegel’s focus on digital optimization (e.g., resume keywords, virtual interview prep) remains critical for cutting through modern recruitment noise.

A standout principle is “Your resume isn’t about you—it’s about the employer’s needs.” Siegel stresses reframing accomplishments to solve specific employer pain points, such as reducing turnover or boosting sales.

Yes—it includes tactics for transferring skills across industries, rewriting career narratives for pivot roles, and identifying “bridge opportunities” to gain relevant experience before applying.

As ZipRecruiter’s co-founder and CEO, Siegel has overseen 130+ million job matches. His expertise stems from analyzing hiring trends across 1M+ employers, giving the book unique credibility on what actually works in today’s market.