Bait & Switch

Having read Barbara Ehrenreich's earlier book on trying to get by in America by working service jobs, I was eager to see what else she had to offer. Bait & Switch: The (Futile) Pursuit of the American Dream turned out to be a disappointment. In this book, Ehrenreich goes "undercover" and attempts to get a job in "corporate" America. The story she tells of employment coaching, job fairs, networking socials, and resume webposting is somewhat engaging. But she never seems to really be serious about getting a job for which she is not entirely qualified to do. As a result, the portrayal of her failed job search seems somewhat expected. She highlights the dejection of rejection, the deception of efforts put into dead-end seminars and coaching experiences. She conclude the book with what seems like typical talking points of how corporations neglect the humanity of employees.