There are a lot of books out there that will tell you a lot of things about your career.  How to find one, how to fix one, how to improve the one you have, how to ditch one and retire early, etc.

Periodically, I’ll review some of these books here and share with you what I learned from the book and what you might find valuable in it.  That way, if you do manage to find time to read a book in between working and reading this blog, you’ll have a pretty good idea of what you’re going to get out of whichever book you choose.

Today’s book is Brazen Careerist: The New Rules For Success by Penelope Trunk.  Penelope is one of the foremost authorities on working in America and writes a syndicated column for the Boston Globe as well as a blog that is widely read and extremely successful.

Her book is a must-read for every single person graduating college and entering the workforce, if only for the first four chapters alone.  The beginning of the book is a tremendous resource for anyone new to the workforce.  Covering everything from trying to figure out what to do after graduation to how to handle a job search, the first four chapters will answer every question you’ve ever had about looking and interviewing for a job.

The title of the book should be kept in mind, however.  This is brazen advice, some of which may not be suitable to or applicable for everyone.  For example, chapter five is called “Corporate Life Is Too Risky – Start Your Own Business” and provides advice for starting a business.  Personally, this chapter did not resonate with me at all as I have no interest in entrepreneurship.  I am not, however, everyone in the world and if the idea of starting your own business appeals to you, then you will find this chapter particularly valuable.

Likewise, chapter nine discusses sexual harassment with the basic idea that it is inevitable and a fact of working life.  Penelope shares her personal experiences with sexual harassment, as well as how she chose to deal with it and use it to help progress her career.  Her advice, however, is not suitable for everyone.  Everyone has a different level of tolerance for harassment, and I’m not convinced everyone is, or should be, as thick-skinned as Penelope. As with any instructional book, read this book with an open mind and take away from it what works for you and leave what doesn’t.

The last half of the book was very helpful to me in terms of describing effective ways to network, interact with my boss, and view my work in relation to my life.  This book is a fast read, thanks in part to Penelope’s humorous anecdotes and straight-to-the-point style of writing. I highly recommend that anyone new to the workforce spend a weekend reading it.