In this post: Incentives to read the book you didn't know you needed to read before your first career. Learn common work mistakes, become the stand-out employee, and define your personal brand all in one read.
Category: Job Prep
Ramiah Recommended?
Yes! A thousand times, yes. I was actually able to meet Lauren Berger at USC as part of an extracurricular business group for women that I helped lead. When I learned about her professional experience (16 internships!) I was impressed. That impression was not dampened as Berger shared the lessons learned from her first jobs out of college to other recent graduates. If there were only two books I could recommend to college graduates -- especially women -- it would be The Girl's Guide (click here for my book review) and this book. Yes, it's practical knowledge is even better than Lean In for Graduates (you can read my review for that book here).
If you're anything like me, you like to be informed before starting or doing something new, and this book seriously put me in the mindset to hit my first week at my new job out of the park. In other words, Berger walks through EVERYTHING I was hoping to know before I began my first job.
How do you avoid common mistakes (i.e. browsing the web while on the job, doing something personal on your work computer, gossiping in the office)? How do you stand out AFTER landing the job (for example, showing others you care about your professional development, be the person that others want to work with, practice things that will fast-track your promotion)? And how do you pave your own way in a position, no matter its level of structure (as pointers, developing your personal brand, networking with others, and taking initiative on things you truly enjoy)? This book answers those questions and more.
Although Berger held 16 internships while she was in college (which I feel would make her a pro in all things career), she admits to making a lot of errors in her first job out of college. As I prepared for my first job out of college last week, a lot was on my mind. As most people level up to being a senior, they have made successes and may see themselves at the top of their respective interests. For me, I was a prominent leader on campus, and I was very uneasy about being at the bottom of the totem pole again, and even worse, making a bad impression while there.
Making the right impression, implementing all the tips and tricks to success my career center and various networking events has instilled in me, and organizing myself in a way that would help me meet my goals and be ultra-productive were all worries that filled my brain around the clock. I don't think anyone would want to make wrong moves that would send their path to future success backward.
This book caringly tells it how it is -- everyone will make mistakes in their career. All one can do is try to prepare themselves against it, not be so hard on themselves, and redirect energy into preventing the mistake from happening again. I carried that sense of relief as I continued reading each page - it felt as if every word was what I needed to know and didn't even know it!
Berger is fair, professional, and gives real advice. She is honest yet considerate of the fears and anxieties new grads will have during this new period of our lives. As an example, when talking about the importance of establishing one's brand:
If I'm talking about it, I need to make it happen. It's important that my personal brand be one that people can count on no matter what. - Lauren Berger (pg 68)
Described by reviewers as the big sister they wish they had at their first job, Berger gives advice in a way that many will listen, and for me, needed to listen.
All this being said, there were some things to be wary about within Berger's lessons. If you are prone to not having a work-life balance or tend to have workaholic tendencies, this book will subtlety encourage it... while discouraging it at the same time. If that sounds confusing, it's because it is. For example, on page 57, Berger shares tales when she would come into the office on the weekend to clean up her desk. On that page, she also says to avoid checking email at night unless you have to. Those two behaviors will lead to one's work-life easily blending into their personal, which can accelerate burnout.
Later, on page 93, she encourages the old-age career advice of coming into work before your supervisor and not leaving before they leave. Depending on your career, you will be extending your workdays to even 12 and 14 hours, putting your health on the backburner.
Other cons - there are a lot of shameless plugs about Intern Queen and her starting her own business. It becomes repetitive and can irk some readers. Also, her advice on the length of emails was contradictory - on page 40, Berger says to keep emails as short as possible, but on page 57 she says to include as much information as possible in one email (think ahead and include questions they might want to know into the email you're writing).
Even with this self-sacrificing and somewhat contradictory guidance, the underlying message to allow yourself to be your best self (by having your workplace in order) and putting forth a positive impression (through doing more than what is required of you) is echoed throughout the book and will change anyone's mindset toward success. I learned so many key lessons included in one book that it still blows my mind. I'm only in my second week in this new position, but I know I will be continuing to reference this book throughout this position, and maybe whenever I start a new position at a new company. It is everything I was looking for to help me prepare for success out of college. Everyone starting their first job soon should read this book now!
Ramiah Reflects
My New Favorite Life Quotes:
"Having confidence allows me to get through anything" - Lauren Berger
"It's the time when you are out of your comfort zone that you grow the most as a person" - anon
"You can create, develop, and build anything you want" - Lauren Berger
"Without rejection, life would be too easy" - Lauren Berger
"Rejection doesn't mean never, it just means not right now" - Lauren Berger
"It's my job to make sure rejection doesn't get the best of me. Let your rejection propel you forward onto the next thing" - Lauren Berger
"You have to learn to separate your work life form your personal life. At work, rejection isn't personal" - Lauren Berger
"Work is part of life, but work isn't life" - Lauren Berger
"Have the 'everyone knows everyone' mentality" - Lauren Berger
"You are Your Name, Inc." - Lauren Berger
Questions to ask yourself (and answer!):
How would you describe your personal brand?
What are my potential niches in the company?
What projects can I run point on?
Which projects can I make my own?
What steps can I take to speak to my supervisor about the process?
What are the hours I want to work/ when is my wrap-up time?
How frequently will I put money into savings?
How much money do I want in my checking account before it's time to transfer some to savings?
Food for Thought:
Make a list of the top 5-10 most common tasks you're asked to do in the office. What's the system? If there isn't one, make one. (chapter 2)
Ask your manager if you can experiment with a different system after using the current one for a short time. Offer to share the system you make with the team.
Put any new contacts you meet (like business cards) as contacts in email (chapter 3)
Set up time to do evaluations with your boss (every six months, as an example). Evaluate yourself at January and compare your self-evaluation to the December you (chapter 4)
Setup Google Alerts for yourself, your company, and those whom you network with. (chapter 4)
Ramiah's Re-Read When
Re-Read When:
Starting your first post-grad job or a new job early in career
You are trying to be a self-starter, take initiative, or be an 'entrepreneur' in your role
You are trying to personally brand yourself
You make a mistake at work
You are networking with others
You find yourself always bully
You are managing your money
You are trying to balance your personal life with your working life
See below for my book notes.
Check out my other posts and book notes here.
Until next time!
Montana Houston
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