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Welcome to the Real World
Book

Welcome to the Real World

Finding Your Place, Perfecting Your Work, and Turning Your Job into Your Dream Career

Lauren Berger
HarperBusiness, 2014
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Editorial Rating

8

Qualities

  • Applicable
  • Well Structured
  • Inspiring

Recommendation

When you start at your first entry-level job, you may be uncertain about how to do it well or how to handle the many new challenges you face. You are not alone. Lauren Berger, a millennial and accomplished spokesperson for her generation, offers sound, practical advice for your debut in the world of work. Her online audience of millennials – particularly young women – will love Berger’s book, which features a strong female slant. However, since she focuses on the special needs and wants of millennials and workplace novices, baby boomer readers may find that her advice and cultural references bypass them – unless their kids are millennials on the cusp of entering the workplace, in which case, they, too, should read on. Berger provides millennials with helpful ideas and tips on how to handle their work and personal lives and how to balance the two. getAbstract recommends her clear, practical, humorous manual especially to the people for whom she wrote it: millennials at the beginning of their careers.

Summary

Your First Job

Young people receive little or no preparation or guidance for the real world of work while they’re in the protective bubble of college. They don’t learn to manage their affairs, to prioritize, to handle work or, in general, to take care of themselves. Millennials should adopt these proven guidelines for success at work:

  • “Confidence is king” – With confidence, all things are possible. But don’t be cocky. To develop confidence, live your life to the fullest and experience all you can. As you discover how strong you really are, genuine confidence will follow.
  • “Get comfortable being uncomfortable” – To become a more competent, aware, profound and impressive person, push the envelope every day. One counselor explains, “When you are out of your comfort zone...you grow the most as a person.”
  • “Think big, follow through, execute” – When it comes to the projects you want to develop and implement, don’t limit yourself and don’t hesitate, even if other people warn that what you want to do is impossible. Execute your ambitious plans as professionally as possible and do the necessary follow-up on any project you begin.

About the Author

Lauren Berger is the CEO and founder of the InternQueen internship website. Her first book, All Work, No Pay, is a national campus bestseller.

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