Comments on: Review: Brazen Careerist

By: Alicia

Alicia — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 18:03:35 +0000

As a 37-year old who has had one ‘adult’ job in her life (for the past twelve years), clearly I am not the target market for “The Brazen Careerist.” I haven’t read the book yet (hope to win it!), but Penelope’s blog has steadily moved up my daily blog priority list because what she says so consistently speaks to me. I wish I had had it sixteen years ago when I enrolled in graduate school just to ‘delay the inevitable’ reality of finding a job that suited my talents. I naively believed the same skills that made me successful in school would lead to success in a career, and that could not have been more wrong. Though I do disagree with a few of her points, Penelope’s blog and book should be required reading for every worker.

By: Nicholas the copywriter

Nicholas the copywriter — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 09:00:36 +0000

Hello all

I agree with most of this book. I have been in career development for 2 years and our company helped hundreds of young people to find their career. The first chapter on job hopping I agree with completely, one is VERY lucky if you bounce into what you like. I hopped around a few times, but found my “calling” after about 5 hops.

I do not agree with the suggestion of building your own business when you are still very young. In our vast experience we found that a career managed like a business is much more rewarding! And it comes with waaaay less stress.

Building a business requires a very solid foundation. If you are a third generation successful business owner family, then by all means, build your business. Such young people will have a solid base and usually enough money in the family to afford failing and learning a few times.

The books look good, and I will buy it just for the insights, but like all such career books, it tells you about the problem and not very much on the actual implementation of solutions. I am dying to see the day someone writes a book on careers that consists only of real life examples.

Thanks for a great review and you taught me quite a bit on writing a reviews!

Nicholas

By: Vincent Ma

Vincent Ma — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 04:15:17 +0000

After reading you review about Brazen Careerist, I plan on purchasing the book (or hopefully winning it), because I own just able every other book on your list.

I think your review is right on. Gen X and Gen Y is truly different than our parent’s generation and we value job satisfaction is a very different way. My parents wanted me to a good college, get a job at a large company, stay with them until retirement and collect my pension. I did what any good son would have done and I went to a top 25 University and joined a Fortune 500 company right out of school. It took me two years to realize that my parent’s advice is just not applicable.

Jumping around from job to job not something that my parents would condone and I tried my best to stay with my first employer, but it was making me miserable. Had Penelope’s book been out earlier, I would have read it and left my job immediately.

One thing that I have a different opinion is on is starting your own business. I think that is great, but I have tried to start my own business several times and not been successful. The reason that I started to read you blog is because I am in the hole with the failures of those businesses. I do view these experiences as a learning experience and the cost could be equated as tuition for graduate school. Instead of starting a business, I would suggest that we strive for multiple streams of income. For example, I have my day job as a medical device representative, I consultant on the side for medical device companies looking to source products from China and I have my blog which is geared toward medical device representatives.

But all in all, I think this will be a great read. Thanks for all that you do in helping all of us save money.

All the best,
Vince

By: Cherise

Cherise — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 20:51:39 +0000

I have not read the book yet, but from reading your review I have found a new respect and pride for my generation. I’m 27 (right smack dab in the middle of all this) and I’m proud to say that my generation cares more about their fulfillment and are willing to “flail” to achieve the goals right for us. I see a shift in priority where others see a lack of priority. My father’s generation cared about providing; putting themselves aside until retirement or at least once the nest was empty. He didn’t feel free to reach for his ACTUAL dream until the age of 50 due to his family obligations. My generation has chosen to care about both and have the audacity to hope that it will work out. We have dreams that our career will fill our souls AND our wallets. Is that so bad? I think not.

GO US is what I say!!

Thanks for listening.

By: Naomi

Naomi — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 11:36:50 +0000

Great review and totally agree with MVP on hardworking talented people becoming Managers. I have just left a position of GM for that very reason. Moved up the company ladder far too quicky with no mentoring or training. Great manager to everybody else but totally burnt out myself.
After reading this review I would advise anybody wanting to climb the corporate ladder to buy this book.

By: Rebecca

Rebecca — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 23:15:04 +0000

Thanks for this review. I usually don’t pay much attention to career advice books, because I’m in the sciences, and we run by our own rules. I mean, really, in my discipline I go to undergrad, then spend another 6 years in grad school before I’m even actually looking for a “real” job, and even then it’s a postdoctoral position with a limited 2-3 year lifespan. THEN I look for a more permanent position either in a tenure-track academic job (where I can still loose that job if I don’t make tenure in a few years) or in industry, where…let’s face it…you don’t exactly stay at the same company for very long. And scientists…well…we’re out own brand of special a lot of times. More informal than a lot of other disciplines when it comes to interviewing, and with our own CV format to use and our own laundry list of publications and qualifications right up front to show an employer.

I often don’t pay much attention to generalized career stuff because it always seems to be aiming towards the administrative corporate type of jobs. But this review actually made me want to read this book, just because it seems like it’s not just about getting a job and how to work the corporate ladder, but about how to deal with people and how to manage your LIFE around your job. There also did seem to be several sections that WOULD be good for me to read, as a scientist. For instance, how to be a good manager. The SAME thing happens in science, where you do a lot of good research, and your reward is to get your own lab or team…and suddenly you’re not a researcher anymore, but rather an administrator and manager and grant writer. I’m interested also in this author’s ideas on how to deal with things like sexual harassment. It’s a very practical suggestion to not make a fuss or report it to HR, but at the same time, it’s not a very moral one. After all, that will probably lead to that person just turning around and doing it to someone else, either thinking that they can get away with it or not even realizing that they did anything wrong. But then, life is never full of easy decisions.

I’m going to have to look this book up. Thanks.

By: BrianB

BrianB — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 21:39:39 +0000

I haven’t read the book, but from reading her blog archives (which I’m presuming to be of similar style), I’d be a little more cautious with the praise. I should fall right into the set of folks she’s talking to (26 year old nerd), but my career to date doesn’t match – I’ve been employed at the same company now for 3 1/2 years. There’s extenuating circumstances, but I dare you to find a person that doesn’t have those~ For me at least, the assumption that everyone in my generation goes through jobs like toilet paper just doesn’t stick, which cheapens much of the advice.

That said, some of her writing has hit home with me in a very real way, which is why the book interests me. In particular, one of her articles on office politics has done more for my inter-personal skills at work than anything else has (http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/01/25/office-politics-is-about-being-nice/). All I really needed to hear was “be nice”, and that clicked. “Politics” is a dirty word, but “be nice” isn’t.

By: ejp in sd

ejp in sd — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 21:14:11 +0000

Wow, this sounds like an interesting read – I’ll definitely check it out. I’m almost 30, and have been at my current job (which thankfully, I actually LIKE… 95% of the time, at least) for almost five years. Right now, I’m being primed to take over my boss’ job when he eventually retires – most likely, within the next 2-3 years. That idea, to be honest, scares the total crap out of me – I’m not old enough to be someone’s boss… am I?! With that in mind, I’m especially intrigued by the “First-time Managers Do Not Need to Suck” title of chapter 6. :)

By: MVP

MVP — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 17:39:37 +0000

Thanks for reviewing this; sounds like it covers a lot of ground in a fresh way. Gotta say, I like that it’s written by a woman. We DO have a few different issues to deal with, no matter what any of you guys think. Another good one I just finished: “How to Work for an Idiot: Survive & Thrive-Without Killing Your Boss” by John Hoover. Gives solid suggestions for how to get ahead when you think your boss is what’s holding you back from reaching your potential. It also made me realize that many companies reward hard-working, talented employees by making them managers. Those hard-working, talented folks aren’t necessarily good leaders or managers, and the companies rarely train them to be qualified leaders. So, now I know if I’m ever offered a position of leadership, taking the position may mean saying goodbye to my passion.

By: shawna

shawna — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 17:15:17 +0000

Wow, great review. I eagerly looked it up on my local library’s site only to discover that all 9 copies are checked out :)

By: Adam

Adam — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 19:32:49 +0000

Trent – THANK YOU for doing this review. I am 30 years old and in the middle of my own “Quarter Life Crisis”. I will be purchasing this book tonight. I am very relieved to know I’m not alone and that this is somewhat “normal” for twenty- and thirtysomethings living in the twenty-first century. I very much enjoy reading your blog each morning and wish you well.

By: rhbee

rhbee — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 14:47:21 +0000

I agree, great and enthusiastic review. I actually am amazed every time I read one of yours because they are done in such depth. On the other hand, I’ve not had much success recommending books to people. It seems like the more I like one the more likely they are to let it sit. So I’ve kind of given that up. Still your review reads so well that I’m going to take a chance a buy one for my son. He’s 22 and just starting out of college.

By: Trent

Trent — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 13:19:16 +0000

When I went to college, I wanted to be a writer. I wound up exploring other options in college. It’s somewhat amusing to me that I’ve wound up back with writing via The Simple Dollar.

By: 60 in 3

60 in 3 — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 04:53:46 +0000

Hey Trent, great review. I’ve added this book to my Amazon list.

You’re a computer engineer, right? Did you know this is what you wanted to do with your life even before you went to college?

Gal