- Starting a New Job
- Working with Bosses
- Working with Others
- Networking
- Getting Things Done
- Managing Your Workload
- Getting Your Point Across
- Dealing with Enemies and Antibodies
- Making the Right Impression
- Getting Noticed
- Getting Ahead
- Moving On
The most reader-friendly aspects of the book are its structure and style. Rather than being written in an overly rigid or formal textbook manner, you can peruse the brief chapters and read up on what concerns or interests you most. Career management isn't an easy task, but finding solutions to roadblocks and challenges shouldn't be difficult either, and this Otazo conveys adroitly through the book's easily accessible style.
She also makes the book relevant to readers of all stripes, from entry-level newbies to experienced CEOs. All have something to glean from this guide to career management and should carry it with them as a reference when they find themselves in need of a resolution.
She covers a comprehensive array of topics, including how hitting the ground running isn't a good idea, recognizing who to trust in the workplace and when to speak up, lessons you can learn from a bully boss, critiquing with compassion, appreciating your support staff, knowing how to say no, and knowing when it's time to move on.
Of course, all of this is dependent on getting your foot in the door first, and this she examines thoroughly by explaining how to "look the part" to make those all-important good first impressions.
Much of the advice she offers is very practical, reassuring the reader that their instincts are frequently right and that they have the power to craft the kind of career they want. She also goes into the various causes behind workplace tension (you'll likely recall a few of these from your own experiences) and the best ways to combat professional ugliness. "Strong emotions of any kind, particularly negative ones, can provoke defensive behavior in others. … [A]nger should be neither expressed publicly (for the sake of the working atmosphere) nor discussed while it is fresh."
What's one thing Otazo says you should never tolerate in the workplace? Illegal dealings, especially the flagrant kind a la Enron and HealthSouth, she warns. When you find yourself in a situation where your actions could be construed as complicit in (or willfully ignorant of) corporate crime, it's time to leave — yesterday.
With over 25 years of experience with clients from various global industries, Otazo has the facts and experiences to back up her principles. If the only thing lacking in your career is guidance, this indispensable tome can serve as both reference and inspiration.
