Have you ever wondered how two individuals with similar backgrounds can achieve such different levels of career success? In his new book, Manage Your New Career, John Arthur aims to answer that question. With 25 years in various industries, Arthur has plenty of experience to offer entry level employees. His book is the result of the mentoring and coaching he offered to new employees while working in leadership roles. Manage Your New Career is a concise, practical guide to achieving success, with anecdotes and stories drawn from Arthur’s career.
Strategic Career Management
The first piece of advice Arthur offers is to think like an owner. Understand the organization’s goals, why customers work with you, and learn to prioritize your time and make decisions with an ownership mindset. Another important characteristic of successful individuals is the ability to work on a team. Both soft skills, such as emotional intelligence, and hard skills will help you be a valuable team member. Other chapters within this section include Create Work-Life Balance, Be Assertive Without Being Self-Centered and When to Jump Ship.
Navigating the Workplace
In the next section, Arthur focuses on navigating the workplace and organization. One important piece of advice is to work for people you respect and admire. Find people that elevate your career rather than those that bring you down. It’s also important to identify a coach or mentor to help you, preferably an organic relationship (as opposed to a formal mentoring program). Arthur also points out that you are representing your employer even when off the clock. Other key pieces of advice from this section: give yourself credit (but not too much), use past experience but keep an open mind, stay organized, budget your time, observe company culture and view feedback as a gift.
Tactical Job Advice
In the final section of the book, Arthur offers practical advice for dealing with problems and for advancing your career. He discusses how to handle administrative tasks, take advantage of company perks without abusing them and managing your social media. Other chapters cover communication skills and dealing with a bad boss.
In conclusion, Manage Your New Career is a must-read for any entry-level employee. My favorite part of the book is Arthur’s takeaways and a question at the end of each chapter. The book is a quick read, with short chapters and no unnecessary fluff. It offers practical advice that’s easy to remember and implement.