In her book, Johnson tells young women not to wait for the "Career Fairy" to flutter down and make things happen. Work your butt off, she says, and make sure the boss knows you know how to do the job you want.
There is plenty of other smart talk, too. Control your temper. Embrace change, because you will stand out from the rest of the crowd, which is acting afraid and reticent. Listen, don't talk - sometimes it is good to be inscrutable. Shoot for perfection - spell-check everything, even your e-mails, and double-check everything. Dress the part. Lead before you are asked. Don't watch the clock.
And the one I liked best: Don't bake for the office. Even if you are a world-class pastry chef, you are not the office den mother.
The author also handles what might be the toughest assignment for young women in the workforce: how to be assertive without being considered a, well it rhymes with witch.
She talks about how to repair your reputation if it has been damaged. She gives tips on when and how to negotiate for a raise, and, when you hate your job, how to handle it.
We need to remember this about the daughters - actually, all the young people - we send out into the workforce: They were not born knowing how to be good employees. It is a learned behavior. They won't know what is expected of them unless we, whether parents or mentors, tell them.
This book is a good start.
It's just a shame that it is still the young women who need it more.
susan.reimer@baltsun.com
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