Grad to Great: Discover the Secrets to Success in Your First Career (Paperback)

~ Anne Brown (Author), Beth Zefo (Author)
Key Phrases: credit hog, difficult people, bully boss, Power Monger, Action Steps, Ten Mistakes (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

Grad to Great is a MUST READ handbook for every young executive in-waiting. Its practical and common sense approach to managing one's career is beautifully simple, and 100% accurate. --Rob Engelman: Co-author of That Was Zen, This Is Wow: 232 Ideas for Transforming Your Life From Ordinary to Extraordinary

Product Description

Whether you are searching for your first job, or already working, Grad to Great will help you gain career momentum FAST! Grad to Great is a no-nonsense, no fluff guide to career success for recent graduates. The authors tell-it-like-it-is approach to surviving and thriving in the real world makes this an indispensable handbook for anyone embarking on their first career. Readers benefit from real on-the-job scenarios, interviews with executives, and insightful tactics that can be put into practice immediately.

Product Details

• Paperback: 173 pages
• Publisher: Dalidaze Press (November 2, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 097980180X
• ISBN-13: 978-0979801808
• Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #888,607 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This HR Manager LOVES this Book!, April 7, 2008

By	Steven W. Nichols (Memphis, TN USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Grads... Please read this book!

I was recently recruiting MBA's at a major university looking for sales people. Throughout the entire day only two students could answer the following question:

"What kind of work are you looking for?"

The answers I received varied from "I don't know" to "Something in marketing I think." Oh how I wish those students had read this book "Grad to Great". The authors take you through a logical process of how to identify what kind of job you want and then how to put your best foot forward for any company you interview with (including how to answer the "What Kind of work..." question above).

As an HR manager I can tell you the chapter on how to answer interview questions is worth the price of the entire book. But on top of that you get guidance on career paths, office etiquette, dealing with difficult bosses and even 12 sure fire career success tips.

The book is long enough to cover the bases but not so long that it is full of fluff and filler nonsense. I loved this book and look forward to many more from the authors.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great book for graduates and recruiters, February 13, 2008

By	Robert Selden "Bob Selden, Author - What To D... (Sydney, Australia) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

In Grad to Great, authors Anne Brown and Beth Zefo set out to help graduates find and realise the career they want. Grad to Great starts where it should - about finding out what you love doing and then finding someone who will pay you a salary to do it. This topic's been covered before by other books. The difference with this book, is that the authors involve the reader by providing lots of self tests and vignettes to illustrate. I must admit to being sucked in by the case study of Alyssa who flunked her first job interview - the authors asked "How can Alyssa redeem herself and land a second interview?" I had to wait till the end of the chapter to see if my ideas gelled with theirs.

Grad to Great covers just about everything a new graduate would want to know about getting and keeping, a job. For example, as well as some excellent tips on the questions to ask in a job interview, it covers topics such as "Mistakes to avoid at work", "Getting people to listen to you" and "Working with difficult people". A new twist for a book of this type is the final chapter on "Time to move on".

There was one particular topic that both employers and new graduate employees find difficult - how to identify the skills a new graduate can bring to the workplace, since they have no previous work experience. This is expertly covered by the authors in a section they call "transferable skills". It will not only be useful to new graduates, but could also be of use to experienced recruiters looking for new hires.

When it comes to careers, it's obvious that Brown and Zefo know what they are talking about. They are both experienced professionals in their respective fields. They easily and freely share their own career experiences and show how readers can learn from these. I was impressed with their honesty in describing some of the mistakes they personally made - this adds a great deal of credibility to the book.

If graduates were to follow even a small amount of advice delivered in Grad to Great, I'm sure they would be successful in their chosen field. Highly recommended for new graduates, career counselors and there's even something for experienced managers to learn from Grad to Great.

Bob Selden, author What To Do When You Become The Boss: How new managers become successful managers

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Perfect Book at the Perfect Time, June 10, 2009

By	Eric Wentworth "Eric Charles Wentworth" (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Grad to Great: Discover the secrets to success in your first career, is the perfect book at the perfect time. This valuable book not only helps recent grads successfully adjust to the real working world, it helps them get a job too. It's too bad every recent grad isn't automatically given this book upon graduation.

This is a short book---just 170 pages long---but there isn't a wasted word or piece of fluff in it. The 12 Secrets to Success are worth the price of the book alone. And succinct chapter summaries make it possible to glean the gems of the book if you haven't got time to read every word.

But my advice is read it, highlight it, re-read it and incorporate its teachings into your job search---and life.

Parents, relatives and friends of recent grads---this could be the best gift they'll get.