For Sister: The Guide for Professional Black Women [Paperback]

Paula McCann Harris (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 2003

This book is a must read for new college grads trying to become gainfully employed, professionals hitting the glass ceiling and looking for ways to break through or break out, or those looking for a career change. Anyone looking for ways to handle challenges in their current career will find answers in this manual. For Sister is a down to earth, real world, book, novel, workbook with real-time answers to hundreds of situations. The goal was to gather information from experienced, successful black women and provide the answers as if they were advising their own sisters. This experience and advice can assist those with 0 to 20 years professional career experience. This guide provides interactive worksheets and immediate solutions to assist you in finding the answers on such topics as:

• Interviewing and resume writing
• Negotiating and accepting the right job offer
• How to start a new position on the right foot
• Identifying and handling racism with a win/win outcome
• Recognizing and reporting sexual harassment
• Mapping your way to promotion
• Tracking and calculating your value to your company
• Finding the balance with work and life
• Multiple ways to combat work related stress
• Managing your money

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Paula McCann Harris

Paula is a graduate of Texas A&M University with a degree in Petroleum Engineering. In her 16 year career with Schlumberger Oilfield services Paula has held a variety of positions. She initially worked as a Field Engineer managing operations on offshore rigs throughout the Gulf of Mexico. Her next positions included Sales Engineer and North American Recruiting Manager. After being named Worldwide Training Manager, Paula had the opportunity to develop business opportunities and work throughout Europe, Africa, Russia, China, South America and Australia. Currently Paula manages the Schlumberger Excellence in Educational Development foundation.

Paula’s awards include Black Engineer’s "50 who make a Difference" and a 2001 recipient of the "Women of Color in Technology" award. She has been appointed to the Penn State Minority Engineering Programs board, Texas A&M Engineering Advisory board, Project Row House board member and "The Haven Youth Center" board president.

Product Details

• Paperback: 127 pages
• Publisher: MadisonHouse Publishing (September 2003)
• ISBN-10: 0971597804
• ISBN-13: 978-0971597808
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,527,039 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Resource for African American Women!, June 10, 2004

By 

Phyllis Rhodes (Orlando, FL USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: For Sister: The Guide for Professional Black Women (Paperback)

Paula Harris has created an insightful, helpful guide for Black women in her latest release entitled, "For Sister: The Guide for Professional Black Women." Harris, a self-motivated, driven woman with a successful career has chosen to address occupational challenges for women at the entry- to the experienced professional levels in her book. It contains shared experiences, suggestions, and solid advice gained from Harris, ten of her closest colleagues (The Talented 10), and survey results from over 250 women in areas of job interviewing, promotions/breaking the glass ceiling, networking, financial management, stress management, etc.

The lessons learned synopses at the end of each chapter are appropriate and essential bits of information for professional development at all stages, while her self-assessment tips are focused and aligned to help individuals reach their specific career goals. Even though some of her techniques and tips are common practice (creating a personal mission statement, career outline, etc.), she often accentuates those sections with down-to-earth wisdom and bare-bones facts - citing real world scenarios and outcomes, on-the-job incidents and personal testimonies to make her points clear and applicative.

Like Harris, I, too, am in a technical, male-dominated career field and could relate to her experiences and challenges within the engineering field. Additionally, I found Harris's philosophies and trials similar to my own and immediately appreciated what she was trying to accomplish by writing this book. I also found her guidance and recommendations on point and essential for any woman of color - particularly Black women - because she nailed key strategies and best practices that should be mastered early and sharpened throughout one's professional career regardless of the industry.

An added bonus is Harris opens the door to allow readers to network with members of The Talented 10 and herself. This little book is a keeper - one that can be referenced repeatedly over the years.

Reviewed by Phyllis
APOOO BookClub
Nubian Circle Book Club