2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Must-read for all women entering Corporate America!, June 21, 2009
I recommend this book for all women currently holding entry level or lower-middle management positions that have hopes of some day advancing the corporate ladder. This book is an excellent how-to success guide for women in Corporate America. All the tips are provided with clear explanations. If you have committed some of the errors the author lists in the past, instead of becoming defensive, try to understand her explanation; then it's up to you to decide whether or not you're willing to take the advice into consideration. Personally, I feel that author is absolutely right in everything she says. It's good to have someone else live the experiences (the wrong way), then advise you and prevent you from making a few of those mistakes yourself.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Solid content in a frivolous package, October 2, 2008
This review is from: skirt! Rules for the Workplace: An Irreverent Guide to Advancing Your Career (Paperback)
Skirt seems clearly targeted to younger women (although these days, fewer and fewer women wear skirts to work). A lot of the advice would apply to both men and women of any age.
A good part of the book is devoted to being feminine vs. being unprofessional (i.e., no crying). Many pages give advise on asking for a raise. The author has great tips for getting ahead (pp. 34-35). She offers good examples of women who made big mistakes (including herself) and includes some basic taboos (getting drunk at the office party and dating your boss).
Chapter 10 is superb. I would tell my client and ezine readers to buy the book just to get Chapter 10: great advice on leaving a job and moving on to the next. I especially like her advice about what she calls "quitting in place." I've been saying that for years.
Two negatives:
On page 59, Johnson encourages anyone with emotional issues (such as inappropriate crying) to see a therapist. So far so good. But in today's environment, a good executive coach might be an even better choice. Coaches focus on strengths, not pathology. They create action plans instead of delving into history.
Johnson says therapy doesn't have to be expensive. She's half right. You usually get what you pay for. A lower-cost therapist might not have the educational credentials or experience to deal with a smart executive on the rise.
On page 59 she urges the reader to get names of therapists from their EAP and use the company's insurance plan. On page 67 she gets it right: don't trust anyone including EAP. She reminds readers that bosses get monthly reports of who's using the service and "can easily get more." I wonder if the HR manager sees reports of who's using a therapist and even the diagnosis (therapists have to make a diagnosis to get insurance coverage).
My career clients who were employed told me their tax advisors allowed them to deduct coaching fees from their taxes. Much better than potential embarrassment, in my opinion. And if you're very senior in a company, you should be very careful about "seeing someone." If your coach has a PhD in clinical psych, you may get the best of both worlds: it's executive coaching and you're discussing heavy stuff.
Second, the book's graphic theme is just too cutesy for its own good. There's just too much pink all over the place. A savvy senior exec might dismiss the book as too juvenile or simplistic, and that would be a shame. The author dishes it out like a quarterback lobbing passes and she rarely misses her target.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Straightforward and Straight to the Corner Office!, April 28, 2008
This review is from: skirt! Rules for the Workplace: An Irreverent Guide to Advancing Your Career (Paperback)
Thank you, Kelly, for writing such a fun and anecdotal guide to getting the job you truly want! You know exactly what it takes and you tell the reader exactly how to get from Point A to Point B in the quickest way possible. I loved all of your personal stories and the checklists in the back of the book were extremely helpful. I recommend this book to anyone who wants a change of pace--and a better view--in their current workplaces. (PS: I was promoted after reading the advice in this book. It really works!)
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