The Big Sister's Guide to the World of Work (Hardcover) by Marcelle Langan Difalco; Jocelyn Greenke (2006-05-03)

MBA from top school, and still stuck at a junior level. What's up??? I read this book and realized, "that's me! PMS syndrome - Political Misery Syndrome!" - they never teach you this stuff in school and people just figure it out (or don't and suffer). Don't be like me and learn too late. Get this one book and read it cover to cover and be eyes wide open to the world of corporate politics! i've read several other books like this but this one is a good "summary" of many other books but much more funny!

I expected a lot out of this book, but it delivered even more. I've been working in the corporate world for 16 years, and I can vouch for the fact that these women know exactly what they're talking about. And now I can see it all as clear as day, too. Oh, how I wish this book was out when I graduated college!! I just devoured this book in 2 sittings, actually laughing out loud on a handful of occasions (J & M are HYS-TER-I-CAL). Every chapter was relevant, nothing extraneous, and their advice was oh-so spot on. Their writing styles? A joy. Imagine if your sister were a senior executive giving you the unvarnished truth from an insider's perspective, pointing out the pitfalls before you found them yourself. That's the value of this book. Armed with the knowledge I now have, there's no doubt in my mind that there will be change in how I approach my career...

Big Sister's Guide targets young women -- twenty-somethings for the most part -- with its breezy, edgy style. It's bright and breathless, the way Sex and the City would play if the stellar quartet decided to go mentoring. Ignore the style. This is good stuff. I'd encourage midlife, midcareer workers -- male as well as female -- to sneak this book home in plain brown wrapper. Big Sister's Guide helps readers decode messages of the workplace. One of the best chapters deals with job interviews. When your interviewer caps her pen, time to stop. When he drums his fingers -- you're definitely talking too much. And assume the interviewer will be unprepared, so bring extra copies of your resume. The Big Sisters give us tips on topics nobody wants to acknowlege. For instance, what if you've got a Bad Reputation? You're interviewing and someone asks, "Weren't you the one who--" And you get some nifty comebacks to defuse the situation. In my opinion, the best part comes in Chapter 8: Who can you trust? Nobody, the authors say. End of chapter. And they are SO right! As a career consultant, I find my mid-career professional clients tend to err on the side of being open -- wide open! -- and continue to be surprised by the fallout. I encourage everyone to maintain the maximum privacy levels possible without getting a Major Reputation as a Serious Hermit. Finally, I like their 3-step planning guide. Whenever you're embarking on a new project, such as a new career, ask yourself, "What 3 steps can I take now that will lead me in the right direction?" And if you don't know those steps -- then ("duh," say the authors) your first step is to figure out what they are. So what's missing? The biggest omission relates to asking for help. Parents, college friends and coworkers rarely offer clear, objective advice. Twenty-somethings who seek out a career coach or consultant, and who pay the going rate, are rare -- but they're usually moving up fast. They do advise getting professional help with a resume, but not how to choose the best resource. Next edition might include a section on how to choose and how to hire help. (Free help? Typically worth what you paid.) Otherwise, I recommend giving this book to anyone who's been in the workforce ten years or less...and buying it for yourself at any age! (A forty-something would be insulted to receive Big Sister as a gift -- but he'd learn a lot.)

What a wake up call! I love this book and I love the authors for sharing their big sister wisdom. I graduated from college 6 years ago and when I started working I felt like I had no idea what I was doing. They burst my bubble by saying that back then they didn't know what they were doing either. Now I'm in a management position and have lots of concerns about being a young leader. I picked up this book last week because it seemed like a good guide on what I can do to make my work experience as pleasant and sane as possible. According to them, you can be a little insane and still successful. J & M are awesome! Every young working woman needs this book!

This one finally gets it. It speaks in a language we can actually relate to and is applicable to real life career scenarios. It is hilarious, edgy, insightful and REAL. You feel like your best friend (or big sister)is giving you the insider information you need to be successful. I wish I would have had this twenty years ago!