Lauren Berger’s book, Welcome to the Real World, provides tips to help workplace novices figure out everything they’ll need to know to succeed at their first jobs. Lauren, also known as the “Intern Queen,” was gracious enough to share some thoughts about her book and some advice she’d offer anyone getting ready to go to work for the first time.
Q: In the book you talk about your personal rules for success, what do you think is hands-down the number one reason why you’ve been successful?
A: Over the years, I’ve become quite fearless. I’ll pick up the phone and call anyone in the world and introduce myself and tell them why I do what I do. It’s a combination of being fearless and always remembering to follow up. I also try not to take “no” for an answer. I try to find the positive in every negative situation and eventually turn the “no” into a “yes.”
Q: The book covers lots of tips related to organization and time management at work, why did you include so much information on this subject?
A: When I graduated college and started my very first job – I lacked time management skills, organizational skills and I wasn’t very detail oriented. Even though I completed several internships in college, I was never taught how to handle a heavy workload. I could have used the advice from my book at that time.
Q: The “Relationships and Schmoozing” chapter is one of the longest in the book, what is your favorite piece of networking advice for young people?
A: I use an analogy in the “Relationships and Schmoozing” chapter – Ralph Called Taylor A Flirt – it stands for Recognize, Connect, Track, Add Value and Follow-Up. Those are my networking tips for how to successfully stay in touch with professional contacts. It was a random analogy that I came up with – but it works really well.
Q: You are an entrepreneur and run your own business. Why do you think it is important for others to channel their inner entrepreneur?
A: People think that in order to be entrepreneurial, you must quit your job and start your own business. It’s important to point out to current employees that they should seek out roles in which they can embrace entrepreneurship. They should look for opportunities where they can be entrepreneurial within their current jobs. I share some great examples of people who do this in the book.
Q: The last part of the book is about handling your personal life during your first job experience. How did you handle that?
A: I really didn’t handle my personal life during my first job. I was pretty disgusting. I wish someone would have stressed the importance of having a plan for personal things like going to the bank, the grocery store, the car repair shop – and even going to the gym! I was a mess. It’s important that my readers really take in the information I share in chapters 9 and 10 of the book. Again, I wish I had that information when I graded and held my first job.
Q: Why do you think people need to read this book? Why is it different from other books on the subject?
A: Writing this book allowed me to really open up about my experiences at my first job after college. Many of those experiences were quite disastrous – even though I learned a great deal from them. One of the biggest differences between my book and the thousands of other career books on the shelf is that I was there. And I wasn’t perfect.
I fully believe that Welcome to the Real World is going to add so much value to the lives of young people entering that first, second, or third job. I packed the book with tips and pointers on how to succeed. I can’t wait for everyone to dive in!
Check out Welcome to the Real World – it’s available now!