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The Secret Language of Work: Hyper-Helpful Scripts for Every Situation
From the creator of AdviceWithErin, the definitive book on how to use the right words at work—so you can build the career you deserve
We’ve all been you’re sweating, sitting in front of your laptop, and the interviewer on the screen says, “Tell me about yourself.” You freeze. Is that even a question? What are they expecting from you? What do you say?
If that paragraph made your heart beat a little faster, TikTok star, career educator, and “the internet’s big sister” Erin McGoff is here to help. In The Secret Language of Work, McGoff shares her best, customizable scripts for how to communicate in the professional world—word-for-word, exactly what to say during interviews, while negotiating salaries, when you need to set boundaries with co-workers, as you advocate for yourself, and in any sticky situation at the office. With McGoff’s advice, you will master the unwritten rules of work speak that are key to career advancement.
Learning how to say the right words, in the right order, in the right way, at the right time, is an art that too few people are taught. Stellar communication is probably the most valuable skill you can possess—and once you know the secret language of work, you will be able to confidently tackle anything your sure-to-be outstanding career presents to you.
We’ve all been you’re sweating, sitting in front of your laptop, and the interviewer on the screen says, “Tell me about yourself.” You freeze. Is that even a question? What are they expecting from you? What do you say?
If that paragraph made your heart beat a little faster, TikTok star, career educator, and “the internet’s big sister” Erin McGoff is here to help. In The Secret Language of Work, McGoff shares her best, customizable scripts for how to communicate in the professional world—word-for-word, exactly what to say during interviews, while negotiating salaries, when you need to set boundaries with co-workers, as you advocate for yourself, and in any sticky situation at the office. With McGoff’s advice, you will master the unwritten rules of work speak that are key to career advancement.
Learning how to say the right words, in the right order, in the right way, at the right time, is an art that too few people are taught. Stellar communication is probably the most valuable skill you can possess—and once you know the secret language of work, you will be able to confidently tackle anything your sure-to-be outstanding career presents to you.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published March 10, 2026
8 people are currently reading
774 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
We invest heavily in technical skills.We rarely teach the invisible rules that determine who advances.
I have followed Erin and her content for years and was so excited to get a copy of her book prior to publication! And if you're a fan of her content, you will LOVE the book. Her advice on self-advocacy, resumes, interviewing, confident communication, and more is practical and easy to apply to almost any situation. This book's specialty is breaking down the unspoken corporate rules, especially for early-career professionals or those without support systems to guide the way.
In short, so much of our success at work comes down to communication and this book walks through all common communication scenarios and potential pitfalls to prepare you to succeed or improve your current skills.
If you’re early in your career, mentoring someone who is, feeling stuck at work, or just a seasoned professional looking to sharpen your communication, this one is worth checking out!
I have followed Erin and her content for years and was so excited to get a copy of her book prior to publication! And if you're a fan of her content, you will LOVE the book. Her advice on self-advocacy, resumes, interviewing, confident communication, and more is practical and easy to apply to almost any situation. This book's specialty is breaking down the unspoken corporate rules, especially for early-career professionals or those without support systems to guide the way.
In short, so much of our success at work comes down to communication and this book walks through all common communication scenarios and potential pitfalls to prepare you to succeed or improve your current skills.
If you’re early in your career, mentoring someone who is, feeling stuck at work, or just a seasoned professional looking to sharpen your communication, this one is worth checking out!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
If you are looking for a book to help you in the professional work space, this is the book you need to be reading!
Erin McGoff (aka AdviceWithErin) offers a ton straightforward advice on various topics and subjects that help the audience gain useful knowledge that can be implemented in their professional lives from being a better written communicator & verbal communicator, navigating the job hunt, what to do in that special 90 day window when starting a new job, etc. If you think of something to cover, she covers it in the book guaranteed.
My favorite section was the chapter all about networking. I am a person that definitely thrives better networking online, and luckily a lot of networking is done online anymore. However, I will add that she also gives tips on how to network in person, which are definitely tools that I will try to put to use as much as I can. I also appreciate in this chapter, she covers everything that encompasses networking and how to navigate it to make it less awkward, difficult, and stressful. A favorite quote I have is from the introduction of this chapter that says specifically, “What holds so many people back from networking is fear — fear of being too forward, fear of feeling awkward, or fear of causing offense to others while embarrassing themselves”.
Lastly, if you know of or follow Erin’s content on social media, you know how she presents her videos as a more skit format to not only make it enjoyable to watch, but also easier to understand and digest what information is given. The voice that Erin uses in her videos I fully believe is present in this book as it’s like I could hear her voice in my head as I read .
I can’t recommend this book enough for people, if you want to help yourself in professional work settings and apply what you learn (and even use some of theses tools in your everyday life too), you need to read this book. Run, do not walk to purchase this book when it releases March 10th!
Erin McGoff (aka AdviceWithErin) offers a ton straightforward advice on various topics and subjects that help the audience gain useful knowledge that can be implemented in their professional lives from being a better written communicator & verbal communicator, navigating the job hunt, what to do in that special 90 day window when starting a new job, etc. If you think of something to cover, she covers it in the book guaranteed.
My favorite section was the chapter all about networking. I am a person that definitely thrives better networking online, and luckily a lot of networking is done online anymore. However, I will add that she also gives tips on how to network in person, which are definitely tools that I will try to put to use as much as I can. I also appreciate in this chapter, she covers everything that encompasses networking and how to navigate it to make it less awkward, difficult, and stressful. A favorite quote I have is from the introduction of this chapter that says specifically, “What holds so many people back from networking is fear — fear of being too forward, fear of feeling awkward, or fear of causing offense to others while embarrassing themselves”.
Lastly, if you know of or follow Erin’s content on social media, you know how she presents her videos as a more skit format to not only make it enjoyable to watch, but also easier to understand and digest what information is given. The voice that Erin uses in her videos I fully believe is present in this book as it’s like I could hear her voice in my head as I read .
I can’t recommend this book enough for people, if you want to help yourself in professional work settings and apply what you learn (and even use some of theses tools in your everyday life too), you need to read this book. Run, do not walk to purchase this book when it releases March 10th!
Read
March 4, 2026I fumbled my way through corporate America and somehow managed to build a successful career out of figuring things out as I went. That said, I seriously wish I had this book ten years ago. It would have saved me from a lot of hard conversations, second-guessing, and lessons learned the long way around.
For a long time, I over-apologized. I downplayed my work. I said yes to things that weren’t really my responsibility because I wanted to be helpful, or liked, or simply not difficult. Like many people, I thought working hard was enough and that eventually the right people would notice.
What The Secret Language of Work does so well is explain the part no one teaches you: how to communicate your value in a way that’s authentic, clear, and effective. Erin doesn’t ask you to become someone else or adopt a corporate persona. Instead, she shows you how to show up as yourself - just with the language and awareness that helps people actually understand the impact of your work.
She also walks through how to keep yourself visible in the right way. Not self-promotion for the sake of ego, but the kind of thoughtful communication that keeps your contributions top of mind when opportunities and promotions come around.
Whether you’re just starting your career or already deep in it, this book gives practical insight that most of us only learn the hard way. Erin manages to put words to dynamics many people feel but struggle to articulate, and that alone makes this book worth reading.
For a long time, I over-apologized. I downplayed my work. I said yes to things that weren’t really my responsibility because I wanted to be helpful, or liked, or simply not difficult. Like many people, I thought working hard was enough and that eventually the right people would notice.
What The Secret Language of Work does so well is explain the part no one teaches you: how to communicate your value in a way that’s authentic, clear, and effective. Erin doesn’t ask you to become someone else or adopt a corporate persona. Instead, she shows you how to show up as yourself - just with the language and awareness that helps people actually understand the impact of your work.
She also walks through how to keep yourself visible in the right way. Not self-promotion for the sake of ego, but the kind of thoughtful communication that keeps your contributions top of mind when opportunities and promotions come around.
Whether you’re just starting your career or already deep in it, this book gives practical insight that most of us only learn the hard way. Erin manages to put words to dynamics many people feel but struggle to articulate, and that alone makes this book worth reading.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Erin's advice on navigating the corporate and professional landscape is the perfect mix of gentle, practical, and encouraging. As someone who consistently overthinks what to say and how to say it, I really appreciate her advice. The ideas are organized very well in this book, with each chapter outlining different facets of professional communication, and Erin writes in a way that is easy to follow--it almost feels like you're talking to an older sister or friend! This is great for me, as someone who only sometimes dabbles in non-fiction titles. Overall, I think this is an essential handbook that I already find myself reaching for repeatedly to consult with throughout various aspects of my professional communication, and I feel that other professionals will benefit immensely from the content.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin (and Erin!) for providing me with an advanced copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin (and Erin!) for providing me with an advanced copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Erin McGoff’s book, “The Secret Language of Work“, gives advice that feels relevant for just about anyone. At the beginning, she talks about how middle schoolers have to learn the “secret language” of the cafeteria, which shows that even younger students could take something away from this book.
High school and college students could benefit too, especially if they’ve ever wondered how to say they’re overwhelmed or stressed in a more professional way. If you’re entry-level like me, this book is also really helpful for things like job interviews and learning how to communicate with difficult coworkers or bosses.
There’s even a section about networking for introverts. Overall, the advice in this book can apply not just at work, but in everyday life too, so it’s something almost anyone could benefit from reading.
High school and college students could benefit too, especially if they’ve ever wondered how to say they’re overwhelmed or stressed in a more professional way. If you’re entry-level like me, this book is also really helpful for things like job interviews and learning how to communicate with difficult coworkers or bosses.
There’s even a section about networking for introverts. Overall, the advice in this book can apply not just at work, but in everyday life too, so it’s something almost anyone could benefit from reading.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Erin Mcgoff’s book, “The Secret Language of Work”, is jam-packed full of useful scripts and scenarios not only relevant to full-time workers but to solopreneurs like myself too. As someone who is also neurodivergent, Erin’s past content and now this book have all been extremely invaluable to me. Neurodivergent folks often struggle (or is it just me?) to feel understood in conversations and to understand others. Erin’s book is clear and concise, and will help you better communicate and articulate yourself without losing your authentic voice. You’ll most definitely gain some new found communication confidence. I highly recommend giving it a read!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Your Internet Big sister writes a book. It is like your best friend giving you career advice while she's guiding you along the way. Erin offers relatable examples and tangible work advice as you advance through the next chapter of your career. It is a must-have book! Erin also provides charts for the visual learners. Makes everyone feel seen. I've been following her work for a bit now, and having all her internet advice in one book is amazing to see. Erin is rooting for you every step of the way in this book. She poured her heart and soul into this to make sure she helps everyone where they feel stuck. I've gotten more confident at interviews because of the advice she gave me.
Read
March 10, 2026The writing is super accessible, making this great for entry- to even mid-level individuals. Much of it is straightforward for me as someone who has already worked in a professional setting for a few years (and went to graduate school). Still, there are tidbits and frameworks I still found new and helpful, and the scripts are ever-green. I can definitely see myself referencing sections of the book in the future. This is a great resource for those starting out and for anyone who doesn't have access to mentorship and existing resources.
Thank you to Erin for selecting me to be an ambassador for the book!
Thank you to Erin for selecting me to be an ambassador for the book!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Whether you’re early in your career or gearing up for your fourth promotion, you need this book.
The Secret Language of Work covers the kind of things no one actually teaches you. The things you usually just have to figure out through trial and error.
Erin breaks it down in a way that’s down-to-earth and, most importantly, actionable. You’ll walk away with practical tools you can start using immediately to communicate more effectively at work.
The “secret language” of work doesn’t have to stay secret anymore thanks to Erin. Highly recommend!
The Secret Language of Work covers the kind of things no one actually teaches you. The things you usually just have to figure out through trial and error.
Erin breaks it down in a way that’s down-to-earth and, most importantly, actionable. You’ll walk away with practical tools you can start using immediately to communicate more effectively at work.
The “secret language” of work doesn’t have to stay secret anymore thanks to Erin. Highly recommend!
Review of advance copy received from Author
The Secret Language of Work is a must-read! This book contains real-life examples and scenarios to help everyone communicate better at work. This book isn't just for job seekers, though. There are chapters for the fully employed, networking for growth, and actively searching.
Erin is the hype-girl we all need, telling you how much "you've got this" and making situations that might feel insurmountable, more relatable and manageable.
I cannot recommend this book highly enough.
Erin is the hype-girl we all need, telling you how much "you've got this" and making situations that might feel insurmountable, more relatable and manageable.
I cannot recommend this book highly enough.
Review of advance copy received from Author
If you plan to make a move within your career, ANY move, this book has the advice you need and the confidence boost you deserve to get you there. Highly recommend to essentially anyone with a job.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews