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How to Go to Work
What do you do when work is overwhelming, it feels like you're completely lost, and every mistake you make seems to pile more pressure on your shoulders?
The definitive careers guide for starting out in today's working world.
It's never been tougher to get started in your career. In a world where entry-level positions require years of experience, it can feel like you've fallen behind before you've even begun. Even when you finally manage to get yourself a job, how do you make sure you're standing out from the crowd and succeeding?
In How to Go to Work , careers experts Lucy Clayton and Steven Haines deliver the indispensable guide to surviving and thriving at work. Whether you've just begun working your first Saturday shift, you're about to start an apprenticeship, or you're already climbing the leadership ladder, it's chock-full of the vital advice you need to jump-start your professional life.
This practical and accessible guide will show you how
- Find the right work experience and internships to make the best of your time
- Deal with mistakes and handle the pressure that comes with professional work
- Gain confidence, authority and resilience, and thrive in your role
- Navigate the ups and downs of your early career and make fast progress
From getting your foot through the door, to dealing with office politics and toxic workplaces, to negotiating pay, pensions and promotions, How to Go to Work is the essential manual for anyone embarking upon or consolidating their career. Using the collective wisdom of CEOs, creatives, scientists, activists and professionals in every industry, presented in the style of an entertaining but direct guide, Clayton and Haines prepare you for the ride of your life.
The definitive careers guide for starting out in today's working world.
It's never been tougher to get started in your career. In a world where entry-level positions require years of experience, it can feel like you've fallen behind before you've even begun. Even when you finally manage to get yourself a job, how do you make sure you're standing out from the crowd and succeeding?
In How to Go to Work , careers experts Lucy Clayton and Steven Haines deliver the indispensable guide to surviving and thriving at work. Whether you've just begun working your first Saturday shift, you're about to start an apprenticeship, or you're already climbing the leadership ladder, it's chock-full of the vital advice you need to jump-start your professional life.
This practical and accessible guide will show you how
- Find the right work experience and internships to make the best of your time
- Deal with mistakes and handle the pressure that comes with professional work
- Gain confidence, authority and resilience, and thrive in your role
- Navigate the ups and downs of your early career and make fast progress
From getting your foot through the door, to dealing with office politics and toxic workplaces, to negotiating pay, pensions and promotions, How to Go to Work is the essential manual for anyone embarking upon or consolidating their career. Using the collective wisdom of CEOs, creatives, scientists, activists and professionals in every industry, presented in the style of an entertaining but direct guide, Clayton and Haines prepare you for the ride of your life.
400 pages, Paperback
First published February 6, 2020
41 people are currently reading
632 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
September 16, 2020
Please note this is a 3.5.
Like a freshly hatched chicken, in a few months I will stumble out from my university egg, bleary eyed and hopeful, into the world of graduates. Prior to this, I have made a commitment to getting a start on my necessary work experience. I don’t think I need to tell you that I was absolutely petrified first day. Prior to the third day, I had picked up and inhaled this book, and now I’m feeling substantially better about it all.
This is really a one-stop-shop for all things work, especially if you’re new to the job market. I think perhaps it could have done a bit more with rejection and how to deal with the lack of response from certain employers, as well as the inevitable depression that looms from rejections that seem so pervasive nowadays. This is an optimistic book, and that’s good in some ways- but at the same time, it’s not always as nice or easy as this book presents it to be.
The information within is helpful, and I was pleased to know that there was some very fundamental facets that were raised- like being on time. Seriously. It’s so important, and nobody seems to do it anymore! I’m glad this book exists, as a very fortunate graduate who has wiggled their way into an (albeit unpaid) placement in a highly competitive profession. I only wish it were more conscious of the world it exists in, and those not so lucky.
Like a freshly hatched chicken, in a few months I will stumble out from my university egg, bleary eyed and hopeful, into the world of graduates. Prior to this, I have made a commitment to getting a start on my necessary work experience. I don’t think I need to tell you that I was absolutely petrified first day. Prior to the third day, I had picked up and inhaled this book, and now I’m feeling substantially better about it all.
This is really a one-stop-shop for all things work, especially if you’re new to the job market. I think perhaps it could have done a bit more with rejection and how to deal with the lack of response from certain employers, as well as the inevitable depression that looms from rejections that seem so pervasive nowadays. This is an optimistic book, and that’s good in some ways- but at the same time, it’s not always as nice or easy as this book presents it to be.
The information within is helpful, and I was pleased to know that there was some very fundamental facets that were raised- like being on time. Seriously. It’s so important, and nobody seems to do it anymore! I’m glad this book exists, as a very fortunate graduate who has wiggled their way into an (albeit unpaid) placement in a highly competitive profession. I only wish it were more conscious of the world it exists in, and those not so lucky.
December 22, 2020
When working I’ve often struggled with the workplace culture. I like to go to work, get the job done and then leave. But in our modern times there’s a lot more expected of employees at work, whether that’s to attend social events, do outside favours or contribute to the office gossip. I just don’t GET it and hoped this book could enlighten me on what exactly I’m supposed to do.
I do think this book is written for people younger than me, possibly those under the age of 21. However, I really wish I had this advice when I was younger. Unfortunately my school didn’t offer work placements but any experience young people can get is absolutely invaluable and definitely sets them apart from the crowd.
Everything you need to know about work experience, CVS, applying for a job, interviews and work culture is packed into this easy to read gem. It also includes information on the disconnected between employers and employees - companies have skills gaps yet are not willing to train up an employee in a specialist area. I also really struggle with the ‘psychological contract’ and those unspoken expectations. The chapter on workplace culture is absolutely fantastic and definitely something you have no idea about until you enter the office.
A recommended read for those starting their careers!
I do think this book is written for people younger than me, possibly those under the age of 21. However, I really wish I had this advice when I was younger. Unfortunately my school didn’t offer work placements but any experience young people can get is absolutely invaluable and definitely sets them apart from the crowd.
Everything you need to know about work experience, CVS, applying for a job, interviews and work culture is packed into this easy to read gem. It also includes information on the disconnected between employers and employees - companies have skills gaps yet are not willing to train up an employee in a specialist area. I also really struggle with the ‘psychological contract’ and those unspoken expectations. The chapter on workplace culture is absolutely fantastic and definitely something you have no idea about until you enter the office.
A recommended read for those starting their careers!
November 11, 2021
A lot of the content is good and pretty sensible, but also heavily geared towards an inexperienced audience. Given the point where I am in life career-wise, I'm not finding a lot of value, but I would recommend it to seniors in high school and university students.
September 8, 2020
I started reading this because I wanted to get as much advice as I could for the upcoming months as a soon-to-be graduate. I'm pleased I read this because it soothed a lot of nerves I was feeling as I now have a better idea of what to expect.
June 11, 2020
(Audiobook) solid 4 stars, a good mix of advice for the start of your career, from varied fields, with mentions of some fab books.
January 15, 2021
Practical, concise, complete, funny and motivating career guide. I recommend it to everyone who feels a bit lost searching for a job or being in one.
June 16, 2021
A useful, amusingly-written book with advice I'm sure I'll use on my upcoming internship. I'll also probably buy a copy for my little brother. In general I liked the pragmatic tone, but there were times when I wanted Clayton to be a bit more radical and to push back more on some of the unjust practices we find in work today. For example, disability rights in the workplace and claiming benefits were lumped together into a single section, which was about one page/two paragraphs long. I'd argue the two are very different topics that should maybe be discussed separately, and while benefits might be somewhat outside the scope of this book, some advice on talking about disabilities with employers would be helpful; it certainly deserves more than a paragraph.
October 1, 2022
The kind of rating you give this book really depends on when you find it in life. I searched for a book like this because I needed it at this specific time (I was a few months into my first office job, now a year in) and it gave me everything I needed. The best sections are on the unwritten rules and social advice (i.e. things that you can't explicitly train in), including internal politics. I usually trust my instincts to a point, but sometimes there are things you just need someone to tell you. Lucy Clayton has a loving style that makes you feel like you're being given advice by a trusted friend, older than you, who will accept that you are growing and overlook your mistakes as you learn. I'm going to put a lot of this advice into practice.
May 18, 2021
Very surface level advice, and I honestly would say this book is pretty useless for anyone who has even a modicum of work experience. Maybe this book would help a high schooler or college freshman with no experience, but for everyone else, this book has very little value.
Also, this book came out in 2020, and it already feels out of date with the advent of remote work (which this book barely covers) and the fact that all of the info in this book can be discovered pretty easily with a simple google search on the topic. Really nothing remarkable here.
Also, this book came out in 2020, and it already feels out of date with the advent of remote work (which this book barely covers) and the fact that all of the info in this book can be discovered pretty easily with a simple google search on the topic. Really nothing remarkable here.
January 27, 2020
How to Go to Work is the first essential Business Book of 2020, and for that reason alone it's worth reading. Unlike most traditional Business Books though it is written in plain English, genuinely inspiring, and very, very funny. Lucy Clayton is warm, witty and wise, and How to Go to Work is quite simply the best book ever written about the reality of starting a new job. Buy it, read it, then get up early and dominate the workplace.
January 3, 2024
The 4 Hour Work Week starts with the statement that Tim only works 4 hours per week and travels the world. Years of arduous work were required before he could achieve the lifestyle, something he doesn't emphasize too much in the book. The Four Hour Work Week's theme is straightforward: why wait till retirement to have more free time? You have the energy to do whatever you desire at this moment. There are passages in the book that are chock-full of audacious claims and assurances that anyone may become one of the new wealthy. It's up to you to glean insights from the text by reading between the lines. In essence, Tim Ferriss just challenges everything you believe or you know about your profession or business. He has some great tips for handling emails and meetings that I found useful. Besides that, his focus on effectiveness is changing your perspective.
According to the four hour work week, both of the traditional options—selling our company for a large sum of money or retiring with a large sum of money in savings—involve holding off on happiness and joy until we find the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Instead, the New Rich seek thrill and profit throughout their entire lives since they have the freedom and options to live like millionaires even without a million dollars in the bank. This book tackles life optimization in order to make the most of your life and career.
The general outline of The 4-Hour Work Week is divided into a couple of different sections:
Define your goals – don’t ask yourself what you want, ask yourself ‘what would excite me?’ Eliminate things to free up time – effective instead of efficient. Focus on 20% that is important. Say no to interruptions. Don’t consume much information.
The result is a book so full of practical life changing advice that it is very hard to take in on one reading.
According to the four hour work week, both of the traditional options—selling our company for a large sum of money or retiring with a large sum of money in savings—involve holding off on happiness and joy until we find the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Instead, the New Rich seek thrill and profit throughout their entire lives since they have the freedom and options to live like millionaires even without a million dollars in the bank. This book tackles life optimization in order to make the most of your life and career.
The general outline of The 4-Hour Work Week is divided into a couple of different sections:
Define your goals – don’t ask yourself what you want, ask yourself ‘what would excite me?’ Eliminate things to free up time – effective instead of efficient. Focus on 20% that is important. Say no to interruptions. Don’t consume much information.
The result is a book so full of practical life changing advice that it is very hard to take in on one reading.
January 2, 2020
This book really is like nothing out there on this topic. Entertaining, practical and brutally honest about pretty much every aspect of going to work that has crossed your mind, plus things it won’t have occurred to you to think of. I’m over a decade into my career in marketing and have been looking for something exactly like this to share with new recruits. What’s so great about the book is how it revisits the mindset of the new starter so completely, along with all its granular concerns, which is hard to do as a boss, so incredibly helpful for seasoned professionals looking to be better leaders too. Through a series of personal and often hilarious accounts of life at work the book recognises how every workplace is different, and every worker, avoiding cliched templates for success in favour of helping its reader grow the right set of instincts and learn to trust them. I am pre-ordering this for our new graduate intake and recommending it to everyone I can think of. This fills such a valuable gap in such an important area - thrilled it now exists.
February 15, 2020
I started this book thinking I’d probably skim and scan it, read the odd chapter here and there. But it’s so well written, engaging and enlightening that I ended up reading it more or less cover to cover.
It’s actually one of those marvellous books that you feel should always have been part of the employment scene, the lexicon. The authors have drawn on their own wide experience and that of many others to bring together an employment bible for anyone soon to enter the workplace; it should be required reading and available in all schools, colleges and universities.
Though mainly aimed at work newbies, it’s also a useful reference volume for anyone at any point in his or her career – the chapters are clear and easy to refer to whether you’re wondering how best to, for example, negotiate a pay rise, tender your resignation, or deal with a difficult colleague. Whatever you need to know, it’s all available here. Any number of workplace situations, problems and dilemmas are addressed clearly, without jargon and with warmth and wisdom. Thoroughly recommended.
It’s actually one of those marvellous books that you feel should always have been part of the employment scene, the lexicon. The authors have drawn on their own wide experience and that of many others to bring together an employment bible for anyone soon to enter the workplace; it should be required reading and available in all schools, colleges and universities.
Though mainly aimed at work newbies, it’s also a useful reference volume for anyone at any point in his or her career – the chapters are clear and easy to refer to whether you’re wondering how best to, for example, negotiate a pay rise, tender your resignation, or deal with a difficult colleague. Whatever you need to know, it’s all available here. Any number of workplace situations, problems and dilemmas are addressed clearly, without jargon and with warmth and wisdom. Thoroughly recommended.
September 21, 2022
Pretty comprehensive overview of everything you will need to know if you are embarking on the world of work, and I think this is a book that can be revisited again and again depending on which stage of your career you are at - such as your first job, a promotion or leaving a position. It contains quite a lot about workplace etiquette which can never hurt to refresh yourself on, whilst also tackling quite serious issues like grievance procedures, dismissal, sexual harassment and drug use at work. I will be keeping my copy of this to refer back to if I am faced with these sorts of challenges in my career.
December 19, 2023
Really insightful for the general workplace ecosystem - obviously it doesn't apply to super niche or highly specialised occupations but the advice is still foundational for any job.
Some parts were a bit naive and didn't consider the bigger societal picture, such as considering why hybrid careers are really becoming more popular - jobs don't pay enough to survive on lol - it seems to dance around the existence of our capitalist society. But then it would be a pretty depressing book if it did have all the capitalist caveats.
However, I do feel so much more assured about my future post graduation after reading this.
Some parts were a bit naive and didn't consider the bigger societal picture, such as considering why hybrid careers are really becoming more popular - jobs don't pay enough to survive on lol - it seems to dance around the existence of our capitalist society. But then it would be a pretty depressing book if it did have all the capitalist caveats.
However, I do feel so much more assured about my future post graduation after reading this.
February 27, 2024
I've recently switched careers - going into an office environment for the first time as a 30-something - and reading this book was like having a caring yet brutally honest friend by my side to make everything seem less daunting. If it's true that it's not what you know, it's who you know, then I recommend getting to know the authors of this book because they'll make you feel ready for anything. Every question you're scared to ask for fear of the shame of not already knowing? They're all answered in here, along with countless others you didn't even know you needed to ask. I honestly felt so much more ready to tackle the world of desk jobs thanks to having read this book.
January 22, 2020
I'm onto my fourth career - the music industry, radio, advertising and retail. This book would have been invaluable for my start in any of them. No magic fixes, no revolutionary theories; just tried and tested, real-world and researched, well-informed advice. Easy to understand but in-depth enough to be useful to even the more seasoned of us workers. This book is so obviously essential that I'm amazed no-one has written it until now. (And btw, the section on meetings should be stapled to every office door in every company in the world.)
January 24, 2020
When I was at school the careers advisor gave me a questionnaire to fill in and it told him I wanted to be a vet. I don’t like animals and I’m fairly shit at science. This is the book I needed then, as a young person with hopes, dreams, some talent, but no idea what to do with it, or where to start even thinking about a career. A must for young people (and those raising them) everywhere. Also, it’s really, properly funny.
December 12, 2021
Despite the fact this book is for audience who are in the beginning of their work career, I found there many interesting points and chapters which clarified the way I have made decisions or showed me an example how that should be handled. I recommend this book for everybody who are in the beginning of their future career or ones who are interested in improvements.
January 30, 2020
This is the book I wished I’d had to hand before I started work. Witty, eminently readable, and chock-full of practical, timeless advise, it is the book I’ll be buying it for every young person I know forever more so they don’t make the same mistakes I did early on. Like that time at a careers advice evening when I very nearly signed up for The Navy because I loved the sea.
April 21, 2020
That's a very good book for any school leaver or university graduate looking to get into the job market. Lucy has a very simple approach to deal with each category of employment from the internship stage to interview and employment stage.
March 6, 2021
I wish I had read this book before or during the early days of my career. Very insightful and covers all aspects, the ups and downs, of the professional work life for young adults. A must read for anyone with less than 5 years of experience in the workforce.
September 3, 2022
Very good book to read before starting your first job. It tells all what you need to know for your day one. Honest advices and how to deal with different key aspects of every career that rarely somebody tells you.
January 4, 2020
They don’t get better than Lucy Clayton. She could write the phone book and make it sound like Hamlet!
Wait- do they have phone books anymore?
Amazing woman. Amazing author.
Wait- do they have phone books anymore?
Amazing woman. Amazing author.
March 18, 2020
Invaluable and insightful.
August 6, 2020
I wish I had read this book earlier in my career life
January 9, 2021
Particularly loved the last few chapter of the book.
The middle part was a bit dreadful for me as I started reading after my employment. But overall it contains quite good words of advice.
The middle part was a bit dreadful for me as I started reading after my employment. But overall it contains quite good words of advice.
May 6, 2021
Audiobook - The bits that were relevant to me were really helpful. Some great advice.
October 7, 2021
3.5 stars
May 13, 2022
why were 60% of the quotes about stormzy?
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews