Source: Bettie Corbin Tucker-bookreviewers.org
Date: 3/18/09

From Graduation to Corporation by Andy Teach offers advice that only someone who has climbed the corporate ladder to success could provide. I was impressed, not only by the array of subjects covered, but by the honesty of the author when he listed a summary of thirty-two things he did right and seventeen things he did wrong so that readers could learn from both lists. His exit from a major television and motion picture studio in Los Angeles, California was premature and not something he wanted. He had worked in the same department for twenty-three years and was proud of his accomplishments and the opportunities he had been given. Though he had had several jobs after college, only the last one did he considered a career. He was a perfectionist who, among other things, had to make sacrifices, learn to handle stress, and deal with the never-ending hard work; however, he believed the rewards far outweighed the negatives. It wasn't just the material things he enjoyed, but he was passionate about making a difference--being the best that he could be. I must emphasize that Mr. Teach did not consult experts as resources for this book, but wrote it from his own personal knowledge and insight when it comes to corporate culture. The author covers fifteen rungs (or chapters) leading to the top of the ladder, and readers would be well advised not to skip a rung or they could eventually fall. The purpose of this book is to prevent this from happening.

Mr. Teach stresses that college graduates need to look for a career, not simply a job. They should strive to work in a field that truly interests them so that their enthusiasm will be evident and well spent. If an individual is not comfortable in the corporate world, then he or she should look elsewhere. Quite often, throughout the book, generational differences are discussed in regard to how they affect relationships within the workplace. From work habits, expectations, and dress code, these differences--as well as others--are addressed so the gap can be narrowed.

The author does an excellent job in explaining to graduates how to begin their search for a career, using personal examples from his own search as well as his experience as an employer who hired many employees. He emphasizes the importance of networking, starting from the first day of kindergarten. Although he gives advice on how to prepare a resume and present oneself, what makes the book so unique are the extras--specialized tips that a person might not ordinarily think about but will make a difference in the outcome of a job search. And if individuals are offered a job, he tells them what to consider before accepting it.

Once an individual has started his or her career, the author again uses his own personal experiences with specific recommendations on how to get through the first day and progressively fit into the workplace environment. Much of this is accomplished by using good common sense with issues such as being on time, having a good attitude, cooperating with co-workers, continuing to learn, accepting constructive criticism, going the extra mile, meeting challenges, anticipating needs, showing initiative, cooperating with workers in other departments, acting properly in meetings, being loyal, and saying the words "hello" and "thank you." He stresses the necessity of achieving the right balance between work and family. I appreciated the fact that the author even addressed personal hygiene and bathroom etiquette.

This book covers everything from riding in an elevator to cigarette smoking, drug and alcohol addiction, business trips, filing accurate and truthful expense accounts on time, and tolerating unfairness because of the role of politics in business. Of course, there are also lessons on filing, prioritizing projects, telephone etiquette, appropriate use of the Internet, and sending email in a correct business format. He also discusses sick leave, vacations, etc, using himself an example of someone who went to work with migraine headaches and whiplash because of dedication to the job. His own experience of dating someone in the workplace had negative consequences so he says, "Don't do it." He also writes about sexual harassment--how it means many things to many people. If an employee is sexually harassed or discriminated against, the author states that such acts should definitely be reported, but he also reminds readers that some people use such issues to obtain money when the real problem is job performance. Mr. Teach characterizes the different types of bosses and tells workers when it is acceptable to stand up to a supervisor.

There are many other subjects covered in this book; it is all-encompassing with each page yielding vital information. As I climbed each rung of the ladder with the author, I realized that much of the content was autobiographical in nature. Through the author's experiences, readers will learn more about climbing the corporate ladder than they would in a classroom. If readers follow seventy-two "Corporate Commandments" which appear toward the end of the book, they will be on their way to winning the "Super Bowl" in the corporate world.

I recommend this book as a "must read" for college graduates as well as those who have been climbing the rungs of the ladder to success but not yet made it to the top. Mr. Teach wants them to avoid the mistakes that interrupted his own successful and exciting career.

Independent Professional Reviewer