The Job Book

A dentist, developer, and philanthropist maps out an action plan to get the job one really wants in this personal and professional development guide.

For debut author Regni, the only way to “function at one’s best in the work force, let alone one’s true dream career,” is by “stepping up to higher awareness of yourself and what you want.” He offers “small, digestible, and very doable steps” to aid in this quest. He first asks readers to identify their own special attributes by recalling activities that they enjoyed as children, before negative forces (such as parents, teachers, or spouses) crushed those inclinations. He then outlines positive and negative habits to “invite” or “avoid” on the job: one should be a good listener, for example, and avoid gossiping. He also includes a worksheet to track whether one deserves a “+” or “-” on any given day. The author spends about a third of the book offering an array of job descriptions and growth charts, as if to underscore his assertion that “Career options that fit are abundant, not scarce!” He also emphasizes the importance of networking with another worksheet, which sets forth a plan to make new connections each week. Personal accountability is Regni’s byword in this book. He notes in his bio, for example, that he was prompted to write this book (with co-writer Phillips, a life coach) after hearing patients express job-hunting concerns and feeling “responsible for doing something about it.” Overall, though, he offers rather basic information that is readily available elsewhere, and he sometimes states the obvious (such as what funeral directors do or that social media is important). That said, the strength of this book lies in its exercises, which reinforce the idea that readers must step up to take charge of their own career searches and development. For instance, after he wraps up the book with a variety of tips and websites for resume creation and job hunting, he adds a final worksheet to record how one spends one’s day and to determine one’s “ideal lifestyle.” Overall, it’s a simple but still empowering primer.

An upbeat, clear-cut career accountability kick-starter.