EXECUTIVE CAREER ADVANCEMENT

Flores, an expert in career advancement, offers up-and-comers an inside look at what it takes to get promoted in this strikingly honest look at how to build and sustain forward momentum in the workplace.

Flores writes to tell people the truth about what will and will not help them get ahead in their careers. He delineates several competing theories about how career advancement takes place and then shows why these are idealistic and not proven by the facts of what actually occurs. He then lays out what he calls the “Real World Model,” which is a combination of advancement through traditional means, like having superior qualifications, and usually unspoken means, like having a good rapport with the boss and getting fast-tracked for promotion. He explains that advancement doesn’t just happen to people who have the right education and the right degrees; instead, it happens to people who, in addition to those qualifications, have an “X” factor. These are the people who end up being personally mentored by a boss or supervisor and who are earmarked for promotion, even when a company goes through the charade of looking for other candidates. In many cases, the system Flores lays out shrewdly reflects the reality of office politics; bosses are looking for people they can get along with, people with similar interests who laugh at their jokes and have the necessary charisma and prestige to add value to the company beyond the performance of their daily duties. However, some may find Flores’ system too cynical for implementation in every situation. Detractors may points out that those looking to advance in their careers need to determine which of the models Flores discusses is true for their place of employment, and act accordingly. While Flores’ advice will be good in many situations, its applicability may not be universal. Still, much can be learned from this book.

For readers who want to get ahead in the most efficient way possible, this book offers a straightforward look at what really earns someone a promotion and gives detailed instructions for bringing that to pass in a person’s real life.