The Critical First Years of Your Professional Life

Faced with an unstable economy, recent college grads need more expert guidance than ever to land that dream job and make it rewarding and meaningful. This invaluable guide—revised to meet the specific challenges of today’s fast-evolving job market—shows how you can use your talent, originality, and initiative to sharpen your competitive edge.

The first years of your professional life are critical to long-term success in any field. The skills you acquire, the contacts you make, and the lessons you learn will help you remain involved, adaptable, and always ahead of the curve. Now a seasoned veteran of the workplace shares his insights, tips, and experiences in a thoroughly updated edition of a career-planning classic.

“Dilenschneider has guided thousands of highly successful people through the world of business.” —Maria Bartiromo

“Offers practical advice on how young people can take charge of their careers and develop independently both the skills required to excel in any environment and the savvy to know when to move on.” —Norman R. Augustine, former Chairman and CEO of Lockheed Martin Corporation

“An insightful, idea laden, practical guide that will be valuable to young professionals seeking to advance their on the job lives.” —Stephen A. Greyser, Richard P. Chapman, Professor of Business Administration Emeritus, Harvard Business School

“Bob Dilenschneider has the right recipe for coping in an era of stunningly rapid change.” —Allan Goodman, President, Institute of International Education

Robert L. Dilenschneider has hired more than 3,000 successful professionals and advised thousands more. He is founder of the Dilenschneider Group, a corporate strategic counseling and public relations firm based in New York City. Formerly president and CEO of Hill & Knowlton, he is the author of the bestselling books The Critical First Years of Your Professional Life, Power and Influence, A Briefing for Leaders, and On Power.

Mary Jane Genova, an international business writer, has been published in the New York Times, Washington Post, Newsday, Newsweek, Ad Age, American Banker, and Harvard Business Review.