Thriving At Work: What They Didn't Teach You in School

by Michael Dam

If you are new to the workforce or want to jump start your career, Thriving At Work delivers a proven and practical roadmap to achieve success from day one and throughout your career. More than a dozen executives from respected multi-national companies have given their enthusiastic endorsement after reviewing this book. Even though most companies today believe college graduates lack the crucial skills to be ready and to succeed in the workplace, Michael Dam wants to help you prove them wrong. Drawing from over twenty five years of professional as well as teaching experience, the author shares his insight and real life examples that will help you fast track your career, avoid potential pitfalls and not having to learn the hard way. Designed and written for easy reading, the book is organized by topics. You can easily read about the topics you’re interested in at the moment as well as being able to refer back to the book throughout your career. The author discusses detailed topics such as getting the right job, getting a head start and standing out at work, handling pressure situations, dealing with difficult co-workers and managers, managing your career paths, and successfully navigating the many challenges you will face throughout your career. This 2nd edition also includes more details about remote work environment and adds four new topics on American business culture and how to thrive in it. This book is a great companion for college graduates and seasoned professionals alike, Thriving At Work is a “timeless book for achieving career success.”

Genres: Business, Nonfiction, Personal Development, Self Help, Education, Finance

312 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 17, 2017

About the author

An entrepreneur specializes in business consulting, a teacher and career coach. During his 20+ years of high-tech career, Michael served in many functions and various management levels, including a Senior Director position. He was recognized as an outstanding people manager and many of his employees have gone on to become senior executives in multi-national companies.

To fulfill his passion for teaching, he teaches and conducts career seminars and workshops for college students and professionals. He published his first book "Thriving At Work" in November, 2017 for people who want to jump start their career - new as well as seasoned professionals. Based on his 25 years of professional and teaching experience, he delivered a proven road map for them to achieve success throughout their career. In addition, as a founder and co-owner, he currently manages a successful and growing commercial real estate development company.

He holds a B.S. degree in Engineering, Master of Business Administration (MBA) and California Real Estate Broker License. He enjoys reading, writing, sport activities, including basketball, golf and running. He enjoys running at lease one half-marathon a year.

Reviews

[Orion Dam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great advice for someone who has just graduated or just started at a new job. I had no idea what I was doing after college, but this book helped a lot. Showed me some things I didn't know, showed me some things I already knew but with an upgrade, this is probably the best all around guidance someone could get.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recently finished "Thriving At Work: What They Didn't Teach You in School" and I loved it!

It has so much relevant information that I look forward to implementing throughout the rest of my academic career and into my professional career.

Particularly, I enjoyed the section on How To Prepare And Conduct Interviews With Confidence. I intend to utilize the smart approach to solve problems by understanding the problem, finding out the root causes of the problem, brainstorming and identifying possible solutions, weighing the pros/cons and benefits/costs of potential solutions, and deciding the best solution.

Moreover, I enjoy the emphasis on listening throughout many sections of the book including the chapter, How To Communicate Effectively - Verbal And Written as well as How To Earn Trust. It’s such an important skill which many forget and its refreshing to read the emphasis made upon the necessary ability.

Finally, one of my favorite sections was regarding negotiation. UC Davis does not teach negotiation and it was invaluable to read. I look forward to determining my desired outcome and walkaway value.

I had many takeaways from this book and I look forward to returning to the numerous sections throughout my professional career.

[Kim Sharpe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very compelling read. I identify so much with the topics covered; it's like the author was walking in my shoes. The examples of real work and career situations are relevant. What I like most is the solutions and ideas from the author are practical and I can apply them to situations at work. I would've handled many situations I faced at work differently if I had this book. It's clear that the author was speaking from extensive experience, of being there and done that. What he shared is real instead of just vague concepts and hypotheses. I love the way the book is written by topics. It's like a reference book and if I have a situation in mind, I can refer to the chapter that covers that specific topic without reading the whole book or trying to find it in the book. The range of topic is comprehensive, covering from looking for the first job to going through career transition. So no matter where I am in my career, I can refer back to the book to help me. A great and very worthwhile read.

[Kent Ho · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is unique, one-of-a kind in its category. It's especially ideal for people new into their career or people, like myself, who struggle to make a name for themselves at work. I read and felt like the author was talking to me. The examples and work situations he described really resonated with me. I wish I had read this book earlier in my career. What makes this book unique is in its approach to reach the readers. It's very easy and quick reading. It's like I was talking to a mentor. The author uses straight forward language and no nonsense approach to help people deal with problems at work. I found the chapters on how to negotiate and how to deal with difficult colleagues and managers particularly useful. It even has a chapter that offers way to achieve better work life balance and not get burned out. I find the ideas and suggestions offered by the author practical and realistic to try and not some theoretical concepts. It's a career reference book for me to refer throughout my career. The value of this book is worth much more than the price I paid.

[Thanh T Lam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book should be read by college students and young professionals who have just entered the workforce. The book outlines the career sequence every professional has to go through to grow and thrive at work. The book provides the readers a general idea of what skills and abilities are needed to get ahead or embrace a competitive advantage among a crowd of graduates. This book can be accessed at different points of time because the book permeates different stages of one's career and it will be an incredible resource one should first refer to at the career stage they are in. The chapter I like most is the chapter that taught me how to manage my time effectively and I believe you will think the same if you have a chance to read it. With straightforward, concise, and clear writing style, the book is easy to read and follow because of the cohesive and connected ideas and points between the chapters. This book is golden to those looking for success in their professional career.

[Kayla Le · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book, Thriving At Work, is extremely impactful, organized and easy to read! The first chapter I read, I was completely hook and couldn’t put it down! The author did an amazing job with organizing and structuring the book in a way that you can jump from one chapter to another without feeling lost. I majored in business and have read many business books throughout my undergraduate and graduate school and if I had one book to recommend to future students for achieving success in business, it would be this book! The principles and logics in this book are usually not taught in school, but rather through real life and work experience. This book teaches you everything you need to know when it comes to business, whether it be running your own business, looking or working for corporate or public offices. It’s also applicable to personal and professional development. I highly recommend this book, a must read!

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book when I first started my internship. It’s been a go-to for all sorts of experiences I’ve had in the workplace. I initially used the book to guide me through the initial tribulations that a college senior would experience. This includes deciding what jobs you want, how to follow through the application process, resumes and referrals, and the list goes on. Once I received my first job offer, I used it to strategically plan the negotiation process. It was even quite the gem to navigate basic communication needs in the workplace, such as emails, meetings, and presentations. The synopsis of the book states that it is a ‘practical roadmap’ to work towards a successful career. I am now 4 months in my new role and pick it up to give me guidance on any adversity I face. I utilize it to give me those small wins that every new person in their career needs. It’s definitely a great buy for a college grad or anyone that has goals to succeed in the workplace!

[Katarina Draskovic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thriving At Work: What They Didn't Teach You in School

This book is a must read for all college students and new grads entering the workforce as it covers so many vital topics about how to navigate life after college and the corporate world. As a college student, reading this book really transformed the way I look at the internship application process, helped me better prepare for interviews, and was a great resource to turn to during my first couple internships. Michael gives lots of personal examples about his life which makes the book interesting and helps readers relate to the issues being discussed.

If you are looking to grow your professional career and get advice on important issues surrounding career development, this book is for you!

[Isabella Draskovic · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend this book to any college student or working professional looking to advance their career. I found this book easy to read and during my summer internship I referenced it many times for quick tips. The book covers many topics such as communication techniques, negotiation strategies, and collaboration. I keep this book on my desk at home and it has helped me a lot in my early career. I encourage you to buy the book no matter what stage you are in your career!

[Jennifer Sharpe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Practical, smart, and well-written. You can tell the author has a lot of experience. Things you don't think about every day on the job, but are helpful in all the different aspects of a job are described with expert skill and insight. I have the kindle version so I can check pertinent chapters anywhere! Highly recommended for any one who wants a leg up in their career.

[Keith Bui · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! It is full of useful information gathered from Michael's extensive career experience. If you want to know how to get started in your career, how to interview and write a resume, or how to deal with difficult bosses and co-workers (we've all had em), among many other career steps, it's in this book. It's like having a career mentor in your pocket.

[QiaoXing.Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Thriving on work” was came in time while my internship started at Stanford. Michael was the host of career workshop that packed with full of fascinating insights and applicable experience within. Michael has very sincere, integrity, and genuine personal qualities reflect he's a great author and advisor. I, myself recognized the soft skills and techniques he expressed in the book are on not only expandable in the career aspects but be expected to use them in our lifespan. I highly recommend readers like me who thought through the entire book should re-read at least once, perhaps, later in a career transcription point. Let me explain to you by my personal experience that why I think this book matter to everyone who needs to survive in the narcissism America and to welcome themselves in the jungle forest.

Part 2-Communicating, Part 3 Negotiating
Communicate and negotiate are fundamentally influence how to networking in our society. It’s a one-way freeway. One thing I like about this book that is its authentic examples. You get one sample minimum of each sub-point. Most of them are from Michael's experience. For instance, Michael brings up “become a persuasive communicator and presenter….How you communicate, speak and present to various audiences determines to a great extent the impression people will have of you.” How true. The second example is a huge bonus about negotiates salary. In my understanding, one additional benefit of multi-functional communication is it can protect your interests not taking it for a grant. His explanation about walk out value also helps me a lot. During my internship at transformative learning technologies lab (TLTL) at Stanford University, I feel my supervisor didn’t respect me along devalue my contribution. I request to relocate my position. Luckily, Michael manages to mentor me during this challenging process in his spare time around busy hours. He counselors my circumstances and writing communication first with diagnosed questions, patiently. His writing is very explicitly that I found particularly sufficient. He does not use the fuzzy-words that you can think of thousands of hamlet then end up not sure what to do next.

Part 3, Collaborating; Part 5 Taking Care of Yourself:
I think these two parts go well together, Michael had done a great job to redefine the collaboration that achieves the win-win style. On top of it, he wanted you to stand out to doing well. Michael shows a high tolerance for frustration and does promise task in a timely fashion that I wanted to be. He’s a live model of what he promoted in the book. I feel fortunate to get to know him in person. I’m a firm believer of his solid work ethics. I’m delighted to Michael’s team philosophy and democratic leadership. Most of the administration mentioned but not go more in-depth on how to build a mutually reciprocal relationship with others but Michael did in his work. In chapter 22, How to stand out and promote yourself, he writes, “...believe that if we work hard, stay humble, don’t complain and let our work results speak for themselves, we will be rewarded accordingly. Well, most of us eventually learn that we aren’t going to get very far in our career with that belief.” Former Netflix Chief Talent Officer Patty McCord had said the bad economy caused by rewards performance instead of efforts. So sadly, it then becomes a hotbed of narcissistic charisma type of leader who does evil things but earned sometime the most privilege. On the other hand, the hard workers are often being overlooked or ignored not because they’re introvert but because they’re not so ‘compelling’ in the spectrum. One of hard lesson Michael stretches in his experience that how he handled this kind of person without being defensive, aggression. Trust me, everyone had or will meet narcissistic work colleague. You should read it before you’re in trouble. It does not only bridge us to the communication as mentioned earlier but also bring us to the next point, how to manage your manager and career path.

Part 6 Managing Your Manager, and Part 7 Managing Your Career Path
“To build a successful working relationship with the superior or manager” is a much-advanced strategy that I am still exploring. Due to each person different, everyone has to realize myself, but this book helps. The previous communication, negotiation, collaboration, and achievement are the step stones of this level. Michael has very shapely, yet, time-saving suggestions that could help many career newbie to avoid unnecessary traps by getting ahead of the game.

All in all, Michael Dam created this 101 How to guide from survival to thrive for the career because of his genuine care for his audiences’ well-being that enables our society better. I am going to re-read this book to produces more enlightenment. Moreover, I encourage you to purchase the best deal of wisdom that is going to save you years, too.

[S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thriving at Work! That's truly what this book helps you conquer. Corporate world is an enticing world for the young and new, yet can be extremely overwhelming in both good and complex ways, as it can lead to tremendous angst and stress as we get entwined in the complexity of how to deal with situations that can make or break our career. I found the author's ideas and recommendations in this book would have delivered a "win-win" solution in many situations I have faced in my 15 years of work life. His rich and diverse experience condensed into this potent capsule of a book is a great tool for individuals looking to master the art of people relations as well as maneuvering the corporate world. Every chapter in this book offers nuggets of insight I can apply to help me deal more effectively with difficult challenges at work and in my career in the future.
Importantly, I was able to look up topics of my immediate interest and directly jump into them and learn without feeling the pressure to read the book from start. All this while its short and crisp and quick read. I did not once get bored on any of the topics I have read so far. I will certainly re-read, and am already getting copies to gift to my friends and family.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

It helped me find my dream job! No matter which stage you are in your career, this book provides valuable advices to help you thrive!

I'm a software engineer in Silicon Valley with 15+ years of working experience. Recently I wanted to switch job. This is the first time I tried to look for a new job without referrals as I wanted to try new fields. I was talking to several companies at the same time and each company evaluates their candidates in different ways. For example, one company asked me to do a presentation in front of the whole team and another asked me to write an essay before the on-site interview. I was really overwhelmed. Luckily I got this book to guide me in preparing for each interview. In the end, I got multiple offers. I also took the advices from this book to successfully negotiate the job offer with the company I really like. Highly recommended!

[Tammi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent read. Ideal for people new to workplace or people struggling to make it in their career. I find a lot of what the author covered is common sense approach and skills on how to work with people. But especially now a day, common sense skills are sorely lacking. I see this at work all the time, people don't know how to work with others or worse, make work a hostile environment. This book is very timely. It helps remind me of the importance of learning and continuing to develop the "soft" skills. The author not only shows you different issues and challenges but may arise unexpectedly, but he also shows you how to tackle them. I especially like the no nonsense advice and real life examples. This is a book that stands out among all the career self-help book.

[Cynthia Marbley · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who has worked for large and small companies, both as an individual contributor as well as a people manager, I can readily say two things: 1. I wish I had access to this book early on in my career journey...would have made my entry into the workforce easier and more clear, and 2. although i've been working now for nearly two decades, this book is one that I'll keep on my bookshelf as I found many things to be immediately relevant and helpful. The author has a personable writing style that makes his advice and concepts easy to grasp, and the book is also broken up into short, digestible chapters with plenty of examples. All in all, a great read and reference guide...a "how-to" career book that reads like a conversation with a trusted friend.

[LoAn Do · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are new to the workforce or want to jump start your career, read this book. It is a no B.S., straight to the point book that shows you what you need to do to succeed at work and in your career. The author paints a road map on how to achieve success at any phase in one's career. I wish I had this book 10 years ago, but even now when reading it, I find many nuggets in the book to be quite relevant and that I can apply at work. There are numerous real work examples of the challenges people would face at work and ideas on how to deal with them throughout their career. In addition to work topics, this book also addresses work-life issues, such as achieving realistic balance between work and personal time, preventing and dealing with stress, and setting and planning for financial independence. My friends and family are getting the book as presents for this holiday.

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thriving At Work is an easy ready and has provided me with a lot of great examples of how I can set myself up for success in my career. As someone who’s early in their career, I’ve found the tips to be extremely helpful- from navigating my job search, to figuring out how to best work with varying personalities, to gracefully resigning from a position! Michael shares a lot of his personal examples which help reassure readers that a lot of challenges faced and questions in the workplace is normal. I highly recommend this book to everyone, especially for those who are starting out in the careers!

[TomDoan · Rating 5 out of 5]

THRIVING AT WORK provides lot of tips for anyone who wants to start a career, manage his career growth, and advance at work. Whether or not you are fresh at work or have many years of experience there are many practical tips for everyone.
For me, I have been referencing the book for getting ready for switching jobs. The first five chapters cover good amount of information for decent preparation for jobs switching. Don’t forget about the chapter #19 that talks about job offer negotiation which is the most crucial part (IMO) since all of the hard work paid off with a proper negotiation. I'm glad it works for me for landing a good job and I believe THRIVING AT WORK should be useful for you.

[Toan Chau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thriving At Work is an easy to read book with a broad range of topics. It covers a comprehensive list of topics from negotiating a job offer to dealing with conflicts to managing your manager. What I liked most about this book is that you don't have to read the book in it's entirety - you can just pick and choose the relevant topics for yourself. There are many golden nuggets of advice in this book which would be useful for both the seasoned worker and new grads. I highly recommend it especially if you are just starting out your career. I plan on purchasing a few more and gifting it to some of the new grads I know.

[yu · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a college student and I am looking for a job right now. I was frustrated and did not know what I should prepare and how to prepare for a job. My friend recommended this book and I really get helped after I read this book！I just read the starting out and the communicating. I rewrote my resume and I got a couple of interviews and the book really helped me during the interviews. I learned how to communicate with other people and how to negotiate job offers. The author Micheal gave good examples of how to deal with problems while you are writing a resume and how to communicate with others. I definitely will read the rest of the book soon. Highly recommend this book.

[Loretta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thriving at Work is rich with important advice for those learning to navigate within a company workforce which could be pretty complex – it’s like having your own personal coach! It covers many of the soft skills which are sometimes even more important and not taught in any schools -- read this and you will immediately gain wisdom that would typically take years to acquire. It's rich with practical advice and examples, and great not only for those early in their careers, but anyone who wants to move ahead succeeding in a company or business!

[Steve Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I had this book when I started my career over 25 years ago. The guidance it provides matches the much of what I learned about being effective and succeeding during my career in technology product management. It is an easy read with different topics clearly broken out by chapter. The focus is not on the technical aspects of any specific job, but rather the practical aspects succeeding in a professional environment.

This is a great reference for those just starting out in their career or more seasoned professionals looking for insight into how to improve in their current career.

[Khang Truong · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a business owner and also an employee of the State of CA. I have read many self development books such as this, but many of the contain very similar ideas. After reading about 5-10 of those books, the ideas are repetitive, but not this book. I came across many insights that I have seen in others. One interesting thing about this book is that it breaks down different stages of employment and what a person should do differently. Highly recommended if you want to be a key person in any association or private sector.

[Ivygyyang · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like this book. It is very helpful in my work life. It covers all the aspects regarding to professional career. I had a chance to join the author, Michael's workshop on 'how to create a resume' and 'How to prepare a job interview'. He was very nice and provided the audience very great advice. After that, I finished reading the whole book, I found there are more helpful tips in the book for anyone at work to follow. This book is definitely going to change your mindset and becoming more intelligent at work. I love it and would like to recommend it to everybody.

[Darrian Steele · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I like the most about this book is that people can choose which part of the book to read and learn. It is not necessary to read the book in a sequential order. This is not only a great book for students who need to boost their networking or learn how to be more marketable for companies when they are writing their resumes but also to professionals that are already working. It is a well-organized and well-written book. Very easy to read and follow through. Simply put, this is a book that is worthy to have and keep because it can sit on a bookshelf and never get old!

[Thuy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly, I first thought that this would be a very boring to read, but I was totally wrong. What makes it interesting and captivating to me is that it is based on life experience, and therefore, I could connect and recall many described situations. I love the way it’s organized to enable the reader to read precise topics without having to go through the whole book.
I really like this book and strongly recommend it to all, from newly graduate to long time professionals.

[Van · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Thriving At Work" is aptly named. Michael Dam's own experience lends to his credibility; the little tips and tricks he provides in his book have helped me personally improve my standing in the office. As a new graduate, I had no idea of the little nuances of joining the work force, and he really addresses those head on. To be perfectly honest, I would suggest this to anyone with a career, old or new.

[Joseph Grant · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot recommend this book enough if you are just starting off in your career or are looking to see the big picture on career advancement. It covers literally everything about getting a job and working your way up the ladder. It is an easy read, applies to virtually any industry or field, and it to the point. I wish I had found this book sooner. It should be required reading for college seniors. 5/5!

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am book lover. I read a lot of books in my life. A lot of good one and some bad one.
and “THRIVING AT WORK “ is real good one. This book save you a lot of time when you go to work, resolve a lot problem quickly and help you feel confident when you go to new job. There are a lot of great things we can say about this book.
Just read it and improve your career, your life