From time to time, we like to review some of the books available for parents of college students or for parents to share with their students. There is a wealth of literature available to help parents cope with the transition to college and the changes that occur throughout the college years. There is something for everyone. See the Recommended Reading section of our Resources page for more suggestions and reviews.
Graduating from college and moving into a career is a scary moment. Shirley Morrison’s From Classroom to Career: How to Network, Nail the Interview, and Navigate for Success can help take some of the mystery and intimidation out of the situation. This book is chock full of practical advice for establishing and advancing your career and can help students feel more comfortable as they enter the workforce.
There is no shortage of books of advice about how to prepare for and enter the workforce. Most students, by the time they graduate from college, know how to fashion a resume, network with contacts, seek out opportunities, prepare for an interview, and even negotiate a salary. But all of this is sometimes abstract or formulaic advice.
What is different about From College to Career is that it is essentially Shirley Morrison’s career story. Students will read it to see what Shirley will do and how her story will turn out. They will follow her through her decision about what to do (chapter 1), her networking (chapter 2), her interviews (chapter 4), negotiations (chapter 5), relationships (chapter 9) and experiences of learning from her failures (chapters 10 and 11). There’s lots of direct advice along the way, but it’s woven within the story.
The Foreword of the book begins with the tag “#There’s Always Another Option” and that theme runs throughout the book. One of the overriding lessons students may come away with is that their career path is likely to take many twists and turns with both wins and failures, but if they know themselves and who they want to become (another important lesson in the book) they will find options in every situation.
We like that in addition to weaving advice gently throughout the book each chapter ends with an activity for students to try to practice what they’ve learned. From creating a vision board to exploring their own network, to practicing their negotiating skills and practicing thankfulness in their lives, student have the opportunity to put their skills into action.
If you have a college senior or newly graduated student, put a copy of From Classroom to Career in their hands and see what happens.
About the author:
Shirley Morrison is a strategic salesperson who has worked for Fortune 500 companies over the last twelve years. Shirley joined Salesforce in 2019 and prior to that worked at an AI Tech start-up and was software Accounts Manager for Oracle. Throughout her career, Shirley has worked to inspire and support individuals to discover their potential and has worked to help others achieve their dreams.
What the author has to say about the book:
“As you read my business book, I ask you to review what I have written with an open mind. Some of the activities may seem different or feel fake or impossible to believe for you now. When I first started my career, I felt useless, like I was not in control of my own destiny. I’ve learned over these last ten years that regardless of your background, education, tough childhood, or monetary status you are 100 percent in control of your own destiny and, with a strong mentality, you can make anything happen in your life.
My goal is to coach you on the rules and etiquettes that help propel your career in the right direction. So you won’t feel like I did, like you’re flailing around, struggling and unsure of your profession and/or next professional move. Most importantly, this guide is to give you the resources to make your field of choice and employment a success today.
As a society, we need to encourage each other to stop putting pressure on ourselves and focus on being happy. Focus on the big picture of life, not just one aspect.
The real question from people should be: “What will your future self be?” Our society is so focused on the next step that people forget to look at the big picture. It’s time to step back and envision your future. This is where all the magic starts and when you realize the power of visualization in your life.
I want you to forget about what your teacher, friends, mom and dad told you, what they thought YOU should do in your life, or even what you think you “should do.” Instead, let’s focus on you and your personal desires and wants from life – no outside opinions or pressures. Just you and your “wants” from life.
I hope that at the end of this book you realize that anything is possible to those who want it badly enough. And there’s always an open door for those who believe they can find it.
I’ll leave you with this, and if you take away anything from my guide, take away this: ‘You are in complete control of your life. You can do or not do anything you want. Your limitation is yourself.’
So, get started. Grow. And become! It’s time to go from classroom to career and be your desired future self.”
What others have to say about the book:
“The practical, bite-size nature of Shirley Morrison’s endlessly engaging advice and guidance is what sets this book apart. Both as a whole and chapter-by-chapter, it works for students and mentors alike as a companionable guide through what’s really needed to successfully start a career.”
Mark Smith, Chief Executive at Ada, the National College for Digital Skills
“Shirley Morrison provides a bold, honest, and maverick approach to navigating the career search process. Through creative storytelling, Shirley offers tips and strategies for propelling your career journey forward while pivoting and recalculating along the way. . . This book provides innovative ways for young professionals to adopt a new growth mindset, visualize their potential, and create a life of meaning and purpose.”
Ignacio Gallardo, Executive Director, Career Services at University of California, Santa Barbara
“In From Classroom to Career, Shirley provides essential advice and resources to help graduates make this critical transition.”
Alex Murray, Director, Programs & Marketing, Futureforce at Salesforce
Check out From Classroom to Career now!
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