The early phase of my own career transpired about 50 years ago, and while some of the basics of success remain the same, the emergence of things like search engines, social media, and the hybrid office have altered the landscape.  The #PACE Process for Early Career Success by Mark Zides is up to date with the latest, including the new post-COVID workplace and the implications of the Great Resignation.  Companies aren’t seeking employees who can fish out a handy pocket guide whenever a crucial decision must be made – they want people whose instincts lead them to a reserve of accumulated knowledge with which they can move confidently forward.  This book begins by making it refreshingly clear it is not just another checklist for success by someone who has “been there, done that” – the focus is on thinking outside the book to cultivate a mindset for success.

The PACE acronym is an effective roadmap for the basic elements of Mark’s advice (Prepare, Apply, Commit, Evaluate), and the book is organized along these topics.  Each of us is unique, and the modern workplace is a labyrinth of vastly different situations.  The value of #PACE is built on cultivating the right frame of mind to deal with whatever circumstance may present itself. 

The average corporate job today attracts 250 applicants – standing out in this crowd is challenging, especially in a world where AI and automated resume screening are using seemingly opaque algorithms to reject people.  In the first three chapters, the author lays out a plan to prepare for this first phase of the job-hunting battle.  The job market is no place for snowflakes (i.e., entitled, oversensitive people) and it is crucial to remain open-minded and willing to grow.  Your own unique assets can be leveraged with new connections built from scratch, but it takes time and experience to develop this skill.  Part of developing the proper mindset for this difficult and frustrating career phase is to start with some soul-searching on what really motivates you. <continue reading>