Mark Zides. The #Pace. Armin Lear P, 2022.

The #Pace is subtitled Process for Early Career Success. This is a very practical book about a subject that for some reason is not always written about, namely, what should a person do looking for his or her first full-time job. This is oriented towards someone graduating from college, but it could be useful to anyone looking for a full-time job for the first time or entering the job market after a long time off, such as someone who took time off to raise a family.

To an older person like me, the number sign or hash tag seems perhaps a bit affected, but I know it is very meaningful to my high schoolers. And it actually does stand for something.

P is for Prepare. Zides gives us several chapters on how to prepare to look for a job: what steps to take and what to avoid. Perhaps the most sobering warning he gives is that this is not going to be easy. People sometimes joke or complain about hypersensitive or intolerant “snowflakes” who have been sheltered all their lives. The #Pace is a wake-up call. Things are going to be different.

He notes that the term snowflake was probably coined in the 1996 novel Fight Club. Zides quotes author Palahniuk himself:

Discussing his own experience as a young adult, Palahniuk wrote: “Everyone [was] saying ‘you’re wonderful just the way you are. You’re perfect.’…A lifetime of disingenuous, one-size-fits-all praise had kept most of my peers from pushing hard to acheive any actual triumphs.” (7)

Not only will someone entering the real world need to develop a thicker skin, Zides also recommends developing a network. Even if it is just other peers interested in some of the same things you are, it is a start. Zides especially recommends LinkedIn. He also warns about things not to post on social media sites.

A is for Apply. Yes, one has to apply for jobs. This often means that the applicant may have hundreds of competitors. It means crafting each resume and cover letter to the specifics of the job. And, yes, networking can help.

Part of this reminded this reviewer of Pitch Like Hollywood. That book was all about personal visual presentations. But pitches are not unlike interviews, and The #Pace has a lot of good advice for interviews. For example, within a day or two after an interview, write a short note to the interviewer thanking him or her for taking out time to interview. Even if you do not get the job, it may help to establish some good will either in networking or future opportunities.

Similarly, if you are offered a job that you decide not to take, let them know by a polite note or other communication that you have decided to go elsewhere. I recall when I was looking for a teaching job, one school had said they wanted to hire me. I was interested, but they said they would need some time to work out a contract. In the meantime, I was offered another job that was more appealing and closer to my wife’s family. I called the principal of the first school to tell him what had happened. I called really to find out if they had come up with a specific offer. He just said about my other job offer, “Take it. That’s a great school.” You never know. I ran into that principal a few times at teacher conventions, and our little reunions were cordial. At least there was good will.

C is for Commit. First of all, before you sign on, be sure to check every detail of the contract and any other paperwork. For example, as a school teacher, most schools have standards of behavior we are expected to observe. They also have a mission statement. Also make sure that you are being hired for the job that you thought you were being hired for.

Here Zides also notes that any new hire should have some plans, what he calls the thirty, sixty, and ninety day plans. It will take time to learn the new job. It will take time to understand and navigate the company culture.

One of his excellent pieces of advice is to find a mentor. It does not have to be formal, but find someone more experienced who can show you the ropes. For example, I will be eternally grateful to the principal of that school that I ended up taking the job with. He just gave me lots of practical advice, as did a couple of other more experienced teachers.

Zides is again slightly counter-cultural here:

The goal in finding an internal mentor is someone who can help you navigate your way through the company. Someone who can support you, give unbiased feedback, and provide a different perspective. In the current political landscape, people have become afraid of other perspectives. They have an all or nothing mentality; anyone who believes differently is the enemy. You have to rid yourself of that idea and instead seek to understand even when you don’t agree. Remember, a mentorship is not just about taking. You need to provide value to your mentor as well…All relationships are give-and-take, and a mentorship is no different. (124-125)

E is evaluate. This section can also be important. Sometimes people find themselves in a toxic workplace. That may be extreme, but what do you do? Or, perhaps after a few years, you decide it is time to move on. How do you know? What if you are looking for a career change?

Zides again gives very practical advice. For one thing, the author himself has worked for small companies and large well-known outfits, and he has started his own businesses. He gives examples from each and tells why he made moves when he did and what did and did not work.

Books given at graduation are often motivational and meditational. If this book is given at graduation, it may be too late. This would be perfect for someone who will be graduating, whether from college or a graduate program of some kind, in six months to a year.

The #Pace, as you can see even from the two quotations given here, is very frank. It is direct. Occasionally it is profane, which might not appeal to some readers, but if you equate the profanity with honesty and directness, it should not offend.

The author also notes that career plans change. Goals may change. Some people are working for the paycheck or the profit. Others are working to help people. Some are working because they seek some kind of authority. Some are attracted to different fields or people groups. It is not all about the Benjamins, but about satisfaction. The #Pace can be a compass to orient you in the best direction as well a map to help get you there.