Book Review: Weird in a World That’s Not

Jennifer Romolini’s new book Weird in a World That’s Not offers Millennials a joyful romp through Careerville, providing hilarious but important advice and support along the way.

There is something for everyone in Romolini’s telling of her mildly-checkered past and get-it-together trajectory including some mild failure and, importantly, promising present and future career.

Gems include sub-chapters such as “Small Talk When You Like Big Talk” (how to come up with small talk that is interesting enough to you to do it reasonably well, including how to compliment people in ways that can have lasting impact); “Networking for Haters” (Romolini calls networking “small talk with a mission”); and “Meetings Give Me Hives” (she nails how meetings are inevitable yet important and that you must prepare assiduously for them because they will impact your career in key ways).

Romolini helps sensitive, inexperienced Millennials relax about things that may be figments of their imaginations – being perceived as “weird”, thinking the boss hates them, assuming a minor transgression will ruin their career – while emphasizing the seriousness of other actions, like sharing confidential information about the company with a journalist, getting too drunk at an office party or using social media inappropriately. I find I spend an inordinate amount of time reassuring my Millennial clients that they won’t be perceived as “weird” by contacting strangers on LinkedIn and less time on the kinds of details that could in fact negatively impact their careers. Going forward I will simply recommend this book and let Romolini take over with age-appropriate humor tempered with the gravitas that’s required.

Any career books you particularly enjoyed? I’d love your input!

Purchase Links: HarperCollins | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

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