The value of this book may rest more with the questions it raises than its answers. Following their first collaboration (Women for Hire's Get-Ahead Guide to Career Success
), Johnson and Spizman offer women a primer on how to ask for the things that make a career successful—from getting hired to thriving in and advancing in a job. Each clear-cut game plan includes behavioral and conversational tips, workplace insight, pointers on anticipating obstacles and a balance of encouragement with advice on being realistic. When asking for a raise, for example, "base your request... on accomplishments, not personal needs," and keep in mind that the average annual raise in the U.S. is around 4%. The suggested language can be a bit stilted, but provides a useful framework for an actual conversation. A range of "tenacious" female professionals provide "She Asked For It!" sidebar anecdotes of asking and receiving, window-dressing that lends welcome "you-go-girl" inspiration. Because the questions and concrete tactics cut across all stages of a career, this guide should be of interest to anyone who needs help framing requests for what they want or deserve. (Oct.)
