The Unwritten Rules of Professional Etiquette: Building a Positive Reputation in Graduate School Paperback – July 6, 2020

Provided good insight that I didn’t already know and was a quick and easy read.

This book should be required reading for every college student. Whether they decide to go on to graduate school or not, there is a tremendous amount of common sense, insight and basic principles of professionalism included that every student should embrace.Dr. Sharma states "I do not expect students to be perfect; I expect them to be capable of growth." This book gives the students a toolbox filled with examples and ideas they will use well past graduate school. He actually provides the tools needed for that growth. In fact I hope Dr. Sharma considers writing a book for graduates looking for work, going through the interview process as well as, beginning a career.Professors, don't miss the opportunity to use this book in your classes. Give your students an advantage to succeed.

I would highly recommend this book. It is chock-full of useful and practical information while still being a fast read. Students and young professionals alike will benefit from the insider knowledge of what to do and what not to do in your early career without learning the hard way. Well worth it.

Full disclosure: Dr. Sharma is a respected colleague of mine. Regardless, I wish I could have read this book before I started graduate school. It is its own world, and as such it has its own rules of etiquette that are not obvious to newcomers. Navigating the subtleties requires finesse that grows out of experience… at a time when students have little experience from which to draw.This is a quick, easy read that will pay tremendous dividends. As someone once said, “the good is mostly in the absence of the bad.” If you can avoid violating the unspoken rules, then you can create room for your successes to compound.During my time as a student I watched more than few classmates, who were great clinicians, fall short of their potential because they ran afoul of the unstated expectations that Dr. Sharma outlines so clearly. (I also made plenty of mistakes I look back on with embarrassment.) Meanwhile, those who understood the expectations excelled — sometimes in spite of other, more meaningful deficits.Yes, professionalism matters that much. If you are embarking on graduate studies, please do yourself, your colleagues, and your instructors a favor: absorb the wisdom in this book.

This book provides succinct, practical advice for developing a positive reputation that will make people want to help you succeed. As Dr. Sharma writes, "The distinction between competence and professionalism is the reason you cannot assume that, just because you show up to classes in graduate school and get good grades, you will have everything you need to carry you through your career." While coursework and training focus on developing competence, applying the lessons in this book can help students develop professionalism.In addition to contributing to success as a student and as a professional, this book also help students navigate stressful situations such as missing class, asking for recommendations or other assistance, and dealing with a difficult professor.While this book is written for grad students, the advice is just as useful for undergrads and people in the working world.

The media could not be loaded. Pages “68 and 69” in this book are out of place. Chapter Asking for Help, subheading Impostor syndrome is interrupted by Exercise “Self-Inventory of Barriers to Seeking Help” which should come before subheading Impostor Syndrome begins.Digital version on another platform if correct.

More than just excellent advice for graduate students.

This book is full of practical advice on establishing respectful professional relationships that completely aligns with what I believe, based on my professional experience, makes a great colleague. Wish I had had this volume when I was starting out!