Start low and work your way up the corporate ladder.
Your hard work will get you noticed.
Pay your dues and work long hours and it will pay off.

Sounds like pretty sound advice, just like your dad gave you when you set out into the world of work, right? The problem, says Penelope Trunk in her new book, “Brazen Careerist: The New Rules for Success,” is that such thinking applies to yesterday’s ‘old school’ workforce. “Today, there are new rules, new expectations, and new standards for success,” she writes.

For one thing, she stresses, people are not going to come and throw money at you or necessarily notice the great job you’re doing. That might sound obvious, but it took me years to find out from a manager that I need to “play the game” more if I want to get ahead. I’m a self-professed quiet type, always buried in my laptop, listening to my iTunes, typing away. I had always equated the “game” with office politics, schmoozing, and brown-nosing, all of which I wanted no part — or had time to do! But I’ve learned, it’s sometimes a necessary and even fulfilling part of the job, like sharing news with colleagues and higher-ups about my latest initiatives, like this blog. Had I not sent around a staff email, none of my co-workers would have a clue it even existed.

“Brazen Careerist” solidified for me some of the lessons that I learned the hard way throughout the years. For anyone making their way through corporate struggles, deciding if they should go for an advanced degree or launch a new business, or discovering a completely new line of work, Trunk’s renegade advice is right on. Some other highlights (you’ll have to pick up a copy yourself for the rest!):

- Break job-hunting rules. “Even though the advertisement says no calls, a call is a great way to get someone to pay attention to you when there’s a huge pile of resumes.”

- A messy desk portrays you as unorganized, not busy. “Use your workspace to control how people perceive you.”

- Forget dollars and cents. “Learning new skills is worth a lot more to you, in the long run, than some ridiculous 4 percent raise.”

Add Trunk’s book to your wishlist for her complete 45 rules for success. (And don’t believe everything Dad tells you.)

First thing this morning, my sister emails me. After graduating with a degree in biology a few years back, she’s taught bio at the high school level, worked for the department of health doing West Nile research, and now is a lab instructor at a college. So today when she emailed me that she’s “looking” again (she’s had it with the roach problem and computer glitches in her classroom — don’t ask!), I was a bit surprised. Not that roaches and lost Internet connections turned her off to her current employer (ew!), but that she wants her next job to offer a better salary but be totally unrelated to science! It’s going to be tough to make comparable money in a new field when all of her experience is science-based. What to tell her?

Soon after, a former writer colleague confided in me via IM that she’s also on the hunt despite everyone assuming she’s totally content in her current position. It’s not about money for her; she just doesn’t feel challenged. Of course, this isn’t exactly the best climate to be changing jobs in the journalism arena, with people getting laid off and mags folding left and right. But still, she’s not willing to wait around to see if things improve.

What’s the common thread here? Besides the fact that they both came to me for advice (as if someone who’s been at the same company for nine years knows anything about changing jobs!), both gals do have what by most standards would be considered respectable positions in fields related to their college degree. Yet, for very different reasons, they’re both looking to move on. And guess what? They’re hardly alone.

The U.S. Department of Labor estimates that the average person holds 10 different jobs over their working lives. Full-blown career changes are a different story altogether, and not officially tracked by the DOL, but career experts say changing paths is not all that uncommon. Add to that the fact that they’re both young, independent, and career-driven, and you’ve got yourself the perfect job/career change cocktail.

So how can I best advise them? Despite my anti-job-hopping background, I’ve learned something over the years by speaking with numerous career and education experts, successful pros, and students. So girls, here’s the deal:

For my sister, the career changer: Be prepared to take on something administrative or a temp job and hit the books during off hours. You’ve been thinking about returning to school for some time now, but haven’t been sure about what to pursue. This might be the time for you to take a risk in a totally new field and go for it. Even better, try to get an entry level position in your new field of choice. Although it might mean a pay cut now, when you finish your coursework, you’ll have that all-important experience to pair with your book knowledge.

For my friend, the job changer: If you really feel you’ve grown as far as you can with your company (or don’t like the direction it’s going in), then it’s time to pack up your cube. Be sure to leave on good terms and keep in touch with colleagues, though. Networking might matter someday (like if your editor moves to your dream publication and needs to recommend someone for an opening).

For both of them: Every job should give you something you can take with you to the next job. Put aside the negatives and think about skills you developed, things you learned, and experiences you had that can be strong talking points in your next job interview. Sis, you can describe how you overcame the challenge of teaching a course with limited resources — such improvisation is an impressive trait for any employee. And, gal pal, you can discuss how you taught yourself to create slideshows for your magazine’s Web site to make the most of your downtime and your work more rewarding.

Hope that helps, ladies! And if either of you need a personal reference, I’m your gal!

“Exploring and acting upon one’s educational goals should definitely not be a solo process.”

In fact, I was quoted as saying just that in a recent company press release (it does sound press releasey, doesn’t it?). But, really, I meant what I said.

That’s why I thought I’d share with you some of the interactive ’support systems’ that CollegeSurfing has recently put in place to help you find the right school and career path for you.

> There’s this blog… but you knew that already.

> Then there’s “A Minute with SpaBeautySchools,” another blog that offers a refreshing look at the world of beauty and wellness. If alternative health, holistic healing, and beauty and glamour excite you, add it to your bloglist for sure!

> Then there’s you — our User-Generated Content portal at CollegeSurfing.com to be more accurate. Here, whether you’re an aspiring, current, or former student, educator or industry expert, we invite you to share your experiences, questions, and advice. Check it out and go create your profile.

> Then there’s Career “Ed,” CollegeSurfing’s MySpace persona. Ed’s got an entertaining and informational blog of his own, which riffs on pop culture, career trends, and school stories, along with numerous links to career articles and polls. Similarly, SpaBeautySchools.com’s MySpace presence highlights unique career trends and profiles of top industry professionals within the beauty and wellness fields.

> Don’t forget your offline life. Family, good friends, colleagues, someone you know or get to know in the industry of your interest, the list goes on and on. Nothing compares to the opportunities that arise as the result of talking up your endeavors. That’s what that whole networking thing is about.

And, there you have it! Go forth and surf… And, please do drop me a line to let me know what you think and how else we can help. We’re listening!

It sure doesn’t feel like spring today, weather-wise, but with talk of chocolate bunnies, Spring Break memories, and buzz about “The Sopranos” new season finally coming back on HBO (do you think Tony will make it out of the series alive?), it’s definitely that time of year.

And, of course, there’s also that whole urge to spring clean every aspect of your life, including your career. In fact, experts say it’s a good idea from time to time to rethink your goals and refresh your skills. Even if you’re happy at your job, for instance, it’s smart to keep your resume current.

For those of you looking forward to starting a new career season, however, take some cues from “The Sopranos”:

Wiretap your aptitude. Can your skills and talents translate into a different line of work? Say you’re a waste management consultant. While that job title might seem totally irrelevant to other professions you want to pursue, you probably gained experience like customer service, employee relations, sales, marketing, and more. Think about what you’ve done and what you’re good at, and then listen carefully to advice on how it can apply to a new career field.

Consider offers you can’t refuse. Perhaps the number one reason for putting off a new job hunt or career change is fear of going broke. Unlike placing bets with the local crime boss, though, investing in education isn’t a foolish gamble. When it comes to adult education, you might be surprised to know that financial aid opportunities are available, from Uncle Sam’s assistance and scholarships, to on-the-job training programs and tuition reimbursement from your boss.

Enter a career protection program. With people currently changing careers over five times in their lives, there’s no reason to feel like a disloyal rat if your first (or second, or third) career stint doesn’t work out. Explore various industries to determine where you’ll be happiest, and don’t look back.

If only Tony would do that…

Photo: Barry Wetcher/HBO