The New Rules of Work Summary

Are you searching for more than just a job and instead longing for a career that aligns with your values and fuels your passion? “The New Rules of Work” will guide you through building a meaningful professional path for today’s ever-changing work landscape.

1. Understand Your Core Values to Choose the Right Job

The perfect career isn’t just about salary or a fancy title; it’s about a role that aligns with who you are. To find that role, start by identifying your personal values. Do you seek creativity, impact, or a flexible work-life balance? Only when you know what truly matters to you can you make informed career decisions.

Kathryn, one of the authors, learned this the hard way. Though her foreign service job at the US embassy initially seemed ideal, she soon realized it didn’t align with her need to create visible change through her work. Identifying that discrepancy allowed her to shift her career in a new direction. Similarly, Alex pursued genetics, only to discover in grad school that she wasn’t passionate about the day-to-day lab work. Both women redefined their careers based on their values and created fulfilling new paths.

Defining your values also helps you resist external influences. Parents, professors, or society may have expectations, but following a route that’s not yours leads to dissatisfaction. Alex’s decision to transition from science to consulting required breaking free from what her younger self imagined and focusing instead on what she truly enjoyed.

Examples

• Kathryn’s dream job at the embassy felt unfulfilling because it lacked measurable impact.
• Alex switched from genetics to consulting after reassessing her interests and values.
• Job-seekers often feel pressure to meet parental expectations but find more joy when choosing based on personal principles.

2. Strategic Research Expands Career Possibilities

Jumping blindly into job applications leads to mismatches. Instead, deep research can uncover roles that not only match your skills but also allow you to live in accordance with your values.

Take Sarah. A literature major, she thought publishing was the perfect career until she realized it didn’t offer the direct interaction with authors she craved. Realigning her job search to include self-publishing startups, Sarah found a role that allowed her to collaborate directly with creative talent and diversify her daily tasks.

Creating a values-focused grid can help. List roles or industries you’re interested in, and evaluate them against your top three values. This visualization offers clarity and narrows down options. To refine the list, connect with professionals in the industry through LinkedIn or in-person meetings. Seeing others’ career paths or asking detailed questions about their roles helps remove guesswork and prepares you with industry insights.

Examples

• Sarah pivoted from traditional publishing to a startup that aligned with her desire for direct author interaction.
• Kathryn shadowed a startup CEO to gain insights before launching a career in entrepreneurship.
• LinkedIn profiles provide an easy way to understand professional trajectories in potential fields.

3. Build a Personal Brand that Reflects Your Strengths

Personal branding isn’t just for corporations – everyone should cultivate an identity that communicates their unique characteristics and value to employers. By crafting your brand, you influence the way hiring managers and peers perceive you.

For example, Jennifer discovered her coworkers described her as “super nice” and “collaborative.” She reframed these traits professionally by describing herself as a strong relationship builder with excellent follow-through. Similarly, Zach reimagined his traits, like being “stubborn,” into qualities of ambition and confident leadership. Personal branding is about emphatically but truthfully highlighting your strengths.

Modern tools like personal websites serve as platforms to showcase your skills. Jillian Youngblood, transitioning from politics to tech, used a self-created website to demonstrate her coding abilities. That added dimension to her brand landed her an interview, showing how creative self-presentation opens doors.

Examples

• Jennifer turned descriptions like “nice” into valuable workplace attributes like collaboration.
• Zach reframed “stubborn” into a more positive description of confidence and ambition.
• Jillian built a personal website to highlight her coding skills and won a job interview.

4. Nurture Connections Beyond Networking Events

Networking doesn’t need to feel like a tedious obligation. True professional connections come from authentic and meaningful interactions, not just handing out business cards at events.

For instance, LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman invites hand-picked connections to dinner gatherings, nurturing deep conversations and collaborations. Meanwhile, Alex stayed in touch with a writer she met at a conference, which developed into a professional favor when the writer’s expertise fit a project at Alex’s company. Networking is more effective when it focuses on building genuine, long-term relationships rather than immediate favors.

Beyond formal platforms, send personal follow-ups to anyone who has sparked your interest. Professional relationships are valuable even without tangible opportunities right now – they may lead to mentorship, recommendations, or unexpected job offers down the road.

Examples

• At Reid Hoffman’s curated dinners, attendees expand their networks in intimate, valuable ways.
• Alex befriended a writer who went on to assist her during a crucial work project.
• Elliott Bell reached out on LinkedIn after hearing Kathryn speak, leading to a multi-year job at The Muse.

5. Tailor Applications for Maximum Impact

Your résumé and cover letter are your first chance to stand out, so craft them to reflect the unique value you bring to the table. Avoid generic submissions – instead, tailor your application to the specific role and company.

Abby Wolfe differentiated herself by making her cover letter a creative narrative, tying her personal story to the company’s culture and adding humorous references. Her personalized approach caught the hiring team’s attention and made her application unforgettable. Another applicant to BuzzFeed tailored her application to fit their content style, showing she understood the company’s branding.

Put the most relevant experience at the top of your résumé and write clear, measurable results. A master résumé document can help you quickly customize applications for different roles.

Examples

• Abby Wolfe’s captivating cover letter helped her land an internship with The Muse.
• A BuzzFeed applicant creatively formatted her résumé into a typical BuzzFeed listicle.
• Highlighting measurable achievements, like increasing sales, differs from listing generic job duties.

6. Negotiate the Job That Suits Your Needs

When offered a position, use the opportunity not just to celebrate but to ensure that the role meets your financial, professional, and personal expectations. Be willing to negotiate for better conditions.

For example, Kathryn accepted a job without researching the company culture and was disappointed to find it uninspiring. Defining and addressing her priorities beforehand would have prevented this mismatch. Another job seeker negotiated for a better title, turning “assistant” into “generalist,” thus enhancing future résumé appeal.

Understanding that employers expect some level of negotiation can boost your confidence. Discuss benefits, titles, or flexibility in remote work. Even if salary isn’t adjustable, other perks can elevate your quality of life.

Examples

• Researching employee turnover on LinkedIn helps vet company culture.
• One employee negotiated a “generalist” title to better reflect her responsibilities.
• Companies expect questions from hires – leverage that to personalize your contract.

7. Master Communication Across Teams

Strong communication doesn’t happen by accident – it’s cultivated by choosing the right methods and tailoring approaches to your audience. Effective workplace communication builds trust and collaboration.

Alex adapted her style by recognizing two managers had different preferences, saving questions for her analytical boss while rapid-firing queries with a more spontaneous one. Similarly, nurturing relationships across all levels – from recent hires to supervisors – fosters teamwork and mutual learning.

Technology also factors in. Choosing the medium that suits your audience (be it email, phone, or direct chat) ensures efficient exchanges.

Examples

• Alex customized her communication approach based on the personalities of her two managers.
• Building relationships with peers led to timely advice during Kathryn’s company launch.
• Using the right messaging app or email format preserves clarity and saves work hours.

8. Keep Evolving Your Skills

Even after landing your dream role, growth shouldn’t stop. Jobs shift as personal values change and industries evolve. Constant learning keeps you adaptable and opens pathways.

Robyn Scott suggests categorizing tasks by the emotion their completion fosters – a method that turns overwhelming lists into manageable motivators. Likewise, picking up supplementary skills, such as coding, can enhance collaboration with other departments.

Be proactive in your workplace, offering to assist managers or take on new responsibilities. This outward approach positions you for promotions or lateral opportunities without needing to switch companies.

Examples

• Break to-do lists into emotional motivators for better focus.
• Learn in-demand skills, like coding, to stay ahead and work better with certain teams.
• Proactively identify ways to lessen your manager’s load and add value to processes.

9. Assess Values Periodically for Continued Fulfillment

What aligns perfectly now may not be the same as your career progresses. Reassessing priorities ensures you stay satisfied as life circumstances shift.

Think about your goals every few years and adjust your trajectory. Your dream job at 25 may not meet new needs at 35, such as a desire for stability or more work-life balance. Anticipating these shifts improves decision-making.

Avoid stagnation by committing to a long-term perspective. Continually add skills and rethink pathways in response to both internal (values) and external (industry) changes.

Examples

• Periodically evaluate whether your job still aligns with your shifting priorities.
• Keep learning or adapting based on changes in technology or work culture.
• Take lateral professional moves to engage new interests or strengths, even without promotions.

Takeaways

1. Create a personal values grid to narrow down your searches to careers that align with what matters most to you.
2. Build relationships after attending a conference by sending a friendly email within 48 hours, including a link or shared insight.
3. Use storytelling in your cover letter to make it personal and stand out from the pile – creativity will catch attention.