How to survive -- at work

I know how to operate a cash register. I know how to shelve books in a library. I know CPR. I know how to serve a crowded table without spilling an entire tray of food on the restaurant patrons. I have learned all these things on the job through training and learning experience. \nHowever, there are plenty of skills that I have not the first clue about; some skills employers may even seek. Enter "The Worst Case Scenario Survival Handbook: Work." This slim volume offers advice on how to do everything from clean up a spill on aisle seven to how to interview for the chief executive officer position of a company. Former working stiffs Joshua Piven and David Borgenicht serve up useful tidbits to help out the janitor and CEO, and everybody in between.\nWork can be bad enough, but what if something goes horribly wrong? The step-by-step instructions provided help out in a range of situations. From practical information like interview advice and professional wardrobe pointers to whimsical entertainments like "buzzword" bingo, this small volume is jam-packed with the best and most humorous advice from the experts in many fields. \nI found the advice in the appearance section most useful. I don't really know when someone would need to fake a tattoo for a job, but I have a suspicion that more than one person needs to figure out how to hide his or hers. Many may not believe there are options other than the pricey laser removal surgery; "The Worst Case Scenario Survival Handbook: Work" provides more than one alternative to the expensive surgery, including makeup and camouflaging clothing. There were also step-by-step directions on how to cover piercing holes; many college students who have "unprofessional" piercings can use the helpful cover up tips, and it requires minimal makeup.\nThere was also some advice provided that I don't necessarily think is the best to follow, but still entertaining. There were more than four techniques provided for sneaking out of meetings, depending on the table and meeting type. There were also game boards for "buzzword" bingo in the appendix, so boring meetings can become an entertaining exercise. One helpful tip offered by the authors was "Don't shout out 'BINGO' during a meeting. Then you will give away what you are doing." \n"The Worst Case Scenario Survival Handbook: Work" provides an entertaining read for the working stiffs among us, and I highly recommend it as a gift for a graduating senior. The advice may not apply to everybody, but then again, it's probably a good thing. Hopefully the future graduates won't have to figure out how to clean up aisle spills in the grocery store and instead can rely on their employees to do so. This "Survival Handbook" will make a much appreciated gift for those among us who are leaving the ivy halls of academia and entering the real world.