Your guide to making a fortune

Jengyee Liang has never been at a loss for landing a prime position when it comes to work ? paid or otherwise ? so she’s decided to share with other young jobseekers what she’s learned. Upon graduating from UC Berkeley last May, Liang, a Huntington Beach resident, decided to write a book on job hunting and how students can make the most of their professional experiences.

Liang, aged 23, penned the book, “Hello Real World! A Student’s Approach to Great Internships, Co-ops and Entry-Level Positions,” based on her internship experiences at four Fortune 100 companies.

“It speaks directly from the student’s point of view,” Liang said of the book, published in February by BookSurge and is available online. “It’s ideal for busy students and professionals who supervise or mentor employees new to the workforce.”

Liang, who accepted a position with Procter & Gamble following graduation last May, divided her book into six parts. The first part gives tips on landing an internship, followed by the job-search process, what to do between getting a job offer and starting the job, what to do when you get there, a reflection period and Liang’s perspective on her entry-level, full-time position.

Liang said she never thought she’d write a book, but work experiences led the 2001 Marina High graduate to change her mind. At the suggestion of Shirley Rivera, a graduate of UC Berkeley and mentor-turned-friend to Liang, she began to jot down thoughts relating to her work experiences in a journal.

Moving from putting down thoughts in a journal to writing her first book seemed a natural progression, Liang said.

“I had a lot to write about,” Liang said. “I also had several friends come to me, asking how to land internships. This is a reference type of book that’s easy to read. It’s an organized way to provide answers to a lot of questions concerning internships and entry-level positions.”

Liang has been invited on several occasions by the career center at UC Berkeley to speak with fellow students about her internship experiences.

“I think it’s pretty cool that she turned what began as a journal into a book,” said Rivera, who wrote the forward to the book. “Jengyee has strong credentials and solid summer internship experience.

“Even though she encountered a few problems during a few of her internships, I encouraged her to look for the positive in her experiences, write down her thoughts in a journal, see what pattern reemerges. She’s focused and driven and very consistent when it comes to her work ethic.”

“I want students to feel empowered after reading the book,” Liang said. “It also benefits employees, too, as it serves as a reminder to them of what a student goes through in the job process.

“But it’s up to a student to make the most of his or her experiences. My goal with the book is to provide them with guidance and answers as they go through the process.”hbi.16-happs-CPhotoInfoOG1OUPUC20060316iw57aqknMARK DUSTIN / INDEPENDENT(LA)Marina High School graduate Jengyee Liang recently published ‘Hello Real World! A Student’s Approach to Great Internships, Co-ops, and Entry-Level Positions.’