Book Review: The Legal Alien’s Guide by Tatiana Sorokina

The Legal Alien's Guide: Building a Career and Life in Chicago, Illinois was written by Chicago networker Tatiana Sorokina.  I met her through the blogosphere and was excited to learn about her book.  She also writes a blog, which complements her book. Originally from Russia, she eventually wound up in Chicago and felt like an outsider because her friends, family, and professional ambitions were left behind.

So, what was she to do to get her bearings in this new country?  Fortunately, she did know a career counselor in Chicago who told her about the importance of networking and provided her with an initial list of networking organizations. It took her awhile to build the courage and start meeting people. Once she started, she hasn’t looked back. I can say the same thing is true for me. Once I experienced the power of relationships, I became addicted to wanting to meet and help people. 

What did Tatiana learn about networking in the U.S.?

Tatiana was used to sticking with her friends at networking events so she didn't have to talk to new people. Well, all that changed when she moved to the U.S. because she didn't know anyone.  In the beginning, Tatiana felt uncomfortable attending events. Over time, she learned how to network by having answers to the following questions:

• Where are you going in your career?
• What can you expect from the event?
• What is the structure and atmosphere of the event?
• What are the advantages of attending the event?
• Who are you going to meet?

Why did she write this book?

Tatiana wrote this book to share her experience of transitioning to the American professional life.  She wants to make it easier for anyone moving to Chicago, from abroad and from other U.S. cities.

What content is in the book?

Tatiana spent over a year researching, analyzing, and filtering data about various Chicago networking organizations.  The book is a result of her hard work, which is a comprehensive list of networking resources in Chicago.

The book discusses the following networking resources.  What is nice about each section is that Tatiana provides her perspectives as to why each type of organization is good for networking.

• Churches
• Country-Specific Groups
• International Organizations
• Local Organizations
• Minority Organizations
• For All Ages
• Professional Organizations
• For Those in Career Transition
• For Entrepreneurs
• Educational Resources
• Job Clubs in Illinois

So, what do I think about the book?

As an avid Chicago networker, I haven’t come across a book like this before. While it is a comprehensive list of resources, it does not include all of the organizations in Chicago.   It is impossible to list every one, which Tatiana knows.  While her book is a good beginning point for someone just getting started, you shouldn’t only rely on this book. Spend time researching groups online and by talking to people. In fact, I have put together a fairly comprehensive list at Jacobsohn.com.  With these two resources, the beginner and experienced networker will have more knowledge to what is out there in Chicago. Even if you don't live in Chicago, use this as a guide to find the various networking organizations in your city.

I always enjoy reading about successful networking stories.  In fact, I am a big believer in people sharing what they learned so The Legal Alien's Guide: Building a Career and Life in Chicago, Illinois is an interesting read from that standpoint.