Make Me an Offer I Can't Refuse: "Gangster" Rules for Your Working Life By Susan Riehle & Susan Riehle

Get the job and life you want! A funny, street-smart guide to search, interview, negotiate, and thrive like a boss.

A career guide that’s smart, funny, and brutally honest about what really works. Learn how to pull off the ultimate career heist: build your own empire and run the joint your own way.

Learn what six-figure earners know

• Make your salary skyrocket—just by knowing how to ask.
• Earn respect from coworkers and trust from the boss.
• Turn interviews into conversations you control.
• Resolve or avoid conflict with ease.
• Build lasting confidence based on skill and strategy.
• Land the job of your dreams.

This book is for...

• Professionals seeking new jobs or promotions
• Career changers and recent graduates
• Corporate employees who want to be leaders or entrepreneurs

Brand-new Edition with Bonus Material!
Melissa Parker, Dean, Harrison College,calls this book “ingenious” for its mix of humor, heart, and hard-won career wisdom. With a clever gangster theme, Susan Riehle helps readers think like insiders—seeing interviews from the employer’s view, mastering a simple six-step plan, and learning from real stories of wins, wipeouts, and comebacks.

Whether you’re launching your first job, switching careers, or dreaming of running your own business, this book teaches the street-smart strategies top professionals use to thrive.

Why Gangsters?
Because they knew how the game was played. They saw through systems, read people fast, and understood leverage—skills every professional needs. Gangsters are the original counter-cultural force in life as well as in fiction. As Al Capone put it, “Capitalism is the legitimate racket of the ruling class.”

Looking at capitalism as a racket lets us see the gimmicks and tricks that allow us to ‘win against the house’ and against all odds. Gangster quotes are simple, direct, and—ironically—often spot-on about legitimate business. Without pulling any punches, these original badasses of business point out the quirks of getting and keeping a job.

Job-hunting and job-keeping are serious business—so you can use a little humor. You have to change to change your luck. I call upon “Lucky,” Al, Dillinger, and Butch to help you do that.

A robber tells Jack Benny, “Give me your money or your life.” Benny pauses, then says, “I’m thinking it over!”

What people are saying
"With an intriguing “gangster” theme, Susan Riehle uncovers little-known strategies for career seekers who use self-evaluation, problem-solving, and careful planning. She examines the employer’s view, offers an interview plan, a six-step process, and shares coaching stories that illustrate practical career planning.

"Tips cover everything from interview responses to salary negotiation, personality dynamics, and conflict resolution.

"This is more than ordinary career advice—it's life advice. With a little something for everyone, and a whole lot more for those ready to advance, change, or breathe new life into their careers, this ingenious book should not be missed."
—Melissa Parker, Dean, Harrison College

About this edition
This new, expanded second edition adds 30% new material—fresh insights, modern examples, and bonus tips. It covers interviewing, salary negotiation, conflict resolution, leadership, and entrepreneurship, all delivered with humor, storytelling, and straight talk.

Think of it as a masterclass in career strategy—updated for today’s fast-changing world. If you’re ready to stop waiting for permission and start running your own operation, this book shows you how to do it your way.