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Whether you want to switch careers or enter the workforce for the first time, there’s so much advice on how to figure out what you want to do, get a company’s attention, and pass an interview. But you may want longform advice from an expert, and these are some of the best books to read as you set out to get a job.
The best books to help figure out your career
For a little self-discovery and motivation, turn to career books on learning more about yourself to determine what your next chapter should even be.
The best books for finding a new job
Knowing what you want to do is half the battle, but finding the right job is a battle itself. As you set about sending cover letters, setting your LinkedIn job alerts, and scrolling Indeed, set aside some time to read these:
Knock ‘em Dead: The Ultimate Job Search Guide by Martin Yate ($10.99) has 4.6 stars out of 5 on Amazon, where digital-age readers have discovered the decades-old (and updated) classic. It features advice on how to get more interviews—plus a section of practice questions to think over before you ever sit face-to-face with a hiring manager. Never Search Alone: The Job Seeker’s Playbook by Phyl Terry ($19.17) lays out a plan for using your established network to access the “hidden” job market and generally turning your job hunt into a group project. It’s a guidebook to the human approach to what can often be a clinical, impersonal process. The Job Closer: Time-Saving Techniques for Acing Resumes, Interviews, Negotiations, and More by Steve Dalton ($12.99) respects the value of your time. After all, you’re not getting paid to look for a job, so speed is kind of important here. Dalton delves into a variety of models and techniques you can practice to breeze through interview questions or the tedious writing of cover letters, turning the job hunt into a manageable sequence of well-practiced steps.
