About.com Job Searching guest author Tom Denham suggests reading at least three career development books during the summer. That's a really good suggestion. My "to read" pile of books usually includes lots of fiction, and this summer, thanks to my daughter telling me I had to read them even though I don't have much interest in vampires, I'm hooked on Charlaine Harris and Sookie Stackhouse.
That said, I do try to read some job search and career related books, too, and I've recently had the chance to read some excellent ones.
This summer, there are plenty of good books to choose from. Given that we're in the middle of summer and nobody wants to spend all their time reading serious books, pick a couple from my short list and you'll give your job search or your career, if you're not in the middle of a job hunt, a boost.
Me 2.0 by Dan Schawbel. Dan is one of my favorite people and he has been an expert on personal branding since before anyone knew what it was. If you want to work on building your brand, and we all should be doing that, add Me 2.0 to your summer reading list.Guerilla Marketing for Job Hunters 2.0 by Jay Conrad Levinson and David Perry. Given this tough job market, trying something different when it comes to job searching can work to your advantage. This book is a must-read for anyone in the midst of a job search. By the way, I'm honored to have a short piece on women and networking included in the book.
Fired to Hired by Tory Johnson. Tory Johnson, of Women for Hire fame, shares her expertise on bouncing back from a job loss. If you've lost your job, and it can happen to any of us, this book will help you get back on track.
Undress for Success by Kate Lister and Tom Harnish. Wouldn't everyone love to work from home in whatever stage of undress we felt like? Before you take that leap, spend some time reading Undress for Success. It will step you through the process of figuring out whether work from home is a viable option and what you need to do to make it happen.
I'd love some more suggestions for great career books, so if you have a favorite, add a quick note to the Comments at the bottom of the post.
Image © Alex Nikada
A classic from Barbara Sher–I Could Do Anything If I Only Knew What It Was. This book helped me make changes in my work life. Great section on commitment.
A book that’s not about careers, but using research on great success, the underlying message is that you can go after what you really want in the long term, regardless of your current skill or talent. Malcolm Gladwell’s Outliers.
OK, the big disclosure–yep, I confess–this is my book, but it does seem to have its own niche for people wanting to do practical steps for figuring out a new career –Guide to Lifework: Working with Integrity and Heart Very short but a complete set of creative actions to get you from figuring out your career to action plan.
Hi Alison – Two books I highly recommend – and I have completed reviews on my LinkedIn profile: Highly Effective Networking: Meet the Right People and Get a Great Job AND
The Unwritten Rules of the Highly Effective Job Search: The Proven Program Used by the Worlds Leading Career Services Company. Both books are written by Orville Pierson.