At Imprimis Group, we’re not just passionate about connecting great professionals with great companies. We’re just as fascinated by all of the ingredients that contribute to organizational and individual success, so we’re avid readers of business and career books.
As you might imagine, the subject of impactful career books comes up often when we meet with many of DFW’s most successful professionals, including hiring managers and candidates. What we learn, we love to share. So here are some of the most widely raved-about guides to adapting to change, taking risks, switching careers, interviewing, and networking. Each of these books has earned at least 4 stars on Amazon:
ADAPTING TO CHANGE
The New Rules of Work: The Modern Playbook for Navigating Your Career by Alexandra Cavoulacos
Today’s career trajectories aren’t typically linear and workplaces aren’t as predictable either. This fascinating read presents the “new rules” for choosing the right career, landing your dream job, and enhancing your current career, including tips and practical exercises. It explains how to sift through today’s growing menu of job and career options using the step-by-step Muse Method. Previous generations didn’t have to become masters in the arts of communication, brand building, and soft skills, but these are career imperatives for professionals in all fields today. If you have a decade or more ahead of you in the modern workplace, this guide will provide a playbook for navigating it all.
TAKING RISKS
The Confidence Code: The Science and Art of Self-Assurance – What Women Should Know by Katty Kay and Claire Shipman
Our recent post, Women, Risk Aversion Could Be Hurting Your Career pointed out key findings from recent studies about the importance of confidence and risk taking in careers. Women who rated themselves as extremely confident were 22 percentage points more comfortable promoting themselves and 25 percentage points more comfortable asking for a new position. Yet, while 55 percent of women believe taking risks enables career progression, risk-taking ranked near the bottom of respondents’ lists of what contributed to their success. Taking risks requires confidence, and this book offers practical advice and inspiration for intelligent, accomplished, and professional women to close the confidence gap and achieve the careers they want. It explains the mythologies holding many women back and provides real-world examples of women in a variety of fields who are winning the daily negotiations that comprise an ascending career. The Confidence Code is a worthwhile read for women at all career stages.
SWITCHING CAREERS
Switchers: How Smart Professionals Change Careers – and Seize Success by Dawn Graham
Are you settling for a profession that doesn’t reflect your passions and reward your talents? It can be difficult to make a career transition by following the usual job search protocols because resumes and job boards have not been designed to support career switches. To do this successfully, you must first learn fresh approaches that have resulted in successful transitions. Celebrated career coach and psychologist Dr. Dawn Graham provides strategies for re-branding yourself, highlighting transferable skills that hiring managers value, convincing skeptical employers to take a chance, overcoming objections, and even negotiating a competitive compensation package. Switchers provides practical exercises, insights into the psychology of HR and hiring managers, and inspiring success stories to empower your career transition.
INTERVIEWING
Stand Out at the Job Interview to Land the Coveted Job by Ernest Enabulele
Landing a job interview is no small feat, but with an average of 10 highly qualified competitors per open position, the winning candidate will have the strongest preparation and interview strategies. This book provides a wealth of job interview tips and a breakdown of common questions and scenarios. It explains the intent and psychology behind the questions and offers advice as to how you should and should not pitch your skill set. Once you are offered a job, the book provides valuable negotiating tactics to maximize your perceived worth and compensation. Just reading this book will arm you with the skills you need to approach interviews with confidence, and that’s half the battle.
NETWORKING
Never Eat Alone and Other Secrets to Success, One Relationship at a Time by Keith Ferrazzi
Why is LinkedIn so popular? Why are so many positions filled through referrals? And why is membership in professional associations so important? The answer to all of these questions is that having a professional network and close connections with people who can help you develop in your career is essential to your success. As author and master networker Keith Ferrazzi claims, “What distinguishes highly successful people from everyone else is the way they use the power of relationships—so that everyone wins.” This book provides practical strategies (including social media), specific steps, thought-provoking insights, and inspiring anecdotes to get you in the habit of developing meaningful professional connections—and enjoying the process.
Have you read a career-related book that you think could help others in Dallas-Fort Worth? Our community would love to hear your recommendations and impressions on Facebook!