Our top 12 must-read career books to help you get ahead

Career development tactics, skill development, and motivation are just some of the things a good career book can provide you with. If you are looking to advance your career, books that provide education on these topics can be beneficial. With so many books out there, however, it can be difficult to know where to start. In this blog, we will discover 12 must-read career books that you should check out.

Here’s what we will cover:

• What is a career book?

• How to find the best career book

• Top 12 must-read career books

What is a career book?

Career books can fall into a variety of categories, but all have one primary goal: help with career advancement. Whether you hope to join the leadership team, become promoted, or learn how to do your job better, there are plenty of must-read career books available.

Here’s a look at three different categories of career books and how they might be useful in helping you advance your career:

1. Career planning 

This category of books explores different career options, ways to plan your career path, and set and achieve those goals. By diving into the world of career planning books, you’ll learn how to assess your career, perform an effective job search, and research industries and careers that fit your skills. These types of books also teach how to create effective resumes and cover letters and how to excel during an interview.

2. Leadership 

When you want to grow in your career, leadership skills make up one of the most important skill sets. Career-building books that focus on leadership or management are designed to help you build those skills. Some of the topics may include decision-making, organization, effective communication, and team building. You will also find books on the various leadership styles and what makes them effective. By gaining this knowledge, you can position yourself as someone who drives a company’s success by properly managing a team.

3. Personal development and productivity 

Books in this category focus on individual aspects of becoming a great employee. Some examples include ways to improve individual skills, such as communication, time management, and critical thinking. Other books may teach you how to maintain a good work-life balance or how to develop a positive mindset.

How to find the best career book

The best career book is the one that benefits you and your career directly. Start by setting SMART goals for your career, then you can begin narrowing down the categories you want to explore. At this point, it’s time to start shopping for books! 

When deciding between career books, review a few items to see if it’s the right one for you. Here are four aspects you should consider:

• Author’s knowledge is credible. Credibility is crucial when it comes to books you are reading to advance your career. Start by examining the author’s experience on the subject matter. You want to choose an author with credibility, industry knowledge, and real-world experience.

• Real-world examples include advice. Speaking of the real world, the career books should include real-world examples of how to effectively use the advice. Case studies and success stories can also indicate that you have a must-read career book.

• Actionable tips are understandable. Keep in mind that all the advice found in a career book should be actionable. You should be able to read the book and know exactly what next steps to take. Any strategies should be step-by-step, easy to understand, and simple for you to execute.

• Topic of interest is relevant. Relevance to the topic you are learning about is critical. You want the advice to be current and useful in the modern job market. Since the nature of work evolves, outdated material can hurt your career.

12 Must-read career books

Now that we’ve learned what to look for in a must-read career book, let’s discover the top options. Below are 12 of the best career books in today’s market and why they can benefit you:

1. Influence Is Your Superpower: The Science of Winning Hearts, Sparking Change, and Making Good Things Happen by Zoe Chance

Learn to challenge the idea of influence and what it means to change the world around you. With the ideas in this book, you’ll learn skills to make things happen and bring your great ideas to life in new ways. The idea behind this book is that everyone is born influential. You just have to develop the skills needed to recognize your influence and put it to work for you.

2. Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don’t Know by Adam Grant

The ability to learn new things is at the heart of every great leader. However, another aspect that is equally as important is the ability to re-learn and adapt to a changing world. In this book, you’ll discover just what it means to rethink the things you thought you’d mastered. You will then be able to keep an open mind in the future so you can adapt to all aspects of your life.

3. Expect to Win: 10 Proven Strategies for Thriving in the Workplace by Carla A. Harris

If you are looking for lessons that help you thrive in your career, this is the book for you. Here, you’ll learn valuable lessons related to authenticity, perception, mentorship, leveraging your voice, and balance.

4. Pivot: The Only Move That Matters Is Your Next One by Jenny Blake

For many, there comes a time when transitioning to a completely new career or industry becomes a necessity. Jenny Blake teaches how to make those next moves in her career book Pivot. You’ll learn how to look at your options and move forward by taking small steps instead of leaps.

5. Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ by Daniel Goleman

Being successful isn’t only about how intellectually intelligent you are. By referencing psychology and neuroscience, Daniel Goleman gives us a glimpse into what other aspects help to drive success. This book dives into important topics, such as self-awareness, self-discipline, and empathy.

6. The Confidence Code: The Science and Art of Self-Assurance—What Women Should Know by Katty Kay and Claire Shipman

For women, confidence is critical when advancing their careers. In The Confidence Code, co-authors Kay and Shipman show women how to close the gap so they can reach their career goals.

7. Becoming a Changemaker: An Actionable, Inclusive Guide to Leading Positive Change at Any Level by Alex Budak

By reading this book, you’ll learn practical skills for developing your unique voice for change, dealing with setbacks, and becoming influential, even if you don’t have authority. The book also offers data-driven insights and relevant materials that you can use in your career.

8. Scaling Up Excellence: Getting to More Without Settling for Less by Robert I. Sutton and Huggy Rao

Those who are in positions of leadership will love this book as it teaches how to scale up employees’ skills with excellence in mind. With the advice, you can learn to build better work practices, encourage better performance, and instill the right mindset. These tactics fit with just about any industry, so it is effective for leaders of all types.

9. Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us by Daniel H. Pink

Motivation is a key element in the workforce. Not only is it what drives business productivity, but it can boost employee morale and customer satisfaction. In Daniel H. Pink’s Drive, you’ll learn what motivates people. The book also teaches the three elements of motivation: autonomy, mastery, and purpose.

10. The Long Game: How to Be a Long-Term Thinker in a Short-Term World by Dorie Clark

It’s easy to fall into the trap of only thinking of your career in the short term. Often, we want to get to the next level as quickly as possible, so we fail to think about what’s best for us in the future. The Long Game hopes to change all that by teaching us how to think about ways we can transform our careers that pay off in the long and short run.

11. The Slight Edge: Turning Simple Disciplines into Massive Success and Happiness by Jeff Olson

Sometimes, making choices and decisions means you need to think differently. In The Slight Edge, we discover how using this knowledge to make decisions, including daily choices, can have a huge impact down the road. The book also covers some tools you already have in place to help make better choices.

12. Never Eat Alone: And Other Secrets to Success, One Relationship at a Time by Keith Ferrazzi

It often takes other people to help us along our journey when we are building our careers. That’s why networking and learning to work well with others is so important. In Never Eat Alone, you’ll learn the steps needed to connect with others who can best help you on your career journey.

If you are looking for even more personalized tips to help you build your career, our Career Coaching services may help.

Key takeaways

1. Must-read career books fall into a variety of categories, including career planning, personal development, and leadership development.

2. To find the best career book for you, look for options with actionable tips, relevant information, and real-world examples.

3. Some of the top must-read career books offer advice on networking, leadership development, decision-making, and developing a unique voice.