The Best Books You Should Read If You Need Killer Career Advice

There is no definitive guide to succeeding in your career – unfortunately! However there quite a few books out there that are packed with useful tips, ideas and general advice that can apply to any career – or even in your day-to-day life. Here are a few of our favourites!

#1 The Art of Work by Jeff Goins

Writer Jeff Goins created this best selling book to help you find your true calling and decide exactly what you were born to do! Jeff believes that you don’t have to be stuck in a job you don’t enjoy, and that everybody can find the work they love.

#2 Damn Good Advice (for people with talent) by George Lois

This little book contains 120 snippets of wisdom, from general words of advice for your career to stories from the author’s own life. It’s perfect for diving in and out of, as a thought-of-the-day whilst you eat your breakfast. The author, George Lois, was the director of many advertising agencies so this book would be particularly useful to entrepreneurs, but overall it gives short, snappy business advice.

#3 You, Only Better by Nicholas Bate

Being at your best, most productive and highly focused is what all career girls wish to achieve, but this ideal state is tough to maintain. ‘You, Only Better’ is a really well-written guide to being the best you can be. It is brilliantly illustrated but it’s not a passive read; you’re required to complete tasks and ask yourself lots of questions, so the more effort you put in, the more you will develop and progress.

#4 Just The Job by John Lees

Perfect for those in the middle of their job search, this book covers the basics that you’ve probably already thought of and more, from creating a catalogue of your strengths to using a system for researching and analysing potential opportunities. By preparing for your job hunt, this book gives you a much better chance of getting hired!

#5 Be Your Own Career Coach by Rus Slater

The best career advice books are those that force you to think and evaluate yourself. In each chapter, this book sets out exercises for you to take part in and includes case studies that you can relate to. It isn’t just about the job search; it focuses on networking and ‘your brand’ too, as well future-proofing your career – something we’d all like to do!

#6 Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway by Susan Jeffers

When you think about it, many of the reasons we don’t progress boil down to fear. This book doesn’t teach you how to get rid of the fear, but view it objectively and work through any worries you have. This probably applies to so much of your work and could be subconsciously holding you back – use fear as motivation, not a restraint.

#7 What’s Stopping You by Robert Kelsey

You’ve probably had the title of this book mentioned to you at some point. All of us experience fear but understanding it and looking to the cause can help us overcome fear. This book is different to ‘Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway’ in that it is a more structured course; if you prefer a detailed and objective approach to working through your worries, this book will suit you better.

#8 Brilliant Personal Development by Max A Eggert

It’s the most hefty book in this list, but don’t let that put you off! It covers many topics, from discovering the strengths and beliefs you already possess to developing career and life goals for yourself to strive for. The main message to take from this book is that you’re not alone – although you need to work hard, it recognises that other people play a big part in your self-development too.

#9 Who Moved My Cheese by Dr Spencer Johnson

The title sounds strange, but the cheese mentioned can a metaphor for anything you like; your relationship, your health or your career. ‘Who Moved My Cheese’ explores how we react to change with a fairly simple message allowing room for interpretation and application. Within your job, change will occur naturally and it is those that adapt in the best way who will be more successful.

#10 Cope with Change at Work by Sue Stockdale and Clive Steeper

For a more structured guide to coping with change compared with ‘Who Moved My Cheese’, take a look through this book. The self-assessment sections are particularly useful, as even though some points might seem like common sense, they help you view a situation in a different way. Also, the 30 day/3 month/6 month plans are brilliant tools to ensure that you keep moving in the right career direction.

Written by Genieve Crump.

Do you know of any more books on career advice?

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