This might be the most important book you could read for either finding a job or furthering your career.  What does a book about rejection and how to keep it from bothering you have to do with job hunting?  Did you really just ask that question?

Author Jia Jiang will take you on his humorous journey of learning how to hear No without feeling bad, as well as how to get a whole lot more Yes’s.

This book begins by acknowledging that looking for work has changed dramatically in recent years.  Emphasizes that what is key is understanding what you offer a perspective employer that everyone else does not.

Book contains lengthy self-assessment section designed to pinpoint the reader’s unique talents and interests and admonishes, “You were put here on Earth for a reason. You need to find it. These are the steps.”

This book brings together dozens of people’s stories of being out-of-work and returning to earning a living to offer both inspiration and practical advice.

Out-of-Work to Making Money, 21 Comeback Stories Every Job Hunter Should Hear provides tips on navigating unemployment as well as finding work again and includes narratives from people in all walks of life, with very diverse backgrounds and ages.

Written by Morning Joe’s Mika Brzezinski and her less-famous sister-in-law Ginny Brzezinski, this book has countless ideas and resources for women who stopped working for an extended period of time and now want to return to the workforce.

Just published in January 2020. Some of my favorite concepts are the difference between looking older versus looking out-of-date and how to mine experiences from outside your official career as useful job skills. I highly recommend, click for my full review.

This book is by Gabriela Casineanu, a coach who has helped more than 1200 job seekers and people looking to advance in their careers.

It includes real stories of successful job seekers who used Casineanu’s recommended strategies.

This book is by Steve Dalton – published in 2012 and likely to take you 2 days or 2 weeks instead of 2 hours to see results, nonetheless this book is worth considering.

Readers comment that it’s easy-to-follow steps boost confidence and one recent (late 2018) reviewer said the book’s advice led to a good job offer.

This book is filled with real-life examples of people who created businesses that now support them with $100 (or less) investment.  Clear actionable instructions include creating a one-page business plan, a streamlined website.  Ideas for marketing go beyond the usual, such as how a FAQ section of your website can eliminate resistance to buying.

Whether you know a business you’d like to start or are simply wanting to be in control of your own destiny, this book is a great starting point.  Comprehensive info without being overwhelming.

Pat Flynn began his first startup venture when he was laid off from his job.  He has since created a number of successful income streams and runs the podcast Smart Passive Income  In Will it Fly? Flynn teaches others the important steps for determining what kind of business they could start successfully.

Flynn offers a friendly, tutorial approach that conveys both a belief that the reader can create a business and a desire to see people free from worrying about where their next paycheck might come from.

Written by Tim Ferriss, this book contains valuable advice for making the most of the job you have or escaping to a more idyllic situation.  Important concepts include:

• The 80/20 rule
• Limiting interruptions (especially email)
• And how to try out entrepreneurial ideas with little risk.

I loved this book, but find it difficult to describe.  Anyone who has ever felt stuck with a particular problem can benefit from this book… so pretty much everyone.

The book’s title ‘a well-lived, joyful life’ sounded kind of pie-in-the-sky and unattainable to me, but the lessons in this book are actually quite down-to-earth and easy-to-apply.

The only business or success book I’ve encountered that reads like a suspense novel.  The book was highly relatable and contained some useful nuggets of advice.

Bottom message is that creative thinking and perseverance are key to all success.  Alex Banayan’s story shows how both of these are true in his pursuit of the interviews as well as in what the ‘successful people’ tell him once he tracks them down.