6 top books for job seekers

Jobsearch, Jobseekers / 21 April 2023

There’s no avoiding the fact that looking for a new job can quickly drain your motivation and enthusiasm. Whether you’re feeling overwhelmed by the process or you simply don’t know where to start, it’s always helpful to have the right resources to guide and inspire your job hunt.

In this blog post, you’ll find a list of the six best books for job hunters, covering topics like interview skills, matching your career to your personality, and writing an eye-catching CV.

What Color is Your Parachute? by Richard N Bolles

With more than fifty years under its belt, What Color is Your Parachute? is the one book that all job hunters should read. What Color is Your Parachute? has been updated annually since it was first published and provides advice on career development, job search strategies, and career change. It includes a self-inventory assessment called the flower exercise to try for yourself and covers a massive range of topics including:

mindset: how to stay positive and motivated
matching ‘you’ to your career and your job hunt
what job hunting looks like in the now, including the use of social media
resume/CV writing
interviews
salary negotiation

It doesn’t stop with the book either. You can find lots more advice on the Parachute Book website.

Do What You Are by Paul Tieger, Kelly Tieger, And Barbara Barron-Tieger

Do What You Are offers career development and job hunting advice based on your personality type, drawing on the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) personality test.

Do What You Are explains each personality type and helps readers to understand how this can be used to decide on the right career path. The information in this book is split between building self-awareness, applying that knowledge to employment, and job search strategies.

Readers are expected to take the MBTI test before they purchase Do What You Are.

The Art of the Interview by James Storey

As you would assume from the title, The Art of the Interview provides guidance on how to prepare for and perform well in a job interview. It covers topics like:

- how to research the job and the company
- answering common interview questions

reducing stress
communication and storytelling
building rapport with the interviewer
non verbal communication

Art of the Job Search by Heather Hund

Art of the Job Search is a comprehensive guide to the entire process of finding a new job from writing a resume/CV, to attending interviews, and negotiating a job offer. This book breaks the job search process down into actionable steps through a series of exercises and case studies.

Heather Hund places an especial focus on setting clear goals, developing a job hunt strategy, and the importance of networking.

The 7 Second CV by James Reed

The title of this book is based on how long it takes an employer to scan your CV and decide whether to keep or discard it. The 7 Second CV provides practical tips on how to create an effective and attention-grabbing CV, covering topics like:

structure
highlighting your skills and achievements
tailoring your CV to each job you apply for
how to research the employer and the role
the importance of keywords
using clear and concise language
handling gaps in your employment history and other potential red flags

The 2 Hour Job Search by Steve Dalton

Author of The 2 Hour Job Search, Steve Dalton refers to his job search method as a speed-run. The two hours in the title applies to an initial period of setting up the parameters of your job search but the author states that you may need to spend around thirty minutes on your job search each day. In addition to a focus on technology and networking, the book uses a three step process of prioritize, contact, and convince.

The 2 Hour Job Search also provides guidance on preparing for an interview, evaluating and negotiating job offers, and answering common interview questions.

Wrapping it up

Whatever stage of your career and the job hunting process you are at, everyone can benefit from well-informed guidance from people in the know. All of the books mentioned in this blog post draw on years of experience and research to help you get the best out of your job search.