Best career books to give your job prospects a boost

Love your job or loathe it, we could probably all do with a little bit of a boost when it comes to our careers. Whether we’re looking for a promotion, want a pay rise, need a new challenge or want to finally pursue that pipe-dream side-hustle, there’s always more to learn about work and yourself.

Luckily, we can help. No, we can’t give you a new job or make you like that colleague who chews really obnoxiously or makes too-loud phone calls all day long – but we can recommend the best of the best when it comes to business books.

Whether you want to run your own business, boost your confidence or just feel a little more fulfilled every day, there’s something for you. Check them out and vote on your favourite.

Best career books 2019

You know you're in safe hands when you buy this book – various versions have sold over ten million copies. The quintessential guide to job hunting, What Color is Your Parachute? helps you navigate the professional landscape and end up with your dream job.You may have already come across some of the practical tools in this book, which are now considered to be business classics. But Bolles has also updated the book with brand new strategies on how to find work on social media or online, so there’s something for everyone.

If you’ve ever wanted to make some money from a side-hustle or are more of a generalist than a specialist, this book is for you. Promising to help you “convert your craft into a career or your side-hustle into a start-up”,The Multi-Hyphen Methodis an invaluable guide for those keen to make their own way in the world.

Emma Gannon, author of the book, is a perfect case in point – not only does she write books but she blogs, podcasts and has also worked in social media. A great way to inspire yourself to pursue new challenges.

Written by philosopher and School of Life co-founder Roman Krznaric, this book takes a more philosophical look at what it means to be fulfilled at work.

The blurb of the book notes that the desire to be emotionally and intellectually fulfilled at work is a fairly new invention – not only do we expect to make money at work, we also expect to feel good about what we’re doing. How we get to that place is somewhat complicated, however. If you’re a deep thinker who wants to ask the big questions, this is for you.

In 2019, it can be pretty easy to find a job – just hop onto LinkedIn and you're faced with plenty of options. But understanding what the reams of data we’re party to actually means is a very different prospect. This book looks to simplify it.The New Rules of Work is incredibly hands on: you won’t get much philosophical rumination here, instead seeing a focus on structured tips and practical exercise. It also has advice for wherever you are in your career – just starting out, trying to establish yourself or looking to enter a new industry entirely mid-way through your career. Great for those who favour practical advice over introspection.

Whilst other books exhort you to develop passion for your career, Cal Newport takes a different approach. He believes – as the title of the book amply indicates – that “skills trump passion”. In other words, you’re better off honing your skills than you are almost anything else.

If you’re an idealist, this probably isn’t for you – Newport rejects the idea that all you need is a good attitude to get ahead. Instead, he stays firmly realistic. Work on what you’ve got, Newport says – that, not your passion, will be key to success.

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