Best career books to give your job prospects a boost

published 22 September 2019

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

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 Method is 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.

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.

The Myth of the Nice Girl, Fran Hauser takes aim at “niceness” – that elusive quality many women struggle with throughout their careers. Too nice, and you’re a walkover. Too tough, and you’re a bitch. How do you toe the line?Hauser thinks this is all wrong. In fact, she argues, you don’t have to “hide your authentic personality to be successful”. Advice includes how to start busting stereotypes, how to balanc empathy with decision-making, and how to grow your confidence.

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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