To help your career in 2017, here is a selection of new books that provide guidance on topics such as changing careers, finding a good job, professional development, networking and achieving your goals.
“Pivot: The Only Move That Matters is Your Next One”
Former Google career development manager and current career coach Jenny Blake explains a four-step, incremental method to change your career in “Pivot.” The steps include:
- Planning your career and goals for the future.
- Getting a good idea of your strengths.
- Figuring our how to get from where you are, to where you want to be.
Blake offers dozens of how-to exercises to illustrate how you make small changes in the right direction. She advocates making small changes in succession until you reach an ultimate career goal.
“Reinvention Roadmap”
Liz Ryan, founder and CEO of Human Workplace, gives her tips on how to reinvent yourself as you look for new opportunities and new career paths.
Her 20-plus years of experience in HR demonstrate her expertise.
Ryan has more than 1 million followers on LinkedIn, so you should listen heartily to the concepts presented in her book “Reinvention Roadmap: Break the Rules to Get the Job You Want and Career You Deserve.”
“Designing Your Life”
“Designing Your Life: How to Build a Well-Lived, Joyful Life,” by professors Bill Burnett and Dave Evans of Stanford University’s design department, explores how interior design principles can be used to improve your life and career.
The authors talk about a five-step, life/career design process. The trick to design the life you want lies in continually testing things in small yet impactful ways until you discover what works best.
For example, the pair say you should explore your next move by conducting interviews with someone who made the same decision in their past that you’re pondering for your future.
In the midst of the interviews, you get a feel for the reality of your possible path and whether it measures up to your expectations, effort and expertise.
“Build Your Dream Network”
We all know that developing meaningful connections, both off and online, is important for our careers.
However, many of us don’t make the time to do so. We also don’t go about it in a well planned and strategic way.
Author J. Kelly Hoey provides great tips, expert interviews and checklists, to help you make the process easier and effective.
Happy reading!