Skip Entry-Level: 5 Best Books for a Career Pivot
Many hardworking professionals often become tired of their current role after several years and are eager to change career paths.
However, you might worry that moving to a new field might force you to move back down to the bottom of the career ladder.
The good news is that you likely possess many transferable skills and extensive experience that would make you a valuable asset to many companies.
If you don’t want to lose your great-paying salary or seniority, many books are available to help make a smooth transition into an exciting new role.
Continue reading to discover the five best books for changing careers without starting at the bottom.
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1. Pivot: The Only Move That Matters is Your Next One by Jenny Blake
Jenny Blake, a former career development lead at Google, wrote Pivot: The Only Move That Matters is Your Next One to inspire hardworking professionals to take smarter steps in their careers.
Rather than encouraging readers to jump feet first into a new career, Blake recommends pivoting to a new role by embracing your skills and experience while targeting a new territory.
It is a fantastic book for those who want to carefully map their next career move, identify new opportunities, learn new skills, and tap into their strengths.
View on Amazon: Pivot: The Only Move That Matters is Your Next One by Jenny Blake
2. The 2-Hour Job Search by Steve Dalton
The 2-Hour Job Search by Steve Dalton teaches readers to skip the monotonous online applications and form connections with a company’s decision-makers.
The book will teach you the three steps you need to learn to choose, prioritize, and reach out to prospective employers to secure an interview.
The book will provide expert advice on how to effectively surf job postings online, form connections at your dream company, and provide tips for using LinkedIn, Google, and Indeed to your advantage.
View on Amazon: The 2-Hour Job Search by Steve Dalton
3. Designing Your Life by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans
If you’re thinking about quitting your job, read Designing Your Life by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans first.
The Stanford innovators have taken the time to detail how design thinking can help readers develop a more fulfilling and meaningful life and career at any age.
It proves how design thinking, commonly used for technologies and products, can be applied to a person’s life and professional goals.
The book is based on the Designing Your Life class, which is one of the most popular courses in Silicon Valley.
Two academic studies have proven that design thinking can reduce career anxiety and help people achieve their goals at any stage of their lives.
View on Amazon: Designing Your Life by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans
4. Working Identity: Unconventional Strategies for Reinventing Your Career by Herminia Ibarra
If your job brings you little joy, or you’re eager to embrace a new challenge, grab a copy of Working Identity: Unconventional Strategies for Reinventing Your Career by Herminia Ibarra.
Ibarra, a professor at Charles S. London Business School, encourages people to ignore traditional advice from career experts, who often advise people to figure out what they want before acting.
Instead, she encourages people to experiment with new professional activities, network with people in different industries, and consider various possibilities.
It’s a must-read for those who feel stuck in their current roles and want to reinvent themselves but aren’t sure how.
View on Amazon: Working Identity: Unconventional Strategies for Reinventing Your Career by Herminia Ibarra
5. The 10% Entrepreneur by Patrick J. McGinnis
If you are considering launching a new business or are eager to improve your employability, but don’t want to say goodbye to your job security, read The 10% Entrepreneur by Patrick J. McGinnis.
The book offers advice to incorporate entrepreneurship into your daily life. With his help, you’ll learn how to invest 10% of your time and potentially 10% of your capital into an exciting side project.
It’s a must-read for those who want to boost their income, expand their skills, develop new career opportunities, and achieve many dreams.
View on Amazon: The 10% Entrepreneur by Patrick J. McGinnis
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