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Reads to get you through every career stage
Reads to get you through every career stage
As our lives unfold, so do our career paths. Regardless of the nature of work, careers are bound to take different directions at various points in our lives – be it due to shifts in interests, presence of new opportunities, or progression in life stages. Each career stage will provide you with valuable opportunities to grow and better craft your professionalism, and there’s no better way to learn than from those who have “been there, done that”. Here’s a round up of good reads to tide you through every stage, and to provide you with guidance and nuggets of wisdom.
From College to Career
Commencing at the very start of one’s career journey, this stage comprises the period in which you transition from school to work. The real world can seem very daunting, and you will struggle to find your place in it. Schooling might have provided you with the skills you require for the job, but you were definitely not taught how to deal with micromanagers, negotiate your pay packages, and wriggle your way out of other tricky work situations. Psyche yourself up for surviving your first job with these few books and more:
- Thriving At Work: What They Didn’t Teach You in School by Michael Dam
- Getting from College to Career by Lindsey Pollak
Going for Gold
You’ve settled into your job and thinking about how to grow your career in the years to come. One thing’s for sure – you can’t do this on your own. You’ll find that human relationships and connections are vital to one’s success at the workplace, so it’s high time to start building your network and finding a mentor who can aid you in your climb. It’s no longer what you know, but who you know. Learn how to network from the pros:
- Never eat alone: And other secrets to success, one relationship at a time by Keith Ferrazzi
- One minute mentoring: How to find and work with a mentor by Kenneth H Blanchard and Claire Diaz-Ortiz
First Leadership Role
Congratulations! You’ve proven your mettle and have finally risen up the ranks in the company. Even if you’ve worked over 10 years to reach this stage, stepping into your first managerial role can prove to be very challenging. First and foremost, you will need to learn how to manage people, before working on capitalising on their strengths and inspiring them to perform at their best. The work’s never done, but how can you best work towards team success once you embark on your leadership journey? Read on:
- How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
- Drive by Daniel H. Pink
Mid-Career Switch
In need of a new adventure to spark that joy in going to work again? Perhaps a mid-career switch is what you need. While this phenomenon is becoming more common, it is not always clear whether change is for the better. Need some guidance on where you should look? Let’s hear it from the experts.
- Designing Your Life by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans
- Do What You Are: Discover the Perfect Career for You Through the Secrets of Personality Type by Paul D. Tieger, Barbara Barron and Kelly Tieger
Breaking and Re-entering
This is especially relevant for those from have taken an extended break from their careers – be it a sabbatical or stay-home parents who may now want to return to work. What have I missed? Will I be able to catch up? How do I deal with working and parenting at the same time? Your fears are not unfounded, but take a leaf out of how others have done it:
- Back on the Career Track by Carol Fishman Cohen and Vivian Steir Rabin
- The Comeback: How Today’s Moms Reenter the Workplace Successfully by Cheryl Casone
Slowing it Down
After decades of constant successes and high levels of performance, the time has ultimately come where you are forced to take on a slower pace and rid yourself of work worries. You will see that life after retirement can be as rewarding, if not more. Take these books as your companions, as you navigate your new “dolce far niente” lifestyle.
- Ikigai: The Japanese secret to a long and happy life by Hector Garcia & Francesc Miralles
- Beyond work: How accomplished people retire successfully by Bill Roiter
For more insightful articles and tips, visit JobStreet.com’s Career Resources page to find out more!
