5 Best Books to Read in Between Jobs

Job changes can either be exciting or frustrating…or both…depending on the situation. If you are searching for a new challenge or feel like your current position just isn’t right for you, here are a few of the best books to read in between jobs to motivate you to find that ideal role for you.

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How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie

It’s frustrating how much we underestimate the skill of effective communication. Dealing with people is one of the most important skills we could ever learn because we have to use that skill almost every day! Heck, I dealt with a customer service representative recently who I honestly would have liked to whack with this book! Oh, if only important information could be transferred that way! 

To be fair, I should have been whacked upside the head with this book too prior to understanding how to deal with people. The tips are so simple, yet many of us overlook such obvious tactics every day. How to Win Friends and Influence People will guide you through simple interactions that will change the way people interact with you immediately.

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Answering Why by Mark C. Perna

I know that this is listed as one of the best books to read in between jobs, but honestly, I believe that this book needs to be introduced as early as in middle school and reread throughout high school. If you are just starting out in your career to the point where you’re still trying to figure out what the heck you even want to do, I suggest starting with this book for some ideas.

Many of us fall trap to finishing high school, going off to college, then figuring out what career we would even be interested in. But wait! Wouldn’t it make more sense to figure out what we want to do with our lives BEFORE we go to college? Yeah, it sounds like an obvious theory at the moment, but how would we know what we want to do with our lives if we don’t even know what opportunities are out there? 

Think about it. If you grew up in a small town where the careers that you saw was either mechanic, doctor, nurse, teacher, and a handful of other opportunities, you’d probably base your interests on what is obviously around you. If no one tells you about careers in Graphic Design or Copywriting, even if you have a passionate knack for designing and writing, then you might not consider those as career options! 

Answering Why explains why we currently have a skills gap for specific trades. Many of us were just not exposed to the opportunity there! Even more so, many of these opportunities don’t even require a Bachelor’s degree to qualify for an entry-level position! Amazing, right!?

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You Are a Badass by Jen Sincero

I love listening to this book on Audible because Jen Sincero’s stories make me laugh every single time. We all share a fear of failure, some significantly more than others. The unknown can make us tremble and cower away to our safe zones once it’s time to make a huge change in our life. In You Are a Badass, Jen Sincero explains the process of stepping out of our comfort zones through humorous examples and unforgettable lessons. Get ready to laugh your butt off through one of the most humorous self-improvement books I have ever read. Do you want to continue the laughter? Make sure to also grab a copy of You Are a Badass at Making Money and You Are a Badass Every Day. 

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Act Like Success, Think Like Success by Steve Harvey

Have you ever felt like following your dream was a fool’s wish or a lost cause? Does it make you feel like you need to just settle for whatever is offered to you and be satisfied that you had that option in the first place? You’re not alone, and it doesn’t have to be this way. People are quick to tell us what we can or cannot do, even for comedian Steve Harvey.  

I recommend Act Like Success, Think Like Success because it demonstrates that success isn’t something we just wake up to, nor is it simply given to us. There are trials and mistakes and doubts and a list of a lot of other frustrating things that come throughout the climb. Steve Harvey’s advice speaks a lot of truth on how you are responsible for your own accomplishments and short-comings, and the people you surround yourself with can either help you or harm you along the way.

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The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy

This is one of the best books I read in between jobs that gave me the confidence to start a blog. The advice inside these pages is also what motivated me to keep learning and improving on relevant skills every day. In summary, small progress builds up to huge results over time.

Many of us fall into the trap of quitting too early because we aren’t seeing any results in our lives. The Compound Effect explains the um…compounding effect…of small, simple changes in our lives. These changes could be like walking for 15 minutes each afternoon or watching a 10-minute tutorial once a day. Although these simple tasks might not seem like much, done over an extended amount of time with gradual increases and improvements will lead to better results in our lives. Starting too big can become exhausting and discouraging, increasing the chances of giving up. Start small, and build up the tiny habits first.

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 Now let’s hear from you!

What are some great books to read in between jobs that helped you throughout your career development? What piece of advice changed the way you went about professionally improving yourself? List your recommendations in the comments!

And as always, remember to live and learn from life one story at a time!

Take care,

Kyndall Bennett from Kyrabe Stories

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