The Best New Books for Job Hunting

If you’re reevaluating your career, consider Smith’s surprisingly simple approach to career compatibility. Rather than bogging yourself down with a Myers-Briggs personality test, consider finding your “Primary Color,” an ability assessment program with three basic competencies: Curiosity, leadership, execution.

Buy the book at Amazon.

Age descrimination does exist, but there are major pluses to being over 40. Mature workers are characterized by their superior work ethic, loyalty, mature attitude and dependability. Ryan helps readers harness their strengths here with tips on everything from finding jobs online to handling questions about salary and being overqualified. Flip to the book’s section on sample resumes and cover letters for inspiration.

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If you’ve ever avoided taking a risk, making a change or flirting with new possibilities, this book’s for you. Gill helps readers set aside false logic and come to terms with their “riskophobia” with some simple psychological tools.

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Downsizing got you down? Consider Villarosa’s book your pick-me-up. A former bank executive, Villarosa opened one of the country’s best-known independent bookstores—The Hue-Man Bookstore—after getting fired. Here, she interviews businesswomen at all stages of the entrepreneurship game and offers empowering advice.

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Getting older can be a career killer—if you go about job hunting it the wrong way. Entertainment journalist Mandell discovered that the resume she was sending out made her seem like an aged veteran. Her new guide provides ten strategies to help you stand out, from “Botoxing” your CV to updating your wardrobe.

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Mangelsdorf left a decade-long career as journalist for Inc. to go freelance. Her book focuses on changing careers to create the life you want and tackles issues like health insurance, a two-career approach and self-employment.

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How do you find a job even when “there are no jobs?” Bolles, of What Color is Your Parachute fame has answers, including a detailed plan of action for how to spend your time when you’re out of work. Highlights include seeking out fellow job-hunters (power in numbers!) and catching up on your sleep (hey, you’ve got time).

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The classic book on winning ways for creating work you love is being reissued because, well, you know.

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Need job hunt inspiration? Read up on the career role models featured in this book about what drives and sustains successful women leaders. There are personal stories from Andrea Jung, CEO of Avon, Eileen Naughton, of Google, and more.

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If you’re feeling stifled by so much self help, pick up Street-Porter’s sassy alternative. Her scrapbook-like manifesto packs in the attitude and calls bs on dreary jobs, $200 face cream and wasting money at the spa. As she puts it, “We spend more than half our lives at work and so that time had better be good.”

Buy it at Amazon.

WANT MORE ADVICE ON LANDING A NEW JOB? CLICK HERE FOR THE 10 BEST JOBS FOR OVER-FORTY WOMEN.