For fresh graduates, preparing for a new job is essential to get their career moving forward, but it is understandably stressful if they are not equipped to deal with everything it entails.
A survey from the Mary Christie Institute found that almost half of recent graduates feel emotionally and behaviorally unprepared for the transition to the workplace. Additionally, approximately 50% feel even more ill-prepared because of financial stress.
Reading is undoubtedly one of the best ways to gain knowledge, with countless tried and tested methods that offer wisdom on landing a job and enduring once you’ve started your career. The many career paths you can choose will depend on your goals, so it’s good to have some references to fall back on as a base point. There are thousands of ebooks on Everand that cover practically everything within the realm of career growth. Whether you need the inspiration to make a change in a trying market, like with Quitting: Why I Left My Job to Live a Life of Freedom, or you are seeking reassurance like Happier Hour, there’s a title to answer your questions.
Navigating the career space can be overwhelming, so prep yourself with solid reading material in one accessible platform. With their digital forms, you can keep them handy whenever you need some valuable tidbits to guide you through.
1. How Work Works: The Subtle Science of Getting Ahead Without Losing Yourself
By Michelle P. King
Often, the anxiety surrounding a new job can stem from concerns about giving up who you are or compromising your morals and ideals. There’s a common notion that sticking to who you are directly contradicts adapting to business. Michelle P. King aims to dispel this notion by diving into How Work Works. In this book, the award-winning author talks about how to get ahead without feeling constricted by outdated rules and practices.
This is also useful to have on hand when you are in the ‘What Career is Right For Me?' asking phase. When considering the answer to that question, you want to look at your motivations and experiences as a pair. Within this book, you can find your way by considering five main areas: developing self-awareness and awareness of others, navigating informal networks, learning adaptive skills for changing conditions, getting support for your next promotion, and finding meaning and fulfillment in work.
2. Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance
By Angela Duckworth
In a highly competitive market that's currently seeing a troublesome outlook on the economy and bracing for the development of AI, it’s more important than ever to develop your grit. Best-seller and researcher Angela Duckworth looks into the ‘power of passion and perseverance’ through history. This book is meant to remove any preconceptions about limits and equip you with the mindset to succeed in the long run. While others may believe that outcomes are based on hard and fast numbers alone, there are steps to surpass expectations based on your background or initial ability.
Preparing yourself for work is a balancing act between self-care and discipline. Duckworth notes how you can’t go to the extremes of toughness or softness; instead, you must cultivate the means to stay interested throughout your life and persevere through change and hurdles. Through a combination of neuroscience and business acumen, this may have the tips to feel ready for a job that isn’t just “for now.”
3. Great at Work: The Hidden Habits of Top Performers
By Morten T. Hansen
This book is for you if you need a resource to help you become Great at Work. The bestselling title takes insights from an in-depth study of over 5,000 managers and employees. Certain habits emerged as the connecting factor between the top performers across the board from various environments, backgrounds, and industries. Whether it’s from an Indian farmer trying to improve how women live in his village or a Michelin-star subway station restaurant run by a sushi chef in Tokyo, you’ll leave this book with seven practices meant to help you find your strengths and identify your weaknesses.
In reality, performing at the top isn’t something you just chance upon. Forbes reports that only 2% of employees are top performers who go ‘meaningfully above the average.’ Despite this small number, the top 5% also drive over a fourth of workplace output. Even if you’re not vying for a head role, this is a great read that can help you achieve more as you work smarter but not necessarily harder.