11 Best Books on Career Change (2024)

Before making a major life change such as leaving a job to begin another one, it helps a lot to read books on career change.

As a coach, self-development junkie and someone who used books to help me change careers – I want to share with you the best books on changing careers to help you navigate this challenging, but also exciting life change.

I worked as an elementary school teacher for almost 10 years. I was passionate about it from the start, but began facing burnout in the second half of that decade.

As a single parent, I struggled with what the heck I was going to do, if it wasn’t continue with the career I’d invested so much time into having.

To help me figure out my new direction, I:

• took up journaling and meditation,
• talked to therapists
• and read several books about career change

I have to say, the books about career change were the most helpful part of helping me navigate changing careers.

Depending on your exact goals – different career change books will suit you differently. Some of these books are:

• practical advice on a specific area of navigating career change, such as interview skills or finding the right career for you
• take a more holistic approach, such as mindset or finding your calling

I’ve included the ratings, what you can expect and my personal opinion on each book so you can pick the ones that will be

So, let’s get started – the best books on changing careers!

11 Best Books on Changing Careers to Read

Here are the books I recommend to read before, during, or even after a change in career.

1. The Big Leap

By: Gay Hendricks
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.6)

Gay Hendrick is a psychologist who’s passion since childhood is helping people find careers that are suited to their personality.

I enjoyed The Big Leap, because he talks about what often holds us back from being able to experience a better life, and some steps to determine what your personality and talents are best suited to doing.

Hendricks has also written a few other books on the topic of career change: The Genius Zone and Your Big Leap Year.

I listed to The Big Leap on Audible, and really enjoyed it. It sounded like getting advice from a friendly, and wise grandfatherly figure with a cheerful personality and sense of humour. It puts you in a good mood, but also gives you some useful exercises.

I would highly recommend it for people looking to change careers.

Pro Tip: This book, as well as several more on this list, have some journal prompts and exercises. Make sure to have a simple lined notebook at pen handy

2. Everything is Figureoutable

By: Maria Forleo
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.7)

Everything Is Figureoutable coaches you on the mindset of achieving what seems like the impossible.

While it isn’t strictly career-based, it is focused quite heavily on career as a major goal. She related quite a back to her pursuit of self-employment, and several employment endeavours of her own.

She talks about the steps you need to make your dream a reality, and believes that even it seems hopeless – there is almost always ‘a way.’

I listened to Everything Is Figueroutable on Audible, and it has really stuck with me and was instrumental in my journey in building an alternate career to teaching.

Maria Forleo acknowledges the privilege she has (as a white woman in America), but she also has several case studies of people with a number of disadvantages create major changes in their lives.

This is a book to read if you find that you often get faced with doubtful, negative beliefs that hold you back. I especially liked the part where she talked about how to make a decision, and how to know when its the right on

3. Hidden Potential: The Science of Achieving Greater Things

By: Adam Grant
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.6)

Hidden Potential is truly one of the most fascinating books I’ve ever read. It can teach you a lot about what it takes to excel at something.

While its not strictly a book about changing careers, it teaches you a lot about learning and excelling.

Hidden Potential is best for those who want to:

• get better at something that they’re only mediocre at doing
• excel at something that they don’t feel they have any born talents in
• bring out better performance in themselves, or someday in employees

I listened to this book on Audible and I found it fascinating and inspiring – I filled several pages in my notebook of interesting facts that I had to write down.

I particularly recommend Hidden Potential to anyone who struggles with imposter syndrome, or has anxiety about braving the unknown, or don’t feel that they have any innate gifts. Some of the details you’ll learn in this book are nothing short of inspiring, and will help you with seeing more options available to you.

4. Invaluable

By: Maya Grossman
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.6)

Invaluable is designed to be your own personal career coach, written by someone who has worked her way up the ladder, and for companies like Google and Microsoft.

If you’re someone who feels ‘stuck,’ you live for the weekends, and aren’t meeting your potential or doing what you’re passionate about – then Invaluable gives you steps and activities to apply to start creating the change you want in life.

Grossman shares some of her own personal stories throughout the book, but keeps the main focus on you and the career goals you’re aiming to achieve.

Even though my goals were different from hers (I wanted to be self employed, with a passive income) I found Invaluable to have really good approaches that anyone, regardless of where they’re at in their journey, to apply in real life.

It’s a short and easy read – but well worth the time if you’re looking for advancement or change in your career.

5. Running Down a Dream: Your Road Map to Winning Creative Battles

By: Tim Grahl
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.5)

Running Down a Dream is a short and easy read told in both memoir and self-help style. It’s mostly geared to people who want to be in the creative niche (writers, artists, business owners, marketers, etc.)

Tim tells us not just about the hurdles he needed to overcome to launch his own business, but also the self-discipline techniques he needed to learn to be successful working for himself.

What I personally loved about this book, was that Tim talked about some of the complicated feelings he experienced once he’d finally achieved his career dreams, and how to cope with those as well.

Side note: Although Tim’s goal was to be his own boss, I think that the principles learned in this book can be geared to any career change – not just self-employment.

6. 60 Seconds and You’re Hired! (2nd Edition)

By: Robin Ryan
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.5)

60 Seconds and You’re Hired is all the practical advice to master interviews – both group, and one on one.

Interviews always terrified me, and I don’t think I was the best at them – but this little book (its another short read) has a lot of helpful insight. It even has over 120 common interview questions that are often asked.

Another thing I really like about it was the focus on negotiation and how to handle getting yourself a good deal, instead of settling for less.

Personally, learning to interview better didn’t apply to me, because my dream was self-employment. But, interviewing well is a skill and if you are hoping to have a career that will involve an interview, this is a great book to read if interviews make your nervous.

7. Ikigai: How to Choose Your Career Path and Discover Your Strengths

By: Clement Harrison
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.1)

Ikigai is a Japanese word that means “a reason to live.” It’s based on the philosophy that we spend so much time of our lives working – we should be doing something that we enjoy that uses our natural talents.

Ikigai has some mindset tips, as well as pratical steps for you to follow, such as choosing something suited to your temperament, making your resume stand out, and how to get employers to give you a chance without having to go back to school for more degrees.

8. What Color is Your Parachute?

By: Richard N. Bolles
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.6)

What Color is Your Parachute is one of the oldest, tried and true career books. it was originally written in 1970, but it has been updated many times since then – almost annually – you can even ask your parents, they may have read it! (An older version of it at least.)

It has been fully adapted to the ‘internet age’ and the job search of the 21st century.

What Color Is Your Parachute is about networking, interview confidence, job hunting, and most of all -finding the right job for your personality.

In addition to the book itself, there is a whole website devoted to the topic with extra tips and resources.

9. Lucky B*tch

By: Denise Duffield Thomas
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.7)

Lucky B*tch is about making your goals into reality through your own mindset. I would recommend anyone who wants to start their own business, freelance, or negotiate a salary, to read this book. Don’t let the title throw you off- I found the guidance from Denise Duffield Thomas invaluable for my career change.

The advice of the other (in this book, and her others) has been life-changing for me. I had a completely different mindset around money before, and it held me back from potential earnings.

Her other book, Get Rich Lucky B*tch is essential for if you want to be self-employed, and your income will rely on determining your income by setting your own prices.

If your dream is to work for yourself, not have a boss and have more freedom in life – then I recommend first reading Lucky B*tch, and then moving on to Get Rich Lucky B*tch (focused on money mindset– which I also recommend when you’re changing careers.)

If you’re not planning to start a business or be self-employed, then I would still read Lucky B*tch because there’s invaluable advice about how much your mindset impacts your outcome, and how to change it for the better.

10. You’re a Badass At Making Money

By: Jen Sincero
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.7)

If your dream is to be self-employed, and be successful at it, then this is a book for you. Similar to the Lucky Bitch books in that it focuses on using the law of attraction to create a different life for yourself. Its a bit more ‘whooey’ than Lucky B*tch.

You’re a Badass At Making Money is funny, and it was the first book to open my eyes to how I had been limiting myself over the years. It’s best for people who want to run their own business or dream of self-employment.

It can be a bit ‘whooey’ at times, so if that’s your thing – then you will enjoy it. I personally don’t mind a bit of whooey, as long as there’s a mix of both practical and spiritual advice – and I felt that this book offered a good balance of both.

Jen Sincero has worked very hard to become a wealthy, self employed woman and she teaches you the mindset, and steps you need to do the same.

11. The Pivot Year

By: Brianna Wiest
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.7)

The Pivot Year is a full of tips, advice and journal prompts that are meant to inspire, and heal, and embrace the unknown.

It’s the perfect morning or evening read to ‘centre yourself’ for the following day. It’s thought provoking, and helps the reader look at the transformative process in a new light.

Some people may be a fan of the writing style, so its important that you read reviews to decide if the style is something you will appreciate.

It’s written as a series of essays, sort of a ‘daily wisdom’ idea, but I personally really liked it because it helped calm my mind and think positive about the big life change which I credit to helping set me up for success.

Pro Tip: The Pivot Year would also be a great gift for someone else you’re close to

Tips for Choosing the Right Book on Career Change for You

As you can see from the list above, some of these books focus on more practical advice and solutions to changing careers, while some are more mindset based.

If you struggle with self-doubt, limiting beliefs, and negative thinking, then I recommend reading:

• Everything is Figureoutable
• Hidden Potential
• The Pivot Year
• Lucky Bitch
• Running Down a Dream

In addition to the above, if your dream is to be your own boss and make a full-time income working for yourself, then you should read You’re a Badass At Making Money.

If you don’t really struggle with self-esteem and negative self walk, but you’re looking for practical advice on career change (such as finding a suitable career, writing better resumes, standing out from the competition, and interviewing better) then the right books for you from this list are:

• Invaluable
• The Big Leap
• Ikigai
• What Color Is Your Parachute

Pro Tip: I believe all 11 of these books are beneficial to anyone, but this is to help you narrow down which books you should prioritize that serve the purpose you need them to

Other Resources for Changing Careers

Besides reading the best books on changing careers, there are a few other resources that I would recommend before you embark on the journey of career change

• If you’re stumped about your career direction, I recommend taking a free personality test at 16 personalities. (16 personalities is the free version of the Myers-Brygg Personality Test.)
  
• A simple notepad and pen. Changing careers requires a lot of reflection, self-exploration and development. You will need to journal about what you really want out of life. Check out these career change journal prompts. In addition, many of the career change books above have their own journal prompts and exercises, so you will need a notebook and pen handy.
  
• Never estimate the value of supportive people in your life who you can talk to about your goals and who will cheer you on. Don’t share your dreams with people who you don’t think will be supportive -but instead, with friends who be a listening ear and desire the best of you

Changing Careers FAQ

As someone who left a career I worked hard for after 10 years in the field, I understand what you’re going through and can answer questions about embarking on the same journey

How do I know what career to transition to?

Deciding what career to transition to requires some research, self exploration and often some mindset work. You will need to do things things in order to know for sure which career is right for you. As someone who has transitioned careers, I recommend reading some self-help books dedicated to career change, and consulting with a counsellor or coach.

How do I change my career if I don’t know what to do?

If you want to change careers but don’t know which direction to head in, I recommend a few things: reading books on career change, doing some career research and consulting with a therapist, friend or career coach.

Why is it never too late to switch careers?

It’s never too late to switch careers, because we spend 1/3 of our lives working. Putting the time into finding a job you find more fulfilling and enjoyable is worth the effort that it takes.

Final Thoughts on the Best Books on Career Change

In an ideal world, we would all be doing something that uses our natural gifts that we enjoy – but it can be very hard to get out of a career you’re ‘comfortable’ in to embark on the unknown of trying to be successful at something else.

By now, you know some of the best books on career change. I don’t believe that you need to read all 11 of them in order to successfully embark on a new career path, but it helps to choose the ones that are catered to your personal goals and circumstances.

For example, some of the books listed are geared at self employment, while others are more suited to helping you achieve success by applying to jobs, climbing the later and advancing in a company.

The best career change book for you will depend on your personal struggles and where you are at, which is why I gave you a rundown on the essence of each of these books. As a teacher who underwent a major career change to become a writer, I am glad that I invested the time in reading these books to guide me on the right path.

Whether you’re looking to grow a side hustle first, or leave your job cold turkey- each book offered something different, and I would recommend different books based on your own personal circumstances.