Coming from the travel industry I know first-hand the impact on careers and jobs that people continue to face during this time of weirdness, aka Covid time. But there are steps you can take to create and uncover opportunities even in a tough market; and actively engaging in learning and searching is a successful strategy. This week I scoured some best-of lists to see if they had any job search books in common. There were. Here then are 5 books that disparate articles from NY Magazine to Forbes (to the great behemoth of online selling who shall remain nameless because they don't need free advertising) are recommending as great books for job seekers, career changers and life transformers. These books provide specific, tactical advice and actions, serve as inspiration, and I hope that they can help even one person: Designing Your Life: How to Build a Well-Lived, Joyful Life by Bill Burnett & Dave Evans The authors show how design thinking can help us create a life that is both meaningful and fulfilling, regardless of who or where we are, what we do or have done for a living, or how young or old we are. They posit that the same design thinking responsible for amazing technology, products, and spaces can be used to design and build your career. Switchers: How Smart Professionals Change Careers and Seize Success by Dr. Dawn Graham Career coach and psychologist Dr. Dawn Graham provides strategies for 'career switchers'. The first step, she writes, is to recognize that the usual rules and job search tools won’t work. Resumes and job boards were designed with traditional applicants in mind. A career switcher has to go beyond the basics, using tactics such as how to communicate transferable skills and develop a personal brand to ensure their candidacy stands out. Pivot: The Only Move That Matters Is Your Next One by Jenny Blake Blake writes that pivoting is a crucial strategy for tech companies and startups and it can also be a successful strategy for individuals looking to make changes in their work lives. She introduces the Pivot Method and shows how to take small, smart steps, leveraging your strengths and interests to move in a new direction that is right for you. What Color is Your Parachute: A Practical Manual For Job-Hunter and Career Changers 2021 Edition by Richard N. Bolles & Katharine Brooks The timeless manual, updated for 2021, features the latest resources, strategies, and perspectives on today’s job market, with advice on basics such as resumes, cover letters, interviewing, and networking. Do What You Are: Discover the Perfect Career For You Through the Secrets of Personality Type by Paul Tieger, Barbara Barron, Kelly Tieger Using the Myers-Briggs Personality Type Indicator, the authors focus on each Personality Type's strengths and use workbook exercises to help customize job searches as well as getting the most out of a current career. Do you have a favourite book on job searches or career changes that you'd like to share?