10 of the best books to read to prep for job interviews

“Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude.”

Zig Ziglar, an American author, salesman, and motivational speaker

Preparing for job interviews is vital because it increases your chances of your success.

Preparation boosts your confidence. When you know who you are and how you can help the company you are interviewing with, you can answer questions with assurance and make a positive impression.

Additionally, preparing helps you articulate your thoughts more clearly and concisely. You. can structure your answers in a way that the interviewers understand how you can help the company.

Interviews can be nerve-wracking. Preparation helps you reduce stress during the interview and helps you stand out compared to other candidates being interviewed. When you are prepared, you can increase your chances of getting the job.

To help you prepare for job interviews, books can be an invaluable resource. They provide in-depth knowledge about common interview questions, effective answering techniques, and practice questions and exercises. Books can provide you with a structured approach and enable you to learn at your own pace where you absorb information that works for you.

While you can’t learn everything about acing a job interview and securing a job from books, they should help you become well-versed so you can knock the job interview out of the pack.


10 of the best books to read this year to prep for your job interviews

Here’s a list of top 10 books you should read before you go to a job interview.

1. Brag!: The Art of Tooting Your Own Horn without Blowing It

Author: Peggy Klaus

Why should you read this book? This book is about how to bring out your strengths and qualities to excel in your career. This book can help you boost your confidence without being arrogant.

Written by a communication expert known as the “brag lady” or “bragologist,” this book gives you a plan for setting yourself without turning those off you are trying to impress. Author Peggy Klaus has worked with leading Fortune 500 companies on their communication and leadership training programs so she knows her stuff.

If you are looking for ways to “brag” about yourself in a subtle way during your job interviews and grow your career, this book is for you. This books outlines how you can brand yourself in the right way. Remember, it’s how we talk about ourselves is critical to success.

2. The Magic of Thinking Big

Author: David J. Schwartz

Why should you read this book? In this book, you’ll learn why setting your goals high is important and how to exceed those goals. In this book, you’ll learn how to achieve what you want by finding the ideal job and living a rewarding and happy life.

The author is one of the top experts on motivation and in this book, you’ll learn how to sell better, earn more money, and find greater happiness and peace of mind. After reading this book, you will acquire the secrets to success and satisfaction. YOu’ll learn the power of your mindset and behaving in a way to get the most out of your job, relationships, and community.

3. The Power of STAR Method: How to Succeed at Behavioral Job Interview

Author: Martha Gage

Why should you read this book? In this book, you’ll learn how to master the behavioral job interview. Behavioral interviewing is one of the biggest challenges for today’s job applicants. Many companies use this hiring technique to find the right candidate where an average job opening gets more than 20 applications.

In today’s competitive world, you can’t rely on just your credential and professional demeanor to land a job, you must take advantage of the STAR method: Situation, Task, Action, and Result. One of the keys to succeeding in a job interview is how you tell your story.

The STAR method will help you become a top 10% of applicants. In this book, you’ll learn common behavior questions, how to best handle behavior interviews, how to develop your stories, common mistakes, and how to showcase the best features of your personality.

4. Crush Your Career: Ace the Interview, Land the Job, and Launch Your Future

Author: Dee Ann Turner and Tim Elmore

Why should you read this book? In this book, you’ll learn the secrets to finding a job, preparing for a job interview, conquering the first 90 days at a new job, how to manage work relationships, and how to add more value to your team.

If you are entering the job market, been in it for a while, or hoping to make a transition in their career, you will learn advice on how to create a work life you love.

The author, Dee Ann Turner, has lead teams and coaching staff members at Chick-fil-A and what it takes to build a fulfilling career with this hands-on book on how to thrive in a competitive job market.

5. NAILED IT! 10 Keys to Crushing the Interview

Authors: Matthew G Marvin

Why should you read this book? This book has tips on how to answer some of the most common job interview questions, such as tell me about yourself, why do you want this position, what are your strengths and weakness, and what questions do you have for me?

This book will give you interviewing tips to help you build your confidence to crush the job interview and land the job you want.

In this book, you’ll learn how to prepare for your next job interview and the techniques and strategies you need to succeed in the interview process. This book will help you distinguish yourself from other candidates and secure the job you desire.

6. The Job Closer: Time-Saving Techniques for Acing Resumes, Interviews, Negotiations, and More

Author: Steve Dalton

Why should you read this book? In this book, you’ll learn the techniques for mastering job interviews, master job offer negotiations, and writing an excellent resume and cover letter.

Steve Dalton is the author of The 2-Hour Job Search and he shows you how to land your dream job. This book helps you apply the author’s time-saving techniques to be a job closer.

The author is a career consultant who can help you avoid waster effort and excel using frameworks, models and tools, such as the FIT and RAC Models, the CAR Matrix, and the pre-negotiation call. This book will help you find more time for networking, and make deeper connections. Find out how to showcase your talents, increasing your odds for landing that job you want and love.
 

7. 101 Job Interview Questions You’ll Never Fear Again

Author: James Reed

Why should you read this book? In this book, you’ll learn how to master more than 100 job interview questions. Discover what each question really means and the answers to these job questions so you can secure the job you want.

The author is the chairman of one of the largest recruiting agencies and provides tips for handling job interview questions from the classic ones like what is your greatest weakness to the puzzlers like sell me this pen.

In this book, you’ll overcome the fear of preparing for job interviews and help you adequenly prepare for job interviews. Find out how adopt the right mindset and approach to standing out from other candidates and being prepared for questions you’ll be asked

8. The Interview Mindset: The Ultimate Guide to Mastering Your Career

Author: Mark James

Why should you read this book? This book is from the author of Keys to the C Suite: Unlock the Doors to Executive Career Path Success. In this book, you’ll learn how to adjust your outlook and timeframe so you can master your job search with patience and positivity.

In this book, you’ll learn how to document your job search activities. You’ll realize that it is all about the numbers, and you’ll think realistically about timing. You’ll also discover how important it is to manage your expectations, and the power of being patient and staying positive.

This book will help you understand the hiring process, give you career advice, and tips for making a career transition.

9. What Color Is Your Parachute?: Your Guide to a Lifetime of Meaningful Work and Career Success

Author: Richard N. Bolles

Why should you read this book? This books is more than a job search book. The author provides a guide to finding meaningful work and succeeding in your career. This book will transform how you think about job hunting.

Whether you are looking to find your first job, recovering from a layoff, make a career change, this book will show you how to network effectively, write compelling resumes and cover letters, and interview with confidence.

This book will help you uncover your passions, discovery your transferable skills, and leverae your most valued traits. After reading this book, you’ll land the job you want and how to make make your job part of a life that is filled with purpose and passion.

10. 60 Seconds and You’re Hired!

Author: Robin Ryan

Why should you read this book? This book has helped many job seekers find their next job. This guide has more than 100 answers to challenging job interview questions and suggestions on what questions to ask during an interview. You’ll also learn how social media can help you during your job search, and negotiation techniques to secure a higher salary.

This book is written by Robin Ryan, a career counselor who has extensive experience hiring. She has learned proven strategies to help you take charge of your interview process. In this book, you’ll learn how to get hired by mastering all the steps you must take to get hired. This book has been completed revised and updated with the latest strategies, techniques, and best practices.

Bringing it all together

Books are an excellent way to help you prepare for job interviews. They give you practical experience, mock interviews, and feedback from career experts. Job interview preparation can help you boost your confidence and enhance your chances of landing a job quickly.