Your Next Move: The Leader’s Guide to Navigating Major Career Transitions.  By Michael Watkins.  Harvard Business School Publishing, 2009.

Michael D. Watkins is regarded as the guru of career transitions and is the author of the best-seller The First 90 Days.  In this book, he considers the eight transition types you are likely to encounter in the course of your career.  Watkins references the most recent research as well as real-world examples to offer practical tools to navigate career transitions.  He very clearly lays out what the necessary requirements are to succeed in a career transition.  This book is definitely a must-read for anyone who wants to be successful in a career transition. 

Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters. By Jay Conrad Levinson and David E. Perry. John Wiley & Songs, Inc. 2005.

I strongly recommend this book as an amazing source of strategies and tips to search for the right job for you. The book combines the ancient wisdom of recruiters with excellent insight into how to most effectively surfing the internet for job resources. An absolute gem of a “job search bible,” this book covers so much information—from what types of job skills are the least likely to be offshored, to the hidden job market and why it is hiding, to creating a value-based resume. It is a great source for unconventional tips and tricks you would never think of and is very up-to-date and relevant to the current job market.

Expert Resumes for Managers and Executives. By Wendy S. Enelow and Lousie M. Kursmark. Jist Publishing. 2007. 

This book is a compilation of 100 examples of the “best of the best” resumes for those who make over $100,000 a year. The collection of resumes is organized by profession and is very handy for consulting when updating your resume for a new job or transitioning to a new career. Because it is written for people facing tough competition from other well-qualified professionals in their field, it offers secrets to writing a resume that will help you stand out against all the other candidates.

Cover Letter Magic: Trade Secrets of Professional Resume Writers. By Wendy S. Enelow and Louise Kursmark. Jist Publishing, Inc. 2007.

Another book written by Wendy Enelow, this book compiles the most effective cover letters written for $100,000+ jobs. Enelow examines eight different types of cover letters and includes example cover letters for each type. The plethora of examples as well as tips—such as what high impact phrases to use—are a very useful resource to use when constructing your own cover letter. I recommend this as a go-to book when dusting off your own cover letter.

Get More Money On Your Next Job. By Lee E. Miller. McGraw-Hill. 1998.

This book will give you a valuable skill you can use for the entirety of your career. By reading this book, you will be armed with the strategies and secretes you need to know to help you get the best possible deal from your new employer. You deserve not only a higher salary for your hard work, but better health benefits, signing bonuses, and stock options. This book makes a big difference in helping you advocate for yourself at the negotiation table.

Negotiating Your Salary: How to Make $1000 a Minute. By Jack Chapman. Jack Chapman, 2000.

I recommend this book because it offers very practical advice on how to negotiate your salary. It offers questions like “What is your best first answer to an offer?” and is written with all personality types in mind—gentle, tough, nervous, calm, etc. Very straightforward and a quick, easy read.