“A lot of times the interview relies not so much on the interviewee, but on the interviewer.”
Ah, job interviews. Don’t you just hate them? From the glances you get from your potential future colleagues to prepping for that gap in your resume, an interview for a job can be one of the most nerve-shredding experiences we all have to go through. There are so many dos and don’ts attached to the art of interviewing that makes things even harder to keep track of, and not knowing all of these ins and outs can have a profound impact on how many positions you end up being offered. Fret not though as there are dozens of books available that have been tailored to help readers uncover the secrets of interviews and get the jobs of their dreams. Join us today at What We Reading as we dive into the best job interview books!
Why You?: 101 Interview Questions You’ll Never Fear Again – James Reed
Our first candidate in our list of the best interview books is James Reed’s Why You? Based on research conducted on hundreds of interviewers and thousands of interviewees, this personal development read is designed to help readers prepare for the questions their next potential employer is most likely to ask.
Why You? is full of powerful preparation techniques, tips on building confidence, adopting a winning mindset and approaching the most crucial questions in an interview with competency and clarity. From age-old classics such as ‘Tell Me About Yourself’ to the more leftfield ‘Sell Me This Pen’, Reed’s book is an invaluable resource for understanding what those on the other side of the table are looking for.
What To Say In Every Job Interview: How To Understand What Managers Are Really Asking And Give The Answers That Land The Job – Carole Martin
During a job interview, there are no right or wrong answers, just better and worse responses. Carole Martin explores how rethinking the process in those terms can give you a huge advantage in her book on interviewing, What to Say in Every Job Interview.
Martin shows readers how to focus on the factors of the job, rather than answering interview questions ‘correctly’. As a professional interviewer herself, she has spent years on the other side of the desk and knows exactly what sort of candidate she is looking for, and how to find them. One of the best guides for uncovering all the secrets of interviewers, What to Say in Every Job Interview gives readers a holistic plan on how to prepare themselves with the best answers every interviewer is looking for.
Exactly What To Say: The Magic Words For Influence And Impact – Phil M. Jones
Like so many things in life, job interviews are dependent on finding the right words at the right time. Steering conversations and finding an agreeable outcome is the end goal of any job interview, which is where Phil M. Jones’ Exactly What to Say comes in handy. Written with business situations at the centre of its lessons, it is one of the best books for landing a position, closing a sale or influencing others to see something from your point of view.
Jones explores the impact so-called ‘Magic Words’ can have and provides examples of when and where they should be used. If you have ever found yourself at a loss for words, come away from a conversation with something left on the table, or been rejected for a position you felt you would have been perfect for had the interview gone better, Exactly What to Say needs to be on your TBR list!
The Interview Book: Your Definitive Guide To The Perfect Interview Technique – James Innes
James Innes is the Founder of The CV Centre, the UK’s leading CV consultancy. The Interview Book is based on his years of hands-on experience with careers consultancy, and a comprehensive walkthrough of interview preparation and techniques.
The Interview Book guides readers through planning, preparing and organising a winning strategy, as well as through all the different types of interview scenarios and how to handle each of them. There’s extensive analysis on the most commonly-asked interview questions, and even a handy section dedicated to the most popular mistakes candidates make when being interviewed and, crucially, how to avoid them. The Interview Book has gone down as one of the most invaluable interview books for applicants for years, and its lessons remain just as handy even today!
301 Smart Answers To Tough Interview Questions – Vicky Oliver
In today’s job market, knowing how to perform in a job interview can make or break your hiring possibilities. If you’re looking for a book that is designed to help you stand ahead of the competition, Vicky Oliver’s 301 Smart Answers to Tough Interview Questions is an excellent go-to!
This is one of the definitive guides to the most popular, and occasionally quirky, questions employers use to weed out candidates. From asking what kind of product you would be, the best-managed company in America to how you handled being fired, Vicky leans on her years of experience and the experiences of thousands of others to showcase how you can finesse your way onto a company’s list of team members.
Talking About Yourself: What You Didn’t Learn In College About Job Interviews – Emily Messermith
Every job interview has the potential to be a complete waste of your time. Following the usual array of ‘tips and tricks’ probably won’t even be enough to be adequately prepared. Even worse, the chances of landing a good job will solely depend on the decision made by those interviewing you, i.e. total strangers. If you want an interview book that shows you how to take control of your job prospects and steer your own career path with a different approach, Emily Messersmith’s Talking About Yourself is the book for you.
Presenting a new, low-stress and innovative approach to job interviews, Talk About Yourself is designed with those applicants fresh out of college, either with or without a degree. Rather than the usual advice, Messersmith guides you through what is most important: telling your own story. Learning to tell your story grants readers the power to influence what interviewers actually think about you, and land a position that unleashes your full talent and potential.
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Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
