I won’t even try to hide the fact that I am basically obsessed with all books relating to “landing my dream job.” Being a total bibliophile doesn’t mean that I limit myself to any genre in particular, but as of lately I definitely am all about learning as much as I can to make it to Cosmo.
I feel like this determination that I have to someday work as a writer for Cosmo is important, and it’s important because I know that I share this same determination with thousands of others who are also just as driven to achieve their dreams. Sidebar: Let me just make it a point to mention that as I write this article, I am working on my second glass of Riesling—so all of you reading this will feel the sincerity within my words, wisdom and advice. Yay wine.
The point of this piece is to help others, like myself, who are motivated to learn as much as they can about how to get to that “dream job.” The moment that I turned that tassel on graduation day, I knew that my work wasn’t over. So, I made a trip to Barnes and Noble and bought almost every self-help book out there that would teach me about what to do and what not to do in landing the interview, what to do once you’ve got the job and how to succeed infinitely.
Of course, all of these books have one thing in common: they are all written by bad-ass women. Below, I’ve listed the eight books that helped me perfect my resumé and cover letter, prepare me for the interview and taught me how to wow my editor once I’ve landed the job.
**Be sure to keep a pencil and a highlighter handy while reading any of the books mentioned…trust me!
1. "I Shouldn't Be Telling You This" by Kate White (Previous EIC of "Cosmopolitan Magazine")
2. "Why Good Girls Don't Get Ahead But Gutsy Girls Do" by Kate White (Previous EIC of "Cosmopolitan Magazine")
3. "Dream It. Dare It. Do It. A Guide To Your Fun, Fearless Life" by "Cosmopolitan" (Hearst)
4. "#GIRLBOSS" by Sophia Amoruso (Founder and CEO of Nasty Gal)
5. "Leave Your Mark" by Aliza Licht (DKNY PR Guru) *Now PR guru for Alice and Olivia
6. "Tales From The Back Row" by Amy Odell (Editor and Site Director of Cosmopolitan.com)
7. "The Career Code: Must-Know Rules for a Strategic, Stylish, and Self-Made Career" by Hillary Kerr and Katherine Power (Cofounders of the Who What Wear empire)
8. "Power Your Happy" by Lisa Sugar (Founder of "POPSUGAR")
All of these books are inexpensive, but rich with "must know" career knowledge. I personally refer back to them quite often when I make it to a second interview. It is always better to be overprepared rather than underprepared, and you definitely do not want to be the latter.
