The best 17 Interviewing books

We’ve all been in situations where rational discussions get quickly out of hand, and Crucial Conversations investigates the root causes of this problem. You’ll learn techniques to handle such situations and shape them into becoming positive and solutions-oriented, while preventing your high-stakes conversations from turning into shouting matches.

• Anyone whose job requires dealing with other people often
• Anyone who wants to improve conversations in their personal relationships
• Anyone who offers professional communications training

Pitch Perfect presents advice and principles that can help anyone to communicate more effectively. It teaches you how to present an argument or story with confidence, in a memorable way, and how to make your points with more precision. The author introduces seven principles that will help you to use exactly the right tone in both your professional and private life.

• Anyone who wants to improve their presentation skills
• Anyone who wants to communicate more effectively in their professional life
• Anyone who wishes to become a better conversationalist

Secrets of Dynamic Communication explains how to prepare and present a speech effectively. Through the author’s own SCORRE-method, we are guided through the six key components of a successful speech: subject, central theme, objective, rationale, resources and evaluation.

• Students and teachers
• Pastors, executives and coaches
• Anyone who wants to master public speaking

Brief (2014) is a guide to having more impact and influence by saying less. These blinks show the reader the power of brevity in the information age, explain the barriers to being brief and give helpful instructions on how to improve your communication while saving your own time and everybody else’s.

• Anyone interested in improving their communication skills
• Those wanting to grab the attention of others
• Business leaders whose ideas need to stand out

Got Your Attention? (2015) is the ultimate guide to grabbing and holding the focus of distracted people in today’s fast-paced world. You’ll learn how to overcome the impatience and chronic distraction of your audience to make yourself a compelling, engaging speaker.

• Anyone who wants to get the attention of distracted minds
• Job seekers looking for advice on how to stand out
• People who want to create meaningful connections

Getting More (2010) lays out precisely how to negotiate your way toward a fuller, more satisfying life. The strategies and tools described in this book can be used in any situation, from finding a happier outcome when sparring with a partner to convincing your boss that you’re long overdue for a raise.

• People looking to improve their negotiating skills
• Sales managers, sales reps or anyone involved in cutting business deals
• Anyone who feels they never get what they want when negotiating

The 11 Laws of Likability (2011) is a guide to networking built on one simple fact: people do business with people they like. These blinks will explain how to discover your most likable characteristics, start conversations and keep them going, and make a lasting positive impression on people.

• Anyone who wants to build a lasting professional relationship
• Anyone starting a new job
• Recent graduates looking for a job

60 Seconds & You’re Hired! (1994) is your guide to nailing your next job interview. These blinks are packed with actionable advice on how to grab a potential employer’s attention, sell yourself and land the job of your dreams.

• Job seekers
• Career counselors
• Students looking for their first job

Captivate (2017) is your guide to human behavior and social success. Whether you’re trying to connect with others at home, at work or out in the world, Van Edwards set about breaking down the mechanics of how to capture people’s attention and engage in meaningful interaction.

• Young people who want to improve their social skills
• Singles looking to become dating pros
• Managers and entrepreneurs who want their employees to do their best

From small talk with the barista to water-cooler chat with colleagues, we spend a lot of our time talking — yet very few of us understand the science that underpins how we talk. Talk (2018) breaks down the fundamental building blocks and typical patterns of conversational encounters to reveal the structures and strategies behind what we say, and offers a blueprint for how we can learn to talk and listen more effectively.

• Anyone who’s ever had trouble getting a point across
• Anyone who’s ever suffered a communication breakdown
• People who want to take their conversational skills up a notch

The Bullseye Principle (2018) is a practical guide to confident, clear communication in contemporary business settings. Covering everything from personal branding to inspiring others and running meetings effectively, these blinks will show you how to deliver your lines with style and win over your audience.

• Leaders looking to find their voice
• Public speakers with stage fright 
• Interviewers and interviewees

It’s the Manager (2019) outlines the latest workplace research from Gallup. It explores what good leadership looks like in the modern age, and how managers can get the best out of the people they lead.

• Human Resources professionals seeking a fresh perspective
• Managers looking to the future
• Team leaders wanting to know what makes people tick

Doesn’t Hurt to Ask (2020) teaches the subtle art of persuasion through one unconventional tool: asking questions. Former congressman Trey Gowdy explains how thoughtful questions can help you reach your audience, communicate your message, and win people over – whether that’s in a courtroom, a business meeting, or at the dinner table.

• Exhausted parents looking to win their kids over in arguments
• Politically engaged people who want to advocate for their beliefs more effectively
• Anyone looking to improve their negotiation skills in their private or professional lives

What Color Is Your Parachute? 2021 (2021) is a fresh edition of a book that’s widely regarded as the job-hunter’s bible. It’s packed with classic exercises and time-tested strategies that empower prospective employees to find, and secure, the role they want. This new edition contains essential updates that speak to the contemporary job market.

• Job-seekers wondering if they’ll ever land a coveted role
• Fed-up employees who are ready to take on a new career challenge
• Prospective entrepreneurs who need a kick start

Interviewology (2024) introduces a groundbreaking approach to mastering job interviews. Offering four practical strategies to interviews based on personality type, it presents expert-validated methods that help both interviewers and interviewees perform better. By guiding readers through their own unique type and strategies, it emphasizes building confidence, effectively communicating strengths, and navigating social dynamics to increase the chances of acing an interview.

• Job seekers looking to improve their interview performance
• Recent graduates entering the job market for the first time
• HR professionals aiming to enhance their hiring processes

I Hate Job Interviews (2024) provides a comprehensive system for mastering job interviews, offering frameworks and techniques to tackle a wide variety of questions with confidence. It equips you with tools to craft compelling examples, practice effectively, and negotiate salary, all aimed at helping you stand out and secure your desired positions.

• Recent college graduates entering the job market
• Job seekers preparing for important interviews
• Mid-career professionals seeking new opportunities