11 books every young professional should read

You’re a young professional. You’ve left the college world behind and are ready to enter the “real” one.

The world of 9-to-5 can be intimidating at first. To help ease the transition, I asked some friends, co-workers, and the members of Ragan.com’s Facebook group what books they recommend young pros read.

The books on this list cover everything from professional development to writing to making friends in a new city. You don’t have to be a millennial to learn from them; their lessons and insight apply to pros of any age.

1. “You Majored in What? Mapping Your Path from Chaos to Career,” by Katharine Brooks.

Has anyone ever asked you, “What are you going to do with that major?” If so, this book is for you. Even though you just spent four years working on a degree, you might not land a job in that field when you graduate. This book outlines concrete ways you can reframe your skills and steer yourself toward a career you love.