This month’s selections are all about those most crucial job-search tools: networking and personal branding.

100 Ways to Overcome Shyness: Go from Self-Conscious to Self-Confident
by Barton Goldsmith and Marlena Hunter
Shyness can hold your career back by making you less able to forge connections, communicate effectively, and handle difficult people. This guide, written by two accomplished psychotherapists, aims to help you overcome your shyness, through a combination of useful information, case studies, and simple exercises.

The 11 Laws of Likability: Relationship Networking
by Michelle Tillis Lederman
This book is subtitled, “Because People Do Business with People They Like,” and that philosophy is the foundation for this whole book. The guide combines activities, what-if scenarios, and self-assessment exercises to create a plan to help you become more likable – without being phony or insincere. Author Michelle Lederman is a corporate trainer specializing in communications and leadership.

How to Write a Killed LinkedIn Profile
by Brenda Bernstein

LinkedIn Profile Optimization for Dummies
by Donna Serdula
Too many people make the mistake of simply pasting their resume into LinkedIn, which can give it a generic look that may not be as attractive to potential employers. Instead, use the tips in both of these thorough guides to create a customized profile, focusing on your personal keywords, experience, and accomplishments. These tips can help you make a great first impression on the world’s largest business networking site.

If you’d like to check out any of these books, you may place a hold on them through the East Baton Rouge Parish Library website.

Written by Lynnette Lee