Is self-help for career success a need? Well, award-winning author Mike Wysocki is back with Careers By the People: Student Career Readiness & 102 More Occupations, the only finding-your-career book required.
Forty years of your life will be spent working. Have you done the preparation to land in an occupation you will enjoy?
This career exploration handbook stands apart from traditional job hunting and career guides. It begins by examining responses from college students across the United States, answering more than thirty questions about workforce readiness and career preparation. From there, the book dives into candid interviews with 102 seasoned professionals, offering real-world insight and guidance to help readers gain clarity and narrow down which career is best for me?
Mike Wysocki is a career-readiness expert, speaker, and award-winning author, dedicated to empowering students, workers, military, and early career neophytes with the skills and knowledge they need to embark on a successful occupation.
Inside this book about choosing a career, you will find:
Key questions that serve as a blueprint to student success.
Clear and concise responses from an in-depth student career-prep questionnaire.
Career and Technical Education (CTE), including a breakdown of all the career clusters.
Candid and genuine reviews on 102 careers by the people who worked them.
College career development planning from educators and students.
A crisp and pithy framework on how to pick a career path.
Ideas and resources to help you narrow your occupational journey.
This career development book is perfect for students, parents, educators, and those considering a career change. Readers of What Color Is Your Parachute and Designing Your Life will appreciate Wysocki's lighthearted approach to one of life's most important decisions.
All paths lead to retirement—which one are you on?
Mike Wysocki is a career-readiness expert, public speaker, and award-winning author dedicated to helping students navigate the modern job market with confidence. A former first-generation college student, he is the founder of Careers By the People, an education and training company focused on empowering students with practical, real-world career guidance.
He is the author of the seven-time award-winning, best-selling book Careers By the People: Candid Career Advice from 101 Experienced Professionals, which has received praise from Forbes and Kirkus Reviews as well as endorsements from educators at institutions including Harvard, Stanford, UMass, Boston University, and more.
With over thirty years of experience in business and technology sales, Mike brings a practical—and often humorous—approach to career exploration. He has spoken at colleges, universities, high schools, and conferences nationwide, from Massachusetts to Maui.
For even more content or to have Mike speak at your high school, college, or organization, please visit:
www.careersbythepeople.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-wysocki
https://www.youtube.com/@careersbythepeople
"This book is an outstanding resource for students transitioning from their senior year of high school into college. Between this book and the first, the depth of careers, wisdom, and real-world experience shared in one place is unmatched." — Wyatt Eason, University of Alabama, Class of 2025
"Wysocki has managed to bridge the chasm between academic theory and a gritty 'view from the streets' with a raw, punk-rock energy that is as refreshing as it is necessary. This isn't just another dry career manual; it's a brass-tacks manifesto that turns 'soft skills' into 'Power Skills' and replaces vague advice with a tactical 1% edge." — Sean M. Schofield, Ph.D., Vice President of the Center for Career Advancement at Bucknell University
"As a former collegiate professor and administrator—and now a vice president of sales—I strongly endorse Careers By the People: Student Career Readiness & 102 More Occupations. Wysocki delivers a candid, experience-driven examination of the gap between higher education and workforce reality, emphasizing the professional skills employers actually value. This book is an essential resource for students, educators, and leaders committed to preparing graduates for meaningful, long-term careers." — Carrie Cate, Ed.D., Vice President of Sales
"As a recent college graduate, Careers by the People: Student Career Readiness & 102 More Occupations provided the kind of honest, real-world perspective I had been looking for, showing that there is no single right path and making the process feel far less overwhelming. Mike does an excellent job bringing together diverse voices and experiences in a way that feels both relatable and encouraging. I highly recommend this book to any student or recent graduate seeking reassurance, inspiration, and a more approachable way to think about their next steps." — Erin Murphy, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Class of 2025
"What does it really take to move from college to a meaningful career? Drawing on conversations with students across the country and firsthand accounts from professionals in more than 100 fields, Wysocki offers a grounded look at career exploration, preparation, and decision-making. This book is honest and practical. It gives students and families a clearer way to think about college, work, and what comes after." — Marybeth Gasman, Samuel DeWitt Proctor Endowed Chair in Education & Distinguished Professor Rutgers
"Wysocki has written a book that bridges the gap between education and the real world. Careers By the People delivers honest, practical insight from those who've actually done the work - giving readers a clearer path to making smarter, more confident career decisions." — Bert Zevzavadjian, Founder of Do Work
"Careers By the People: Student Career Readiness & 102 More Occupations pulls back the curtain on something most of us figure out too late: whether the career we're chasing, or already in, is actually the right one. As someone who pivoted after graduating with what I thought was my set career, I find that the honest and fresh perspectives shared by students, professionals from every sector, and everyone in between highlight that we're all just trying to figure out what it means to be fulfilled by our careers—regardless of what the path is to get there." — Kayla Pallotto, Indiana University, Bloomington, Class of 2024
"What stood out most was Wysocki's ability to make career exploration approachable, practical, and engaging for younger readers. The conversational style and real-world perspectives help simplify topics that can often feel overwhelming for students entering adulthood." — Brock Lutes, President of Maui Toastmasters Club & Coach
"Mike brings a sharp, unfiltered clarity to the job market. Careers By the People: 102 More Occupations goes well beyond a deep-dive on 102 careers. It's a handbook on networking, job seeking, and career strategy that I wish more people had access to early in their careers. A genuinely comprehensive guide built on real experience." — Jevin Lortie, PhD, Career Advisor, University of Wisconsin-Madison
"Mike Wysocki has written the explorer's manual for young adults in the 21st century. You can't be what you can't see, so his book takes readers on a journey through dozens and dozens of jobs that illustrate the wide range of opportunities in the workforce. Here's where anyone can find inspiration for new ways to use their skills in the future of work." — Gary A. Bolles, Author of The Next Rules of Work
