I first read this book (this is an updated edition) when I was having a mid-life crisis about my career. I found it to be really helpful and gave me a lot to think about and try. In this updated edition, she does a "mea culpa" and admits that she had assumed her book was only for people like me at the time. Now she recognizes that these ideas are applicable to those who are first starting out in the workplace (like my son) or those nearing retirement (:like me). After reading this book, I agree that these principles and case studies can apply to anyone no matter where you are in your career journey. In this edition, she also adds summaries, exercises and actionable ideas which I found to be a great add. I also liked reading the case studies of people she has worked with. I could see myself reflected in some of the them and it opened up insights for me as a result. I recommend this book to all of us who are trying to figure out our identity beyond work and discover our "life's work."

Thank you to Netgalley and Harvard Business Review Press for an ARC and I left this review voluntarily.

I have been an avid follower of Herminia on twitter and the moment I saw he new revised books on netgalley I jumped at the chance to read them.

Working Identity is a book that I had referred to earlier both for introspection in terms of my career change as well as for a course that I was teaching on careers. The changes are refreshing and I think the summaries at end of each chapter are new and useful

I really appreciated Working Identity, the Updated Edition, by Herminia Ibarra (and thank you to NetGalley and Harvard Business Review Press for the ARC).

I am 14 years into my professional career in education, but am currently pursuing my MBA to explore pivot options. So often when I attempt to read any business related book, jobs like education/administration/non profit/etc. are not included, and even in my current courses, people often don't know what to make of my background in education administration as opposed to their careers in more traditional business roles. Working Identity actually includes options for people from a wide range of careers, and explains what/how those people were able to alter their goals and achieve new satisfying roles. This might have been one of the first books that I could actually connect with (though sometimes I still find it difficult to find commonalities with the people in high powered manager of giant corporation type roles - I guess it makes sense that high powered positions have more ability to maneuver their employment opportunities and to engage consultants, but it can leave me feeling far beneath any type of connection).

I also really enjoyed the references to the impacts of the pandemic on switching roles. I imagine in a few years we will be able to more distinctly look at the impacts of the pandemic on work (past the Great Resignation and work-from-home).

I am excited to implement some of the strategies Ibarra references throughout Working Identity - and I am interested in digging more deeply into communities of practice to begin my reflection and goals and search for opportunities.

Working Identity is a great book for people interested in changing the projection of your working career. It was full of great information that was extremely easy to read and understand. It’s a practical book with great strategies and paths to implementation. A great read for anybody feeling a little stuck in their workplace.