Laura Dodd

Laura Dodd is the author of Dig This Gig, a collection of profiles of 20-somethings navigating various careers. Told through candid, conversational-style stories, Dodd demystifies the job behind the "title" in a range of industries—"green gigs" to "healthcare gigs" to "outdoor gigs," among others. Wrapping each chapter is an industry heavyweight who acts as a mentor reflecting on his/her own career highs—and lows. A few examples: Jeffrey Sachs, famed economist and altruist is the "Do-Good Gigs" mentor; John Lewis, congressman from Georgia and civil rights icon is the "Government gigs" mentor; and Dan Rather, journalist, is the "Derailed Gigs" mentor.

No stilted resume/HR language here (being a 20-something herself, she knew her peers wouldn't stand for it). And this definitely isn't your typical "Top 5 Resume Tips" or "What to Wear to an Interview" kind of book; rather, it's the book she wish she had after graduating from college.