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Nuggets of Gold
In Careers By the People, you present the average workday through interviews from a broad spectrum of careers, offering advice and inspiration for high school and college graduates as well as those looking for change. Why was this an important book for you to write?
Careers By the People was written because I didn’t prepare for the workforce, and I had no idea what I was getting myself into, so my goal was to put my thoughts and ideas to paper to help the next generation with career choice and career readiness. I was a first-generation, low-income student which is deemed an FGLI. About 50% of college students are in this category. So, I wanted to tell my story and note what I should have done to prepare for the workforce, so they do not make the same mistakes.
My goal was simple; get a job that pays well. Selling technology pays well, but didn’t interest me, so I was bored to tears for years. I try to drive that message home when I speak to students, as many believe money equates to happiness, so I inform them that money is great, but also to enjoy your labor, hence why I write about career readiness, speak about it, produce YouTube videos about it and more.
What was your process for selecting the interviewees for this book?
Some of the process was a joy, such as reaching out to leaders in the industry I knew in the hopes they would tell their story about how they secured elite positions. Receiving those questionnaires was a big score. Others I connected with via professional associations. Another angle was through advertising in my college’s alumni network and magazine. Basically, any angle and way I could think of to ask workers to take 15-30 minutes to fill out a questionnaire about their occupation. Many were intrigued, and many couldn’t careless.
Did you learn anything during the course of your research that surprised you?
A lot. When it came to the questionnaires, I received some from former associates who I barely knew who answered the questions succinctly whereas close friends wouldn’t take the time to fill them out.
As for the workers themselves, the ones who took risks were happier or satisfied versus the risk-averse ones. One that stuck out was a clerk who truly disliked her job, and her responses, even after many edits, were hysterical.
Another curveball was when the professional truly disliked their occupation, and on one of the last questions asking if they would do the same career again, they said yes, which is mind-boggling.
Please understand that I had to review and edit a variety to find 101 nuggets of gold. Some questionnaires were “yes/no” for 90% of the questions. The goal was to determine what it was truly like to be an x, y, or z as the only person who knows about your job/career is you, so what’s it like to be an actuary?
What is one thing you hope readers take away from Careers By the People?
The questions. I hope anyone in school, the military, or changing careers views the questions and asks people in the industries that interest them the questions so they know what they are getting into instead of guessing “Yeah, I hear that it pays well, I will do that.” I want people to do a little homework on career choice before spending time and money on an occupation that won’t last 3 years, and then they are starting from the beginning again, trying something else.
The book is a fun read and offers suggestions and ideas to help you choose what profession is best for you.
Author Links: GoodReads | Website | YouTube | LinkedIn | Amazon
After three decades in corporate America, Mike Wysocki wondered if the grass really was greener on the other side. So he put his background in sociology to work and spent years surveying industry veterans in a variety of occupations.
The responses were eye-opening: an honest, insider’s look at what workers say about their careers outside of the office.
Wysocki chose the 101 most powerful responses for the two-time award-winning Careers By the People to demystify the world of work with practical experience rather than theory. These industry profiles pair the practicality of guidance counselors with the storytelling of a networking event (without the small talk).
Told in a Q&A format, insightful answers to thought-provoking questions include:
descriptions of a day-in-the-life of the profession they chose.
truths about conflicts, co-workers, and management.
common misconceptions, issues and what pitfalls to avoid.
what’s fulfilling, what’s draining, and what’s worth it.
With humor and authenticity that doesn’t hold punches, this career guidebook will help you narrow down career choices so you can determine what is best for you.
All paths lead to retirement—which one are you on?
Careers By the People won a 2024 Bronze IPPY Award in the BEST FIRST BOOK – NON-FICTION – INFORMATIONAL Category as well as a 2025 Silver Axiom Award – Career.
It’s a great book for Careers & Technical Education as it views 101 occupations that break down into California CTE Career Pathways. In the book there are (4) in Agriculture and Natural Resources (7) Arts, Media, & Entertainment (1) Building & Construction Trades (14) Business & Finance (18) Education, Child Development, & Family Services (1) Energy, Environment, & Utilities (5) Engineering & Architecture (3) Fashion & Interior Design (10) Health Science & Medical Technology (3) Hospitality, Tourism, & Recreation (5) Information & Communication Technologies (6) Manufacturing & Product Design (14) Marketing, Sales, & Services (6) Public Services (3) Transportation.
Since the book has been published, I have spoken at many high schools and colleges about career and career readiness such as Cal State Dominguez Hills, Boston University, UMass Amherst, Univ. of New Hampshire, Suffolk University, Hawaii Pacific University, Weymouth High School, Holbrook HS, New Milford HS, Randolph HS, Maui HS, Kapolei HS, University of Hawaii Maui College, University of the Pacific as well as many others.
Careers By the People was published to help students with career choice and career readiness. It’s a story of Wysocki, a first-generation low-income average student that makes it out of college unprepared for the real world and the obstacles that one faces. Thirty plus years later, the book is out. Each person was asked 20+ questions and the majority had 5+ years’ experience. Moreover, Hollands Occupational Themes is incorporated as the chapters with modern day terminology. It entices the reader with history and humor.
The website, http://www.careersbythepeople.com, has an excerpt to download, videos of the reasons for the book, the full list of endorsements, interviews, book reviews, YouTube Channel with over 80 videos about career readiness, a speaking engagement at Hawaii Pacific University etc…
Careers By the People: Candid Career Advice from 101 Experienced Professionals
Careers By the People is a wide-reaching look at what real work feels like for real people. Mike Wysocki gathers 101 interviews that span everything from CEOs to beekeepers to teachers, and he lets each person speak plainly about what their days look like, what they enjoy, and what grinds them down. The book moves through these stories with an easy rhythm. It shows how career paths twist and turn. It also explains how personality, luck, stubbornness, and honest self-reflection shape a life more than any job posting ever could.
I liked how direct the voices were, since many career books wrap advice in buzzwords. This one does not bother with that. The interviews feel like short but candid coffee chats. I caught myself underlining certain lines because they hit close to home. The mix of pride, regret, humor, and grit reminded me how messy most careers really are, and that made the entire book comforting. I also appreciated how Wysocki frames the stories with his own reflections. He speaks openly about his missteps. His tone feels friendly, almost like a mentor who refuses to sugarcoat anything.
At times, the honesty stings. Some stories feel heavy, and a few made me anxious in the best way because they pushed me to think harder about my own choices. When several similar roles appeared in a row, the forward momentum slowed. Still, that repetition also proved the point that every job contains highs and lows. I found myself enjoying the unpredictable flow of opinions. Some workers adore their field. Others are blunt about their frustration. I liked that mix. It made the book feel alive.
I would gladly recommend Careers By the People to high school and college students, early career professionals, and anyone who feels stuck or restless at work. The book works well as a guide, but it also works as a reality check. It gives readers permission to explore, to question their assumptions, and to admit when something does not fit. If you want straight talk, human stories, and a push to think about what you actually want from forty years of work, this book will serve you well.
Pages: 570 | ASIN : B0BPX59FT5
LITERARY TITAN 