Book Review: What Color Is Your Parachute?

What Color is Your Parachute?
Reviewed by: Matt Keegan
© 2003, Matthew C. Keegan, LLC

Finding a job today presents unique challenges that did not exist five years ago. That is why Richard Nelson Bolles' acclaimed job hunter's bible, " What Color is Your Parachute?" is so relevant. Taking into consideration the impact of the terrorist attacks of September 21, 2001, the subsequent NASDAQ meltdown, and the globalization of the world's economy, Bolles' guide encourages the reader to implement time tested as well as new strategies in finding meaningful employment.

With a subtitle of, "A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career-Changers", Parachute emphasizes the necessity of finding one's "mission" in life in order to obtain meaningful employment. Not to be content with simply drawing a paycheck, Bolles encourages the reader to uncover those areas of personal interest that can be translated into a rewarding as well as relevant career. For example, if you have been a secretary and you also love to write about animals, maybe your desire is to become a contributor to nature magazines instead.

Bolles lists several reasons why a job search might include a change in career. Some key components to consider when deciding a change are:

∙ We made a bad choice when we first chose our career, and now we've decided to set it right.

∙ We've been asked to do the work of three, and we feel stressed out, angry, exhausted, burnt out, and grumpy?

∙ We've decided we want to go into business for ourselves.

∙ All we wanted in the past for a job was money, now we want a job that has meaning?

In addition, Bolles persuades the job searcher to not rely exclusively on old strategies for finding work, i.e., sending out résumés and waiting for a response, but to utilize what he has determined to be some of the more successful and proactive strategies including:

∙ Directly targeting those companies you desire to work for.

∙ Join a job hunter's group to share leads, receive and give encouragement, to fine tune your résumé and search, etc.

∙ Discipline yourself to make phone calls to companies [determine who has hiring authority and avoid the Human Resources department as they exist solely to screen you out!]

∙ When sending an e-mail résumé, follow it up with a hard copy and cover letter, followed by a telephone call the next week to the contact person.

Concerning job hunting methods, Parachute contains one notable surprise. In his very detailed research Bolles reveals that the Internet, with all of its job search capabilities, may actually provide the least successful method in finding work. Too often, Bolles alledges, job seekers rely exclusively on job boards to post their résumé to and then they wait for their employer of choice to call them about an open position. Unfortunately, according to Bolles, the internet alone only offers a 4% success rate in finding a job when it is used as the exclusive job search method.

Bolles also guides the reader through the process of starting a business instead of working for an employer; shares interviewing tips for smarties; lists the seven secrets of salary negotiation; and discloses the secret of finding your dream job.

Bolles folksy and friendly writing style has endeared himself to over seven million readers since the initial publishing of Parachute in 1970. Revised annually, I recommend you read the latest version of his book as it speaks to the current nature of the job market.

Finally, Bolles has a companion web site called the Job Hunter's Bible [http://www.jobhuntersbible.com]. The site contains a collection of articles written by Bolles and other experts.

Overall, Parachute is an informative and even fun book to read. The reader may want to skip around the different chapters instead of reading the book straight through as it is reads more like a guide, not a novel. Combined together,the two resources should go far in helping the job seeker in his or her quest for their "dream job."

Matt is the administrator of the Aviation Employment Board at http://www.aviationemploymentboard.com

---

Better Links Directory

Los Angeles City Re-writes Free Car Wash Fundraiser E-Book

The City of Los Angeles Storm Water Program has recently... Read More

Atlantis Rises Book

Chapter one: Baby on the doorstep.It was one of those... Read More

Book Summary: Networking For Professional Success

Book Summary:This article is based on the following book: ... Read More

Create Your Own Future - AchieveMax® Top Ten Book Review

Create Your Own Future: How to Master 12 Critical Factors... Read More

Primal Leadership - A Book Summary

Primal leadership takes center stage in this book. This concept... Read More

Book Summary : The E-Myth Revisited

Ever wonder why most small businesses-- no matter how huge... Read More

Dont Eat This Book by Morgan Spurlock: Lightweight But Convincing Expose of the Fast Food Industry

For those of you who've been on another planet for... Read More

Why Malta? A Mystery-Thriller Author Tells Why

"Why Malta?" my new Maltese friends kept asking me when... Read More

How to Survive Sudden Leadership Challenges - Covey Has Some Clues

I have decided to start with this text as simply... Read More

IZEE Growing Up In A Logging Camp: Introduction

IntroductionRusty Miles never had a real identity. I was that... Read More

Book Summary: EVEolution

For any business to survive today, it needs to understand... Read More

Giving Feedback or Writing Reviews of Bad Stuff

Some book reviewers say that when they don't like a... Read More

My Dad Wears Polka-dotted Socks! - Review

"Bright colored sheets just inside the sturdy book cover certainly... Read More

Multi-talented Author Joseph Yakel Releases Both Historical and Comedy Works

Author Joseph Yakel is leading a two-pronged charge to provide... Read More

For Fans of Seinfeld-like Coincidences

Isn't That Bigamy (c) 2005, ISBN 1411634241, Mike Vogel, Lulu... Read More

Dragon Tales - Book Review

Dragon Tales by Mary C. Fairbanks is truly and entertaining... Read More

E-books in Your Life

E-Books are making a big impact in the way we... Read More

Her Backyard: Book Review

Her Backyard by Doreen Lewis is an adventure, romance novel... Read More

Story Structure ? Classic Hero?s Journey

The Classical Hero's Journey is one of the most detailed... Read More

Pariah - Book Review

"Pariah, written by multi-talented artist and author Timothy Goodwin, is... Read More

Fading Towards Enlightenment - Book Review

Fading Toward Enlightenment by Wayne Wirs is definitely a well... Read More

Book Review - As the Darkness Deepens by Michael Cale

Newton's Third Law of Motions states that "For ever action,... Read More

The Legend of Juggin Joe - Review

The Legend of Juggin' Joe is a fiction based on... Read More

Moon Child - Review

Moon Child by Simone Maroney is a larger sized adventure,... Read More

Review: Profit From The Author Inside You

I've reviewed a number of eBooks recently, and none of... Read More