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What Color Is Your Parachute?
Book

What Color Is Your Parachute?

A Practical Manual for Job-hunters And Career-Changers

Richard Nelson Bolles
Ten Speed Press, 2007
First Edition: 1970
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Editorial Rating

8

Qualities

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Recommendation

Today’s job market is harsh and cold-blooded. Indeed, nothing guarantees that the job you have now will be available tomorrow. Your job (and you) may be downsized or outsourced. Plus, many people must now accommodate themselves to the status of part-time workers, even those with jobs that used to be full-time, salaried positions. Competition is fierce for good – and even mediocre – jobs. How do you manage to stay employed in such a cutthroat environment? Since the early ’70s, people looking for employment or career change have turned to this bestseller by Richard Nelson Bolles. This updated classic is filled useful information. One caveat: Bolles notes that his statistical results are a "mashup of research and hunches," so take them as indicative, but perhaps not as scientific. And if not every suggestion is a gem, he still gives you plenty of options. Those who also appreciate a spiritual message amid the practicalities will find that as well, so if that isn’t your cup of tea, consider yourself warned. getAbstract recommends this guide to anyone who needs to find a good job, or who wants – or needs – to make a career change.

Summary

Are You Fully Prepared for a Successful Future?

High schools and colleges do a terrible job preparing students to meet four of life’s primary challenges: 1) finding a job; 2) choosing a life partner; 3) learning to think; and 4) making smart decisions. If you can meet the first challenge, you will probably do fine with the other three. Job hunting involves much more than preparing a good resume or handling a job interview. Don’t waste time on job-hunting activities that are almost guaranteed not to work. There are five good ways to look for a job – as well as five terrible ways. Avoid these five tactics; they do not work:

  1. Internet – Despite some anecdotal evidence to the contrary, research indicates that, “Out of every 100 job hunters who use the Internet as their search method for finding jobs, four of them will get lucky and find a job, while 96 job-hunters out of the 100 will not – if they use only the Internet to search for a job.” People in computer-related or technical fields do a little better.
  2. Resumes – Do you send out resumes to employers at random? You may as well send them to lumberjacks in Siberia. Only seven...

About the Author

Richard Nelson Bolles is an author, speaker and former Episcopal clergyman. This bestseller has sold nine million copies since it was first published in the early’70s and has been translated into 14 different languages. He is also the author of What Color Is Your Parachute: Retirement.

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