When the kind folks over at Ten Speed Press asked me to write a review of this year’s edition of What Color Is Your Parachute I readily agreed.
Unless you’ve been living in the wilds of Bora Bora you know that Parachute, as it is affectionately called, is THE Job Hunter’s Bible. And, I’m honoured — and a wee bit intimidated — to be asked to review it.
So, for more than a month now I’ve struggled with how to best share ‘the best of the best’. I’m afraid that my Inner Perfectionist has been controlling my typing fingers. This is of course, at one level, ironic and funny: The Unsticking Coach stuck!
Finally, I decided to take my own advice to those struggling with Writer’s Block: Just start!
So, here goes…
I was struck by two comments in the Preface.
First this: “I’ve worked particularly hard on the three most recent editions — 2008, 2007, and 2006 — and I think (immodestly) they are the best I’ve ever done.” Indeed. I bought my first Parachute in 1986 and since my coaching work focused I watch for and purchase the newest edition when it is released each fall. Parachute just keeps getting better.
Why? The answer lies in this the second comment from the Preface: “In fact I do not think of this any longer as, a book. It’s much more like a living organism, evolving, changing, growing. It takes on a life of its own year by year.” So, whether this is the first time you pick up, read, and use the ideas in Parachute, or the twenty-first; you’ll find the best and most up to date advice on finding a job and creating your ideal career.
At more than 400 pages Parachute is chock a block full of information and tips. So, how does a reviewer capture the essence of this classic? I decided to thumb through the book and highlight items and ideas that captured my interest and attention.
First though, I want to give a bit of an overview of the structure of the book and some thoughts on how to use it. Like the 2007 edition of Parachute which I reviewed last year, this edition is in 3 parts:
- PART I: The Things School Never Taught Us About The Job Hunt [Bolles clear headed strategy for how best to conduct your job search]
- PART II: When The Unexpected Happens: How To Deal With Change [What’s changing in the world of work and how to cope with it]
- PART III: Resuming The Search To Find Your Dream [How to identify and find the career of your dreams]
If you need a job quickly then focus on Part I. If you’re struggling with job change and career transition, scoot over to Part II. Finally, if you’re looking for meaning, balance, and want to do what you love (just as soon as you figure out what that is) then Part III is for you. Finally, if you really want to understand the how to’s of creating and developing your career, read the whole book. You won’t regret it.
Now, here are some of the parts that grabbed my attention as I thumbed through this edition…
- Unsure what your skills are? Page 43 lists 246 skills.
- Shy like me? Check out page 44 and see how to use the late John Crysta’s P.I.E. system.
- Wondering about the value of Social Networking sites. Check out Bolles thoughts on sites like LinkedIn, MySpace, and Tribe (page 54). Better yet read the whole darn chapter and find out the whys and wherefores of using the Internet for your Job Search.
- Having trouble describing your acheivements? Check out the EASY system delineated at page 71.
- See page 82 for a list of The Ten Greatest Mistakes Made In Job Interviews.
- See page 102 for tips on how not to lose the job in the first 2 minutes of the interview.
- Want the best salary? Page 119 graphically demonstrates the best time to negotiate.
- Unsure about whether you should take those career TESTS? Read Bolles 6 Rules About Testing, starting at page 162.
- Changing careers, check out Seven Rules for Choosing or Changing Careers on page 164.
- Want to start your own home-based business? See Bolles A – C = B formula for effective research, starting on page 193.
- Over 50 and starting over, read Chapter 11 “Entering the World of 50+”, starting on page 215.
- Since I’m The Unsticking(TM) Coach, my favourite chapter is naturally, Chapter 12 “How to Get ‘Unstuck'”. I particularly like Bolles’ notion of taping into your Safekeeping Self (See page 232).
- As a Dreamer I’m particularly drawn to ALL of Part III. At 60 I know that life is best when one does what one loves. READ and follow the ideas in Part III on using Bolles’ Career Flower process to discover, document, and plan your Ideal Career.
Phew! Lots to learn. Lots to use.
Grab your copy and get going.
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