Job & Edu

What Color Is Your Parachute? 2010: A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career-Changers

From Ten Speed Press

Author : Richard N. Bolles
Binding : Paperback
DeweyDecimalNumber : 331.128
EAN : 9781580089876
Edition : 1
ISBN : 1580089879
Label : Ten Speed Press
Manufacturer : Ten Speed Press
NumberOfPages : 336
ProductTypeName : ABIS_BOOK
PublicationDate : 2009-09-22
Publisher : Ten Speed Press
ReleaseDate : 2009-09-22
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Customer Reviews

Rating:
Summary: Not much new
Comment: I didn't read the 2009 version, but I'll bet there isn't a lot different between the two. I've never understood the need to put out a new version of a guide like this every year, or every other year for that matter. I read the 1997 and 2009 versions of Martin Yates' Knock 'Em Dead, and even after 12 years there wasn't much new. Authors should keep their small updates on their websites and publish a new version only every three years at the earliest.
Rating:
Summary: Waaaay to religous, not enough info.
Comment: I think the author is getting to the final years of his life, because he talks a lot about God and where your place is in the universe without much respect to other religions. It's dominantly Christian with a lot chopped out from his earlier books. This is definitely watered down to meed the needs of the age of "instant gratification" internet clicking society.

While "What color is your parachute" continually gets updated too often listening to every little nitpick, it loses out on essential information and compensates through short (often redundant religious) information that doesn't really help. Plus, the links to websites provided aren't that great ... most of the time it's mediocre stuff made from the 90's (no html 5, just really old fashion flash or out-of-date surveys or questionnaires).


Get "Pathfinder" by nicholas lore instead!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The author clearly shows mastered experience in career counseling (in fact, he has his own professional institute called "Rockport Institute").

The book is a bit long, but like a Harry Potter book, it's just filled with life experiences and engaging metaphorical examples with easy to understand lessons and exercises.


CONS: he does try to market "Pathfinder" a bit too much like it's some kind of mystic tool you got to buy, but I'd just ignore that and get on to the life stories. Other than that everything else is pretty good.

If I had to spend $20 on a career book, I'd choose "Pathfinder" by Nicholas Lore, career coach extraordinaire over any other book (or school counselor for that matter) any day!

The pathfinder book is perfect for high schoolers, lost college students, (or any student for that matter) or person who got laid off and needs to be on the rebound to learn how to market oneself. This book has it all!
Rating:
Summary: Not for Veteran Job Seekers
Comment: As someone in the middle of my career, this book was not for me. I don't need to figure out where I want to work, what special knowledge I have, what people-environments suit me best, what working conditions I prefer and what salary meets my needs. I know all this about myself, I've known for quite some time. I also don't understand why there are some people who buy this book every year. If you have to buy it every year, I don't think you are doing the exercises properly!

However, I think this book would be a must have for anyone deciding on a career path for the first time. You really need to know who you are, and this book helps you out. It is also great for career or industry changers.

One thing I have to add, even though the author already explains this, is his total misuse of commas. He states "commas......are deliberately used according to my own rules". Well, guess what Mr. Bolles? This book isn't FOR YOU, it's for YOUR READERS!! This misuse makes the book difficult to read as you are constantly pausing where you shouldn't be.
Rating:
Summary: Good but not the best
Comment: I know this is a classic, but I personally got more out of Find Your Perfect Job. It fit me better as a young professional, and included information about business school and law school that Parachute does not have. Heck, the "Perfect Job Profile" in FYPJ was superior (for me) to Parachute's career-deciding part. This is the book I'm talking about, it came out this year:
Find Your Perfect Job: The Inside Guide for Young Professionals
Rating:
Summary: Great Gift for graduates!
Comment: I bought this for my nephew who recently graduated from college. He said he read some of it already and has gotten some good ideas for job searching strategies. I read the book way back in 1989 when I graduated from college and it helped me as well. I highly recommend it.