What Color Is Your Parachute? - Richard N. Bolles

What Color Is Your Parachute?

Title: What Color Is Your Parachute? 2018: A Practical Manuel for Job-Hunters and Career-Changers

Author: Richard N. Bolles

Publication Date: 8/15/2017

Pages: 354

Genre: Self-Help / Nonfiction

How I Found It: I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.

Date Completed: 10/16/17

Summary: Looking for a job or wanting a career change? Bolles offers practical advice about how to make that happen in today's world. 

What I Thought: When I saw this book offered on Blogging for Books, it seemed fortuitous. As many of you know, I'm exploring a career change from college instructor to...something else? Not exactly sure quite what yet, but probably something in either the non-profit or public policy sectors. 

Bolles' book is an old classic in the job hunting world. It's been around for ages and the copy I received is the 2018 version, updated for the current world. 

The first part of the book tackles the traditional approach to job hunting. How to craft your resume, interview tips, salary negotiations, etc. It's super practical advice. I did feel a bit outside the target audience. It seemed like Bolles was talking largely to older job hunters who, perhaps, lost their work in the 2008 financial crisis. The information was still mostly good for me, but it definitely did not have a millennial bent. Of course, this was the Traditional Approach.

The bulk of the book deals with the Parachute Approach. This felt much more relevant to me. It's Bolles' strategy of self-discovery and finding a job or company that aligns with your goals and gifts, rather than just mindlessly job hunting. I found this much more applicable for me. There are still tons of practical tips and tasks. I have not yet gone through the whole practical process, but I want to. I'm going to make time for that over these next weeks and months. 

This really is a great book and a great resource. I'm glad to have a copy and it's already been practical for me. I know it has a lot more to give me, as well. There's a reason this book is seen as such a seminal work in this field. Where other books speak in vague terms, Bolles doesn't waste words; he gets right to the actions steps. It's the motivator any job hunter needs, including this one.

Rating: ★★★★☆

Will I Re-Read: Yes, definitely.

A Reduced Review: This is a pinnacle of practicality and action steps for any job hunter.