If you have EVER been confused about what career path to choose, you very well may have read “What Color Is My Parachute” by Richard Bolles.
It is considered the Bible for folks looking for a job or seeking to change careers, and it was first published back in late 1970!
At that point, it was just a self-published book, but since 1972 it has been published by Ten Speed Press. And it isn’t just the same book as it was back in those days, Richard Bolles significantly updates and even rewrites it every year to take into account the current job situation.
So even if you bought a copy several years ago, the version that is out there today will be very different. Many people buy a copy every year or two, just to be current with the job market and opportunities.
Far more than just a “job hunting guide,” Parachute leads you in a self-exploration journey which can be a worthwhile exercise even if you are NOT in the market for a new job. It is worth checking out the book just in order to do the Flower Exercise!
Do you think employers are sitting out there waiting for the next resume to arrive in order to fill a vacancy?
Not so much. Maybe as a last resort…
Most of the time they are far more likely to hire from within, or someone that they have experience with either as a contractor, an intern, or a temporary worker.
This is just one of the many useful tips about job seeking that Bolles shares in his timeless book.
There are other books out there to help you to help you find a job, but there are none that are so complete as What Color Is My Parachute?
Oh – and as of March of this year – 2013 – there is also a tablet edition that will allow you to do the Flower Exercise with no handwriting involved! It is meant to be a supplement to the book, not a replacement for it.
