Comments on: WHAT COLOR IS YOUR PARACHUTE? 2010: A PRACTICAL MANUAL FOR JOB-HUNTERS AND CAREER-CHANGERS

By: Kristen F. Ricahrds

Kristen F. Ricahrds — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 15:46:06 +0000

Excellent book for the job seeking/career changing novice. Surprising insights and challenges for those of us who have faced the battle a time or two.

By: Charlotte Chase, Ph.D.

Charlotte Chase, Ph.D. — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 13:24:12 +0000

Once again, thanks to the “Parachute” book for its updated, motivating advice on how to really get hired. It is not the typical resume writing, interview, okay-hire-me book. Richard Bolles has always offered practical suggestions apart from the norm that translate into network, network, network = work. But isn’t that what it is all about?

Charlotte Chase, Ph.D.

By: T Love

T Love — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 13:22:20 +0000

Quite useful book for anyone who is ‘job/career searching’. Alot of useful, thought provoking and current information.

By: CrunchyCookie

CrunchyCookie — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 10:43:01 +0000

I'm at a loss to explain the appeal of this book. I found exactly one useful insight, and it's contained in one clumsily-worded sentence on page 37: "Most employers hunt for employees in the exact opposite way from how job-hunters hunt for them." What he means is that in terms of landing for a job, sending out resumes on the Internet is the least effective method, applying directly to companies is better, and networking & temping are best. Bolles even has a tally of the supposed success rates for each method. Nice to know.

The rest of the book, however, reads like fluff. The majority of content is devoted to discussing the obvious in embarrassingly deep detail, i.e. posing questions like "what skills do you most enjoy using?" or "where do you want to live?" while asking the reader to perform childish exercises like writing down one's interests, values, and desired salary on a flower pedal diagram. Truly useful information is scarce, and GOOD GOD does this guy take his sweet time to make a point. One chapter starts with a page-long anecdote about an earthquake in Asia, then goes on for another page chronicling the history of advances in transportation technology, all just to make a point that the invention of the Internet enables the instant transfer of information to anywhere in the world. NO SH**, SHERLOCK!

Also, the "updates" made to this book over the years mostly seem to consist of bulleted lists of random websites (which only weaken an already dull narrative flow) and a few updated cultural references, i.e. Hurricane Katrina.

8 billion copies sold? Seriously?

By: Humrmeplz

Humrmeplz — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 08:34:11 +0000

What Color Is Your Parachute? 2010: A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career-Changers I purchased two of these books going to different addresses. They arrived in excellent condition ahead of schedule. This is a very good book for anyone looking to find some real meaning in their lives.