Book Review-"What Color Is Your Parachute?"

I recently read the book “What Color Is Your Parachute, by Richard Bolles.   I found it to be a very good book for a Career Development Facilitator as well as anyone looking for a job.  The book was the 40th anniversary edition, and has been updated considerably from the 2005 version that I read in graduate school.

This edition of “What Color Is Your Parachute” includes a chapter on “How to Find Hope.”  I found this to be a good addition to the book, especially with how the job market is these days.   In this chapter about “hope,” the author talks about using hope as a strategy and something to live by.  The author talks about not putting your eggs in one basket and always having alternatives.  I found it to be an excellent way to start the book.

The next Chapters discuss the survival skills that people most need today to be successful.  Chapters 3 and 4 talks about the “Attitudes Necessary for Survival.  Chapters 5-9 discuss “Advanced Job Finding Techniques.  Chapters 10-12 discuss “Advanced Job Creation Techniques.  Chapter 13 provides an inventory of “What You Have to Offer the World.  Chapter 14 is about teacher others survival job-hunting skills.  Lastly, the book ends with 4 appendixes on finding one’s mission in life, choosing a career coach or counselor,” dealing with unemployment depression, and a sample list of coaches.

Overall, the book is more than just a basic job-hunting book.  It contains many worksheets, tools, and other exercises to help one figure out where their strengths are and put them in a better position to search for a job more effectively.  I would highly recommend this book to clients as well as other Career Development Facilitators.