Color Is Your Parachute, by Richard Nelson

¶ … Color is Your Parachute, by Richard Nelson Bolles. Specifically, it will contain a book report on the 2003 edition of the book, with an analysis of its usefulness in creating the right career choices for an individual.

What Color is Your Parachute?

What Color is Your Parachute?" has become a classic in career choice and education. Bolles wrote his first edition of the book in 1970, and it has remained on the bestseller list nearly ever since. The 2003 edition is updated for today's struggling economy, but still contains the gems of wisdom and insight that have made the book a bestseller all these years.

Bolles completely revised the book for this edition, and while this new edition contains less actual pages, the information packed into the book could help just about any job hunter in their search for the perfect employment. Early in the book, Bolles spells out the mission for serious job seekers. "Your mission is one which is uniquely yours," he says, " and that is to exercise that talent which you particularly came to Earth to use - your greatest gift, which you most delight to use" (Bolles). The book is packed with inspirational messages like these, but it also contains a variety of worksheets and exercises to help the job seeker discover more about themselves and their "greatest gifts."

The book discusses the many ways people attempt to find jobs today, from the Internet (which Bolles says is one of the "five worst ways" to find a job), to networking, perfecting your ideas and thoughts for the job in the industry (or industries) you want, and perseverance. "The key to job-hunting success is hope and perseverance. Many people who are out of work fail to find work simply because they give up too soon" (Bolles). Bolles gives job seekers alternatives to the "traditional" job search because he feels that most traditional job searches simply do not work. He writes, "The major difference between successful and unsuccessful job-hunters is not some factor out there such as a tight job market, but the way they go about their job hunt" (Bolles). His approach is different because he urges job seekers to really look at themselves and find out what they really want to do in life - which many of the exercises in the book help the reader discover. Rather than tailoring your accrued skills to a job you may not really want, Bolles shows you how to take those skills and remodel them into a different industry, and a different work life.

While Bolles does not give examples of resumes and cover letters (he feels there are plenty of other books and Web Sites that do that effectively), he does give great advice on how to interview. His suggestions include what questions to ask of the employer, how to prepare for the interview, and how to continue making a good impression even after the interview is over. (Do not forget to send a thank you note, for example.) In the end, Bolles even gives some spiritual advice to those job-hunting, and equates finding the perfect job to a turning point in your life and career.