What Color is Your Parachute?: Summary Review
This is a summary review of What Color is Your Parachute? containing key details about the book.
What is What Color is Your Parachute? About?
"What Color is Your Parachute?" is a career guide that helps job seekers discover their strengths and find fulfilling work through self-reflection, networking, and resume preparation.
What Color Is Your Parachute? recommends networking to find "the person with the authority to hire you", rather than sending out resumes in bulk, shotgun fashion. It also recommends carefully figuring out what one is best at and what one enjoys most, which Bolles asserts tend to coincide. The Flower Exercise is a key element of the book, featuring seven ways that job seekers can define themselves in order to inform their job search.
Summary Points & Takeaways from What Color is Your Parachute?
Some key summary points and takeaways from the book includes:
* The book provides a step-by-step process for exploring one's unique skills, interests, and values, and using that information to identify fulfilling career paths.
* Bolles emphasizes the importance of self-discovery and self-reflection in the job search process, and provides exercises and activities to help readers identify their strengths and passions.
* The book provides tips for networking, researching industries and companies, and writing effective resumes and cover letters.
* Bolles also provides advice on interviewing and negotiating job offers, and offers strategies for navigating the job market and making the transition to a new career.
* "What Color Is Your Parachute?" covers the benefits of finding fulfilling work, including increased satisfaction, happiness, and financial stability.
* The author also explores the challenges of job search and career transition, including the need to overcome self-doubt and insecurity, and the importance of perseverance and resilience in the face of rejection and disappointment.
* The book concludes by emphasizing the importance of ongoing self-discovery and career development, and provides a roadmap for finding fulfilling work and building a successful career.
Who is the author of What Color is Your Parachute??
Richard Nelson Bolles was an Episcopal clergyman and the author of the best-selling job-hunting book, What Color is Your Parachute?
Favorite Quote: "We are all sent here to bring more gratitude, more kindness, more forgiveness and more love into this world. That is too big a job to be accomplished by just a few.” - What Color is Your Parachute? Quotes, Richard N. Bolles
What Color is Your Parachute? Summary Notes
The Changing Landscape of the Job Market
Job hunting has become a challenging task in the current economic scenario. The 2008 economic meltdown has changed the job market landscape significantly, and employers are now in control. With a larger pool of unemployed individuals, employers have less incentive to prioritize the needs and preferences of job seekers. This shift has increased the time taken to find a job significantly. Previously, it would have taken around five weeks for half of all unemployed people in the United States to find a job. However, post-2008, only 22 to 33 percent of unemployed Americans would have landed a job in more than a year.
Furthermore, the struggling economy has led to employers looking for ways to cut costs, resulting in short-term jobs that don't offer health benefits or paid holidays. Part-time and freelance positions are becoming more common in today's job market, and they're usually project-based. This trend is reflected in the Bureau of Labor Statistics report, which showed that 69 percent of people aged 18 to 24 had been working at a job for less than a year, and 93 percent for less than five years. Additionally, 32 percent of individuals aged 40 to 48 had been working at their job for less than a year, and 69 percent for less than five years.
Why Your Resume is No Longer Enough
In today’s digital age, job seekers must be aware that their online presence can make or break their chances of landing a job. With so much information available at the click of a button, employers are no longer solely relying on resumes to assess candidates. Instead, they are searching for candidates’ names on Google and other social media platforms to get a fuller picture of who they are.
Gone are the days where job seekers had complete control over how they presented themselves to potential employers. With an abundance of online information, anyone can easily access your personal details, making it essential to manage your online appearance. This means conducting regular Google searches of your name and ensuring that the information that appears online is consistent with what’s on your resume. Employers are quick to reject candidates whose online profiles contain information that contradicts their resumes, so it’s crucial to remove any red flags immediately.
According to a survey, 91% of US employers check a candidate’s social media profiles, and nearly 70% have rejected candidates based on their online presence. Therefore, job seekers must take control of their online appearance and remove any unfavorable content. They can do this by untagging themselves from photos and managing their online presence so that it appears professional and consistent across all social media platforms.
Optimize Your Online Presence with Keywords
In the age of the internet, it’s essential to be mindful of your online presence. This note focuses on using keywords to optimize your online presence and make it more visible. Since most of the internet is based on keywords, you can use them to control and improve the search results that appear when someone Googles your name or searches for someone with your specific skills. Start by making a list of keywords that describe you and the kind of recruiters you want to attract. These words can then be added to your LinkedIn account and incorporated into your bio to describe both your professional and nonprofessional activities.
To increase your visibility, you can also start a blog about your particular subject to show off your knowledge and interest. If you’re a graphic designer, for example, start a blog that highlights interesting articles and interviews in the field. You could then add commentary and examples that provide insight into your own background. Another way to get noticed in your field is to increase your presence in LinkedIn groups. Join different groups related to your profession and engage with them by providing comments and sharing posts. Twitter is another useful tool to share posts and comment on developments in your field. Make sure to use relevant hashtags so that potential employers can find your activity.
By using the power of keywords, you can control your online presence and make yourself more visible to potential employers. These simple steps can make a significant difference in how employers perceive you and ultimately help you land your dream job.
Job-Hunting in Today’s World: Opportunities are Still Abundant
Despite the changes that have taken place in the job market over the years, job-hunting remains a process of bringing two parties together who want to form a mutually beneficial relationship. To be successful in job-hunting, you must make yourself appealing to employers by demonstrating your skills, experience, and personality fit for the position being offered. However, it is also important to remember that job-hunting is a two-way process, and you must ensure that the employer and the work environment align with your values, interests, and career aspirations.
The media tends to exaggerate the state of the job market and create a sense of hopelessness, which can make job-hunting feel overwhelming. However, there are still plenty of job opportunities out there, and it is essential to keep a positive mindset and stay focused on your job search. You can increase your chances of success by improving your résumé and cover letter, researching the job market, and expanding your search to uncover new opportunities.
It is also crucial to remember that, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are 10 million job openings every month, with only half of them filled regularly, indicating that the odds are in your favor. It is possible to maximize your chances of landing your dream job by staying persistent, optimistic, and taking advantage of the opportunities available.
How to Ace Your Job Interview: Tips from “What Color is Your Parachute?”
Finding a job can be a daunting task, but with the right preparation, focus, and attitude, it is possible to land your dream job. “What Color is Your Parachute?” by Richard N. Bolles is a job-hunting manual that has been updated annually since the 1970s, providing timeless advice on job hunting. The book highlights the importance of being well-prepared for a job interview.
One of the first steps in preparing for a job interview is to research the company you are interviewing with. This includes understanding the company’s culture, values, and recent developments. Being knowledgeable about the company demonstrates that you are interested in the position and that you have taken the time to prepare for the interview.
During the interview, it is important to focus on precise answers to questions asked. Avoid nervous self-promotion that may come off as arrogant or unfocused. Instead, listen carefully to the interviewer's questions and answer them thoughtfully. Asking questions about the company, such as the people you will be working with, shows that you are aware of different personalities and curious about how you will fit in.
To further set yourself apart, bring evidence that backs up your experience and skills. A portfolio, whether physical or digital, can be used to showcase your best work and provide concrete examples of your capabilities. This is particularly relevant for creative jobs such as graphic designers and architects.
Preparing well for a job interview can increase your chances of securing your dream job. Taking the time to research the company, focusing on precise answers, and bringing evidence of your capabilities are all ways to make yourself a strong candidate for the position.
Key Tips for Successful Job Negotiations
Negotiating a job offer can be intimidating, but with the right preparation and knowledge, you can increase your chances of success. One key strategy is to get the employer to propose a salary first, and then use your research to come up with a counterproposal that falls within a reasonable range. By researching comparable salaries and identifying the employer's expected range, you can set a target salary and negotiate with confidence. It's also important to consider other factors, such as benefits and work-life balance, when making your decision. In addition to salary negotiations, being well-prepared for interviews and having a strong portfolio can also increase your chances of landing the job you want. By taking the time to research the company and its culture, listening carefully during the interview, and showcasing your skills and expertise, you can make a strong impression and stand out from other candidates. With these tips in mind, you can enter the job market with confidence and find the perfect position for you.
Book Details
- Print length: 382 pages
- Genre: Nonfiction, Business, Self Help
What Color is Your Parachute? Chapters
Chapter 1:What Color is Your Parachute?
Chapter 2:There are over ten million vacancies available each month
Chapter 3:Sixteen tips about interviewing for a job
Chapter 4:The six secrets of salary negotiation
Chapter 5:Self-inventory, part 1
Chapter 6:Self-inventory, part 2
Chapter 7:What to do when your job-hunt just isn't working
Chapter 8:You get to choose where you work
Chapter 9:How to deal with any handicaps you have
Chapter 10:The five ways to choose/change careers
Chapter 11:How to start your own business
What is a good quote from What Color is Your Parachute?
Top Quote: "We are all sent here to bring more gratitude, more kindness, more forgiveness and more love into this world. That is too big a job to be accomplished by just a few.” - What Color is Your Parachute? Quotes, Richard N. Bolles
What do critics say?
Here's what one of the prominent reviewers had to say about the book: “It remains the go-to guide for everyone from midlife-crisis boomers looking to change their careers to college students looking to start one.” — New York Post
* The editor of this summary review made every effort to maintain information accuracy, including any published quotes, chapters, or takeaways. If you're interested in furthering your personal development, I invite you to check out my list of favorite personal development books page. On this page, you'll find a curated list of books that have personally impacted my life, each with a summary and key lessons.
Chief Editor
Tal Gur is an author, founder, and impact-driven entrepreneur at heart. After trading his daily grind for a life of his own daring design, he spent a decade pursuing 100 major life goals around the globe. His journey and most recent book, The Art of Fully Living, has led him to found Elevate Society.
