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What Color Is Your Parachute? 2017: A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career-Changers Paperback – August 16, 2016

4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 367 ratings

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The world's most popular job-search book is updated for 2017, tailoring its long-trusted guidance with up-to-the-minute information and advice for today's job-hunters and career-changers.

In today's challenging job-market, the time-tested advice of
What Color Is Your Parachute? is needed more than ever. Recent grads facing a tough economic landscape, workers laid off mid-career, and people searching for an inspiring work-life change all look to career guru Richard N. Bolles for support, encouragement, and advice on which job-hunt strategies work--and which don't. This revised and updated edition combines classic elements like the famed Flower Exercise with updated tips on social media and search tactics. Bolles demystifies the entire job-search process, from resumes to interviewing to networking, expertly guiding job-hunters toward their dream job.
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"One of the 25 books that have shaped readers' lives."
—CENTER FOR THE BOOK, LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 

 “. . . one of the first job-hunting books on the market. It is still arguably the best. And it is indisputably the most popular.” 
FAST COMPANY 

What Color Is Your Parachute? is about job-hunting and career-changing, but it’s also about figuring out who you are as a person and what you want out of life.” 
—TIME 

 “Ideally, everyone should read
What Color Is Your Parachute? in the tenth grade and again every year thereafter.” 
—FORTUNE 

“This is a fantastic tool useful to almost everyone. . . . It’s so darn useful because it is about more than just ‘finding a job.’” 
—KEVIN KELLY, AUTHOR OF COOL TOOLS: A CATALOG OF POSSIBILITIES 

About the Author

RICHARD N. BOLLES has led the job-search field for more than 40 years. A member of Mensa and the Society for Human Resource Management, he has been the keynote speaker at hundreds of conferences. Bolles holds a bachelor's degree cum laude in physics from Harvard University, a master's degree from General Theological (Episcopal) Seminary in New York City, and three honorary doctorates.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Ten Speed Press; 1st edition (August 16, 2016)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 368 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 039957820X
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0399578205
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.1 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 1.1 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 367 ratings

About the author

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Richard N. Bolles
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Richard Nelson Bolles is the author of What Color Is Your Parachute? A Practical Guide For Job-Hunters and Career Changers, the most popular job-hunting book in the world, which has sold more than 10,000,000 copies since its first publication. Parachute is dramatically updated, reshaped and rewritten every year, and has been translated into 20 languages and published in 26 countries.

What Color Is Your Parachute? was chosen as one of the all-time 100 best nonfiction books by Time magazine, and was selected as one of 25 books that have shaped people's lives (throughout history) by the Library of Congress' Center for the Book.

A member of Mensa and the Society for Human Resource Management, Bolles has been the keynote speaker at hundreds of conferences. He holds a bachelor’s degree cum laude in physics from Harvard University, a master’s degree from General Theological (Episcopal) Seminary in New York City, and three honorary doctorates.

He is credited with founding the modern career counseling field, and is often described as the field's foremost authority. Bolles is a recipient of the National Samaritan Award, whose previous honorees include Karl Menninger, Betty Ford, and Peter Drucker. He is also one of LinkedIn's 300 "Influencers" or "thought leaders," and writes regularly for the site as well as a number of others. In 2014, he was named one of the "Wealth Wizards" in the U.S. by Forbes Magazine—along with Warren Buffett and 18 others.

Dick has three grown children, Stephen, Sharon, and Gary, and lives with his wife, Marci, in the San Francisco East Bay Area.

Learn more at parachutebook.com.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
367 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this book helpful for job searches and career changes. They find it a great value for money with good content, tools, and inspiration. The book is updated annually to keep up with current trends. Readers describe the book as motivating and easy to read.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

58 customers mention "Advice"55 positive3 negative

Customers find the book's advice helpful for job searches and career changes. It provides good information and helps readers think about key factors. Readers appreciate the insight and purposeful work the book offers.

"...something that is fun that you like to do and to think about work differently than just drudgery...." Read more

"...The book does a good job at getting the job seeker thinking about some of the other key factors that he or she might miss otherwise...." Read more

"...The book was of course helpful, but not life-changing." Read more

"...the 'chaplain' for those seeking to find work that is meaningful, full of purpose, and for the common good of all. He will be sorely missed...." Read more

44 customers mention "Value for money"40 positive4 negative

Customers find the book provides good value for money. They appreciate the content, tools, and inspiration it offers. Many readers find it useful for job seekers, career changers, and young people starting out in the workforce.

"...years ago when I was in a counselor position and I think this is a fantastic book, both in the position it takes to look for something that is fun..." Read more

"...;, it could be the perfect time to figure out --with this book's incredible content, tools, and inspiration -- what you want to be doing at this..." Read more

"...Regardless, great book to set you on a path...even if you are going through it for a second time." Read more

"What a great read I have been out of work since Sept 2016 and on Wed Sept 13 2017 marked one year. So I decided by a personal recommendation...." Read more

8 customers mention "Update frequency"8 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's updated content. They find it useful for recent graduates and consider it a valuable resource for the job market. The book is updated annually to keep up with current trends.

"A perennial, important resource for the job market. I've used it for values clarification..." Read more

"...But, I like that it is updated every year, because I work in this business, and things do change, especially with the internet as a huge tool in..." Read more

"This is an annual publication that "keeps up with current trends" in the job search. Timely, relevant and easy reading...." Read more

"...Updated yearly with changes that reflect the the changing job search and business world." Read more

6 customers mention "Motivation"6 positive0 negative

Customers find the book provides positive motivation and inspiration for their careers. They describe it as a full-on course in self-improvement. The book helps readers become self-confident and excited about their jobs, careers, and lives.

"...to figure out --with this book's incredible content, tools, and inspiration -- what you want to be doing at this point in your life...." Read more

"This is a full-on course in YOU. Be ready to commit real work to this course...." Read more

"...he or she will be transformed into a confident self-assured, motivated, excited and enthusiastic job/career seeker........a seeker who searches for '..." Read more

"The book will not find you a job but helps provide tolls and positive motivation for those with career/job problems." Read more

4 customers mention "Readability"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the book easy to read and well-written.

"...Timely, relevant and easy reading. I'm a retired associate pastor with 40 years of experience...." Read more

"Well written, and informative. This would be agreat read for a young person just starting out in the workforce, or attending college." Read more

"It is a must- have for anyone looking for a career/job. The book is easy to read and very comprehensive." Read more

"Excellent book; well written; easy to read and very encouraging." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on February 1, 2017
    I bought this for my son in law who may be making a midlife career change soon. I used one of the early editions many years ago when I was in a counselor position and I think this is a fantastic book, both in the position it takes to look for something that is fun that you like to do and to think about work differently than just drudgery. And I also think it gives a lot of interesting tidbits and bits of advice that are so useful. I gave it to him just this past Saturday for an early birthday present and I will be checking in with him in a few weeks to see if it is useful in any way to him.
    4 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on June 20, 2017
    If you remember this book from the past, you'll know that there's a reason the 40th edition is out! If you never heard of "What Color is Your Parachute?", it could be the perfect time to figure out --with this book's incredible content, tools, and inspiration -- what you want to be doing at this point in your life. Plus, there are additional online resources to delve into. 1000% recommended, if that's possible, for job changers and seekers, career explorers, "winding down" later in career workers, even "retirees" looking to stay active in a chosen "work" arena.
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on September 12, 2016
    I used previous versions, some of which I enjoyed more. Regardless, great book to set you on a path...even if you are going through it for a second time.
    4 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on September 14, 2017
    What a great read I have been out of work since Sept 2016 and on Wed Sept 13 2017 marked one year. So I decided by a personal recommendation. I had received this book when I graduated high school or college I forget but never read a single page kind of a rebel back in those days of old early 1990's when life was so much simpler. Well back to this editions review my jaw dropped as I read the initial 1st couple chapters as it was describing exactly what I was experiencing. The job market of 2008 is NOTHING like the job market of 2017. I can say personally from working the past 17 or so years in IT and my last 2 jobs were a 2 year contract 2008-2010. I was called by a head hunter and within a month I was working one year in I got an increase in dollars per hour 45-49 then the next and last job was 2010-2016 this job I got as referred by a woman I worked with and actually picked up and dropped her off for her husband to pick her up they were both from New Delhi India and both brilliant. So I figured its on my way to /from work and she did help me. Also the other person on the team worked under the head of the Network group at the job in 2008-2010 the 3 of them worked together at a company which I will withhold the name the 2 guys worked for 20 years and the woman was only with them a year or so before mass lay off. And that is what happened to me in my last job got in couple re-orgs last one was tough as my job changed dramatically and I wanted out and I was laid off as were 100's or possibly 1000's over weeks at a time then 9-10 months later 400 more. So the book was like reading my life story at the time. I am still unemployed and actually looking to step back and go back to an area where at one time I was "King: I knew it all. I was top dog everyone came to me and I mentored lots of others at the time then looking back I made a BIG MISTAKE. I jumped from a Tech Analyst job into a Networking job. I should have learned desktop support or something else and if later I stilll wanted Networking then I would try to do it..At the time in the early 2000's you could move from group to another quite easily especially if you were working for 6 years now this practice is not quite as easy EVERYTHING changed as stated in the book and it has from poor management to 1 job becoming 3 jobs. Corporate America is spreading themselves to thin in IT especially in my opinion GREAT BOOK
  • Reviewed in the United States on February 18, 2018
    This is the 2017 revised version of the classic "find out what you should do" book.

    The format is the same comfortable version that the book has used for years, but it is totally updated to include all of the emerging technology jobs.

    I advise a number of young adults in various roles, and I find this book is very, very useful. It is not an Oracle, and the recommendations are not infallible, but it does get the conversation started.

    The book does a good job at getting the job seeker thinking about some of the other key factors that he or she might miss otherwise.

    A very useful book, a classic!
    5 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on September 1, 2017
    It started quite interesting, with a lot of "motivational speech" and convincing talk about why we should choose a job that gears towards us. There were inventories to do that helped push you to think about certain aspects of getting a job and what job would be a good fit for you. However, a lot of tips were the sort of things you can find in TheMuse or Monster or other websites nowadays. The inventories themselves were helpful, but I could have discovered my preferences for these sort of things with some more reflection rather than this book. The book was of course helpful, but not life-changing.
    4 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on August 24, 2017
    Our late friend, Dick Bolles, continued up to his death at 90 this past March to 'blog' his thoughts and ideas with us that made this book the 'bible' for anyone thinking about or attempting to change careers and look for new work. His own 'calling' to ministry as an Episcopalian minister shifted into being the 'chaplain' for those seeking to find work that is meaningful, full of purpose, and for the common good of all. He will be sorely missed. And this is his final edition will cement the book as a classic in understanding and finding one's calling "that transcendent summons that brings purpose and meaning to work that supports the well-being of others and the common good".
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on January 3, 2017
    Still have my first edition of this from about 1987! It was a masterpiece then and it did require a ton of introspective work which I'm okay with. If you're not into doing that sort of self-work this will be a challenge because this is not a book you read - it is a book you DO! It's worth the sweat equity you put into it. It certainly helped me.
    10 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Cliente Amazon
    4.0 out of 5 stars Exce
    Reviewed in Brazil on May 21, 2021
    Excelente
  • Stefano Romanello
    4.0 out of 5 stars Idee per trovare alternative lavorative
    Reviewed in Italy on July 9, 2021
    Utile riferimento
  • Belief...
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in India on August 17, 2018
    Nice
  • JF
    5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing Read
    Reviewed in Germany on May 9, 2017
    Everybody who's in it for a change, looking to achieve their potential or just works in head hunting should make this their bible. Amazing Read...
  • ABR
    5.0 out of 5 stars Money well spent...
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 11, 2016
    This book is excellent. It provides you with good advice about how to go about your job search. However, the most valuable part allows you to reflect upon who you are, what your skills are, and what job you really would be happy doing. It changes your mindset. Invaluable.