What color is your parachute?

About the book

Richard Nelson Bolles wrote this book as a practical guide to finding work, and it has stayed in print through many revisions. Its organizing premise is that effective job hunting begins with knowing what you want and what you can offer, not with scanning listings. Career choice is treated as a problem of self-assessment first and search technique second.

The core method asks readers to inventory their skills, interests, and preferred working conditions, then translate that inventory into language employers and contacts can use. Bolles pairs this with advice on resumes, interviews, and the informal networks through which many jobs are filled. The approach favors direct contact and research over mass applications, and it treats the job search as a project with defined steps.

Because the book has been revised repeatedly, its examples and labor-market references reflect the period of each edition. The underlying framework has proved durable, but readers should expect dated details alongside the method.

How to read it

Work through the self-assessment exercises with a pen and real answers rather than skimming them. The later advice on resumes and interviews depends on the inventory you build first, so skipping ahead weakens the whole method. Set aside several sessions for the exercises; they reward patience.

The prose is plain and instructional, with frequent lists and worksheets. Some sections repeat the same points in different forms, which helps readers who use the book as a reference but slows a straight read. Treat it as a workbook: complete the steps, then return to sections as your search changes.

Who it suits

This suits people facing a career change, a first job search, or a return to work after time away, especially those who feel stuck choosing among options. Readers who want a structured process rather than motivational talk will find the exercises useful. Career counselors and coaches can borrow the self-inventory framework for their own sessions.

Reading considerations

Editions vary substantially in their examples, job-market references, and advice on resumes and online search, so check which revision you have and expect some dated material. The method assumes a degree of choice and mobility that not every job seeker has. Test its central claim, that self-knowledge drives a better search, against your own constraints before committing to the full process.