What Color Is Your Parachute? A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career-Changers By Richard N. Bolles
About this Book
In What Color Is Your Parachute? Richard Bolles shares current strategies and resources to simplify job-hunting for the unemployed and those wishing to change careers. From how to find the most appropriate and fulfilling jobs to fit your desires, to successful interviewing and salary negotiation, Bolles shares practical steps for success. What Color Is Your Parachute? provides excellent, practical advice for those wishing to secure enjoyable employment or switch careers.
Here’s what you’ll learn about in this book summary:
- How the job market has changed since 2008
- How to successfully navigate a job interview
- How to pursue and secure your dream job
Crucial quotes
“He or she who gets hired is not necessarily the one who can do that job best; But, the one who knows the most about how to get hired.”
“The workplace has changed dramatically since 2008. And consequently, the job-hunt has changed dramatically since 2008.”
“All any prospective employer has to do now is Google your name – yes Google has become both noun and verb – and there’s your new resume, using the word resume loosely.”
Tweetable summary
Finding a career you love is more than possible if you can navigate interviews, have a marketable skill-set, and are willing to be flexible and creative.
BIG IDEAS
- THE WORLD OF JOB-HUNTING HAS CHANGED DRAMATICALLY SINCE THE FINANCIAL CRISIS OF 2008
- THE GOALS AND LANGUAGE OF JOB-HUNTERS AND EMPLOYERS CONTRAST GREATLY
- IN ORDER TO THRIVE IN TODAY’S JOB MARKET, DO SOME CREATIVE JOB-HUNTING
- WHEN INTERVIEWING, EMPLOYERS ARE REALLY ONLY CONCERNED WITH THE ANSWERS TO FIVE QUESTIONS
- IF YOU SPEND ANY TIME AT ALL ONLINE, EMPLOYERS CAN FIND OUT A GREAT DEAL ABOUT YOU THROUGH GOOGLE
- THERE ARE SEVERAL IMPORTANT GUIDELINES FOR INTERVIEWING WELL
- COMPLETING A SELF-INVENTORY IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE JOB-HUNTING STRATEGY TO START WITH
- YOU SHOULD BE IN COMPLETE CONTROL OF WHERE YOU WORK
- DON’T LET HANDICAPS STOP YOU
- THERE ARE SEVERAL EFFECTIVE WAYS TO CHOOSE OR CHANGE CAREERS
1. THE WORLD OF JOB-HUNTING HAS CHANGED DRAMATICALLY SINCE THE FINANCIAL CRISIS OF 2008
“We have recovered, but the landscape has been fundamentally altered, long-term.”
Many people make the mistake of hunting for jobs the way people always have, even though employers have changed the way they look for employees. Things in the world of job-hunting and work have changed drastically since 2008. When the economy is up, employers have a harder time filling their job openings, so they will use traditional ways of hiring, such as looking at resumes. When the economy is not doing well, employers have many more choices because more people are searching for jobs, so they abandon posting jobs and screening candidates in traditional ways. It is important to keep this in mind if you are searching for employment.
Since 2008, more and more people are spending a year or more searching for employment. Many more people are employed in part time or temporary jobs; Some out of choice and some out of necessity. This is cheaper for employers because they can hire people to get the jobs done when they need them done, and then let them go when they are no longer needed. This also allows them to avoid providing benefits and vacation time.
Job-hunting has also moved online. Most employers are posting openings, searching for applicants, and even screening them online. It is essential that you get online and research your options as a job-hunter, then market yourself. A great way to learn what the latest and greatest job boards are is to visit the website called Quintessential Careers. Explore also how social media sites are being used to job and employee hunt.
Jobs themselves are changing. With advancing technology, man and machine are interconnected in ways we never could have imagined just a few years ago. Computer programs and robotics are not only reducing jobs, but they are changing the ways in which we get things done dramatically. In order to do well in the modern workplace, we must educate ourselves on these changes as quickly and practically as we can.
2. THE GOALS AND LANGUAGE OF JOB-HUNTERS AND EMPLOYERS CONTRAST GREATLY
“You should assume that the employer’s world is like a foreign country; you must learn their language, and their customs, before you visit.”
Jobseekers see the job-market from the perspective of employers wanting to hire people, while employers see the job-market as largely a game of elimination until the very last steps of hiring. They are looking for employees in different ways than prospective employees are hunting for their jobs. Most employers prefer to hire from within because they will already know the new hire and will have seen his or her work and work ethic. This is a lower-risk strategy than bringing someone new in. If there is nobody within that is qualified, they tend to favor those who provide actual evidence of their skills. Employers will also often take recommendations from good friends or trusted peers. They will also hire trusted agencies to do head-hunting and screening of applicants in order to save time, which to them is money. Only when they are desperate to find someone will they resort to advertisements in newspapers or to looking at resumes. Jobseekers, on the other hand, prefer to have employers seek them out. They also hope that a strong work history, outlined on a well-written resume is what gets them a foot in the door, while employers see a resume as an insignificant part of the process. Jobseekers are also looking for employers to acknowledge receipt of their resumes, but most employers are too busy to do this.
These differences are the result of differing value systems. Employers are worried about the risks they are taking when they hire a new employee. Job seekers instead obviously value their time. It is very costly for an employer to hire someone who does not work out, so the ways they go about hiring are designed to reduce or eliminate the risks of this happening. Jobseekers want to cover the job market as quickly as possible and often choose to do this by mass-distributing resumes and hoping employers will seek them out.
3. IN ORDER TO THRIVE IN TODAY’S JOB MARKET, DO SOME CREATIVE JOB-HUNTING
“In today’s world, he or she who gets hired is not necessarily the one who can do that job best; but, the one who knows the most about how to get hired.”
It is important to stop trying to make yourself fit a potential job description, but to instead find the job that fits your skills and desires. The first step to doing this is to do some reflection and research on yourself, rather than starting by researching the job market. Reflect upon what skills you have that you really enjoy using. Relying only on your skills will not lead you to the perfect fit. You must think about the skills you enjoy using the most. The key to success and happiness is to unlocking what you are passionate about doing. Then, think about where you would most want to put those skills to work. What kind of work environment do you prefer? Consider both the physical work environment and what kinds of people you would like to work with. Finally, consider how you might find the jobs that fit your desires.
Once you have determined which jobs you truly desire, pursue the organizations that have those positions, even if they do not have advertised vacancies. Be sure to look closely at small businesses with no more than 100 employees, and try to avoid dealing with Human Resources Departments if you can. The main goal of Human Resources is to eliminate candidates. Resumes do not have a great track record when it comes to getting hired, so do not rely too heavily on them. Try instead to use contacts to get some time with those with the actual power to do the hiring. These should be people who know you and your skills well and have some credibility with the prospective employer.
4. WHEN INTERVIEWING, EMPLOYERS ARE REALLY ONLY CONCERNED WITH THE ANSWERS TO FIVE QUESTIONS
Anything you can do, during the interview, to help your potential employer find the answers to these five questions, will help make you an outstanding candidate for the job:
1. The first question is regarding why you are pursuing a job with that organization. Employers typically want to know if you have done your research and understand the values, culture, and daily ins and outs of their organization.
2. Next, they want to know what you can do for them. They want to know what skills and experiences you have that will transfer to their work environment and how that will directly benefit them.
3. Employers also find it important to know what kind of person you are. They are looking for employees who not only fit in, but who motivate those around them to be the best they can possibly be, no matter what the job entails.
4. Another important question gets at what makes you stand out from the other candidates for the job. How will hiring you reduce the employer’s risks and give them a greater return on their investment in you? Specific examples and stories from your work history can illustrate solid work habits, problem-solving skills, and other highly desirable qualities.
5. The final important question is whether or not the employer can afford to hire you. Unfortunately, most organizations have to work within tight budgets, so it will be important for them to know your desired salary range, so they can determine whether or not it fits within their budgetary constraints.
5. IF YOU SPEND ANY TIME AT ALL ONLINE, EMPLOYERS CAN FIND OUT A GREAT DEAL ABOUT YOU THROUGH GOOGLE
“All any prospective employer has to do now is Google your name – yes Google has become both noun and verb- and there’s your new resume, using the word resume loosely.”
It is more important than ever before to be cautious about what you put online, especially if there is a chance you’ll be entering the job market. Employers visit prospective employees’ social media profiles and have been known to reject candidates because of the things that have been revealed about them online. Everything from grammatical and spelling errors to suspected racism or alcohol abuse easily lead to candidate elimination. There are four ways to make sure your “Google resume” does not get in the way of your landing your dream job.
First, you should edit all of your online profiles. Reflect upon how you would like to be perceived by making a list of adjectives that would describe you as a person and an employee. Next, Google yourself and scour what comes up. Delete anything that contradicts the image of yourself that you are hoping to project. The second thing you can do to improve your online presence is to completely fill out all profiles on sites that you are using. Make sure the profiles on all of your accounts are not out-dated. If you are not on Linkedin, get on it, and create a profile. Many employers use the site to avoid having to do much advertising and searching in other ways. Another way to improve your online presence is to expand it. Join professional forums and groups and show your expertise by intelligently participating in discussions about your field. Start a blog or create a site of your own where you can provide helpful resources and advice. Join Twitter, and again, get involved in professional discussions and debates. Many employers do searches by hashtags in order to find people with certain levels of expertise in certain areas. Finally, add a traditional resume to your online profiles. Google will lead prospective employers to it, and it is still a great way to summarize important information about your background and skills.
6. THERE ARE SEVERAL IMPORTANT GUIDELINES FOR INTERVIEWING WELL
“An interview for a job is a lot like dating.”
It is extremely important to fully prepare for your interview ahead of time. Most employers want to know that you have done your research and have a solid understanding of who they are. This shows them that you are truly ready to commit to working for them. Conveying your knowledge of their organization in your interview is always impressive. Make it a goal to find out as much as you possibly can about the organization before your interview. Use the internet, friends and acquaintances, as well as your public library to do your research. Another important tip is to honor your word. If you have arranged the interview, be specific about how much of their time you intend to take up and stick to it.
Remember that an interview is actually a two-way street. Two people are trying to discover if they are a good fit for each other. The prospective employer is collecting as much information about you as he or she possibly can, and you should be doing the same. In the beginning of the interview, rather than focusing solely on marketing yourself, you should be thinking about whether or not you really want to work there. If you decide you do, then you can begin to market yourself.
Be conscientious about the small things that could get you eliminated. Be sure you are well-groomed and dressed, not overly perfumed or covered in tattoos, and put some effort into controlling any nervous habits you might have. Speak loudly enough to show confidence and avoid interrupting the interviewer. Avoid being self-critical, and be courteous to everyone you meet in the organization. Speak fondly or not at all about previous employers.
When you are asked to tell an interviewer about yourself, he or she is really asking what skills, knowledge, and experience you bring to the table rather than looking for your personal history or specific personality traits. Ask yourself before your interview what the three most important skills you possess in relation to the position are. Then you can focus your answer on elaborating on those skills. This answer should be well-rehearsed and delivered in a concise manner.
Try to mix your speaking and listening time equally. You never want to be perceived as someone who talks and cares more about yourself than the organization and its needs. If you do not talk enough, you may seem too shy or like you are hiding something. A few important questions you might consider asking when it is your turn are: What significant changes has this company gone through in its recent past? What values represent this company? What are your most successful employees like?
7. COMPLETING A SELF-INVENTORY IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE JOB-HUNTING STRATEGY TO START WITH
“This method, faithfully followed, step by step, works 86% of the time.”
Getting to know yourself by doing a self-inventory is effective for a variety of reasons. First, it teaches you to describe yourself in a minimum of six ways, so that you can be ready to branch out into different job markets. The self-inventory also helps you determine what kind of job you are truly looking for. When you are able to do this, you will have more energy and passion to devote to looking for that perfect job. With newfound persistence, you will be more likely to approach organizations that might be a perfect fit even when they do not have openings posted. The self-inventory process also prepares you to be able to specifically describe your skills and experiences in a way that will make you stand out above others vying for the same position. This process can also help you if you are interested in a career change but struggling to determine which direction you want to go.
8. YOU SHOULD BE IN COMPLETE CONTROL OF WHERE YOU WORK
“Yes, even in tough times, you do want to be picky.”
After completing a self-inventory, you should use the results to determine what kinds of careers would best suit you. Consider your three favorite types of knowledge and list them in order of importance. Write your five highest skills below your knowledge types. Show your list to five people you know well and ask them what jobs they think of when they look at them. Write down their suggestions, even if you are not fond of them. Later, study the suggestions and circle the ones you think you’d like to explore. Before choosing a single path, find out more about what the career is really like by talking to people who work in that field about their jobs. Still interested? Then find out what companies with that type of position exist in desirable locations. You can again do this by talking to people and by doing some research. Finally, once you have it narrowed down, learn as much about the organization you are interested in as you can before applying for a job there. This will not only prepare you for interviewing, but it will save you time and frustration if you learn it is not a place you would like to work. This research can be done by talking to people, working through a temporary agency, or searching the internet.
9. DON’T LET HANDICAPS STOP YOU
“NO matter what handicap you have, or think you have, it cannot possibly keep you from getting hired anywhere in the world. It can only keep you from getting hired at some places.”
Handicaps can be physical, mental, or even circumstantial. You may believe you are too young or too old for a certain job, or too uneducated. Everyone has a handicap of some type. Despite the handicaps you believe you have, you most likely have many more skills. The key is to emphasize what you can do rather than what you cannot do. If you have a physical disability that makes your dream job difficult or seemingly impossible, research the newest technologies and solutions that might help you get around it. Another thing you can do is search for a job that is like the one you want to do but can’t do. If you feel shyness is a handicap for you, there are several ways to overcome it. Enthusiasm is the key to dealing with shyness. If you get really excited about what you are talking about, you are likely to feel less shy. This is another reason why it is so important to pursue work that you feel passionate about.
10. THERE ARE SEVERAL EFFECTIVE WAYS TO CHOOSE OR CHANGE CAREERS
When trying to figure out what career is best for you, use the information that is at your fingertips on the internet. As previously mentioned, it is a great idea to take assessments or inventories to help you decide what careers would be best for you. They can be found online, in print, and in the offices of most guidance counselors and psychologists as well as various types of life coaches. These tests will help you learn more about yourself, and in turn, the careers that would be a good fit for you. Once you’ve narrowed your choices down a bit, ONet Online is full of information about prospective careers. Another useful strategy is to research what the job-market is going to be like in the near future. This strategy is actually the opposite of starting with what you want. Many lists exist that are projections of occupations that will be in demand in future years.
If you are looking to switch careers, there are a few cautions. Do your research before actually switching jobs. Sometimes a career or job turns out to be very different than what you expected. Do not try to change too many things about your life at once. If you are changing or beginning careers, make sure other things in your life are constant. Start with yourself and what you want rather than trying to fit yourself into some pre-determined mold. Again, find the career that uses the skills you enjoy using most, involves the subjects that most interest you, takes place in the environment you enjoy and allows you to work toward your own continued goals. Take your time! Making these major life decisions too quickly rarely works out well!
CLOSING NOTES
Key take-away:
There are plenty of jobs available for anyone who wants to work; you just need to know how to find and secure them.
Actionable insights:
– Carefully use the internet to market yourself and research prospective jobs.
– Prepare extensively for interviews.
– Start your career search with a self-inventory in order to determine who you really are and what you really want.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Richard N. Bolles is the author of several editions of What Color Is Your Parachute?… and The Job-Hunter’s Survival Guide as well as a public speaker. Learn more and connect: http://www.jobhuntersbible.com/