What Color Is Your Parachute? 2021 Book Summary - What Color Is Your Parachute? 2021 Book explained in key points
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What Color Is Your Parachute? 2021 summary

Richard N. Bolles with Katharine Brooks

Your Guide to a Lifetime of Meaningful Work and Career Success

4.3 (129 ratings)
26 mins

Brief summary

What Color Is Your Parachute? 2021 is a career development book that guides readers through the job searching process. It offers practical advice, exercises, and resources for finding satisfying work in today's job market.

Table of Contents

    What Color Is Your Parachute? 2021
    Summary of 7 key ideas

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    Key idea 1 of 7

    Want to get hired? Think like an employer.

    For prospective employees, job hunting can quickly turn from an exciting exercise into a depressing grind. If you’re sending out application after application and hearing crickets in response, it’s easy to become convinced that there aren’t any jobs out there – let alone one that’s a good fit for you.

    So, you might be surprised to learn that in the US alone, there are between six and seven million job vacancies created each month! At least one of those vacancies will be right for you. It’s not a scarcity of opportunities that’s stopping you from getting interviews and job offers. It’s the way you’re going about your job search.

    The key message here is: Want to get hired? Think like an employer.

    Remember, you’re not the only one on the prowl. Prospective employers are constantly looking for great new hires. In many ways, both prospective employees and employers share the same objective: to match the right candidate with the right role. The problem is, you and your potential employer are searching in different ways.

    For one thing, many job-seekers take a traditional approach to landing a new role. They comb classifieds, send out résumés, and wait. But while job-seekers prefer to wait for companies to flag that they’re hiring, companies actually often prefer candidates who take the initiative and approach them. Moreover, businesses would rather hire someone with whom they have a personal connection, or who’s been recommended by a trusted person from within the company itself. 

    Another difference is that while job-seekers hope the information they provide on their résumé is sufficient, employers are increasingly taking the bigger picture into account, vetting candidates’ backgrounds and social media profiles.

    But why are job-hunters and employers so out of sync when it comes to filling roles? Simply put, both have different priorities underpinning their search. For job-seekers, time is at a premium. Completing an application can be a drawn-out process, so a job-seeker will want to reach as many firms as possible in the same session. That’s why so many take a blanket approach to sending out résumés – it’s efficient. But it’s not well-targeted. The result? You could end up applying for, and even accepting, jobs that don’t speak to your passion.

    Remember, hiring and onboarding a new employee is expensive and time-consuming for a company. When a new hire doesn’t work out, the firm takes a hit. Candidates who use the blanket approach – and don’t make their value to the prospective employer abundantly clear – will likely get their application stuck on a pile of résumés on the employer's desk. 

    So, tailor your approach in a way that directly speaks to the firm’s needs. That way, you’re far more likely to parachute into a dream role – one that leverages your passions and progresses your career objectives. 

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    What is What Color Is Your Parachute? 2021 about?

    What Color Is Your Parachute? 2021 (2021) is a fresh edition of a book that’s widely regarded as the job-hunter’s bible. It’s packed with classic exercises and time-tested strategies that empower prospective employees to find, and secure, the role they want. This new edition contains essential updates that speak to the contemporary job market.

    What Color Is Your Parachute? 2021 Review

    What Color Is Your Parachute? 2021 (2020) is an essential book for anyone navigating the modern job market. Here's why this book is worth reading:

    • With its practical exercises and interactive content, it provides readers with actionable strategies to find meaningful work.
    • Combining real-life examples and expert advice, the book offers valuable insights into job searching and career development.
    • Its up-to-date information on job trends and market changes keeps the book relevant and ensures readers have the latest knowledge.

    Who should read What Color Is Your Parachute? 2021?

    • Job-seekers wondering if they’ll ever land a coveted role
    • Fed-up employees who are ready to take on a new career challenge
    • Prospective entrepreneurs who need a kick start

    About the Author

    Richard N. Bolles was a pioneer in the field of career development. His job-seeker’s manual, What Color Is Your Parachute, was first published in 1970 and has been revised and updated every year since. The title was named one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential nonfiction books. The 2021 edition was updated by Katharine Brooks, the Career Center Director at Vanderbilt University.

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    What Color Is Your Parachute? 2021 FAQs 

    What is the main message of What Color Is Your Parachute? 2021?

    Discover your ideal career path and learn how to navigate today's job market with What Color Is Your Parachute? 2021.

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    The reading time for What Color Is Your Parachute? 2021 varies, but it typically takes several hours. The Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.

    Is What Color Is Your Parachute? 2021 a good book? Is it worth reading?

    What Color Is Your Parachute? 2021 is a valuable read for anyone seeking career direction. It provides practical guidance and strategies for navigating today's job market.

    Who is the author of What Color Is Your Parachute? 2021?

    What Color Is Your Parachute? 2021 is co-authored by Richard N. Bolles and Katharine Brooks.

    What to read after What Color Is Your Parachute? 2021?

    If you're wondering what to read next after What Color Is Your Parachute? 2021, here are some recommendations we suggest:
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