An interview with Richard Bolles following his book release this week

By Katie McGinty - Senior Consultant with AJO and Principal of Creating Life Options

What better way to get job search advice than to interview Richard N. Bolles, author of the job search bible, What Color Is Your Parachute? The 2012 40th anniversary edition was released this week and I had the privilege of an hour in the company of this renowned author.

What Color Is Your Parachute? A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career-Changers is quite remarkable in that it has:

• Been published for 40 years
• Undergone revisions each year (sometimes drastically)
• Sold 10 Million+ copies
• Been chosen by Library of Congress as one of 25 books (throughout history) that has shaped readers' lives

To quote the book’s opening sentence: “If we had such a thing as a national bumper-sticker for our cars, the bumper-sticker of the year would be: “I’m out of work, I can’t find a job, and I’ve tried everything. ”

In my opinion, this book hits the spot and is right on target for today’s job hunter. The first four chapters in particular are dedicated to finding hope and developing what Bolles refers to as “survival skills” for today’s tough job market. By the way, you can read the first two chapters on Amazon.com.

QUESTION: What are the biggest changes in job search? What has remained constant throughout the years?

“Everything and nothing!” Dick spoke of substance and form being the two elements of job search. Substance hasn’t changed. This is the WHAT, WHERE and HOW concept embedded in his flower self inventory exercise (a completed example can be found on page 196 of the new edition). 

• WHAT skills do you most enjoy using? 
• WHERE do you want to use those skills? 
• And HOW do you find the name of that kind of job (or jobs)? 

This has remained substantively unchanged.

The form is what has changed. In the past you had a resume “you could control the contents of the information you put out about yourself”. Today others Google you and find whatever information is out there digitally. “You’ve lost control. ”

Another form that has changed is our contacts, which Dick prefers to name “Bridge People”. We have always needed them, especially when we’re in job search and we still do today. Plus, it’s easier to connect with Bridge People through social networking. 

QUESTION: How best to work with job seekers who might be resistant, reluctant and overwhelmed by social media, which has become such a critical element of today’s job search?

Dick believes that “motivation does not come from the outside, but from inside a person”. He believes our resistance is borne out of a desire to stay within our comfort zone. He coaches individuals on social media and in situations where he encounters resistance, he will often suggest keeping the newer social networking strategies as their Plan B. This is in keeping with Dick’s philosophy of hope, “If you hold on to Hope you must determine to always have at least two alternatives, in everything you are doing while looking for work” (A direct quote from page 4 of the new edition).

The number one social media organization that Dick admires most is LinkedIn, because “they keep trying to make themselves better. ” 

QUESTION: What’s new on the horizon?

Dick spoke of a new online course of What Color is Your Parachute? that should be ready by the end of the year, maybe sooner.

In the preface of this 40th anniversary edition of the world’s best selling job-hunting book, What Color is Your PARACHUTE?, former NJ native and author Dick Bolles states “My job is to find the ideas that give people hope. For this is, in the end a Book of Hope, masquerading as a job – finding manual. ” (page XIII).

He is a truly gifted man who has and continues to help many people.

About Dick Bolles

Author of the ten million copy best-seller What Color Is Your Parachute. 

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/richardbolles
Twitter: ParachuteGuy
Website: http://www.jobhuntersbible.com/

Dick lives in California with his beloved wife Marci. He conducts five-day workshops every three months in his home. (For details, visit his website above)

About Katie McGinty

Katie is a Senior Consultant covering all areas of career transition, with a subject matter expertise in social media. 

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/katiemcginty
Twitter: KatieMcGinty
Website: www.creatinglifeoptions.com

Katie lives in New Jersey. In addition to her private practice, she consults with A.J. O'Connor Associates.