What Color Is Your Parachute? 2017 by Richard N. Bolles Summary

What Color Is Your Parachute? 2017 by Richard N. Bolles is a practical manual for job-hunters and career-changers, offering strategies for self-assessment, networking, and adapting to modern job markets. It introduces the Flower Exercise, a framework to identify skills, values, and ideal work environments, and emphasizes direct outreach to decision-makers over traditional resume submissions.

This book is ideal for unemployed individuals, career changers, HR professionals, and anyone seeking meaningful work. It’s also valuable for employers understanding hiring trends and those navigating post-2008 job market shifts, including digital job searches and salary negotiation.

Yes. As the best-selling career guide since 1970, it provides timeless tools like the Flower Diagram and actionable advice on interviews, resumes, and networking. Updated annually, the 2017 edition addresses digital-era challenges, making it relevant for modern job searches.

Key concepts include:

• Self-inventory: Prioritizing personal skills and values before job hunting.
• The Parachute Method: Focusing on “who you are” to find compatible work.
• Networking over resumes: Targeting hiring managers directly instead of relying on online applications.

The Flower Exercise uses seven “petals” to map out:

1. Skills
2. Workplace preferences
3. People environments
4. Purpose
5. Knowledge areas
6. Financial needs
7. Location preferences.
   Completing it creates a visual guide to align careers with personal strengths.

Bolles argues that 80% of jobs are unadvertised. The book teaches readers to identify “the person with the authority to hire you” through informational interviews and referrals, a strategy proven more effective than submitting resumes blindly.

The 2017 edition highlights post-2008 shifts like shorter job tenures, digital applications, and social media’s role. It advises leveraging LinkedIn, optimizing online presence, and adapting to employer-driven “keyword filtering” systems.

Bolles recommends delaying salary discussions until an offer is made, researching industry standards, and framing requests around mutual benefit. He also provides scripts to navigate these conversations confidently.

Some find its length (over 300 pages) overwhelming, and its focus on self-assessment may frustrate readers seeking quick fixes. Critics also note newer editions reiterate core concepts rather than overhaul strategies.

The 2017 update includes sections on Google as a “virtual resume,” using social media for job hunting, and navigating AI-driven applicant tracking systems. It also expands the Pink Pages appendix with updated career resources.

Unlike generic advice books, Bolles’ manual prioritizes self-discovery over one-size-fits-all tactics. It’s often paired with Atomic Habits for mindset shifts and The 2-Hour Job Search for modern applications.

Its focus on adaptability, transferable skills, and human-centered networking remains critical amid AI disruption and gig economy growth. The Flower Exercise’s framework also helps users navigate remote work trends and industry pivots.