Customer Reviews: Read 7 more reviews...
 Practical Advice April 29, 2008
Finally! Words of wisdom I can actually use! After being stuck for over a year, I read this book from cover to cover. The advice is sound, practical, and do-able. I appreciated the simple yet actionable steps, as well as the lists of words and exercises to get me unstuck. Best of all, Katy'a voice is encouraging throughout. I now have lists of contacts for informational interviews, specific industries and job titles to consider, and am well on my way to a new career. Thank you Katy Piotrowski!
This book got me unstuck! April 21, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
"Career changing has seemed like such a scary step for me. I love that this
author tackles it head on...'You're going to be afraid, and that's
normal!' Her upbeat, encouraging writing style makes the process seem much
more doable to me. After YEARS of thinking about a career change, I've
finally started taking action on a few of the career experiment exercises
she recommends...and they're fun. I truly believe I can make a career
change this time. I love this book!"
 A Book I would NOT recommend to a Career Changer March 31, 2008
11 out of 23 found this review helpful
I recently bought this book, "Career Coward's Guide to Changing Careers" (CCGCC), along with "What Color is Your Parachute" and "Do What You Are." The latter two were quite helpful; unfortunately, CCGCC was not. At all. (And I have read numerous such books in the past several years.) I will discuss CCGCC and then the other two books.
I guess the title of CCGCC should have warned me, as books such as "The Idiot's Guide to [Whatever]" and "[Whatever] for Dummies" were never my cup of tea. I tried, however, several times, to give CCGCC a chance, to see if maybe there was something worthwhile (there was not) in this book to merit suffering through to the end. But the author's juvenile, cheerleaderish attitude, her giddy overuse of exclamation points (if the writing is effective, exclamation points aren't necessary), and her condescending tone ( she never seemed to tire of using "coward," again and again), made me toss the book out after I was only half-way done. For there are other, much better career change books out there. I will now turn to two of these.
I have read several past editions of "What Color is Your Parachute," and as always, I found the 2008 edition quite helpful. Briefly, "Parachute" helps the reader determine what (1) their favorite transferable skills are, (2) where they might best use these skills, and (3) how to go about finding one's dream job. You have to spend a good bit of time reflecting and writing about yourself, in order to complete the exercises in the book, but it is time well spent. One warning: some readers may not like the author's occasionally use of "God," "His Plan," etc. But since he doesn't overdo it, it didn't really bug me.
"Do What You Are," is a book to help you discover your "type." There are free online sites that will help you do this (and my results were the same for both--the book and the online site); but as the book requires you to think more, I felt more confident with my results. My main complaint with this book is the over-use of exclamation points. (This seems to be a crutch some career guide writers over-rely on; or maybe they feel this is a way for them to be motivational.)
But if I had to recommend only one career change book to buy, it would be "What Color is Your Parachute." You could supplement this by doing the inventories on free online sites to discover your Type, as well as your Interests, Values, Skills, etc.
Good Luck.
Be ready to work! February 14, 2008
3 out of 9 found this review helpful
Really enjoyed the author's enthusiasm and insight. She knows her stuff! Activities are very helpful. Worth the money! Highly recommended.
A Must-Read Blueprint for Changing Careers February 12, 2008
4 out of 9 found this review helpful
Making a career change can feel traumatic. So many fears and doubts can get in the way. How do you start? How do you decide what career to pursue? Is it really possible? The Career Coward's Guide to Changing Careers answers all of these questions and more.
There are 3 reasons I recommend purchasing this book if you are even contemplating a career change:
(1) This book gets to the heart of what stops you from making a career change--your fear. Each chapter contains a golden nugget called "The Panic Point!" that identifies the specific fears career changers have and more importantly, shows you how to overcome them.
(2) This book isn't theory; it's fact. Katy has worked with hundreds of career changers. In fact, as I was reading this book, I was thinking, "Boy, a lot of what she describes mirrors how I made my own career change." (I'm a former practicing lawyer-turned-career coach for lawyers.) From brainstorming exciting career possibilities to deciding which career is for you to re-crafting your resume, this book covers it all from A-Z.
(3) It's easy to get bogged down in career books. Not this one. It's clear, concise, and fun to read. It is indeed a step-by-step guide.
Beware: If you're just interested in complaining about how your career makes you miserable, don't read this book. Because if you do and you do the exercises, you may find yourself transitioning to a career you love!
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