6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
Helped me improve my life with a nice new job, 2004-09-20
My kids are in the upper grades now so I faced a daunting task of return to a career I'd left 13 years ago. A friend loved her book, and recommended it highly. I found it inspired me to see that I indeed could make this change and prosper. I found this to be a practical guide -- useful, motivational, with terrific ideas on how to return to work, flourish, and make a good salary too. A valuable guidebook.
16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
Very "What color is your parachute-ish", 2003-06-09
Lots of the Robin's advice comes straight out of the job hunting bible of the past 2 decades "What color is your parachute" by Richard Bolles but still --- It's an excellent primer for the real thing, and summarizes a lot of what Richard Bolles preaches and teaches.Because it is a quick an easy read, I suggest buying it cheap (or take it out of the library (sorry Amazon)), use it to whet your appetite for Bolles books, then begin collecting every edition you can get your hands on of "What color is your parachute" (every edition has something new in it). And try to get a hold of the audio book (I think he only put one out in 1995 - I wish he'd put one out every year!). It'll change your life and maybe mine too, cause maybe, just maybe, If everyone were to read Bolles books and truly understand the concepts I wouldn't have to deal with so many unhappy, bitter people at the work place.
5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
Learn From Someone Who Knows!, 2003-03-12
I highly recommend this insightful book to anyone who wants to improve their current job situation or consider a change altogether. It offers numerous options, ways to determine the best approach, and will continue to be a valuable resource for many years! Robin Ryans' realistic advice reflects her extensive and sought-after knowledge.
36 of 40 people found the following review helpful:
Definitely worth a look, 2003-02-25
I gave the book three stars rather than four or five because it doesn't deliver what the title promises and the cover is all hype -- but the book does deliver some very worthwhile guidance.
What to Do (WTD) will be best suited to the midlife career changer with valuable skills -- self-motivated folks who just need direction. I like the book's down-to-earth no-nonsense tone.
Good parts:
List of career-killers -- not new to anyone who's been out in the world, but well-stated and worth reviewing
Discussion of interviewing for information and network: very realistic
Discussion of internet job search is right on!
Discussion of starting a business is better than average (but I like my own "are you ready" checklist better!)
Salary negotiations section is excellent
Weak parts:
Self-assessment (lists of values and skills were very ordinary and won't be helpful to most)
Recommendation to take tests: rarely useful for mid-career managers or professionals
Relocation section: My book on this topic, Making the Big Move, is two hundred pages long -- two pages can't do justice to the topic and may be misleading.
I wish the author had focused more on interview and resume strategies; interestingly, she does not include a discussion of resumes at all. I suspect that her strength lies in the nuts-and-bolts of job search and I wish she had included more on those topics.
I had to smile when I read her section on how to find a career counselor. Everyone who writes a book includes a list of "must have" qualifications for an advisor and, amazingly, those qualifications are all held by the author!
With a degree in counseling, this author urges us to find a vocational counselor. However, vocational counseling experience helps younger job seekers. Midlife, mid-career professionals need different sources of help. Recent books that target this market tend to be written by experienced professionals who have advanced degrees and life experience.
There are valuable nuggets here and I wish the author would write a meaty book, based on what she knows well, rather than an overview that is too sketchy in some places to be a useful guide.
13 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
What any eye opener --buy this book, 2002-10-26
I heard the author on the radio and was quite impressed. Then I read her book and am convinced everyone who cares about their career needs to read this masterpiece. It's insightful & inspiring but has the specifics on direction that most books on uncovering your passion seem to lack. I wanted to do something I enjoyed more without having to take a big salary cut. In fact, Ms. Ryan showed me how to get a new job that's a promotion with a BIG raise attached to it. Ms. Ryan is a wealth of ideas on how to prosper and find the meaning that was lacking at work. You'll be amazed at how easy it is to make a career change if you follow her sage advice. I'm happier and making thousands more because this lady really knows her stuff. My advise to you is buy it, use it & prosper.