Book Club

Career Change: Everything You Need to Know to Meet New Challenges and Take Control of Your Career, 2nd Ed. by Dr. David P. Helfand, 1999, VGM Career Horizons
ISBN- 0-8442-4269-1

This book promotes itself as the one and only volume you need at your side to cope with the challenges of career change. After completing a “Work Values Satisfaction Assessment”, and assessing entrepreneurial characteristics, Helfand shows readers just how to go about getting a new career. He applies psychological principles from counselling, like cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) that readers can use to clear up some of their stumbling blocks: low self esteem, overcoming fears of failure and success, perfectionism and procrastination. There are good tips for increasing self-esteem and expanding one’s opportunities. An entire section is devoted to groups with particular needs: women, the disabled, minorities, dual career couples, single parents, and mid-level managers. An extensive reading list and dozens of excellent resources round out the book.

Careers for Non-Conformists: A Practical Guide to Finding and Developing a Career Outside the Mainstream , by Sandra Gurvis, 2000, Marlowe & Co. (NYC)
ISBN: 1-56924-684-X

Are you a nonconformist? What does the term really mean? So starts this book on “non-traditional” work for entrepreneurial types. The book is organized into chapters according to discipline, e.g., Animal Careers, the Law, Physical Fitness, etc., with several jobs listed in each category. Information for each job is grouped under the headings “What it Takes”, “What to Expect”, “What you’ll Need”, and “A Career Sampler”, providing the usual information on training, a typical day, expected earnings, where to get clients and more. A lot of this information is available in other books, but Gurvis writes well and is always on top of trends – the content of this book exemplifies just how much the world of work has changed and provides some interesting options for those ready to go out on their own.

Career Xroads 2000- 500 Best Jobs, Resumes and Career Management Sites on the Web, by Gerry Crispin & Mark Mehler, 1999, MMC Group
ISBN: 0-965223922

This resource is an international directory of the best websites for career-related purposes, including several Canadian sites (most are listed at Contact Point). The sites are listed alphabetically with contact information (snail mail addresses) and the sites are cross-referenced in lists at the back, according to purpose (job site, career information site, etc.), sector of employment, country and more. Also worth a look is the companion website, where you can register for free online updates! This one’s a gem for anyone working in career development.

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