4 new books for job seekers and career changers

High unemployment continues. I suspect, in fact, that it's far worse than official statistics indicate. How many people, for whatever reason, neglect to apply for benefits or participate in other programs used to compile the data?

Regardless, it's always worthwhile to keep job-seeking skills sharp. Clarifying and defining career goals, strategies and tactics are useful ways to maintain forward motion. Several recent books offer advice and support in this never-ending quest.

"The Job-Hunter's Survival Guide" by Richard N. Bolles; Ten Speed Press. 112 pages.

Bolles' "What Color Is Your Parachute?" has sold millions of copies and he has updated it countless times to accommodate the shifting job market, the economy and new technologies, among other things. He said that he came up with the idea for this book in February and here it is today: an amazing feat in the publishing industry where a year or three is more typical.

Bolles' short, sharp tome offers triage to those job seekers who may be either flummoxed with the economy or paralyzed by indecisiveness or lack of a clear path. There's nothing radically new here, but his folksy, familiar style and presentation are an effective tonic for jittery nerves and chronic brain freeze. It's pretty ballsy for an author to produce something that might cannibalize sales of his other books, but this disruptive act of creative destruction is actually a brilliant stroke by Bolles and could provide just the gentle push needed by many.

"Get The Job You Want, Even When No One's Hiring: Take Charge of Your Career, Find a Job You Love and Earn What You Deserve" by Ford R. Myer; Wiley. 202 pages.

Myers has put together an excellent compendium of the basics of the subject: what to do and how to do it with examples, clear explanations and more. He incorporates a lot of old-school ideas with modern methods. For example, make sure you have a good, solid traditional resume but also post your profile on LinkedIn.com. I also like his instructions _ in the form of a "tool kit" _ which offers step-by-step help to those who crave a bit of structure amid the chaos of the unemployment jungle.

"Blueprint Your Future: Creating Powerful Personal and Career Results through Alignment" by Susan Bosscawen; Butterfly. 69 pages.

Bosscawen's little gem cuts through the virtual field of bovine droppings with a really incisive collection of self-assessments to help readers figure out what to do with the rest of their lives. She smartly eschews feel-good pop psychology and new age mumbo jumbo in favor of direct action. But considerable thought and informed decision-making are demanded from the reader; this is no passive experience, and so it consequently may not be for everyone. But if you need to gain a clearer idea of your choices as move on to the next chapter in your career, this is an excellent place to begin the job.

"Strategies for Successful Career Change: Finding Your Very Best Next Work Life" by Martha E. Mangelsdorf; Ten Speed Press. 213 pages.

In the same vein, Mangelsdorf suggests looking within before moving forward. Her approach is a bit more expansive and one doesn't have to immediately leap to action upon reading it. She provides a number of very helpful references and resources as well as a bit of inspiration, which is not at all out of place considering the state of mind of a reader attracted to this material.

She's a good writer, too, and her anecdotes are vivid and relatable. As such, this is a good book to peruse even when a career change may not be a current and active consideration.

E-mail Richard Pachter at rap@richardpachter.com.

(c) 2009, The Miami Herald.

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