Work is a four letter word. But it doesn't have to be a drag. Planning your career, can lead you to choices that fit your strengths, and lead to a satisfying life. You also need to have a life. Life planning can lead you to a balanced and satisfying life.
This lens will aid you in your life and career planning, by directing you to a variety of resources. Also see my Positive Psychology lens, at Squidoo.com/pospsych
Richard Bolles
Job Hunters Bible
You can't go wrong with Richard Bolles' books on life and career planning. His "What Color Is Your Parachute" book is excellent and packed full of ideas and resources. He updates it annually, but older editions are still valuable. Great Stuff on Amazon
What Color Is Your Parachute? 2007: A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career-Changers
Amazon Price: (as of 07/10/2009) 
What Color Is Your Parachute for Teens: Discovering Yourself, Defining Your Future
Amazon Price: $10.17 (as of 07/10/2009)
How to Find Your Mission in Life
Amazon Price: (as of 07/10/2009)
Job Hunting on the Internet, 4TH ED (Job Hunting on the Internet (Online))
Amazon Price: (as of 07/10/2009)
Job-Hunting for the So-Called Handicapped or People Who Have Disabilities
Amazon Price: (as of 07/10/2009)
Barbara Sher
The Godmother of Finding and Following Your Dreams
Barbara Sher is a business owner, career counselor, and best-selling author of seven books, each of which provides a down-to-earth, nuts-and-bolts method for uncovering natural talent, pinpointing goals and turning dreams into reality. She has often been named the "godmother of life coaching" by the media and her many fans. Barbara has presented seminars and workshops throughout the world to universities, professional organizations, Fortune 100 corporations, and federal and state government agencies. She has been called "a standup comic with a message" and "the best speaker we have ever seen," in evaluations. Joining forces with public television, she has also created five hour-long special programs that continue to air in cities around the U.S.Sher's latest book, Refuse To Choose (2006) deals with people who have so many interests they're unable to choose only one (she has named them 'Scanners'). This subject has obviously struck a nerve. "In the last four months since the book and the TV show have been out in the public eye, I've received an astonishing number of impassioned letters," she said. "And all of them say Thank you!" As usual, Sher's advice is not what you expect. She finds that Scanners aren't dilettantes or undisciplined, and they don't change interests because of A.D.D. or a fear of success. "They seem to be highly intelligent, multi-talented people who need to have more interests than the average person," she says.
Great Stuff on Amazon
Refuse to Choose!: A Revolutionary Program for Doing Everything That You Love
Amazon Price: $16.47 (as of 07/10/2009)
Wishcraft: How to Get What You Really Want
Amazon Price: $10.20 (as of 07/10/2009)
I Could Do Anything If I Only Knew What It Was: How to Discover What You Really Want and How to Get It
Amazon Price: $10.88 (as of 07/10/2009)
The Career Fitness Program: Exercising Your Options, Seventh Edition
Amazon Price: (as of 07/10/2009)
Now, Discover Your Strengths
Amazon Price: $19.11 (as of 07/10/2009)
Vocational Tests
- OSCAR Vocational Interest Test (FREE)
- The original OSCAR was designed to be a vehicle to showcase the new O*NET database, with emphasis on providing tools to assist dislocated workers transition to new careers. OSCAR was designed with a friendly look and feel to avoid intimidating any person who was not familiar with computers and menus, toolbars, etc.
- The Self-Directed Search (Paid Resource; worth the $$!!)
- One of the BEST PAID resources:
The SDS takes 15 minutes and costs only $9.95.
This printable assessment report provides a list of the occupations and fields of study that most closely match your interests
The SDS has been used by over 22 million people worldwide and has also been translated into 25 different languages. SDS results have been supported by over 500 research studies.
The SDS was developed by Dr. John Holland, whose theory of careers is the basis for most of the career inventories used today. Holland's theory states that most people can be loosely categorized with respect to six types: Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional. - JASPER Test (FREE)
- At Monster.com;
Upon completing JASPER you will receive a scientifically accurate and personalized profile that details your unique JASPER Type - a type that is derived from 8 overarching dimensions and 33 sub-dimensions. These include work personality, values, leadership style, work style, and universal skills as well as your preferred work tasks and environment.
No single type is better or stronger that the other. Each type has unique strengths that have a place in the work environment.
Your JASPER type will highlight what you want from work, what others perceive to be your strengths and what you have to offer employers.
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