Overview

Richard Nelson Bolles (March 19, 1927 – March 31, 2017) was an American Episcopal clergyman and writer best known for creating the long-running career and job-search guide What Color Is Your Parachute?. Born in Milwaukee, he studied at Harvard before entering religious and later career-counseling work. Bolles became widely recognized for translating vocational counseling into practical, widely accessible advice.

Career and the Parachute book

What Color Is Your Parachute? first appeared in 1970 and grew into an annually revised handbook that addressed job hunting, career change, and self-assessment. Rather than focusing solely on job listings, Bolles emphasized individual strengths, transferable skills and proactive search techniques. He updated the book frequently to reflect changing labor markets and technologies, keeping it relevant for successive generations of jobseekers.

Key ideas and methods

Bolles introduced several practical exercises and routines that have been widely adopted by career counselors and coaches. These include:

  • Self-inventory techniques to help readers identify interests, skills and values;
  • Informational interviews—talking with people in target fields to learn about real jobs;
  • Targeting strategies for tailoring resumes and approaches to specific employers rather than mass mailing applications;
  • Tools for organizing a job search and developing clear priorities rather than searching aimlessly.

Reception and influence

For decades Bolles's book has been a staple in university career centers, libraries and among independent counselors. Its conversational tone and workbook-style exercises helped shift some career guidance toward individualized planning and networking. Critics have occasionally noted that parts of the book reflect U.S.-centric job markets or need adaptation for particular industries and eras, but its central focus on self-knowledge and informational interviewing remains influential.

Personal life and legacy

Bolles combined his pastoral background with a pragmatic approach to work and vocation, arguing that career decisions are often tied to deeper personal questions about purpose and satisfaction. He spent his later years continuing to revise his book and speaking about career issues. Bolles died on March 31, 2017 in Danville, California, at the age of 90. His work continues to be cited and used by jobseekers, counselors and educators worldwide.

For further reading and current editions, consult publishers, career-center collections and archived interviews that discuss his methods and updates to the Parachute series.