"This book provides a wealth of resources for women going through career transitions. If you want to reinvent yourself, read this book!"
Dorie Clark, Wall Street Journal bestselling author of The Long Game and Reinventing You, and executive education faculty, Duke University Fuqua School of Business
“Written by a woman for women, The Purple Parachute provides the process needed in today’s post-COVID world to secure employment. Paula Brand has compiled assessments and activities to help every woman discover her own uniqueness and priorities to guide her toward the best career options. No one said that securing a new job would be easy, but with this resource, women looking for a new job will find everything they need to put their best foot forward as they pursue a new job. It’s a must-read for every woman of any age.”
Hannah Morgan, job search strategist, founder of Career Sherpa.net, and author of The Infographic Resume
“This compact and complete career guide could easily be titled “The Busy Woman’s Guide to Career Success.” It offers up-to-the-minute advice on every aspect of career management, with emphasis on the unique challenges that women face in the job hunt and in the workplace.”
Karen James Chopra, LPC, CCC, NCC author of Coaching Career Clients Through Salary and Other Workplace Negotiations
“From the first page, Paula Brand writes extremely compelling and timely guidance for every woman wanting to explore options in today’s professional world. As a clinical career counselor and coach, I have written and read countless books, websites, and blogs aimed to help people in career and life transition. Paula’s book is truly a must-read for anyone who wants straightforward advice with a clear path forward. This book helps you navigate career questions from a trusted and highly experienced professional. Paula weaves practical guidance with her personal story, and with unique and insightful words of wisdom, every reader will feel lucky to spend hours with Paula just by diving into her book.”
Ilana Tolpin Levitt, mental health counselor, clinical career counselor, and author of What’s Mom Still Got to Do With It?
“I can say from first-hand experience that my career benefited from the A.S.T.E.R. Career Model shared in The Purple Parachute. Although I am a high achiever and a fast learner, I could not figure out what job direction I wanted. I was trying to do too many things in the wrong order and was just a mess. I’m delighted that Paula has written The Purple Parachute to help other
women in their careers. After reading it and living through the process, I can assure you that the A.S.T.E.R. Career Model works.”
Laurie Nederveen, director of program development in the human service industry
“Paula Brand puts her extensive experience as a leading career counselor to work in The Purple Parachute. This book brims with stories of how the women she coached found fulfilling work. Chapters include a variety of exercises and strategies for women who are ready to take a thoughtful approach to re-tooling their careers. From questionnaires to skills analysis, and a personality assessment, this book provides readers with ways to gather the insight and knowledge essential to a successful career transition.”
Maggie Rogers, instructional designer
“It is such an honor and privilege to share a few words about The Purple Parachute by Paula Brand. She provides practical tools to help job seekers and career changers uncover “what’s next” for the upcoming chapter of their professional lives. The gift of The Purple Parachute is empowering job seekers—especially women—to use the A.S.T.E.R. Career Model to reassess where they are, to redesign their personal and professional mission and vision, as they reconnect with their core values of their WHOLE SELVES while moving toward “what’s next.” I love how Paula shares stories to highlight each facet of the career changers’ process in uncovering that “something inside so strong” (Labi Siffre), which compels us to become the right person who is ready for the right opportunity at the right time in the right space. I cannot wait to share these tools with some of my career-exploration students as they map out the immediate and short-distant futures of their lives.”
Karla M. Wynn, emerging business owner and higher education professional specializing in academic, career and workforce development services at Harford and Anne Arundel Community Colleges
“I highly recommend this book! As a career professional with many years of experience, I can honestly say that The Purple Parachute is one of the most comprehensive treatments of career discernment and preparation that I have read, since reading Richard Bolles’s seminal work What Color is Your Parachute?. Paula Brand shares her expertise and covers everything you need to know about career transition. She takes the reader through a comprehensive process for identifying and obtaining meaningful work and provides the tools for doing so.”
Rita Carey, Ed.D CPCC, Career Management Consultant & Coach
