What Color Is Your Parachute 2018 by Richard N. Bolles copy

avoid anxiety, it should not be connected to any present or future careers
that you are considering. Rather, the kinds of topics that work best, for this
exercise, are:
a hobby you love, such as skiing, bridge playing, exercise, computers,
etc.
any leisure-time enthusiasm of yours, such as a movie you just saw,
that you liked a lot
a longtime curiosity, such as how do they predict the weather, or what
policemen do
an aspect of the town or city you live in, such as a new shopping mall
that just opened
an issue you feel strongly about, such as the homeless, AIDS
sufferers, ecology, peace, health, returning veterans, etc.
There is only one condition about choosing a topic: it should be
something you love to talk about with other people; a subject you know
nothing about, but you feel a great deal of enthusiasm for, is far preferable
to something you know an awful lot about, but it puts you to sleep.
Having identified your enthusiasm, you then need to go talk to someone
who is as enthusiastic about this thing, as you are. For best results with
your later job-hunt, this should be someone you don’t already know. Use
the Yellow Pages, ask around among your friends and family, Who do you
know that loves to talk about this? It’s relatively easy to find the kind of
person you’re looking for.
You love to talk about skiing? Try a ski-clothes store, or a skiing
instructor. You love to talk about writing? Try a professor on a nearby
college campus, who teaches English. You love to talk about physical
exercise? Try a trainer, or someone who does physical therapy.
Once you’ve identified someone you think shares your enthusiasm, you
then go talk with them.
When you are face-to-face with your fellow enthusiast, the first thing
you must do is relieve their understandable anxiety. Everyone has had
someone visit them who has stayed too long, who has worn out their
welcome. If your fellow enthusiast is worried about you staying too long,
they’ll be so preoccupied with this fear that they won’t hear a word you are
saying.