Issue
26(1)
Career
Patterns: A Kaleidoscope of Possibilities.
(2004).
Liz Harris-Tuck, Annette Price and
Marilee Robertson. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education Inc.
288 pp., Price: $30.00. ISBN: 0-13-110965-0.
Review
by: Denise Rinn
The
College of Arts and Sciences
Kent State
University
Students
typically rely on academic advisors when linking majors to careers.
In a world of constant flux, providing this service can seem daunting,
particularly when advisees seek immediate returns on their scholastic
investment. In Career Patterns: A Kaleidoscope of Possibilities,
Liz Harris-Tuck, Annette Price, and Marilee Robertson provide
relief with a manual that addresses modern challenges. While the
text is a standard guide for choosing a major as well as a tool
for the job hunt, its real value lies in the investigation of
strategies for succeeding in a continually shifting job market.
The
authors suggest a positive approach to employment instability.
Since individuals must respond to endless technological change,
the days in which a worker might expect to retire from his or
her original position have vanished (pp. 23-24). While this reality
seems frightening, it is also a permission slip for self-discovery
and the pursuit of more satisfying work. The better one understands
his or her values, the more willing and likely will the person
adapt. One of the book's many case studies follows the career
of Rob Decker, a photographer who overcame the obstacles inherent
in his career by "reframing" it. When his initial desire to teach
proved unfruitful, he aligned his skills and talents with the
work-world's needs to secure a position in digital imaging (p.
44).
While
contributions regarding the job outlook are significant, the text
also highlights practical tools to identify strengths. "Building
a Career Kaleidoscope," a visual, hands-on tool, allows students
to integrate elements of their self-discovery. According to the
authors, "these elements are a reflection of you and your potential
contribution to the world of work" (p. 43). Readers determine
their core focus, for example, "passion" or "self-expression,"
along with their values, interests, skills and preferences. After
identifying such attributes, they explore assorted career possibilities
(pp. 47-61). For those whose key to job satisfaction is "passion,"
there is the supplementary exercise, "Time Flies," which assists
students in determining their deep interests, the type of work
in which they experience "flow," the sense of timelessness (p.
67).
An
understanding of the strategies detailed in Career Patterns:
A Kaleidoscope of Possibilities is critical to employment
success in the twenty-first century. Instructive case-studies
as well as hands-on activities lead the reader toward occupational
awareness and self-knowledge. The authors are candid about the
fluctuations in the job market, yet they also dismiss prevailing
myths. Instead of fearing the future, students should embrace
its openness to flexibility, diversity and creativity (p. 15).
Essential for advisors and career services specialists, this text
is recommended to all professionals engaged with undergraduate
students.
