Career Intelligence: Mastering the New Work and Personal Realities (Hardcover)

by Barbara Moses (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
A career management expert maps the changing employment landscape, explores the traditional work rules, and prescribes 12 new rules for success.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 283 pages
• Publisher: Stoddart; 1St Edition edition (September 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0773730168
• ISBN-13: 978-0773730168
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.5 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #5,058,813 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Here's How Work has Changed, January 6, 1999

By A Customer

Its scary out there and career specialist Dr. Barbara Moses knows it. Millions of people who personally used her bestseller, Career Planning Workbook, are now turning to her latest book, Career Intelligence for assistance in surviving `new workplace realities.' The current mantra, "the old rules no longer apply" is forcing workers and parents to (re)examine their values, jobs, careers and dreams. Moses strives to help the individual take charge and become a `career activist' thereby taking personal responsibility for one's future. With paradigms shifted, the work world reconfigured and along with it people's lives. We now face a condition called `temporariness' where nothing, especially work can be taken for granted. "Jobs," says Moses, "have been replaced by `project work, outsourcing, contract work, and short-term assignments." The career ladder has been replaced by a trellis where people zig zag work, education, leisure and volunteer time. Philosophically, the new way frees us from viewing people as only having value if they contribute directly to the economy. Pragmatically, it causes confusion for those who have to cope with financing their own sick leave, unemployed time and pensions. In Part One of her book Moses goes to great detail to drive home the message that we are all "free agents." Technology has moved us from a production economy to one of information; a system of `knowledge workers and everyone else.' Thanks to downsizing and re-engineering we have lost predictability and psychological security. Moses states "so much of our sense of self is tied to our work and getting work means attaining specialize education. Thus the pressure is on as we must prepare our students to be `independent contractors' due to `credentialism,' as a university degree in now worth what a high school certificate was worth a generation ago. Those with employment all seem to have stress as described in the chapter titled, "Squished, Squashed, Sliced and Diced," where `career malaise' runs rampant. Just when it looks like there is no hope Part Two, "Renewal" presents strategies on coping with "Tempworld." Firstly, one has to comprehend a new vocabulary of terms such as "regular part-timers, occasional part-timers, permanent temporary , temporary permanent, just-in-time workers, contract workers, leased workers, outsourced and disposable workers." As we become "professional gypsies" we can benefit from Dr. Moses' advice on how to cope and find opportunities in the maze. Reading her is akin to having a personal trainer who coaches with encouraging sentiment such as: know yourself, know what you love and be who you are." It's the only way to deal with the organizational chart Moses describes as a giant question mark. Besides offering a dozen rules for career success, Moses concludes her book with a chapter dedicated to parents on "career Proofing your Kids." It is an excellent look at reaffirming that we cannot let the reductionist mentality out there lessen any of our time with our children. The thought of a two-tiered, have/have not world frightens parents. The world they prepared for no longer exist and they are unsure how to guide their children. As Moses notes, love and a desire for community are "enduring human traits" and as we teach and counsel the upcoming generation of entrepreneurs in a world of possibilities we can always refer to Career Intelligence as a standing reference on coping with the unknown. Reviewed by: Heather Emberley, Career Counsellor

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars perceptive, practical insights into today's workplace, August 20, 1998

By A Customer

This book is certainly a cut above career guidance books that offer tips on how to write resumes or suggest "hot" jobs that you should choose.

Dr Moses writes intelligently about the stresses of managing your career in a world where all the rules have changed. there are useful sections on many aspects of today's workplace - i found the stuff on providing career direction to kids particularly helpful.

overall a wise, illuminating book that i would recommend not just to anyone looking for direction in their career but also managers in organizations who whish to understand the career aspirations of their employees and be able to help them.