Customer Reviews

Do What You Are: Revised & Updated Edition Featuring E-Careers For The 21st

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Like many books about career, and many books about personality types, this book sidesteps critical thinking about type and about career. As a previous reviewer noted, the book addresses primarily "professional," white-collar career options -- with a few artistic and skilled trade options thrown in. It does not really address people who work outside of that narrow landscape.

Carl Jung himself once wrote that categorizing people by type would be "pointless." He intended that the typing system be used (by psychoanalysts) as a way to understand where an individual person might be coming from; the "true north" of the person's unique perceptual, motivational, emotional, cognitive, and (yes) spiritual compass; and the best route to helping the person glimpse beyond a limiting worldview while clarifying the authentic convictions to which his or her unique life has led.

It has been dumbed down and used instead to "help" people level out their personalities to fit into institutional environments and cookie cutter job descriptions (fix themselves) and/or "find a niche" -- seek out an institutional environment or cookie cutter job description that is tolerable enough that they won't cause trouble by seeking "too much" change.

"Do What You Are" is certainly validating. Reading it, one can see why certain jobs have worked and others have not. However, the message seems to be, "You can find someplace where conformity won't be too hard." It avoids like the plague the notion that type is merely a starting point for unique development and the more radical idea that jobs may be mere skeletons upon which human beings flesh out unique WORK.

I bought this book as part of an online class. The class guided participants through the book. This book provided valuable insight on traits and characteristics that I have and the types of careers I am best suited for. As part of the book, the reader does a Myers-Briggs test to determine their personality type. I have done Myers-Briggs testing in the past but never with the explanation about each type that this book provides. The book provides an write-up about each type - allowing those of us who cross types to hone into the exact type we are. Based on this, the reader can then read the career section devoted to their type. I found out that I am in the right career - however I am not using my strengths and preferences correctly.

This book provides great insight...I recommend it to anyone trying to determine their entry-level career or for those of us facing 'mid life' career dilemmas.

I have long been a follower of MBTI, I have applied it in several ways - personal relationships, professional relationships, etc.. but in recent months I have really been questioning if my job is "right" for me.. This book sheds tremendous light on the concept of type as it pertains to career happiness. It is a MUST read for those who are already intrigued by MBTI studies and a DEFINITE read for those who are unhappy in the workplace and just starting to put a plan of action together.

This book is a wonderful tool for those just starting to get into the workplace, for those that have been in the workplace and for anyone looking to make a career change.

It is well origanized/written. The chapters move along at the right pace, giving you information and examples right at the same time. The examples really help clear up which personality type you feel/think is you.

It is also very objective, letting you decide on everything. Without a hint of opinion from the writers. The writers do not waste your time by talking about themselves, and also are not condescending in any way as some self-help books can be.

This book will help you understand more about yourself and those around you.

The job list could be a bit more robust, but is enough to give you an idea on what you should be looking for in most fields.

Start your journey to the right career, right here!

The first few chapters (1-4) of the book kept me intrested. Once, I started reading Chapter 5-20, the information became confusing to me: Dominant function, Auxiliary function and 3rd and 4th functions, etc..
The author repeats alot of the info. over and over again on all the chapters. I truly didn't find this book helpful at all.

I read this book, perhaps expecting too much. I thought it might help me choose a career I'd enjoy based on my personality. In the book it had a personality test. I was supposed to find out which personality type I was, but for some reason I had some difficulty at first. They all said about one or two things that sounded like me, but none of the sixteen types were actually like my personality. I have read much better books which have acurately described my personality. When, I finally settled one of the sixteen types, I was disappointed because none of my personal career choices were listed. I think they should have listed more careers. I had a couple of my friends read the book as well and three out of the four of them also had difficulty finding their personality type. Although, some reviewers obviously found it useful, I personally would not recommend this book to anyone.

This is a great book for those who are trying to figure out their Myers-Briggs type. It has very detailed descriptions for each type complete with workplace examples, and wisely instructs the reader to read each type's description before deciding which one they fit. This is much more accurate and interesting than if the book just had the MBTI test. The book also goes in-depth, explaining to the reader which functions of the type are most dominant and how this makes a difference in problem-solving in an occupation. However, the book does have quite a lot of reading just to get to the career information (about half of which I skimmed). The career information is not very in-depth, but with only 16 types this is understandable. The reader should know that other things factor into choosing a career, which will help in narrowing down the large listing of career possibilities under their type.

A book that describes the MBTI types, and from that tries to be a career counsellor. I've read worse books, but you would probably not miss much by skipping it.

If you are interested in a cursory overview of the MBTI types, it is OK.

This book relies heavily on MBTI test, and gives detailed suggestions for each type. Unfortunaetly it's not globally useful as most content is type-specific. This is a good book for people who are interested in using the Myers Briggs Type Indicator to help the succeed in the workplace. It also provides much information to help determine suitable careers for people based on MBTI designation.

Some useful information at the front of the book includes information on growth industries.

My friend and I did the exercise this past weekend. I was skeptical at first, thought it was going to be like a horoscope -"one-size-fits-all." But my skepticism vanished when I saw the results. We were both amazed at how this book almost accurately summarized both our personalities. And the recommended occupations listed under my personality type were jobs I was already considering or currently doing. If you need guidance as to which profession you should consider, this book is a great starting point. It gives you an idea of what might be best for you. You also get a better understandig of yourself.