Book R e v i e w s

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There is also a need to ‘un-package’what it may entail REFERENCES

to reach one’s full potential. I would argue that
reaching one’s potential requires, or is not as
important as, learning to be comfortable with self, ‘the
emotional self. This is something that is often taken
for granted as people set out on their quest to achieve
maximum potential.
Growth Fetish is not for the faint hearted, but then
neither is the Australia Institute’s research agenda, of
which Hamilton is the executive director. If you too
are concerned with the question of how humanity is
going to progress sustainably into the next century,
and how as career development practitioners we can
play a.greater role in ameliorating the intense
disappointment many people experience in their
work, leisure and lives generally, then there is no
better place to start than with Growth Fetid.
Braverman, H. (1974). Labour and Monopoly Capital: The
degradation of work in the twentieth centuy. New York:
Monthly Review Press.
Capra, F. (1982). The Turning Point: Science, society and the rising
culture. London: Fontana Paperbacks.
Fromm, E. (1956). The Sane Society. London: Routledge and
Kegan Paul.
Fromm, E. (1976). To Have or to Be? New York: Harper Row.
Fukuyama, F. (1992). The End of Histoy and the Last Man. New
York: The Free Press.
Seligman, M. E. P. (2002).Authentic Happiness: Using the new
positive psychology to realize your potential for lasting
fulfi[rnent. Sydney: Random House.
Matthew McDonald
University of Technology, Sydney

THE CAREER PORTFOLIO WORKBOOK: USING THE NEWEST

TOOL IN YOUR JOB-HUNTING ARSENALTO IMPRESS
EMPLOYERS AND LAND A GREAT JOB
Frank Satterthwaite and Gary D’Orsi, McGraw Hill, New York,
2000, ISBN: 0-07- 140855-X

T he authors of this down-to-earth,

practical book are career coaches,
a profession which arguably involves a
That said, career professionals and
job seekers alike would find it difficult
to argue with the authors’
fair amount of ‘telling’. However, recommendations, or with their
while their approach may appear knowledge of the employment
prescriptive in many ways, industry. As an Australian reader of
Satterthwaite and D’Orsi stress that what is, in many ways, an overtly
each detailed step is entirely optional, American text, I was initially
and the extent to which an individual concerned about its potential
follows their plan is really a personal relevance to my own context.
Wadqtabbforgourom DSS!
decision. However, these concerns proved
I Frank Satlerlhwaite and Garv D’Orsi I

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, SPRING
2003

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largely unfounded, as I have successfully incorporated
several of the ideas into my work with clients.
For the purposes of this book, a career portfolio is
‘a collection of documents and other easily portable
artefacts that people can use to validate claims they
make about themselves’. The need for us all to have a
portfolio is based on the notion that, to maximise our
chances of landing a good job, we should provide
evidence in the form of supporting documents to back
up what we say about ourselves in our resume and
covering letter.
Promising a tool to ‘impress employers and land a
great job’ is a rather extravagant claim, and career
portfolios aren’t exactly new; however, many useful
points are outlined and exemplified throughout the
book. I especially liked the logical nature of this
approach to developing and maintaining a portfolio, as
well as the creative ideas presented for building
appropriate evidence of an individual’s skills, personal
qualities and experiences. The development and
maintenance of a portfolio is a great confidence booster,
and can only enhance the employability of its owner.
At a time when it is becoming harder to
differentiate between potential job applicants and to
assess the validity of claims made, this is one way a
person can obtain an edge over potential or real
competitors. The authors propose that presentation of
a well-selected career portfolio during an interview
will add to a candidate’s credibility and will dazzle
prospective employers with their organisational skills.
Creating a master portfolio may be seen as
daunting, laborious and somewhat unnecessary-
everything an individual has ever received is stored.
But who hasn’t mislaid a ‘thank you’ letter, certificate,
or other form of recognition, only to find that it would
be really useful in a particular situation, months or
even years down the track? Practical steps break
down this task and make it much more manageable,
and possibly even fun!
A u s t r a l i a n J o u r n a l of C a r e e r D e v e l o p m e n t V O L U M E12, N U M B E 3R, S P R I N G2003
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Sound advice is also offered for selecting
appropriate items for each targeted portfolio, and
how and when to present these. Other chapters
discuss informational interviews, creating a resume
which works in tandem with your portfolio,
handling job interviews, and even how to get a
promotion or make a radical career change. It also
includes a chapter on developing digital portfolios,
and these are alluded to in other chapters, however,
the emphasis fundamentally is on hardcopy
evidence.
As the title states, this is a workbook, and if a client
was highly motivated I would have no hesitation in
handing it to them to work through on their own.
The messages and instructions are clear, with plenty
of examples and worksheets to assist the user. Jargon
is kept to a minimum and the tone is friendly and
encouraging. The book is easy to navigate, and if
information is required about constructing a resume,
this can be read as a discrete unit; however, reading
the book from cover to cover is quite achievable. In
any case, there are clear pointers throughout to save
the reader from having to wade through information
that isn’t immediately relevant.
The advice can seem a bit pedantic at times, to the
point of instructing the reader to obtain a three-ring
binder and plastic sleeves, which may bore some
clients. However, others may not be aware of these
simple aids and may benefit from such suggestions.
This book will help practitioners and clients to
clarify steps in building career portfolios, and the
places and times in which they can be put to valuable
use. It is relevant across a wide range of industries,
professions and jobs, and provides timely advice in
an increasingly competitive job market.
Julie Farthing
Career and Employment Consultant
Career Dimensions, VIC
I
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