A new self-help book centered on job stresses and career crises will be available at area bookstores in mid-December.
The Career Fix-It Book: How to Make Your Job Work Better for You was written by first-time author Diana Pace, director of counseling and career development at Grand Valley State University. Pace said she wrote the book by drawing on her 25-plus years of experience as a psychologist and career counselor.
I've been in this business for 25 years and, in talking to people, I've seen certain patterns and issues come up again and again, the Grand Rapids resident said. The book is designed to address people who think they're unhappy in their jobs and may even have an idea of why they're unhappy, but may not know what to do about it.
Pace, 59, said employees who are unhappy at work often view the big picture instead of trying to amend the immediate problem.
You may think you have to make a big change, like move to a different company or different career, when in actuality, just by changing 10 or 20 percent of your job can make a big difference, she said.
A chapter in Career Fix-It addresses molding your job to suit your preferences. Pace said typical employees are too afraid to ask their bosses to add or delete tasks from their job descriptions. The worst thing that can happen is that the boss will say no, but often this type of cooperation and compromise may even please bosses, she said.
Employers are usually fine with small changes their employees want to make, Pace said. Often times, you do better at jobs you like to do; so in turn, that will serve employers better.
Other chapters address changing careers and choosing a profession. Pace suggested that in order to love your job, you have to choose a career like you would a romantic partner.
People are often way too logical about a career choice and forget to follow their passions, she said. This book will introduce people to thinking about their work in a slightly different way.
Each chapter contains exercises to help readers locate the source of career satisfactions and dissatisfactions and suggestions on how to fix problem areas. The Career Fix-It Book is published by Sourcebooks Trade, in Naperville, Ill., and will cost $14.95.
The American Board of Professional Psychology recently certified Pace as a diplomat in counseling psychology. She is one of 200 psychologists in the U.S. and Canada to have earned this distinction. Pace received a master's degree in counseling and doctorate degree in counseling psychology from the University of North Dakota.
