Reviews

Read what others are saying about The Career Itch...

5 Stars - Catherine Brady, successful entrepreneur

Grace uses a fun and practical approach to help anyone implement any type of career change. In my 50s now, on my second career and planning a third, I found plenty in The Career Itch to guide and inspire me. I love the tips, case studies, questionnaires and ‘things to do’ (where good intentions sometimes falter!). It’s visually interesting and a hard-to-put-downer. My youngest daughter, still at uni, is itching to read it next!

- Sally Roberts, blogger http://www.womeninpublicpolicy.org/book_reviews.php

There are very few people who are fortunate enough to have found their "dream job" early on in life and practically all of us can identify with being "stuck in a rut" or "burned out" at various stages during our career.

This is a highly readable little book which provides practical solutions. The author divides the challenge into four stages which she describes as the "ITCH" – Identity, Thinking, Change and Habit. We first need to understand our personality and our way of thinking, then if necessary change it and finally "practice" our new thinking and form new habits.

The reader is taken through practical steps; small questions to think about, tips for CV writing and – perhaps most importantly in my view – Cognitive Behaviour Therapy; in other words changing the way we think about our situation. We are encouraged to think about our aspirations and what we really want in life and then given the tools to achieve.

I felt that the very first chapter was the most important – "Know Thyself". We all have a "personal brand" and a USP and in my opinion too few people take the trouble to take a good hard look at themselves.

This book has been described as a "wake-up call" and that is what Grace Owen seeks to achieve in her readers. I wish that I had found this book earlier in my working life and can recommend it unhesitatingly to others.

- Marion Barrett, mother

The book is great, very easy to read and sensitively written. I feel that the "Itch" is something most people can identify with; I know that I certainly can. It asks questions you are afraid to ask yourself and gives you strategies to deal with the answers. The exercises are simple and help you to get some clarity about what to do next.

"The Career Itch" challenges you to look at the bigger picture of not just your work life but your identity, values and your long term goals. I am going to put into practice some of the steps suggested in the book.

5 Stars - Brian Carr, chief executive

If you're currently at a career crossroads, or unsure of what next step to take in finding or changing your career, this book offers an effective and beautifully simple method for figuring out how to move forward.

What I particularly liked about it is how practical it is. It's inspiring - packed with anecdotes from the author's own experience, real-life client case studies, and encouraging quotes from some of the world's greatest thinkers - but what sets it apart from other similar books is the way in which it goes far beyond a one-dimensional motivational pep talk.

And that doesn't even scratch the surface - there's a LOT more in the book. It's written in an engaging, friendly style - just right for anyone feeling a bit wobbly on the job front! The author states that her intention is to give the reader the experience of a coaching programme with her, and that's very much how this feels. Don't worry: although you are challenged to think hard and to dig deep to find the answers inside you that can move you forward, the process is as fun as it is enlightening.

- H. Rashid (London)

Having read almost two dozen personal growth books, I can honestly say this is by far the most practical book in my collection. Sure tony robbins, harv eker have neat ideas about how to turn your life around, promising massive instantaneous results but from personal experience, I can clearly see that the stuff rarely works. This book , however, is a rare exception. No big claims made, no castles in the sky, it is simple everyday things that I have been overlooking but the author literally takes you through a seemingly immense transition step by step, making it as easy as possible ( if there even is such a thing as an easy career transition :) ).

I much prefer a book that gives me practical, applicable stuff that I can apply in my life . The book has a lot of "examples/stories" ( not sure if they are real life or not but I dont think that matters) of people beginning to think about changing careers, in the process, or having another career related issue and the situations are explained in a rather text book like fashion ,but do not take me wrong. this book was one of the easiest reads ever and once you pick it up you'd probably run through to the end ( excluding time for the exercises/checklist)... all in all a great read!