Work-a-holistic

Are you unhappy with your career or job? The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many of us to re-evaluate our priorities, and to figure out how to create a life we truly want for ourselves and our loved ones. The time to change is now.

In the new book, Work-a-holistic: A practical guide to changing your career, career development expert Amalia Chilianis provides a practical guide on changing careers and finding more meaningful work. Amalia offers a holistic approach to making a career change based on over 25 years' experience, research into positive psychology and neuroscience, and interviews with ordinary people who've shifted their careers to find greater satisfaction.

With a number of activities to help you better understand your values, strengths and capabilities to determine the roles that are right for you, Amalia offers real-world advice about navigating the job market to demystify the job-application process by breaking it down into achievable steps.

Don't waste any more time wondering, 'What if there's something better?', Work-a-holistic provides a pragmatic perspective applicable to any profession, and empowers readers with the tools needed to start the next chapter of their career journey – now.

About the author 
Amalia Chilianis is a career and capability development expert. She is a coach, consultant, speaker and facilitator working internationally. Amalia has more than 25 years' experience in career and capability development working in and with large complex global and national organisations including PwC, IBM, GM Holden, Department of Transport, NAB and more. Consistently supporting and coaching individuals to plan for, create and secure satisfying work. She has proven success in large-scale closures including GM Holden where the programs she designed and led helped thousands of workers successfully secure gainful employment. Work-a-holistic is her first book.

Work-a-holistic
Amalia Chilianis
Publish Central
ISBN: Publish Central $29.95
RRP: $29.95

Interview with Amalia Chilianis

Question: What originally inspired the idea of Work-a-holistic?

Amalia Chilianis: I was fortunate to work at GM Holden, and together with two colleagues, we designed, created and implemented the Holden Transition program which supported almost 3000 workers into gainful employment. Given the success of the program, I wanted to understand what truly helped people the most when they wanted or needed to change careers. I interviewed the Managing Director, some of the senior leaders and many professionals and found common themes amongst the varying stories. I then expanded my interviews to other professions and industries and this motivated me to write the book in the hope of helping many people successfully change careers.


Question: What did you learn, about yourself, whilst writing Work-a-holistic?

Amalia Chilianis: My naïve optimism is a blessing and a curse. I am not sure I would have pursued writing the book if I knew it would take me two years and be as difficult as it was. In the past, I have not been great at taking on feedback and working on the same piece of work repeatedly. Writing the book forced me to do both these things and the outcome is better for it.


Question: What's the main message you hope readers take from Work-a-holistic?

Amalia Chilianis: That it is possible to create the life you want and have meaningful and satisfying work. That anyone can make a change and create a better future for themselves and those around them. Work can provide many benefits outside of our fundamental need for an income like building relationships, opportunities to learn, a sense of belonging and the opportunity to contribute to something greater and there are practical things you can do to help you achieve that.


Question: Can you share tips with us featured in the book?

Amalia Chilianis: Work and life are inextricably linked, so embarking on a career change should include building a picture of what you want from both your career and the other priorities in your life. I recommend identifying a set of ingredients that you want in key components of your life such as physical health, relationships, home, emotional wellbeing, career, finances, passions and hobbies, spirituality and community. Reflect on these as they are for you now, and then how you would like them to be in the future. This helps you create goals and informs the career direction and decisions you make. For example, if you want to spend more time with your close relationships, then pursuing a career change that sees you working long hours consistently is likely to ultimately be unsatisfying.


Question: What research did you do, prior to writing Work-a-holistic?

Amalia Chilianis: Once I formed the structure for the book and the key themes highlighted from my interviews, I undertook extensive research into several fields of Psychology and neuroscience. A few years back I had completed a Diploma in Positive Psychology and I was keen to delve deeper into areas relevant to achieving more satisfaction from your work.


Question: What advice do you have for aspiring writers?
Amalia Chilianis: Perseverance is critical and finding a way that works for you. I found my most creative time was first thing in the morning. So, I would dedicate my mornings to writing and undertake research and admin in the afternoons. Writing is also a very solitary task, so I made sure to establish regular connections, who I could talk to replace the social connection that I no longer had.


Question: What or who inspired your love of reading/writing?

Amalia Chilianis: I have always been interested in human behaviour and psychology. Rather than a fiction novel, this would be my bedtime reading. For this book, my inspiration was the people who I interviewed. I wanted to tell their story in the hope that it would help others.


Question: What's next, for you?

Amalia Chilianis: When I finished Work-a-holistic, I was adamant that I did not want to write another book. Another lesson I learnt was the cliché "never say never" as having had a bit of time away from writing, I am keen to start on another book. I'm currently forming possible ideas and what that might look like.


Interview by Gwen van Montfort