Make Your Way: Being Intentional about Your Unique Vocational Design

MAKE YOUR WAY addresses today’s career development needs of the Christian community.

With today’s dynamic employment environment, a biblically based perspective is provided to equip you to Make Your Way through the ever-changing, and sometimes turbulent, career transition challenges.

Whether you are just preparing to enter the work force or looking for new opportunities to achieve fulfillment in your career, MAKE YOUR WAY will fully equip you to achieve your God-given career potential.

You will be fully equipped to MAKE YOUR WAY toward receiving the “well done” accolade of Mathew 25 as you, “enter into the joy…”

MAKE YOUR WAY consists of the following topics:

Network Advantage
Provides the proven basis for effective networking along with a plethora of helpful networking resources. From the apostle Paul’s many contacts referenced in his epistles to today’s highly technological social networking media, the underlining principles of successful networking have not changed. Plus sure-fire ways to get over one’s shyness are discussed in a fun dialogue.

Career Development Planning
Offers the practical tools for identifying and aligning your passions with your strengths to establish a solid footing for the pursuit of obtaining your God-given potential.

Job-Capture Coaching
Delivers the nuts-and-bolts of career planning. Being fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:13-14), we can leverage our unique design to effectively focus our job search, resume building, interview techniques, and job negotiations as we Make Our Way toward our calling.

Goal Getting
Brings the above lessons together for the purpose of Making Your Way – being intentional about setting and achieving goals. Recent research has enlightened us as to how our brain functions. We now better understand how to successfully make changes in our lives as Scripture implores us to: “(be) renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self” (Ephesians 4:23-24).

About the Authors:

Mr. Spencer Bauer’s and Dr. Jeanie Nishime’s experience within private industry and public organizations provide them unique insights into how biblical principles can effectively be applied to meet today’s employer needs.

Spence has held several senior management positions in the aerospace industry, responsible for profit and loss (P&L) of organizations while working directly with Human Resources departments for staffing needs.

Dr. Jeanie Nishime has over 20 years experience as a community college counselor and Dean of Counseling. She is currently the Vice President for Student and Community Advancement at El Camino College.

They attend church at The Bridge in El Segundo, California where they were married in 2007.

ForeWord Reviews - 5 out of 5 Stars

Spencer Bauer and Jeanie Nishime provide just the right mix of insight and cheerleading to help readers alleviate career anxiety and set realistic goals. The husband-and-wife team has experience in corporate human resources departments and academic positions and takes on the topic of career satisfaction from a Christian vantage point.

Using biblical passages to underscore their advice, Bauer and Nishime manage to impart a strong message of community while still tackling thorny job-search issues. For example, in a chapter about building a résumé, they provide exceptionally detailed insight into what should be included in the document while also lifting the reader’s spirits with a mention of Proverbs 22:29: “Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men.”

The breadth of advice included in Make Your Way is impressive. The authors cover such topics as networking, job searching, interviewing, and negotiation, among others. Several sample career plans and cover letters will undoubtedly prove useful to those who need a starting point, and an extensive bibliography provides additional valuable resources.

One of the most appealing chapters for Christian readers will likely be “Biblical Importance of Self-Images.” By turning to the Bible for guidance “intentionally override counterproductive self-images with a new, stronger imprint.” The issue of self-image is crucial for many job seekers and those involved in career transitions because rejection can be crushing enough to cause many to abandon their plans.

Although the guide is deeply rooted in Christian philosophy, anyone can benefit from the practical, detailed advice offered here, especially in areas like career development and goal setting.