Tessa West

When we think about changing jobs, we turn to traditional career advice that focuses on skills, qualifications, and interviewing techniques. We tend to ask ourselves, “Do I want to move from a full-time to a part-time job? Do I want to leave my company and start my own business?” But this line of thinking doesn’t get to the heart of the problem—why you’ve been so unhappy at work in the first place. What if, instead, we asked ourselves a different question: “What psychological needs aren’t being met now that need to be met in my next job?” In Job Therapy, Dr. Tessa West helps you turn inwards to identify the psychological reasons why you are unsatisfied, whether you’re having an identity crisis at work, your job has changed so dramatically you don’t recognise it anymore, or you aren’t receiving recognition for your contribution. Whether you’ve only just entered the workplace or considering your final move, Job Therapy will help you identify and land your best role yet, one that’s deeply rooted in a clear sense of self.

Want to get those difficult colleagues off your back and restore your sanity? NYU psychology professor Tessa West shows you how. Have you ever watched a colleague charm the pants off management while showing a competitive, Machiavellian side to the lower ranks? They don't hesitate to throw peers under the bus, but their boss is oblivious to their bad behaviour. What about a constantly interrupting colleague? Or an over-bearing manager? While these jerks stress us out in small ways throughout the day, they aren't technically breaking any rules, so we're expected just to put up with them. ...Until now. Tessa West has already helped thousands of people resolve their most pressing workplace issues. And here she draws on a decade of original research to profile classic workplace archetypes, including the Gaslighter, the Bulldozer, the Credit-Stealer, the Neglecter, and the Micromanager, giving advice to anyone who's ever hidden in the bathroom to cry at work. She digs deep into the inner workings of each bad apple, exploring their motivations and insecurities, and offers clever strategies for stopping each type of jerk in their tracks. Know a Jerk at Work? This proactive approach reveals the single, most effective way to achieve emotional wellbeing at work.