The Five-Year Life Plan is Out, “Squiggly Careers” Are In
Where do you see yourself in five years? This is a popular question that echoes in job interviews and family gatherings alike. Yet, in my view, it’s a question that confines creativity and limits the scope of aspirations. Many talented leaders have found that success isn't born from adhering to a rigid five-year plan but, rather, it emerges organically through unexpected experiences, fueled by self-discovery, virtue, and passion.
Leading professionals often reminisce on their career journeys as having followed a serendipitous and meandering road to achievement. Let’s explore the non-linear, “squiggly” career path as a useful tool for us aspiring professionals to navigate the terrain of our ambitions and unlock our fullest potential.
Image sourced from Smart Insights
A “Squiggly Career”
The concept of the “squiggly career” was coined by career development consultants Sarah Ellis and Helen Tupper in 2020 to redefine approaches and attitudes toward professional success and expose the limitations of the “corporate ladder.” The “squiggly career” celebrates change, uncertainty, and possibility to help guide professionals toward fulfilling career journeys that break from traditionally prescribed paths.
This nontraditional approach to professional life encourages individuals to develop careers that match their unique interests rather than conform to a pre-defined path to success. By abandoning attachment to traditional standards of career growth, professionals are encouraged to form meaningful careers through exploration to build a life path that is both defined and driven by passion.
Defining Your Values and Motivations
Just because a career path is “squiggly,” doesn’t mean it lacks direction or intention. By pinpointing your values and motivations, you can design the framework for your desires and establish a set of beliefs that will steer you toward a purposeful life. Understanding the motivations behind your career aspirations will contribute to a deeper understanding of yourself, align yourself with your core values, and provide a solid foundation for your professional journey.
Defining your unique set of values will help inform your decision-making when faced with an array of opportunities. Whether you’re choosing to seize an opportunity, part ways with a position, or venture down a risky path, a strong set of personal values can serve as a guiding force. For me, curiosity, versatility, balance, and responsibility are the characteristics that I hold near. To understand what matters to you, Forbes offers 15 effective methods to investigate and define your core values, guided by questions that deepen your self-understanding.
Unlocking Opportunity
When envisioning your future, resist the urge to confine yourself and your talents within easily defined boxes. By refusing to define yourself by a singular career path, skill set, or ability, you open the door to a realm of untapped possibilities, emerging at the unique intersections of your interests and knowledge bases.
To fully embrace the “squiggly” approach to personal and professional growth, consider connecting with peers outside of your industry, joining clubs that uncover hidden passions, and exploring lifelong learning options. College is a particularly prime time to unlock these kinds of opportunities and lay the foundation for a passion-driven career. Students are in a uniquely advantageous position to leverage mentorship programs and build their network of professionals who tend to be especially receptive to the enthusiasm of newbies.
Maximizing opportunities in your professional life also requires knowing how to rebound when an opportunity isn’t serving you. Whether you find yourself let go from a position or you decide to leave a job behind, adapting the “squiggly career” mindset can empower you to pivot gracefully to the next chapter of your career by steering clear of limiting beliefs and finding new avenues along the way.
Image sourced from Freepik
As you look ahead to a future brimming with possibility, remember that life rarely unfolds in a straight line. Strong personal values and a passion-driven mindset paired with flexibility and openness will go the distance to unlock unique and meaningful opportunities throughout your career journey. Keep in mind that the potential you already possess is boundless, so long as you harness it with passion and intention.
About Emma
Emma Buschle is a senior, pursuing degrees in Advertising & Public Relations and Dance. She currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of GVSU’s student-led integrated communications firm, GrandPR, and she sits on the executive board for GVPRSSA. Beyond the classroom, Emma recently completed a six-month agency internship at Lambert Global and she is an active member of the National Millenial and Gen Z Community. For fun, she enjoys reading, traveling Up North, and spending time with friends and family.