Squiggly and linear career paths

Did you know that approximately 81% of graduate-level jobs are open to graduates from any degree discipline (ISE, 2023)?

This is great as it means that you can do many different jobs with your degree. But, it can make it hard to know what to choose. Lots of graduates feel under pressure to pick the ‘perfect’ first graduate job, but we’re here to tell you not to worry too much about finding your “dream job” straight after university, as careers across the world are changing. To show what these new kinds of career paths are looking like, we’re going to introduce you to the idea of the ‘Squiggly Career’, developed by Helen Tupper and Sarah Ellis.

This concept diverges from the ‘traditional’ linear career progression path, where you’d start in an entry-level position, and over time work your way up within the same company (probably just like your parents did!) The ‘Squiggly Career’, however, is a more common path taken these days – where you might move horizontally, or even backwards, instead of following a steady progression “upwards”.

Watch this video of Helen Tupper and Sarah Ellis talking about the Squiggly Career in their TEDxLondonWomen event

You can read more about Sarah and Helen here: Squiggly Careers.

Have your thoughts on your (squiggly!) career path changed after watching the video?

After watching the video, you might be wondering – why are careers changing so dramatically?

1. People are living longer: According to the World Health Organisation, by 2023, 1 in 6 people will be over 60, and this is expected to double by 2050. If people are staying in the workforce for much longer, job satisfaction may become increasingly important, and people may be more likely to move around (to avoid getting bored!).
2. Change in priorities: Numerous studies have shown that the desire for flexible and/or hybrid working has increased significantly, with a large proportion of workers wanting more control over their working hours and location, with many seeking a better work-life balance. Alongside this, we have seen the rise in remote working (with the Covid-19 pandemic accelerating this). This trend will likely continue and become even more common.
3. Opportunities for new experiences: People recognise that a non-linear career can provide new experiences, knowledge and skills. You can develop skills in different areas and apply them to a range of roles. Additionally, as we’ve seen with Covid- 19, being able to adapt to new situations and be resilient in the face of change and challenges is hugely advantageous. Developing the skills and ability to do this is very appealing to employers who are looking for resilient and versatile staff. Many employers are pursuing ‘skills-based hiring’ as a result. I’ll talk about this later on.
4. Changes in the labour market: The market is constantly changing, with new industries, trends, and skills becoming increasingly common in the workplace. Advances in technology and remote working have also helped facilitate an increase in workers who are self-employed and/or working as a freelancer. Whilst less predictable, it can provide workers with the flexibility and control they want. Whether you like it or not, Automation and AI is rapidly changing the world of work. Automation and AI is likely to continue to advance and create new job opportunities, as well as require the development of new skills and knowledge (in humans, of course!)
5. Societal changes: Society is facing new challenges, with the climate crisis and social issues at the forefront. Generations are now placing further value on employers’ commitment to social causes. According to one study, 70% of job seekers say they would research a potential employer’s values and ethics, and that they want to work for a company that prioritises diversity and inclusion. This can mean that people change jobs more frequently, or think about the long-term sustainability of their role. For example, to save fuel, you might move from a job you need to commute to 5 days a week, to a job where you only need to drive to the office 2 days a week. It also means that many new jobs are being created in areas like sustainability management, health technology, and even misinformation prevention!

Any, or all, of the above reasons could influence why your career takes the trajectory that it does. To pursue a squiggly career, you should make sure to be self-aware, keep your eyes open for new opportunities, and remain open-minded about your career and the direction it might take.

In this course, you’ll have the opportunity to really think about what kind of career you might want to go into, and what kind of career path you might want to take in the future. Do make sure you remember that a squiggly career is all about being open to new opportunities, and so what you think you might do in your squiggly career could be very different to what you actually do during your career – and that’s great!