Key Takeaways
1. Embrace the "Squiggly Career": Ditch the ladder, discover opportunities
Squiggly careers are fluid, not fixed.
The new career reality. Traditional career ladders are obsolete in today's rapidly changing work environment. Instead, careers have become "squiggly" – non-linear, unpredictable, and full of diverse opportunities. This shift requires a new mindset and skillset to navigate successfully.
Five essential skills. To thrive in a squiggly career, focus on developing:
- Super Strengths: Identify and leverage your unique talents
- Values: Understand what drives and motivates you
- Confidence: Build self-belief and resilience
- Networks: Cultivate diverse relationships
- Future Possibilities: Explore potential career paths and opportunities
Adaptability is key. Embrace change, continuous learning, and self-reflection to stay agile in your career journey. Be open to lateral moves, new industries, and unexpected opportunities that align with your strengths and values.
2. Identify and leverage your "Super Strengths" for career success
Your strengths are the things you are good at, super strengths are the things you are brilliant at.
Discover your strengths. Use a four-step process to uncover your natural talents and learned skills:
- First bursts: Quickly list things you're great at
- Natural talents: Identify innate abilities
- Learned strengths: Recognize skills developed through experience
- Super strengths: Determine your standout capabilities
Maximize impact. Once identified, focus on making your strengths "show up and stand out" at work:
- Job crafting: Shape your role to use strengths more often
- Strengths-based feedback: Ask for input on when you're at your best
- Side projects: Use strengths in new contexts
- Social media: Showcase your strengths online
Career satisfaction. Aligning your work with your super strengths leads to greater enjoyment, productivity, and career opportunities. Regularly reassess and refine your understanding of your strengths as you grow and develop.
3. Discover and align your core values with your work
Values are what make you 'you'. They are the things that motivate and drive you.
Uncover your values. Use reflection exercises to identify your core values:
- Career highs and lows: Analyze past experiences
- Important aspects: Consider what matters in work environments
- Prioritization: Narrow down to 3-5 core values
Live your values at work. Aligning your career with your values leads to:
- Authenticity: Being yourself at work
- Better decision-making: Using values as a career compass
- Increased empathy: Understanding others' motivations
Continuous process. Regularly revisit and refine your understanding of your values. Share them with others to build stronger relationships and create opportunities that align with what's most important to you.
4. Build confidence by caging your "gremlins" and recognizing success
Confidence gremlins are the things that hold you back from reaching your potential. Everyone has them, but how you experience them is unique to you.
Identify and cage your gremlins. Follow these steps:
- Discover your specific confidence gremlins
- Understand how they hold you back
- Identify triggers
- Test and challenge your gremlin assumptions
- Take small, consistent actions to overcome them
Cultivate a success mindset. Use the three Rs:
- Recognize: Acknowledge daily successes in various areas
- Record: Document your achievements regularly
- Run your own race: Define personal success criteria
Build a support system. Create a "Support Solar System" of people who:
- Provide different types of support (e.g., empathy, challenge, wisdom)
- Balance giving and receiving support
- Offer diverse perspectives and experiences
5. Develop a diverse, deliberate network to fuel career growth
Networking is simply people helping people.
The three Ds of networking:
- Discerning: Be intentional about who you connect with
- Deliberate: Actively invest time in building relationships
- Diverse: Seek out varied perspectives and experiences
Assess your network. Evaluate the strength of your:
- Current role network
- Future role network
- Personal development network
Create career karma. Focus on what you can give rather than gain:
- Identify your "gives" based on strengths and passions
- Be specific about what help you need from others
- Ask for support thoughtfully and make it easy for others to help
Choose your network role. Engage as a:
- Consumer: Learn from existing networks
- Contributor: Actively participate and add value
- Connector: Link people with shared interests
- Creator: Start your own network or community
6. Explore future possibilities and cultivate curiosity, feedback, and grit
Careers are becoming multi-directional as we move back and forth, in and out of organizations and professions.
Embrace possibilities. Instead of rigid career plans, focus on:
- Obvious possibilities: Natural next steps
- Ambitious possibilities: Stretch goals
- Dream possibilities: Ideal scenarios without constraints
- Pivot possibilities: New applications for existing skills
Develop your "career why." Use tools like vision boards or personal manifestos to clarify your long-term motivations and goals.
Cultivate future-proof skills:
- Curiosity: Stay open to new ideas and continuous learning
- Feedback: Give and receive regular, real-time, relevant feedback
- Grit: Develop perseverance and passion for long-term goals
Take action. Regularly explore and reassess your possibilities, connecting them to your strengths, values, and evolving interests.
7. Navigate common career conundrums with strategic approaches
You don't need to develop every skill simultaneously and at the same pace. You can choose what feels most important for you to prioritize at the moment and start taking small steps straight away.
Address key career challenges:
- Starting a side project: Balance passion, problem-solving, and idea-testing
- Finding a mentor: Debunk mentoring myths and ask strategically
- Investing in training: Self-fund, create your curriculum, or advocate for change
- Achieving work-life balance: Make conscious choices aligned with your values
- Deciding to stay or go: Assess happiness, learning, and future potential
- Building a personal brand: Start with strengths and values, maintain consistency
- Demonstrating leadership: Seek opportunities beyond formal roles
Take ownership. Proactively address these challenges rather than waiting for perfect circumstances or external solutions.
8. Learn from expert advice to shape your unique career path
Listen to all the advice you can, but your most powerful tool is your own filter for that advice. You know the situation better than anyone. Take counsel, take as much as you can – but then trust your own judgement.
Key themes from expert advice:
- Stay true to yourself: Develop self-awareness and authenticity
- Trust your gut: Value intuition alongside rational decision-making
- Focus on how you work: Cultivate a strong work ethic and positive attitude
- Invest in relationships: Build meaningful connections and support networks
- Have courage: Take calculated risks and embrace uncertainty
Apply wisely. Consider expert advice in the context of your unique situation, strengths, and values. Use it as inspiration and guidance, not rigid rules.
Continuous growth. Regularly seek out new perspectives and advice, but always filter it through your personal lens and experiences.
Last updated:
FAQ
What's "The Squiggly Career" about?
- Overview: "The Squiggly Career" by Helen Tupper and Sarah Ellis is a guide to navigating modern, non-linear career paths. It emphasizes the shift from traditional career ladders to more dynamic and flexible career trajectories.
- Purpose: The book aims to equip readers with the skills needed to thrive in a world where career paths are no longer predictable and are filled with opportunities for personal growth and fulfillment.
- Core Message: It encourages readers to embrace the uncertainty of modern careers by focusing on developing five key skills: super strengths, values, confidence, networks, and future possibilities.
Why should I read "The Squiggly Career"?
- Adapt to Change: The book provides insights into how the world of work is changing and offers practical advice on how to adapt and thrive in this new environment.
- Skill Development: It focuses on developing essential skills that are crucial for success in a squiggly career, such as identifying personal strengths and building a supportive network.
- Personal Fulfillment: By understanding and applying the concepts in the book, readers can design a career that aligns with their personal values and aspirations, leading to greater job satisfaction and happiness.
What are the key takeaways of "The Squiggly Career"?
- Embrace Non-Linearity: Traditional career ladders are outdated; instead, focus on exploring diverse opportunities and experiences.
- Develop Core Skills: The five key skills—super strengths, values, confidence, networks, and future possibilities—are essential for navigating a squiggly career.
- Continuous Learning: Adopt a mindset of lifelong learning and curiosity to stay relevant and adaptable in a rapidly changing work environment.
How do Helen Tupper and Sarah Ellis define a "squiggly career"?
- Non-Linear Path: A squiggly career is characterized by its non-linear, unpredictable nature, where career paths are not straightforward or hierarchical.
- Opportunities for Growth: It involves exploring various roles, industries, and experiences that contribute to personal and professional growth.
- Focus on Skills: Success in a squiggly career relies on developing transferable skills rather than following a fixed career plan.
What are the five key skills mentioned in "The Squiggly Career"?
- Super Strengths: Identify and leverage your unique strengths to stand out and add value in your career.
- Values: Understand your core values to make informed career decisions that align with your personal motivations.
- Confidence: Build self-belief and resilience to overcome challenges and seize opportunities.
- Networks: Develop a diverse and active network by focusing on what you can give rather than gain.
- Future Possibilities: Explore and identify future career possibilities to stay adaptable and open to new opportunities.
How can I identify my super strengths according to "The Squiggly Career"?
- Self-Reflection: Reflect on your natural talents and experiences to identify what you are naturally good at.
- Feedback: Seek feedback from colleagues, friends, and family to gain insights into your strengths.
- Action Plan: Develop an action plan to use your strengths more frequently and visibly in your career.
What role do values play in a squiggly career?
- Guiding Decisions: Values act as a compass, guiding your career decisions and helping you stay true to what matters most to you.
- Authenticity: Understanding your values allows you to be authentic at work, leading to greater job satisfaction and fulfillment.
- Empathy and Relationships: Knowing your values helps build empathy and stronger relationships with colleagues by understanding their motivations.
How can I build confidence in my career as suggested by "The Squiggly Career"?
- Identify Gremlins: Recognize and address the confidence gremlins that hold you back from reaching your potential.
- Reflect on Successes: Regularly reflect on and record your successes to build a positive mindset and self-belief.
- Support System: Develop a strong support system of people who encourage and challenge you to grow.
What is the importance of networking in a squiggly career?
- People Helping People: Networking is about building meaningful relationships where people help each other grow and succeed.
- Diverse Perspectives: A diverse network provides access to different perspectives, ideas, and opportunities for learning.
- Personal Brand: A strong network helps build your personal brand, making you more visible and attractive to potential opportunities.
How do Helen Tupper and Sarah Ellis suggest exploring future possibilities?
- Identify Possibilities: Consider various career possibilities, including obvious, ambitious, dream, and pivot options.
- Curiosity and Learning: Stay curious and open to learning about different roles and industries to discover new opportunities.
- Action-Oriented: Take proactive steps to explore and test these possibilities, such as networking, side projects, and continuous learning.
What are some practical tips for starting a side project according to "The Squiggly Career"?
- Start Small: Begin with a manageable project that aligns with your interests and strengths.
- Collaborate: Work with others to share the workload and gain new perspectives.
- Learn and Adapt: Use the project as a learning opportunity to develop new skills and insights.
What are the best quotes from "The Squiggly Career" and what do they mean?
- "Ditch the ladder, discover opportunity, and design a career that works for you." This quote encapsulates the book's core message of moving away from traditional career paths and embracing a more personalized and flexible approach to career development.
- "No one cares about your career as much as you do." This emphasizes the importance of taking ownership of your career development and being proactive in seeking opportunities and growth.
- "Work is dead, long live the squiggly career!" This highlights the shift from conventional work structures to more dynamic and adaptable career paths that better suit individual needs and aspirations.
Review Summary
The Squiggly Career receives largely positive reviews for its practical approach to modern career development. Readers appreciate its focus on identifying personal strengths, values, and building confidence. Many find the exercises and activities helpful for self-reflection and career planning. Some criticize it for lacking depth or offering limited new information. The book is particularly recommended for those early in their careers or feeling stuck. Several reviewers wish they had read it earlier in their professional lives, while others find it valuable even late in their careers.
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