02/01/2013Stop Saying Career “path”!By Eric AndersonCareer “Path” makes career plans seem predictable
Historical Perspective
Career “Voyage” provides a more accurate image
Using Career Voyage with Clients
With my alumni and adult degree students, it’s more a matter of awakening them to what they already know about the unpredictability of life. These clients accept the replacement of “path” with “voyage” readily, as if their intuitive minds have been waiting for a more sensible metaphor. And sometimes they come up with their own appropriate unpredictability metaphors, like “whitewater rafting” or “rock climbing” that work better for them.
So let’s replace “career path” with “career voyage” as our standard term for the career experience. It would go a long way toward removing a significant barrier for our students and other clients who struggle to understand the realistic influence they can expect their career plans to have on their career outcomes.
How to do this:
References
Krumboltz, J. D. (2009). The Happenstance Learning Theory. Journal of Career Assessment, 17, 135-154.
Krumboltz, J. D., & Levin, A. S. (2010). Luck Is No Accident: Making the Most of Happenstance in Your Life and Career. Atascadero, CA: Impact.
Lakoff, G., & Johnson, M. (1980). Metaphors We Live by. Chicago: University of Chicago.
Lakoff, G., & Johnson, M. (1999). Philosophy in the flesh: The embodied mind and its challenge to western thought. New York: Basic.
Miller, M. J. (1983). The role of happenstance in career choice. The Vocational Guidance Quarterly, 32, 16-20.
Eric Anderson is the Director of Career Development at Capital University in Columbus, Ohio. He began his professional career as an industrial chemist, and then made a transition to college student development. He has over 23 year of experience in career development, and has provided a variety of national conference presentations, including: The future is actually behind us: why chaos and happenstance theories are counterintuitive (2012), Postmodern career development and eclecticism (2006), Spiritual career retreats (2004), and Challenging the rational, structured approach to career development (1995). Eric can be reached at eanderson@capital.edu, and you can find some of his other work at www.capital.edu/careerdevelopment.
15 CommentsLynn M. Levine on Sunday 02/03/2013 at 05:13 PM I enjoyed your comments very much as Dr. Krumboltz' Happenstance Theory has always resonated with me--both in terms of my own professional career counseling practice and my personal journey from college student to classroom teacher to school counselor, all the way to my present 32-year career as a private career and educational counselor. Thank you! Yvonne Raffini on Sunday 02/03/2013 at 08:02 PM The power of 'serendipity' should never be underestimated. Your efforts to clarify this point are appreciated. Darcie Callahan on Monday 02/04/2013 at 10:09 AM Thank you, thank you, thank you! I have often thought that if I wrote a book I would call it "Paths, Waves, and Spirals" because I see so many other patterns than just paths. I like "voyage" very much. When I was younger, an employer looked at my resume and told me I had "an interesting career non-path." I wish then I had thought to say, "That's because it's not a path, it's a voyage!" Ray Davis on Monday 02/04/2013 at 03:27 PM Hi Eric,
Gary Swisher on Monday 02/04/2013 at 05:13 PM Good thoughts Eric. I think this issue might depend somewhat on the students' mindset. Our students actually rely too much on happenstance--i.e.: "I have a major, therefore I will have a career." This is why we use the term, "career GPS" instead of "career path." Jim Bright on Tuesday 02/05/2013 at 03:40 PM Great article Eric! Darcie I like your point about patterns. When you start talking about spirals you are getting close to talking about Fractal patterns - the signature of the Chaos Theory of Careers (Pryor & Bright, 2003 AJCD, 2007 JVB, 2011 Routledge, Bright & Pryor 2005 CDQ etc). Michael McClure on Tuesday 02/05/2013 at 09:16 PM I really enjoyed this article and you've make some excellent points. I particularly like the idea of concurrent voyages of others as they influence our own. I'm "older" and a recent graduate of a career development program in Canada and I also have two teenagers in high school and I still see some rigid metaphors used such as "paths" and "blueprints". I find these equally challenging especially when I look back on my own career that has been tossed and turned on the waves of uncertainty despite all my best efforts to follow a path. My career has been a storm, not a path, and my kids are keenly aware of that fact. If there ever was a path it got washed out long ago. It has been my personal experience that any attempt to control career outcomes is a waste of my resources. Like the ship on the ocean, I can see where I've been with much greater clarity than where I'm going. And in fact looking back provides greater clues as to the direction I'm headed than any new attempt to control that trajectory. So I might not be the best example for my children to follow with regard to what a successful career looks like (whatever that means) but it certainly proves that it is unpredictable and I hope I can provide some insights into how they can better prepare for whatever metaphor best describes their own career "voyage". Timely article - thank you. Lamonte BLades on Thursday 02/07/2013 at 11:08 AM I truly enjoyed youe article on career paths. I do agree with your point of view. I usually have my students to present their career ladder. This empowers them to think upward mobility. Especially those who are down about lays offs or down sizing. The only way to look is up. This voyage will continue to grow and move them up on thier ladder of success. Love your articles. Janice Hastings on Friday 02/08/2013 at 02:20 PM I agree with Ray Davis comments. Ones chosen pathway allows for self-determination and choice at many different junctions in an individual’s journey. Anyone who has hiked the Appalachian (AT) from GA to ME would find many difficult stretches, twists, turns, and seemingly “non path” (decision points) along the way, as in one’s life. With each encounter (choice point), an individual decision is largely determined by the travelers skill level, experience and education etc. hopefully coupled with helpful efforts of able mentors (“hiking’ partners) along the way. Gail Gibson on Friday 03/15/2013 at 08:52 AM I love the use of the word 'voyage' and I use it all the time with coaching clients and within team development and leadership training days. A voyage becomes your own and it's all about the discovery made along the way. Nancy J. Miller on Monday 12/15/2014 at 11:46 AM You really stirred up conversation with your title, Eric. The voyage is a great metaphor for the path since the captain would have a plan or path that is unpredictable. I like both analogies. I like Dick Bolles What, Where, How path going over and above the many challenges job seekers face. I always enjoy a metaphor that involves boating and water. Thanks! Janet Wall on Sunday 01/11/2015 at 06:56 PM Seems to me journey is the right word (as in life is a journey, not a destination). Happenstance gives some people the impression that they can float along and let the environment and outside forces) decide for them. Eric Anderson on Sunday 01/11/2015 at 07:18 PM Thanks for the comments! You might find my February 2014 article (A Practical "Happenstance" or "Voyage" Exercise) interesting and useful. I think it makes sense to embrace both happenstance and control. Jim Bright on Sunday 01/11/2015 at 07:28 PM Eric, Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in the comments shown above are those of the individual comment authors and do not reflect the views or opinions of this organization.
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Mary McCormac on Sunday 02/03/2013 at 04:44 PM
Good point but elementary children get the idea of paths, but I like voyage metaphor too.