What will I learn about: why the traditional corporate ladder has been replaced by the 'squiggly' career, and learn to navigate this volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous work environment?

Understand why the traditional corporate ladder has been replaced by the 'squiggly' career, and learn to navigate this volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous work environment.

What will I learn about: how to transform your everyday skills into 'superstrengths' through a targeted four-step process that maximizes your natural talents and personal happiness?

Discover how to transform your everyday skills into 'superstrengths' through a targeted four-step process that maximizes your natural talents and personal happiness.

What will I learn about: identify and prioritize your core values to create a personal career GPS that guides your decisions and brings authenticity to your work?

Learn how to identify and prioritize your core values to create a personal career GPS that guides your decisions and brings authenticity to your work.

What will I learn about: techniques to overcome your 'confidence gremlins' by challenging negative assumptions and tracking your daily successes to build lasting self-belief?

Master techniques to overcome your 'confidence gremlins' by challenging negative assumptions and tracking your daily successes to build lasting self-belief.

What will I learn about: how to build a powerful professional network without awkward small talk by focusing on mutual assistance and clearly communicating your interests to others?

Find out how to build a powerful professional network without awkward small talk by focusing on mutual assistance and clearly communicating your interests to others.

The Squiggly Career

Ditch the Ladder, Embrace Opportunity and Carve Your Own Path Through the Squiggly World of Work

Helen Tupper and Sarah Ellis

★ 4.4 / 5(259 ratings)

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Categories:

Career & Success

If You're Curious About These Questions...

You should listen to this audiobook

💡Did you know that the traditional career ladder is dead, and that learning to navigate a 'squiggly' path could be the secret to long-term professional success?
💡What if the most effective way to grow your network wasn't by asking for favors, but by focusing on how you can help others first?
💡Are you curious about how identifying your core values can help you regain control over your career and turn every transition into a new opportunity?

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Key Takeaways from The Squiggly Career

✓Understand why the traditional corporate ladder has been replaced by the 'squiggly' career, and learn to navigate this volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous work environment.
✓Discover how to transform your everyday skills into 'superstrengths' through a targeted four-step process that maximizes your natural talents and personal happiness.
✓Learn how to identify and prioritize your core values to create a personal career GPS that guides your decisions and brings authenticity to your work.
✓Master techniques to overcome your 'confidence gremlins' by challenging negative assumptions and tracking your daily successes to build lasting self-belief.
✓Find out how to build a powerful professional network without awkward small talk by focusing on mutual assistance and clearly communicating your interests to others.

Learning Tools

Reinforce what you learned from The Squiggly Career

Mind Map

The Squiggly Career

The Shift to Squiggly Careers+

Self-Discovery & Foundation+

Building Career Resilience+

Connections & Growth+

Navigating Job Transitions+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 10

Why is job-hopping increasingly viewed as a positive trait by hiring managers in the modern professional world?

A. It shows the applicant is highly specialized in a single corporate structure.
B. It indicates adaptability, open-mindedness, and an unwillingness to settle.
C. It proves the applicant is solely motivated by continuous salary increases.
D. It demonstrates a preference for working independently rather than in a team.

Question 2 of 10

How do the authors recommend allocating your time between your strengths and your weaknesses?

A. Spend 50% of your time on strengths and 50% on weaknesses.
B. Spend 100% of your time on strengths and ignore weaknesses entirely.
C. Spend 80% of your time enhancing strengths and 20% tackling weaknesses.
D. Spend 20% of your time on strengths and 80% improving weaknesses.

Question 3 of 10

What is the authors' perspective on personal weaknesses?

A. They should be completely eliminated before seeking a leadership role.
B. They are permanent flaws that dictate which industries you should avoid.
C. They should be kept secret so colleagues only focus on your 'super strengths.'
D. They often contain an opposing strength, such as a lack of detail-orientation indicating big-picture visionary thinking.

Question 4 of 10

During which phase of value cultivation do individuals primarily iron out the friction between their past beliefs and what they currently think is right?

A. The imprint phase
B. The copy-cat phase
C. The modeling phase
D. The rebel phase

Question 5 of 10

In a 'support solar system,' what is the specific role of the person who 'asks the hard questions'?

A. To appreciate the daily obstacles and emotional hurdles you face.
B. To challenge and motivate you.
C. To provide hindsight and wisdom from their own past experiences.
D. To offer unconditional praise regardless of your performance.

Question 6 of 10

According to the book, what is the most effective approach to building a professional network?

A. Focus on speed networking to maximize the sheer quantity of your connections.
B. Treat your network like a cobweb, catching as many passive contacts as possible.
C. Center your network around what you want to learn and make specific requests.
D. Connect primarily with people who share your exact background to avoid professional conflict.

Question 7 of 10

When exploring future career possibilities, how do the authors define a 'pivot possibility'?

A. The next logical, predictable step from your current position.
B. A new position that uses your existing skill set and super strengths in a fresh way.
C. A role that requires overcoming a major hurdle, like a lack of education or experience.
D. The ultimate job you would choose to do if absolutely nothing held you back.

Question 8 of 10

What specific technique do the authors recommend for giving constructive feedback to colleagues?

A. The 'compliment sandwich' technique
B. The 'what went well / even better if' technique
C. The 'strengths vs. weaknesses' assessment
D. The 'radical candor' approach

Question 9 of 10

The authors argue that 'grit' is a better gauge of success than natural talent. Which of the following is NOT one of the four main ways mentioned to cultivate grit?

A. Recognizing and exploring what fascinates you.
B. Using deliberate practice every day to advance your skills.
C. Avoiding tasks that do not align with your innate talents.
D. Identifying a greater purpose for your goals.

Question 10 of 10

According to the study by Kahneman and Deaton mentioned in the text, at approximately what point does salary stop influencing a person's level of well-being?

A. $50,000
B. $75,000
C. $100,000
D. $150,000

The Squiggly Career — Full Chapter Overview

1Recommendation
2Compared with previous generations, we have more freedom to shape how our careers unfold today.
3Identify your strengths, and devote your energy to developing what you already excel at.
4Acknowledge and weave your values into your everyday work.
5Confidence can be developed, and strengthened, through practice.
6Networking is an exchange of help, and offering support to others can build valuable, lasting relationships.
7Focus on exploring future possibilities instead of strictly following linear plans.
8Curiosity, feedback, and grit are increasingly valued workplace skills.
9Objectively reviewing your job options will help guide you toward the best path.

The Squiggly Career Summary & Overview

The Squiggly Career (2020) covers research and tips on how to best navigate a career full of frequent transitions and modern-day challenges. If we learn to identify our own strengths, values, goals, and motivations, we can apply them more often at work – and notice when they’re being neglected. The authors reveal how to network by helping others, the merits of starting a side project, and how to make the most of the newfound control we have over our careers.

Who Should Listen to The Squiggly Career?

Job-hoppers looking for direction
College grads wondering what the next step is
Anyone seeking insight into the new job market

About the Author: Helen Tupper and Sarah Ellis

Helen Tupper is the cofounder and CEO of the award-winning career development company Amazing If. She previously worked at Microsoft, Virgin, and BP. The Squiggly Career is her first book.

Prior to becoming the cofounder and Chief Learning Officer of Amazing If, Sarah Ellis managed marketing and corporate responsibility teams at Barclay’s and Sainsbury’s. The Squiggly Career is also her first book.

The Squiggly Career

If You're Curious About These Questions...

Listen to The Squiggly Career — Free Audiobook

Key Takeaways from The Squiggly Career

Learning Tools

Mind Map

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

The Squiggly Career — Full Chapter Overview

The Squiggly Career Summary & Overview

Who Should Listen to The Squiggly Career?

About the Author: Helen Tupper and Sarah Ellis

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