3 Developing a career narrative

Everyone has the opportunity to star in their own lives. How much do the stories you tell yourself and others reflect the ways in which you personally shine?

Some individuals create career narratives – stories which give meaning to experiences. Oscar (2015) describes a career narrative as ‘a professional essay outlining both long- and short-term career goals.’ He recommends that it should ‘elaborate on the specific steps that you will need to take to achieve all the goals’ and that ‘narratives must be focused and insightful as they give a clear picture of your future endeavours, as well as your past achievements.’

Alan Price, a lecturer in organisation behaviour, noted that career narratives may help shape what individuals strive for and commit to (Price, 2011). So, having a strong career narrative can potentially have a positive impact on your career resilience.