A travel metaphor for making sense of change
Career paths often appear linear on paper — a list of roles, responsibilities, and timelines. But in practice, few working lives unfold that way.
Most of us experience unexpected turns, pauses, or redirections. These shifts might be prompted by external changes — like industry shifts or organisational restructures — or personal circumstances such as relocation, caregiving, or simply a change in what matters most.
At the time, these moments can feel disruptive. But they are often part of a broader career story worth understanding.
One helpful way to think about these transitions is through the metaphor of travel.
Just as a physical journey might be interrupted by roadworks, traffic, or a delayed flight, our careers are shaped by both:
the decisions we make intentionally, and
the circumstances we navigate along the way.
In career development, this perspective is supported by Life Course Theory — a framework that recognises our careers are influenced not just by personal agency, but by social and economic factors that interact over time.
In other words, our working lives are both personal and contextual. Our choices are shaped by what’s possible at a given time, and the resources, responsibilities, and opportunities available to us.
If your path has included detours, gaps, or redirections, you’re not off-track. You’re travelling a road shaped by real-life complexity.
In fact, these nonlinear paths often bring unexpected strengths:
Broader experience
Renewed perspective
A stronger sense of priorities
Resilience and adaptability.
Sometimes, the long way round helps you arrive better prepared for what’s next.
If you’re reflecting on your career path — or considering a transition — it might help to ask:
What parts of my journey have shaped who I am professionally?
And what possibilities might lie ahead, given where I’ve been?
Every path is unique. And even the detours can hold value.
References
McMahon, M., & Patton, W. (Eds.). (2015). Career theories and models at work: Ideas for practice (2nd ed.). Australian Academic Press.
McMahon, M., & Patton, W. (2015). Life course theory. In M. McMahon & W. Patton (Eds.), Career theories and models at work: Ideas for practice (2nd ed., pp. 1–13). Australian Academic Press.
