(This is an updated version of this LinkedIn post)
I’ve worked as a freelance content writer for about three years now, and I think I’m going to quit.
Well, not quit, exactly, but shift. To what, you ask? Great question, I don’t know.
But a shift feels imminent. It may be shifting to a different type of writing, onboarding new clients (hi, hello, let’s talk if you’re interested in working together), or something non-writing. I’ve been flirting with the idea of taking on a part-time job in a different field or starting a side hustle to occupy some of my time. I’m also open to full-time opportunities that excite and inspire me.
I’m not really sure what this shift will be, but I feel it coming. I’ve been struggling with self-motivation over the last few months and know a change of routine can be helpful. I am getting itchy feet, work-wise, and sense that change is a’coming.
If this sounds a little chaotic and all over the place, I assure you it is.
Chaotic is the identity of my career path. Most of my jobs have been new and unexpected, not following a “logical” path.
Since I started working when I was 15, I have held such a wide variety of jobs. I have been a sandwich artist (my real title at Quiznos), Starbucks barista, babysitter, customer service representative at Sears, camp counselor, intern with the Vancouver Canucks, assistant in a federal government office, higher education professional at Douglas College and SFU, daycare manager, bookkeeper, a communications associate at my church, a walking tour guide (for a month lol) and now, a freelance writer.
How did that happen?
Like many people, I naively thought that my life would follow a step A > B > C pattern—high school, university, career. Boom. Done. Well, it didn’t turn out quite that way.
As I reflected on my career path so far, I remembered hearing about an interesting career framework, the Chaos Theory of Careers (CTC), developed by Robert Pryor and Jim Bright (2007 article, 2011 book, updated 2014 article).
I learned about it briefly while working at Simon Fraser University, as it was incorporated into some of the career advising work done with students.
While I am not a career counselor or professional, researching the CTC and understanding some of the key elements of it has helped me better understand my own career path and I think it could also be useful for other people.
So, let’s look at it a bit deeper.
What is the Chaos Theory of Careers?
The CTC can be summed up like this: there are things you can control in life, and there are things that you can’t; both will direct and impact your career.
It recognizes that change is part of life and that there will always be uncertainty. It also encourages people to embrace that uncertainty and to make decisions, even with limited information, to continue moving forward.
There are things within our control:
- Learning more about ourselves
- Setting goals
- Understanding the job market
- Gaining skills and education.
We should focus on these things.
Then, there are things beyond our control:
- Economic conditions
- The job market
- How we were raised with certain values and culture.
These things will create uncertainty. Life is uncertain. The CTC teaches you to build resilience and lean into that uncertainty by accepting change, learning from mistakes, taking planned risks, and welcoming new experiences.
Why is the CTC a Useful Framework?
The CTC was developed for career counselors to help their clients but can be useful when applied personally as well. It is a useful framework because it recognizes people for who they are and it recognizes the current job market for what it is.
The CTC recognizes that people are complex and dynamic, with so many factors impacting who we are and the decisions we make.
Additionally, the reality of our modern work is also very complex. The CTC was developed at the turn of the millennium, 20 years ago, and recognized challenges and changes in 21st-century work: rapid communication, increased contract work, rapid technological innovation, and the reshaping of organizations.
If that was true of work in the early 2000s, how much more true is it today?
In 2024 we have all those things, plus the rise of social media, new technologies, political and social movements, a pandemic that re-organized the workforce… Work is uncertain. Life is uncertain.
The CTC does a good job of addressing people as complex individuals who live in a complex world—it deals with the reality of life.
Some Life Lessons from the CTC
These are a few of my personal takeaways from researching the CTC and reflecting on my career path:
- It is not a “failure” to have a non-linear career path. In fact, it’s the more likely scenario! I always felt like I missed something when I didn’t walk away from University without a direct career path. But, the CTC highlights that both people and the work environment are complex, so it makes sense to bounce around between different things based on uncertainty.
- Understanding that uncertainty is certain can help you prepare for it. You can learn to embrace it, focus on what is within your control, and learn from mistakes.
- Networking is important. Getting to know people and expanding our networks will open up more opportunities. Since change and uncertainty are a given, you want to open as many doors as possible to help navigate a path forward.
- Personal growth comes from trying new things. Having a non-linear path where you explore and follow passions and interests will develop you into a well-rounded person.
I look back on the 15+ years since my first job and see a lot of change, a lot of pivoting. I used to wonder why—other people seemed to be able to settle into a job and find something they liked. But, then again, there are so many people like me, switching paths and trying something new.
The CTC helped me understand why this happened, and it’s actually quite simple: both people and this world are complex. Uncertainty is certain. Life throws you curveballs. So, naturally, our career paths will become a non-linear puzzle of small decisions and changes making a big impact.
Once we understand this, we can start to embrace and love that uncertainty. We can focus on what is truly in our control and learn to release the rest.
A career path that looks more like a pile of spaghetti rather than a straight line is okay. Follow your interests, pursue things you love, learn new skills, and count it all towards personal growth and development. The career part will follow.
So, I’m going to keep taking steps forward and prioritize learning about myself, my interests, my skills. I’m going to pursue opportunities and connect with people. I’m going to make the best decisions I can with the information I have.
I’m excited about this chaotic little career path of mine.
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