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Snakes and ladders Snakes and ladders
(about 4 hours later)
Is a career a step-by-step journey or just a wait for the big break, asks Laurie Taylor in his weekly column for the Magazine.Is a career a step-by-step journey or just a wait for the big break, asks Laurie Taylor in his weekly column for the Magazine.
Is life a ladder? (pic by Picture Nation)Is life a ladder? (pic by Picture Nation)
I don't think I could have been much more than 10 years old when my father first started to tell me about the importance of ladders.I don't think I could have been much more than 10 years old when my father first started to tell me about the importance of ladders.
Life, he told me, as he examined my latest school report, was a succession of ladders. And the only way for me to succeed was to place my foot on the first rung of one of these ladders so that I could safely advance to the next step.Life, he told me, as he examined my latest school report, was a succession of ladders. And the only way for me to succeed was to place my foot on the first rung of one of these ladders so that I could safely advance to the next step.
"Get your foot on the ladder, Laurence," was as familiar a household mantra as my mother's demand for hands to be washed before eating."Get your foot on the ladder, Laurence," was as familiar a household mantra as my mother's demand for hands to be washed before eating.
It was, I'm sure, my father's devotion to the climbing metaphor of personal advancement which made Snakes and Ladders the only game regularly played in our house.It was, I'm sure, my father's devotion to the climbing metaphor of personal advancement which made Snakes and Ladders the only game regularly played in our house.
Night after night I'd sit and rattle the dice in the hope that this time my counter would land at the bottom of the giant ladder which leaped diagonally from near the bottom of the board to three squares from the winning post.Night after night I'd sit and rattle the dice in the hope that this time my counter would land at the bottom of the giant ladder which leaped diagonally from near the bottom of the board to three squares from the winning post.
Night after night the dice would ordain that my counter only reached a half-way point on the board before landing on the mouth of a snake which then slithered me back down to my starting point.Night after night the dice would ordain that my counter only reached a half-way point on the board before landing on the mouth of a snake which then slithered me back down to my starting point.
My father was predictably pleased with my O levels. They were certainly one or even two steps up the long educational ladder which culminated in a first-class degree at a major university.My father was predictably pleased with my O levels. They were certainly one or even two steps up the long educational ladder which culminated in a first-class degree at a major university.
FIND OUT MORE Hear Laurie Taylor's Thinking Allowed on Radio 4 at 1600 on Wednesdays or 0030 on MondaysOr download the podcast hereFIND OUT MORE Hear Laurie Taylor's Thinking Allowed on Radio 4 at 1600 on Wednesdays or 0030 on MondaysOr download the podcast here
And, of course, once I'd topped that ladder I could then get my foot on the vocational ladder and begin another slow upward clamber.And, of course, once I'd topped that ladder I could then get my foot on the vocational ladder and begin another slow upward clamber.
But matters didn't work out as my father hoped. To put it bluntly, instead of relentlessly ascending the education ladder I trod on a snake.But matters didn't work out as my father hoped. To put it bluntly, instead of relentlessly ascending the education ladder I trod on a snake.
I gained such poor A levels that my school suggested that I leave immediately and take advantage of the local employment opportunities in a Mail Order warehouse.I gained such poor A levels that my school suggested that I leave immediately and take advantage of the local employment opportunities in a Mail Order warehouse.
My father was distraught. The only ladders in warehouses were functional ones. There was no opportunity for advancement. Warehouse workers were warehouse workers. In my father's phrases, they were "stuck in a groove" and "going nowhere".My father was distraught. The only ladders in warehouses were functional ones. There was no opportunity for advancement. Warehouse workers were warehouse workers. In my father's phrases, they were "stuck in a groove" and "going nowhere".
This prodded him into a relentless search for a new career upon which I might embark, a new ladder that I might climb. He was particularly taken by the prospect of a career in Customs and Excise.This prodded him into a relentless search for a new career upon which I might embark, a new ladder that I might climb. He was particularly taken by the prospect of a career in Customs and Excise.
I was unable to embark on a career because I was temperamentally artisticI was unable to embark on a career because I was temperamentally artistic
At that time there seemed to be a national shortage of Customs and Excise officers and correspondence colleges regularly advertised courses which would lead to the necessary first qualification.At that time there seemed to be a national shortage of Customs and Excise officers and correspondence colleges regularly advertised courses which would lead to the necessary first qualification.
Father showed me brochures with pictures of the different levels which could be attained by Customs and Excise officers. "Get your foot on the ladder and you could end up here," he'd say, pointing at a picture of a Senior Excise officer gingerly opening a large suitcase.Father showed me brochures with pictures of the different levels which could be attained by Customs and Excise officers. "Get your foot on the ladder and you could end up here," he'd say, pointing at a picture of a Senior Excise officer gingerly opening a large suitcase.
When I promptly staggered to a halt on this career path by failing my first examination, he began, at last, to regard me as someone constitutionally unsuited to ladder work.When I promptly staggered to a halt on this career path by failing my first examination, he began, at last, to regard me as someone constitutionally unsuited to ladder work.
He began, unwillingly, to accept my mother's romantic notion that I was unable to embark on a career because I was temperamentally artistic.He began, unwillingly, to accept my mother's romantic notion that I was unable to embark on a career because I was temperamentally artistic.
As my father was repeatedly told over late night cocoa and Black Magic, poets and novelists didn't have step-by-step careers. They simply burst upon the world.As my father was repeatedly told over late night cocoa and Black Magic, poets and novelists didn't have step-by-step careers. They simply burst upon the world.
Making contactsMaking contacts
I often thought of my father's obsession with career when I spoke to some of the students I supervised at York University. What did they want to do after they graduated? Very few had any idea. Almost none of them used the word "career" or "advancement". Nobody at all mentioned feet, steps or ladders.I often thought of my father's obsession with career when I spoke to some of the students I supervised at York University. What did they want to do after they graduated? Very few had any idea. Almost none of them used the word "career" or "advancement". Nobody at all mentioned feet, steps or ladders.
But they had a good excuse for their uncertain take on the future. They'd attended many sociology lectures about how work was now a far more precarious enterprise than it had been in the past.But they had a good excuse for their uncertain take on the future. They'd attended many sociology lectures about how work was now a far more precarious enterprise than it had been in the past.
Jobs are more insecure nowJobs are more insecure now
They'd learned that they could no longer expect anything resembling a career, that work was now typically casual and insecure, that new technology and the mobility of capital made for a world in which jobs could be shifted around in less time than it took to say "globalisation".They'd learned that they could no longer expect anything resembling a career, that work was now typically casual and insecure, that new technology and the mobility of capital made for a world in which jobs could be shifted around in less time than it took to say "globalisation".
One didn't now move step-by-step up the long ladder of advancement. One hung around, made contacts, and hoped for the best.One didn't now move step-by-step up the long ladder of advancement. One hung around, made contacts, and hoped for the best.
That model of contemporary work had become almost a cliché. It's one which we've even rehearsed several times on Thinking Allowed.That model of contemporary work had become almost a cliché. It's one which we've even rehearsed several times on Thinking Allowed.
But suppose it's wrong. Suppose that work has not changed so dramatically. That's what a well-researched new book called New Capitalism claims.But suppose it's wrong. Suppose that work has not changed so dramatically. That's what a well-researched new book called New Capitalism claims.
Suppose the author Kevin Doogan is right and jobs are much more secure and long lasting than we've been led to believe.Suppose the author Kevin Doogan is right and jobs are much more secure and long lasting than we've been led to believe.
Suppose that the world of work has not changed all that much since my dad first tried to put my feet on a career ladder. It's too late to let him know. He's already climbed his last three steps.Suppose that the world of work has not changed all that much since my dad first tried to put my feet on a career ladder. It's too late to let him know. He's already climbed his last three steps.
Add your comments on this story, using the form below.Add your comments on this story, using the form below.
This certainly struck a chord. I too was "temperamentally artistic". My careers adviser at school tried to disabuse me of artistic pretensions by saying that no-one ever made any money from art, and that he had a good job available as a welder in Walsall. My mother, who'd attended the "careers" interview with me, leapt to her feet, and in her best Lady Bracknell voice, thundered: "No son of mine is going to be a welder in Walsall", swiped him round the upper body with her handbag, and marched me home.
I duly went to art school, eventually got a degree, and have spent my life bumming around with very little money, just as my careers adviser predicted. We were taught at school that it was more important to get a degree, and to do what we really wanted in life, and to look down on those trades that didn't require university degrees... but who's laughing now? Maybe I should have taken that welder's job: I'd certainly be richer now. Yes, I've enjoyed my life so far, and have few regrets, but at what price? I don't have half the material goods, the car, the large house, the big flat screen TV etc etc that every electrician/plumber/builder seems to have...Rob, London, UK
I think the whole process is a great deal more complex than anyone who uses these stock phrases would understand. It's certainly more about achievements and chances, rather than sustained effort that climbing would suggest. I've not much of an idea either, but over analysis is never going to lead to creativity or success. From my experience those that consistently add value and don't fear change generally do better than those who relish "training" and "career paths".Reef, Liverpool
The ambition motive is bound to culminate in failure for all but one person - and he's then more engaged in defeating upstarts than doing a good job. This then leads to the root cause of the problems we currently face, false values. People should be encouraged to find what they're good at and then do it. And that also means that we must stop paying those who answer that question "I'm good at being the King of the Castle" any more than the people who make the castle work in the first place. In other words, blow the top off the Goodwin/bad loss culture. Listen to the lessons of Herzberg and Maslow, and stop being greedy above all else.Rahere, Brussels
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