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Squiggly Career Advocate Awards

Our mission is to make careers better for everyone and we know that we can’t do it alone. In our TEDx talk we ask people to become advocates for Squiggly Careers and now we’re launching a programme to recognise 100 people who are proactively taking action.

We want to shine a spotlight on 100 people making careers better for everyone, to recognise their work and inspire other people too. Our belief is that by raising awareness of the different ways people are advocating for squiggly careers we can accelerate the adoption of an approach to career development that helps everyone to succeed.

What makes a Squiggly Career Advocate?

Someone who helps others to succeed in their own unique way. You might be a manager who helps someone explore their possibilities, a mentor who gives someone the confidence to use their talents in new ways or a person who selflessly shares what they know so that others can learn and grow.

5 ways to be an advocate

1

Avoid Ladder-like Language.

Our words matter. When we only talk about career plans, promotions and ‘stepping-up’ we’re reinforcing the legacy of the ladder. When we start talking about possibilities, progressions and career moves we introduce more options and the freedom to develop in different directions.

2

Focus on talents not titles.

Titles might be a source of status, but they are not a sign of someone’s strengths. When we talk about talents, we tap into what people are good at, where they can add value and how they stand out. Be confident in your talents and be curious about other people’s too.

3

Help people to learn without limits.

In squiggly careers, no one has a monopoly on wisdom. Everyone is a learner and everyone is a teacher. You can help others to succeed by sharing your knowledge and bringing people together to learn from each other without levels or titles getting in the way.

4

Put progression before promotion.

Promotion is only one way of developing in a squiggly career. Starting with progression as your priority opens up many more opportunities for growth. You can unlock more value from your employer and more options in your career when you focus on progression first and don’t get fixed on promotion being the only answer.

5

Role model the squiggle.

People struggle to be what they cannot see. The more people share their squiggly career, the more people realise there isn’t a single version of success. Talk about your career with other people. The highs, the lows, the successes and the failures. Help them to learn through you and inspire them to design a career as individual as they are.

How will we recognise and support our Squiggly Career Advocates?

  • A 12-month learning programme with Helen Tupper and Sarah Ellis, including 6 x 90 minute live virtual learning sessions covering progression, purpose and personal brand.
  • All learning sessions recorded for ongoing use by the Squiggly Career Advocates.
  • A virtual community of 100 advocates to connect with and learn from, hosted at www.amazingiflearning.com
  • A signed and limited-edition Squiggly Career Advocate print designed by Andrew Hudson
  • Spotlight award winners also receive 1 x 60 minute coaching session with Helen or Sarah

How to enter the awards

Click here to nominate yourself*
*or someone else!
  • Tell us about how you have been a Squiggly Career advocate in the last 12 months
  • Entries open on March 8th and close on March 31st
  • Awards judged by Helen Tupper and Sarah Ellis
  • 100 Squiggly Career Advocates will be announced April 26th
    • Everyone being a learner and a teacher (judged by Andrea Pattico, Chief People Officer, MVF)
    • Prioritising talents over titles (judged by Liam Kelly, NED, Business & Technology Adviser, Cloud Computing)
    • Helping people explore career possibilities (judged by Rosie Brown, CEO, Cook)
    • Andrea Pattico Liam Kelley Rosie Brown

Our Skills Sprint is designed to create lots more momentum for your learning, making it easier to learn a little every day.

Sign up for the Skills Sprint and receive an email every weekday for 20-days, a free guide to get you started, recommended resources, and a tracker to log your learning.