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Book Review
Understanding Careers: The Metaphors of Working Lives
Kerr Inkson
ISBN: 0-761929-50-9 2006 280 pages Sage, Thousand Oaks
Leisa Sargent
Department of Management and Marketing, University of Melbourne, Parkville VIC
In Understanding Careers the metaphors of working lives, Professor Kerr Inkson from the University of Otago, New Zealand assembles a very satisfying book on careers by employing nine archetypal metaphors; they are, careers as - inheritance, cycles, action, fit, journeys, roles, relationships, resources and stories. The book is very readable and consists of 12 chapters. The first chapter outlines the use of metaphors in careers, each metaphor receives a chapter and the final two chapters cover the practice of careers and the use of metaphor in career counselling. This last chapter is authored by Mary MacMohan, a Lecturer in Education at the University of Queensland. Each chapter introduces a metaphor through an illustrative case and then integrates the relevant theoretical frameworks to aid the readers understanding of the metaphor. Each chapter concludes with key take away points and useful questions to further explore the main themes. The book excels in drawing upon a range of concepts from different disciplines (sociology, psychology, education, organisational behaviour and human resources) to enhance the readers understanding of careers.
I have used Inkson’s book in conjunction with a mainstream US Careers textbook with my third year Business undergraduates and provided an appealing way to assess the different qualities of each text. I use this comparison and my reflections on the zeitgeist in the careers domain to recommend ways to further develop three chapters. First, in the chapter on Careers as Relationships the section on social networks and related theoretical frameworks needs to be expanded upon. I was a little taken aback that Seibert and Kraimer’s 2001 Academy of Management Journal piece on social networks and career consequences was not cited nor was any of Burt’s works. Second, I would also encourage the incorporation of proactive personality research into the Careers as Action chapter. This work has gained traction in the careers field and appears relevant to a broad range of occupations as well as the shift to a more agentic view of careers. Finally, the chapter on Careers as Cycles does a good job of outlining the stage models and some of the important differences between men and women’s careers, following on from this I think the inclusion of the Kaleidoscope model by Mainiero and Sullivan would boost this chapter. This model accounts for the shifting patterns of women’s careers based on three parameters authenticity, balance and challenge. This model resonated with my students and the career stories they examined (admittedly this model may not have been published at the time the text went to the printers.)
On a more general note, I put forward three other issues in the careers domain that need greater attention in Inkson’s text (as well as other careers texts) - unemployment, underemployment and entrepreneurial careers. These are major challenges at both national and international arenas and are worthy of fuller examination. For example, in the Australian context, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics the levels of underemployment are higher than our unemployment levels (though this may not be unexpected given how unemployment is measured by the ABS, a change instigated by the Howard government). The research evidence suggests that underemployment can have similar health consequences as for those who are unemployed. Thus almost 10 percent of the Australian working population is either unemployed or underemployed. This is cause for concern in terms of financial implications as well as quality of life and career continuity effects. My comment about entrepreneurial careers probably extends to many careers texts that focus on the organisationally based career. Within my class over a third intended on pursuing an entrepreneurial career, not an insignificant number. Indeed the majority of Australian businesses are small, with the largest employers being Government and related agencies. These observations need to be qualified as they are based on the practice of careers in Australia and may not necessarily generalise to other countries.
Understanding Careers is primarily targeted to an undergraduate student audience, though I imagine it is valuable for graduate courses as well. I have used Inkson’s metaphors when teaching and while the tone of the book is academic it is very accessible and the numerous examples and cases (55!) enhance its readability. I used case method for my major assignment and required students to use Inkson’s metaphors as an analytical framework. This was very well received by the students and by and large well executed. Some metaphors had greater meaning for the students and were more easily understood and applied than others. I also used the complex career of Bridget in Chapter 11 (p. 249) as a case analysis question in the final exam. For those assigning the book as a text I understand you can also access the instructor’s manual on CD and includes power point slides, class activities and case answers - a valuable pedagogical tool. In sum, Inkson’s book is a refreshing, distinctive and very welcomed addition to the Careers textbook market.
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