Ditching The Corporate Ladder For A Squiggly Career in Tech

A squiggly career is, for many people, a better choice than the traditional corporate ladder, and tech is the ideal space to squiggle. In this week's blog, I explain why in the context of my own career.

Stemettes have asked me to contribute a short article to their fantastic Zine. I’m happy to help, and a generous brief gives me plenty of wiggle room to pick an interesting and informative focus for the piece. I'm considering writing about squiggly careers, but because I only have a few hundred words to play with, I thought I'd also write a longer blog here with a specific focus on technology. Voila…

What’s a squiggly career?

First, we’ve got some jargon to deal with. Put simply, a squiggly career is one that doesn’t involve climbing the traditional corporate ladder, role by role, into greater responsibility and higher pay. Rather, it entails moving sideways between roles generally considered to be similar in responsibility and pay. Squiggly careers require a unique mindset, with learning and development viewed in a more malleable way.?

The term was coined by Helen Tupper and Sarah Ellis, co-founders of Amazing If and co-authors of The Squiggly Career, a 2020 book in which the pair explain that frequent and fluid movement between roles, industries, locations, and even careers is becoming the new normal.?

Of course, it’s possible to craft a squiggly career in most sectors and industries, but sideways moves can be especially beneficial to those in tech. Why? Because the sector will always be in flux, meaning it has constant change in common with the squiggly career. When a person’s environment is dynamic, doesn’t it make sense that their approach to learning and development is also adaptable??Absolutely, and I can attest to this.

My own mini squiggle?

I’m a ‘mini squiggler’ myself, having changed role, direction and location — if not employer — several times over the last 20+ years.?

I originally studied Environmental Science, which, although a STEM subject, featured way too many lab coats and wellies for my liking. After graduating, I decided not to join a graduate scheme and instead followed my childhood hobby — playing around with technology, just like my father — starting off at EY as an IT Trainer. As my LinkedIn shows, I then moved around the firm in a non-linear way. In broad strokes, I first shifted into technical coding and business analysis roles before moving on to manage business change in a couple of different positions. I then led tech and innovation for an organisation of EY, which brought me to my current role heading up our first UK Neuro-Diverse Centre of Excellence.?

Enjoying the freedom of a squiggly career, I’ve been exploring my options, trying on different roles and countries for size, and throwing myself into fresh challenges one after another.?

My latest, leading our UK NCoEs is the perfect illustration. Furthering EY’s wider commitment to neurodiversity, the role sees me working alongside a new team of technologists with neuro-cognitive differences like autism, dyslexia and ADHD, as well as unique talents in data and innovation, who identify as requiring additional support at work. Our dual aim is driving greater workplace diversity, equity and inclusion while helping our clients’ solve their greatest business challenges and accelerate their tech transformation plans. I love the role, making a difference, as well as all the learning opportunities it offers, but as I have quite a few years left in work, maybe I’ll move again, on to another tech role, where I’ll hopefully find new challenges and develop even further.?

I'm in good company

Tania Martin is also a bit of a squiggler. In a recent LinkedIn post, our NCoE People & Operations Lead wrote about finding herself in Canary Wharf that morning, transporting her back almost two decades to an early career in sales MI. This led Tania to reflect on her journey from there to here, which has been all about “seeking out new experiences, trying new things, a desire to learn, not being afraid to fail, probably an inability to say no, and a lot of hard work”. The following day, Tania would talk to our current technologists about promotion and progression at EY. “Whilst I can present possible pathways, everyone’s will ultimately be different”, she wrote. “That’s the beauty of a career pathway - just like my own squiggly career - it’s a person’s to own and shape”. Couldn't have said it better myself.?

Tech as the perfect space to squiggle?

Like Tania, starting afresh doesn’t faze me, and that’s partially down to tech being the ideal space to make big changes. The sector’s dynamic nature means people are unsurprised by its revolving door and are used to dishing out regular guidance and support to those less experienced than them. Perhaps it’s just an EY thing, but I have always found tech to be an encouraging environment in which to learn.?

On top of the support and guidance that I'm certain will always be there in a new role, I’ve long been confident knowing I can bring useful transferable skills and insight between different areas of the business — cross-department or cross-industry experience is much more valuable than many appreciate.?

Wherever I work, I’ll be armed with knowledge that I may never have gained without leading our UK NCoEs. For instance, employment practices created for the neurodivergent community can benefit everyone, in the same way that everyone wins when tech is designed with accessibility in mind. And constant adaptation is essential for progress — if my team and I hadn’t understood that we must continually learn from and adapt to the needs of the specific community we’re trying to attract, then we’d be getting nowhere.?

Squiggling for more women in tech?

Part of the reason I was so eager to say yes to the Stemettes contribution request was the hope of acting as a role model to others, especially women and girls, who may not realise that squiggly is an option. If I can show even just one person that they can become a technologist without a tech-related degree and without entering the workplace through a graduate scheme, but with the right mindset and motivation, brilliant.?

In December, our Client Technology & Innovation Officer Catriona Campbell will be speaking at WeAreTechWomen’s Level Up Summit 2022, proudly sponsored by EY. She’ll join a number of other thought leaders, including Stemettes’ founder and Countdown maths whizz Anne-Marie Imafidon, to share sustainable solutions for the issue of poor female representation in tech (just 17% of tech workers in the UK are women). Also speaking at the event will be Helen Tupper. She may well make a case for the promotion of squiggly careers as a key way to encourage more women into tech — or even to remain in the sector (20% of women are thinking about leaving).?

Whether or not you’re planning to attend the Level Up Summit, pick up a copy of The Squiggly Career. Packed with thought-provoking exercises and insights from successful people who shunned the predictable, staircase-like corporate ladder for a more contemporary approach to work, it’s a great resource for anyone who wants to do the same. The Squiggly Careers Podcast is also worth checking out too.?

The views expressed in this blog represent my personal opinions and do not necessarily represent the position of EY.