The Hero’s Journey: A new model for protean career change

Abstract

The protean career is a values-driven and self-directed career where individuals seek greater independence in their work. Despite its increasing prevalence, the ways in which a protean career might develop over time outside of a traditional organisational setting is under-researched. This article draws from a dissertation research project exploring how nine protean career-changers narratively construct and understand their protean career path outside of the organisational setting. A new model of protean career change is proposed; it suggests that protean career change can be understood based on a narrative template known as the Hero’s Journey. This model can be utilised by career practitioners and researchers to understand, facilitate, and optimise protean career change.