Kazantseva E.V., Borodovskaya Yu.V. Metaphors of a modern career: theoretical approaches and practical application possibilities

Based on foreign literature, the article examines the possibilities of using metaphor as a cognitive method in the space of a modern career. The evolution of metaphor as a method of cognition is analyzed and justified, its relevance in working with changeable and unstable biosystems is revealed. 

Special attention is paid to the description of classical and modern foreign studies of career metaphors. The main classifications of career metaphors (El-Sawad, Amudson, and Inkson), as well as separate concepts of the metaphor of "play" and the theory of WCM – "Weather as a Career Metaphor" are presented. The conclusion is made about the possibility of activation and development of individual psychological mechanisms ("increased stability and interest in encountering difficulties", "the effect of the abolition of omnipotence", "readiness for the unexpected") based on work with different career metaphors. The characteristic of the specifics of using a career metaphor in career guidance and client counseling on professional career issues is given. A structural model of working with a client through a metaphor in career counseling and a consultant's behavior strategy is described. 

A special place in the study is occupied by the issue of the production of metaphors and their appropriation. Two approaches are highlighted: individual production of career metaphors and an organizational approach to adopting the basic metaphor of "human resources". Based on the studied literature, it is concluded that it is necessary to study existing and develop new training programs, including work on the development of metaphorical thinking and increasing awareness of personal career prospects. Another strategy is related to the organizational task of appropriating the metaphor of "human resources" and building an organization-employee relationship based on it. The authors conclude that it is necessary to study career metaphors in a domestic sample.

Key words: career metaphor, variability of biosocial systems, WCM concept, metaphor of the game, human resources, readiness for the unexpected

For citation: Kazantseva, E.V., Borodovskaya, Yu.V. (2024). Metaphors of a modern career: theoretical approaches and practical application possibilities. New Psychological Research, No. 3, 27–44. DOI: 10.51217/npsyresearch_2024_04_03_02