To think a lot of career success is down to luck over judgement

I am now in my fifties and have seen enough change to think that a lot of it does come down to luck. Early on in a career this can seem self-evident, so good choices and hard work lead to success. But later on, when you have seen the effect of technological change on certain industries and the impact of wider economic upturns and downturns on all sectors, you realise that much of it is down to chance.

Obsolete roles - there used to be entire magazines handed out at Tube stations advertising secretarial vacancies in London. It used to be a starter-route into any sector that you cared to imagine, with the prospect of some really quite good salaries in finance or law. Most of those roles have now gone.

Graduating into a recession - research has shown that if you graduate into an economic downturn then that has a lifetime impact on earnings.

Political cycles - if you work in the public sector or an industry that supplies the public sector then your career can be severely affected by the prevailing political climate. Conservative small-state or Labour public spending boost...

Huge variance within professional fields - it is not news that solicitors at the top firms earn more than high street solicitors. But even in large firms the charge-out rate and salary variation between solicitors in different teams/specialisms can be quite significant. A decision made 20+ years ago can mean the difference between a reasonably-good and a startlingly-good salary.

I have had good luck at times, such as joining my previous profession at a time when there was increasing investment into training and CPD. I have also had bad luck, such as wanting to return after maternity leave at a time when austerity hit and roles were being cut back. Probably my worst stroke of luck was a really good employer (where I had been for 5+ years) deciding to relocate to a place that made my daily commute un-manageable. It was a couple of years before Covid and had I known that wfh was going to be on the horizon I would probably have hung on...never mind!

I am now in a field with a huge amount of competition for roles and it leaves you with no illusion that success is down to your own brilliance!

Thinking about the successful people I know, they’ve been pretty focused on their careers (made the right moves, worked very hard, chosen certain fields etc).

So while some things are right place, right time - it’s attitude and focus on the goal tbh.

Both!

I read law, but getting my training contract at a top firm was a “sliding doors” moment as I had originally been declined an interview but then was offered a last minute interview when someone else couldn’t make it & I was able to jump on a train at short notice. So hard work plus a degree of luck.

Current job I took because a previous job hadn’t worked out (bad manager). I didn’t really want to take my current job and hated my first few weeks there but had no other option. It’s turned largely great (although I’m currently considering my options, but I have been there over 10 years)

I work in the public sector. They bleat about diversity but the highest level of management is 5/6ths white men. The next level down is a mix of white men and women. No one with disabilities or differences. It'll take a huge culture shift before I reach senior level.

Agree totally

I think luck and personality/ability to get on with people (including unpleasant ones) play a large part.