A career genogram a map, like a standard family tree, except that you add in detail about the occupations of your family members. Typically, you might cover 3 generations, but you can decide your own limits on this – depending on who you think has been influential. The job title is usually the place to start, but it may also be interesting to explore industries or educational levels. 

Draw Your Genogram 

Adding in any details that are relevant to you, as you do, think about patterns, themes or messages that standout to you. 

Example: 

Lesha is a postdoctoral researcher working on tree responses to drought in a laboratory in the ecology department at a university. It is a role that has suited her quite well, with an increasing level of responsibility, enabling her to become involved in the management of the research groups’ activities. Lab-based science has allowed her to use some of her best skills. Near the end of her contract, she has been told she would likely get another postdoctoral position by her current PI. She isn’t sure if this is what she wants long-term. 

Iesha has one young child and is thinking of trying to have another child in the next year or so. She has thought about several options, wondering about ecological consultancy roles in industry, continuing in academia and trying to progress, or even taking some time off to spend more time with her young family. She is uncertain about what action to take next.  

Look at Lesha’s career genogram, then explore her reflections. 

Lesha noted that there are two typical paths: stay-at-home mum and high-level commerce. The implicit message seemed to be: either the choice was no career outside the home or take the commercial route. On reflection, Iesha thought a middle course might suit her better. She decided to research ecology roles in public sector organisations which she felt resonated more with her values and interests and may offer her the work-life balance and security that she wants for her young family. 

Though the occupations, outside the home, in Leshas’ family are white-collar professions, she feels that her family struggle to understand her career choices. 

Initially proud of her for starting a PhD and progressing in science, as the years went on, things got more awkward, her parents didn’t understand “what was taking so long?”, or why she’d chosen a career where she would be making “peanuts” (her Dad’s words when she told him the average salary of an assistant Professor). 

Iesha realised that some of her ambivalence about continuing in academia was about the way her family evaluated success and seemed to misunderstand her choices. She suspected that getting better at coping with this would help her be more objective when thinking through the pros and cons of continuing in academia. She decided she would talk to a sympathetic colleague, to figure out a more balanced perspective on what a future in academia might look like.