A Career Carol

A Career Carol is an irreverent take on the classic Christmas Carol, graduation commencement speakers, and Generation Z expectations. A wry and insightful take on how to successfully navigate a 30-to-40-year professional career. A Career Carol, bridges analogue and digital eras. What constitutes a successful career may have dramatically changed over the last 50 years, but the deeper journey we make as human beings across different life cycles, is eternal.Drs Schuster & Oxley’s take a different and decidedly modern approach to business and life advice. They set out to share real stories of how to navigate the big crises that most of us will have to navigate at some point. In the process, they give the past an entertaining and relevant future.The world, and business literature in particular, is overdue for Shey Sinope. As we witness his journey from reclusive cynical social critic to tentative member of a flawed, and sometimes unkind society, we are amused, provoked, saddened, but ultimately uplifted.

Helmut Schuster and David Oxley are long-time collaborators and former work colleagues. It is their shared outlook that has bound them together as authors. They are optimistic futurists, advocates for next-generation talent, pioneers of new approaches to work, enthusiasts for new technology adoption, and crusaders against entrenched thinking.

As Drs Schuster and Oxley, they have set out to address several subjects that have been over-intellectualised, complicated, misdiagnosed, or outdated. With a whimsical eye and deep belief in humanity’s strength to prevail against the absurdity of aspects of modern society, they are committed to presenting helpful business and leadership concepts for the next generation.

Dr Helmut Schuster is a dual Austrian/British citizen who lives in London, UK. He is the former Group HR Director of BP PLC. Helmut is currently Chairman of the Board of Ivoclar Vivadent AG, an active entrepreneur, investor, and frequent contributor to leadership and AFS Intercultural programs. Helmut was awarded his doctorate in Economics from the University of Vienna.

Dr David Oxley is a dual UK/US citizen based in Austin, Texas. David started his career as a management consultant before leading major people and corporate restructuring projects for BP PLC across Europe, the USA, India, and the Middle East. He worked closely with Reliance Industries in India, one of BP’s partners, as they embarked on their big corporate restructuring. David was awarded his doctorate in Organisational Change at Cranfield University and his MBA from the University of Notre Dame.

Customer Reviews

5.0

52 reviews

Tony A.

I have just finished reading A Career Carol for a second time and I’m so glad I made the effort to revisit it. Most career books out there try to fill each page with pithy, inspirational quotes that offer little in terms of practicality or associability. A Career Carol uses both a 1st person approach in Shey plus real life examples to bring key career choices to life. It is so digestible and engaging that I finished it the first time in a day. The book leaves you with a sense of reassurance by the end that there is no ‘normal’ route for a career - we all have the same doubts and mini-crises that ultimately shape your long-term career. What a refreshing take on normally very corporate topic. I’d highly recommend to anyone at any career stage, particular to someone who enjoys challenging themselves with difficult questions.
GW

The book is in three parts, starting with a fable. I love a good fable to get across a message and this was told in a light hearted humourous way that didn't disappoint. The next two sections give straightforward practical advice and thought provoking insight. If you are a Blinkist fan you'll enjoy the Blink summary and three takeaways. Despite being at a different stage in my career to Shey, I found the content prompted me to reflect on my career and what's important to me now. The next gen contributors are very impressive and as the mother of a teenager deciding on his A levels choices I found a lot of the advice they gave helpful to prompt discussions. Definitely worth a read.
Anonymous

Loved this book!
Fun and inspiring… really different take on career advice
The authors really have taken a different approach. This is a very fun story and has surprisingly impactful advice to overcome the big career nightmares.

Really like the way they’ve taken some very deep subjects but made them fun.
D&S

While it’s a career advice book it really is a joy to read. The first half is a very funny fable about Shey Sinope, a college student about to graduate. They use a Christmas Carol construct to show the big career pitfalls that will be ahead. But there is a lot of wit and fun in the telling of the tale. Sort of Douglas Adam’s meets who moved my cheese.

The second half is a deconstruction of the story and some practical tips on how to better navigate the big career challenges.

Excellent book for anyone thinking about their careers.