ABSTRACT
A number of prominent sociologists have suggested that in liquid modernity work is no longer central to the story of the self. This chapter tests this proposition by considering the relationship between work and identity for the interview participants. The other thread running through the discussion is the relevance of vocation in the contemporary West. The chapter begins with an analysis of contemporary popular culture and self-help literature, which shows how the idea of finding one’s calling manifests today as a desire for authenticity. It then draws on a number of case studies to demonstrate how even multiple career changes can be conceptualized as part of a search for one’s ‘passion’. Interpreting particular occupations as being expressions of the authentic self provides individuals with a sense of purpose and in some cases assists them in coming to terms with unexpected career changes. Thus, even when work is fragmented and uncertain, it can still be a key source of meaning and can help combat the disorientation Sennett describes as ‘drift’. The chapter argues that an amalgamation of authenticity and secular vocation—the ‘passion narrative’— is highly influential. This narrative permeates popular culture and is prominent in the accounts of the interview participants.
