Career lessons from the Stoics 1: grab unexpected opportunities

Posted on 20 April 2026 • Career planning

If your career path so far hasn’t looked the way you planned, you’re in good company. Student careers stories show careers don’t usually move in a straight line and there are many paths to a satisfying future. According to ancient Stoic philosophy, that might be exactly the point.

Amor fati: embrace what comes your way

Stoic philosopher Marcus Aurelius wrote about amor fati – loosely translated as “love of fate.” It means choosing to work with life’s unexpected detours as potential opportunities for positive change, rather than worrying about what could have been. Understanding your own values, motivations, interests and strengths really helps you spot those unexpected opportunities when they appear.

Tell your story confidently, with all its twists and turns

Many students worry that their CV tells the wrong story – that employment gaps or career changes need explaining away. Learn from the Stoics: these things aren’t weaknesses in your story, but the things which make it interesting to employers. Employers are interested in candidates with varied experiences. Learn to talk about the twists and turns of your journey so far with confidence. No apologies necessary. Hear more about how to address employment gaps in our recorded webinar.

Identify what you’ve learned

Look at your CV or career history and pick out an experience that you’d normally underplay or feel uncertain about. Ask yourself ‘what did this actually require of me? What did I learn that I couldn’t have learned any other way?’ Dealing with the unexpected has probably given you more strengths than you expected.