Outpoll | More turn to astrology for career advice

More turn to astrology for career advice

When Autumn Myers, a 31-year-old New Yorker, was interviewing for her current digital marketing job, she deliberately rescheduled the meeting to avoid Mercury retrograde, a period astrologers warn can lead to miscommunications and technical snafus. For her, it’s a practical move born of experience.“Those jobs have always ended up in more grief for me,” she admits. Myers isn’t just checking the stars for interview timing; she also looks up her colleagues’ zodiac signs to better navigate workplace dynamics, believing fire signs might bring bold leadership but also impulsivity, while earth signs offer dependability yet can be risk-averse.“It’s very Scorpio of me to be that calculated,” she says with a laugh, “but it’s needed sometimes. ” Her story reflects a quiet, profound shift in how many, particularly millennials and Gen Z, are navigating professional life.A 2024 Harris Poll found that 70% of U. S.adults somewhat or strongly believe in astrology, with 69% of millennials turning to it for comfort during challenging moments. This isn't merely a personal quirk; it’s a global phenomenon fueling a multi-billion dollar industry, from Dior’s zodiac collections to Spotify’s sign-based playlists and apps like Co-Star, which blends NASA data with astrological insights for over 30 million users.In an era marked by economic uncertainty, political turmoil, and a volatile job market, the ancient practice offers a framework for understanding identity and timing that feels more personal than traditional corporate advice. As brand strategist Giselle La Pompe-Moore notes, astrology reminds us that “the business is run by a person.” For practitioners like consulting astrologer Rachel Ruth Tate, it provides a neutral, flexible language for self-reflection—a way to discuss patterns of behavior, like workaholism, without stigma. Sociologist Shiri Noy, who co-authored a study on astrology’s modern uses, suggests its popularity speaks to a broader cultural moment where traditional sources of authority feel less stable.People aren’t necessarily surrendering their fate to the stars; they’re using astrology as a tool for personalized goal-setting and intuitive decision-making, seeking a way to work that feels, as one coach’s client put it, “much more natural. ” For Myers, this cosmic perspective has been clarifying, helping her step down from a director role to a senior strategist position. “Astrology has actually made me feel more like—it’s not that deep,” she says, finding a sense of calm in the grand, predictable cycles of the cosmos amidst the chaos of New York advertising.

#astrology

#career advice

#millennials

#Gen Z

#business trends

#featured