Analysis Of Karl Lagerfeld's Career Using Career Development Theories

Introduction

In the following assay I will go into Karl Lagerfeld's career and analyze it using several theories. Then I will go into my own personality with the "Chaos Theory" and compare the results with those of the fashion designer Lagerfeld.

Career Development Theories

John Holland's "Theory Career Choice" approach deals explicitly with various personality types and different types of behavior that have an essential influence on the development of career choices. According to Holland, a distinction is made between six personality types: Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising and Conventional. Applied to Lagerfeld's career, one concludes that the combination of personality types "AEI" best suits the person I have introduced.

The industry chosen by Karl Lagerfeld and his long-lasting success in the fashion industry confirm the suggested personality type. Lagerfeld's expressive, creative art, be it in fashion or photography, can also be used to perfectly describe his artistic personality. The professions proposed by John Holland also coincide with the career of Karl Lagerfeld. He is not only active in the fashion industry, but also as a writer.

Lagerfeld identifies himself with the personality type "Enterprising" to the extent that with his self-confident management style he managed to save the label Chanel from bankruptcy and bring it back to the top of luxury fashion companies with the help of his skills. Furthermore, Lagerfeld is known as an enthusiastic businessman who continuously brings new projects to life and markets them perfectly. In addition to his professions as creative director and designer, he founded his own label, a bookstore and his own publishing house. In the film "Lagerfeld Confidential", Lagerfeld talks about his thirst for knowledge and the urge to constantly face new intellectual tasks. Because of this statement, his way of working and his intellectual interest in history, his personality to Holland is in line with "Investigative".

In 1920 Frank Parsons developed the "Trait factor Theory" with a clear idea of careers that can be achieved for each individual through talents, abilities and personality. Since the talents and abilities of Karl Lagerfeld can be described as above average, it is not surprising that his skills are required for the market. Furthermore, the fashion designer defends himself against the standstill and continuously expands his skills in order to remain at the forefront of the industry.

Career Planning Theories applied to my own Career

The "Chaos Theory" developed by Pryor and Bright in 2011 deals with the development of careers in complex dynamic systems, which are constantly subject to the influence of stability and change. Looking back on my professional career so far, I have worked in several different branches of industries. I started with various internships in a textile company and completed my apprenticeship as a banker and worked in this industry afterwards. Based on my own career to date, I see myself working more in a traditional branch of industry, such as the hotel industry. Nevertheless, after gaining professional experience in various departments of the hotel industry, I am striving for independence. However, it is not yet possible to estimate which skills will be needed in the future, as the economy is currently in a state of flux and I believe there will be professions that we do not know yet. Due to the constant changes and, of course, the influence of society, I believe that it can only be an advantage to be broadly positioned in order to apply the acquired skills in other industries as well.

Personal Values

With regard to the constantly changing economy, I have prioritized my values in order to come closer to realizing my career plans. From a two-page catalogue I finally listed the eight most important career values for me: Creative, power and authority, make decisions, high earnings, independence, precision work, status and finally tradition.

Let's start with the values "Knowledge" and "Intellectual Status". Karl Lagerfeld is in possession of an estimated 3000 books. In addition, he is extremely literate and not only interested in the past, but also in current events. In addition, he owns a library and a publishing house with which he has already published several of his own creations. These publications underpin the value of his "intellectual status". His day-to-day work is constantly changing. The fashion industry is one of the toughest sectors. Through Lagerfeld's values "Change and Variety", "Fast Pace" and "Competition", he remains true to the high demands of the industry. Through his constantly new ideas, collections and projects ("Change and Variety"), which meet the demands of the seasons ("Fast Pace"), he keeps pace with his competitors and manages to stay ahead of them in his variety. Thanks to his long-lasting success, his groundbreaking ideas and his ambition, he has the opportunity to work independently. He therefore doesn't have to follow any rules and has a free hand with Coco Chanel, for example. This shows that the value "Independence" is especially important to him in his career. He probably wouldn't be so successful if you didn't give Lagerfeld the chance to develop freely.

The designer's style differs from label to label, but can be summarized as elegant and simple. In his work at Chanel, he is inspired by the rebellious, stubborn Coco Chanel of the early years and creates elegant, sporty fashion. His collections reflect his artistic values. Here he concentrates particularly on a certain degree of aesthetics, which is consistent with his values.

If you now compare the values of Karl Lagerfeld with mine, you may find one or two things in common, but I am convinced that we are fundamentally different. The fashion designer's work has its roots in the creativity and aesthetics of his work. I also consider the person I choose to be a free spirit who decides everything from his gut and really only does what challenges him and in which he shows interest. This is why Karl Lagerfeld is always one hundred percent behind his work. I admire the luxury of only doing what is fun. In my opinion, no matter how well the chosen career fits a personality, there will always be tasks that don't exactly appeal to you. Furthermore, I appreciate his general knowledge, which is not limited to his industry. Thus, Lagerfeld is broadly positioned in his various career branches and generates profit with his work.

Conclusion

In summary, two completely different personality types meet here, which find or have already found the drive through their very own values in order to be successful in their career planning. The motivation listed consists either of tradition, meticulous and organized work with the aim of authority, status and merit, or of free and creative work with the aim of expressing the beauty of things and ideas.