In this article the five career narratives of three siblings and two unemployed men are drawn upon to critically examine the use of contemporary career discourse as a means to negotiate changes to work since the 1980s and to the present time. A critical analysis enables contemporary career discourse and workplace change to be located within the historic, sociopolitical, and economic context. The five career narratives could be described by drawing upon various contemporary career models. However, these models failed to account for the participants' less optimistic experiences. Their experiences are micro-level examples of macrolevel trends associated with structural adjustment programs, organisational restructuring, and increased global competition. Careers theorists, practitioners, and administrators are in a unique position to become proactive in drawing political attention to the less positive outcomes of workplace change.