Best Practices for Career Resilience

In recent times corporate downsizing, restructuring, mergers and acquisitions, outsourcing, etc. have become commonplace and have resulted in a fundamental shift in terms of the employer-employee relationship. Unexpected events such as a major financial crisis or the outbreak of a major pandemic happen occasionally. There were massive layoffs during the global financial meltdown in 2008. The recent COVID-19 has resulted in millions losing their jobs worldwide. Specifically, individuals working today can expect that at some point in their career, they will be faced with the reality of job change or job loss. Such an exigency can affect employees of a company as well as self-employed individuals. For some, this change can be exceptionally disruptive.

Continual change is, and continues to be, the hallmark of the business environment today. Therefore, career resilience is one of the essential skills you will need to develop and nurture throughout your work life. In today’s VUCA world (Volatile, Uncertain, Chaotic and Ambiguous), you can expect that at some point in your work life, you will be faced with the reality of a job change or job loss. Some hard facts facing us today are:

• No lifelong job guarantee
• No “company loyalty”
• No definite predictability of your career path
• Downsizing, restructuring, mergers and acquisitions, outsourcing etc. are the neo-normal
• Layoffs and retrenchments due to unforeseen events such as COVID-19 pandemic
• Job loss due to technology such as AI (Artificial Intelligence)

Career Resilience refers to your ability to manage your career; that is, taking responsibility for your own career development and having the adaptability and versatility to bounce back in case of any career setback.

Best Practices for Career Resilience:

• Own your own Career Development including a Career Plan
• Ensure that your employment skills do not become obsolete
• Assess whether your current skills will be required by your company or industry as you look ahead five to ten years.
• Understand the job market – keep in mind industry growth trends and high growth careers.
• Continue to learn new skills or gain relevant professional certifications or degrees; view education as a continuing process, not a one-time event.
• Continually find ways to add value to your current employer.
• Develop a powerful Personal Brand.
• Network with key people in your industry and build effective and reciprocal relationships.
• Seek the services of a Career Coach if appropriate.

In summary, Career Resilience is key to your career longevity and to avoiding any major disruption in your career and life.

Thank you for reading! I hope this is helpful to you and those around you.