No one in corporate America expects to get a job out of college, stay in that job for 40 years, and receive a gold watch when they retire. Those days are long behind us. Instead, today’s graduates assume they’ll have ten to fifteen or even more jobs during their professional life. In today’s workplace, career resilience is a necessary trait for success.
Career resilience is not new, but it has evolved and is becoming a hot topic. Workplace uncertainty has reigned supreme for the past five years, and employees are realizing they need to be proactive in learning new skills to take control of their careers and mitigate the risks associated with unexpected downsizing.
A recent article from Korn Ferry looks at how career resilience has changed. “But ‘career resilience’ today means something far more disruptive than it used to: the rerouting of one’s entire career to adapt to external changes—and, more than likely, also the leveraging of core talents over time in very different ways. “It creates short-term challenges, but has tremendous long-term potential to increase individuals’ ingenuity,” says Wolfgang Bauriedel, senior client partner at Korn Ferry.”
Companies growing and contracting are nothing new, though it may be more prevalent in today’s technology-driven environment. The pace of change has added a new layer that impacts the company, creating a strong culture. Instead of building bonds, interactions between companies and employees can feel more transactional.
With employees feeling the pressure to constantly learn new skills through up-skilling or re-skilling programs, the average tenure at a job in the United States is at a 22-year low, only 3.9 years. And for younger workers, below the age of 34, it is only 2.7 years.
“Thirty years ago, an internal candidate who had worked at a company for decades was considered a catch. “Today that’s a liability,” says human-resources expert Ron Porter, senior partner at Korn Ferry. Recruiters now seek candidates who have adapted to multiple corporate roles and cultures—in other words, workers who have demonstrated career resilience.”
Career paths have become far less linear. Instead of envisioning a career ladder, many employees are creating their own career lattice. Seeking to grow their skill set by applying their knowledge and experience in other roles, they demonstrate adaptability and a willingness to learn.
Any career today requires a lifelong learning mindset. It’s the only way to stay up to date with the pace of change. It can also boost self-confidence and position you as a top candidate when looking to make a change.
Learning is not just about classes and skills development, it should begin with self-reflection. Whether working with a coach or journaling on your own, review your past experiences for the positive and negative. Understand what motivates you and, conversely, what drains you. Capture your thoughts and look for themes. And revisit them every year to see how you’re growing.
Defining your personal brand not only helps provide you with clarity on where you can add value, but it also increases your engagement in your work and provides you with a vision of your future.
For more articles or professional growth, visit our blog.