Resilience and Career DevelopmentCurtin Careers Centre

Resilience is...

• is an ability to bounce back from adversity and difficult situations

• involves strength as well as flexibility

• associated with elasticity, buoyancy and adaptation

Resilient people

• are positive and view life as challenging but also filled

with opportunity

• demonstrate flexibility and durability

• have an ability to organise and manage ambiguity

• are proactive and not reactive (anticipate positively)

• are open to learning, taking risks and remaining

optimistic

Remember the High Five

Reflect on the Hi Five in The Real Game

• Change is constant—embrace it

• Learning is ongoing

• Focus on the journey

• Know yourself, believe in yourself and follow your

heart

• Access your allies

Developing Career Resilience

1. accept change

2. become a continuous

learner

3. take charge/control

4. find your purpose

5. pay attention to self-

identity

6. cultivate relationships

7. reflect

8. skill shift

9. develop emotional

intelligence

10. take care of yourself

Developing Career Resilience 1. Accept Change

Accept that change is constant and inevitable

so…….

Find ways to be comfortable with change

Successful people accept change and don’t waste

energy resisting it

Developing Career Resilience 2. Be A Continuous Learner

Keep learning, new skills, gain new understanding and

perspectives, and apply these in changing times

Many people resist learning new ways, and hold onto

old and outdated behaviours and skills

Even when it can be seen they no longer are effective

Developing Career Resilience 3. Take Control of Your Life

Embrace your power—become self empowered

Take control of your own learning, development and

career

Don’t expect other people to show you the way

(only you really know what is the best choice and

direction for you)

Developing Career Resilience 4. Find Your Purpose

Develop a personal way that;

gives your work meaning, and

helps you put it in a larger context

With a clear sense of purpose you are better able to

assess setbacks within the framework of the bigger

picture and broader perspective.

Developing Career Resilience 5. Self Awareness – Self Identity

Develop an identity that is apart from your job

Your work is only one aspect of your identity

You have many other roles in your life/career rainbow

e.g. friend, partner, parent, child, student, citizen

To develop resilience separate:

Who you are from what you do

Developing Career Resilience 6. Cultivate Relationships

Develop and nurture a wide network of personal and

professional relationships

Personal relationships create a strong base of support

A critical element in

Achieving goals

Dealing with hardships and

Developing perspective

Developing Career Resilience 7. Be Reflective

Make time for reflection in all aspects of your life

Reflect on your successes and your challenges and

hardships

Reflection fosters

learning

new perspectives

a degree of self awareness

Reflection can enhance resilience

Developing Career Resilience 8. Skill Shift – Enhance Transferable Skills

Assess and even change your definition of self and/or

your career

Reframe how you see your existing skills, identify and

enhance your transferable skills and develop new

skills and skill sets

Developing Career Resilience 9. Develop Emotional Intelligence

Think creatively and flexibly under stress

Expand rather than shut down when face with

challenge

Focus on the future and gain strength from new

opportunities that present a change to learn new

perspectives and develop your skills

Developing Career Resilience 10. Take Care Of Yourself

Practice ‘self care’ Exercise regularly

Eat healthy food

Meditate

Keep a journal

Spend time with family and friends

Plan and regularly enjoy fun activities

Developing Career Resilience Take Control of Your Career

o Learn about the aspects of your career development

(e.g. ABCD career competencies)

o Spend time developing self awareness

o Explore all the opportunities and the workplace

o Develop and practice your decision making skills

o Develop your skills and take action

o Continue to reflect, explore and learn, be adaptable