A generation ago careers came with far more stability and predictability.

People got jobs and kept them.  Anyone who moved from job-to-job every two or three years was considered a “job hopper.”  Now changing jobs is common place.

Today’s careers are dynamic and require us to be ready for change at a moments notice.  This type of readiness requires resilience.  However, most people will look to protecting the career they have before building a resilient one.

Protecting what you have is reactive.  Resilience is proactive.

There is never a wrong time to think about building a resilient career.  In part this means resisting the urge for stability and predictability.  This is especially hard in the face of something as important as your livelihood.  So start now.

6 Steps to building a resilient career

1.  Take ownership of your career.  Know what you’re good at and what you’re not good at.  Learn from your failures and seek opportunities to showcase your strengths.  You are the only one who has full control of your career.

2.  Be curious.  Meet life’s challenges with curiosity.  Rather than giving in to fear and judgement get curious about untried opportunities and long-held beliefs.

3.  Adjust your mindset.  Replace a fixed mindset with a growth mindset.  You will respond better to adversity with this type of mindset and you will find more innovative solutions.

4.  Be a life-long learner.  Your knowledge and ability to learn are a couple of your most valuable assets.  Knowledge is readily accessible so take advantage of it.

5.  Network.  90+% of jobs are found by networking.  Make networking a priority.  Network before you need to, inside and outside your organization, and never stop.

6.  Build your personal brand.  It’s not just who you know anymore, it’s who knows what you know.  What are you known for?  This is part of your personal brand.  Cultivate your personal brand in a way that is authentic to you.

Building a resilient career is a lifelong process and it’s worth the effort because resiliency is know to lead people to greater happiness, more success and better health.

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