No matter where you are on the careers trajectory - in the workforce, looking to get in to the workforce, or looking to switch jobs or careers - everyone needs career resilience. But what is it and where or how do you get it?

Career resilience is...

Though there are many definitions put simply - it is the ability to be self-reliant and take responsibility for your own career growth and management and includes the ability to adapt to changing circumstances. Why you may well ask is it necessary to take responsibility for your career growth?

The need for career resilience

The current emphasis on career self-management and self-development reflects the shift in the unspoken agreement between employers and employees whereby previously employees were guaranteed job security in return for hard work and loyalty. Today no organisation can guarantee a job for life and consequently the focus has shifted to worker employability rather than job security. Essentially employers provide opportunities, tools and support to help employees develop their skills and maintain their employability; employees on the other hand have the responsibility for managing their careers and taking advantage of the opportunities they are given. To maintain employability employees must continually update their skills, look ahead to the future and to market trends as well as to the current demands of the workplace. Sounds great but what are the characteristics of career resilience?

Characteristics of career resilience

Essentially these reflect the characteristics of employability and include things such as teamwork, effective communication, ability to adapt to change, continuous learning, self-confidence and a willingness to take risks. Sound scary? It doesn't have to be - recognising that you are self employed in charge of 'Me Inc' actually offers you the power of choice about your future career direction. According to the research attitude is all important and is essential in ensuring your employability. These attitudes include - a hectic, disorganized company is a great place to learn; you must be selective in what you learn; you are either developing or decaying - there cannot be any middle of the road; it is possible to align what you want, what the organisation wants and what the market wants; you must push to the outer limits and enjoy doing it; you are a unique business (Me Inc) and there are many different pathways to a professional vision. To launch Me Inc into the 21^st century consider the following to truly build your career resilience.

Steps to increase your career resilience

• Make sure your details on LinkMe are up to date
• Accept job security is dead - you are responsible for 'Me Inc' regardless whether you are employed by an organisation or not
• Engage in life long learning and seize on training opportunities offered to you
• Know your skills intimately - those you enjoy and those you want to avoid using
• Job security has been replaced by 'networked security' - build strong networks for yourself. Those who have strong networks are less dependent on a single organisation because they have more work opportunities
• Even if you're happy in your current job and not actively seeking a new job - consider having your status on LinkMe "Not looking but happy to talk". The career resilient person is always willing to consider new opportunities which might enhance their employability
• Don't just focus on moving up the career ladder - today the career ladder has been replaced by the career lattice - careers moves can be up, down, across. A sideways career move might well equip you with new marketable skills!
• Sad but true - examine your relationship to money - living beyond your means or even to the very limit can seriously limit your career flexibility