In life, as in the hunt for a suitable job, resilience is the ability to deal with the hand you’re dealt and press on, even in the face of stress and unforeseen change. The good news is that this is a skill that can be developed over time. And if the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that the ability to adapt to change—particularly in the labour market—is a skill that’s worth investing in.
Stay current with in-demand jobs and skills
One way to take control in your job search is to stay well-informed on economic growth and hiring trends across industries. For instance, IT and engineering currently offer the most in-demand jobs. Better understanding what the employment landscape looks like and having an action plan that takes the real-life job market into account can help you set more realistic, smarter goals. Setting SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Timely) can go a long way toward keeping you on track and motivated, helping you successfully fulfill your big-picture goals.
The future is flexible: your expectations should reflect this
One of the best ways to welcome new opportunities is to be open to revising your expectations of yourself as well as how you define success. Although the bulk of literature on ‘success’ focuses almost exclusively on criteria based on earnings or accumulated wealth, Psychology Today aptly points to the meeting of personal goals as a more accurate measure of success. Your personal goals might pertain to your professional or personal life, and should be unique to you rather than based on societal norms. In other words: your life, your definition of success. What others may think of your definition is beside the point.
Consider setting up your own framework for self-evaluation—one that takes into account your proudest achievements thus far, whether you consider them “big” achievements or “small.” Try to identify common threads among these achievements. Perhaps they all required creativity, caring, or persistence. Any themes you can identify give you a solid basis for how to define your long-term vision of success.
Climb trees, not ladders
While “climbing the career ladder” still has some weighty historical precedence, this approach to plotting one’s career trajectory is less and less relevant. Rather than slogging your way to the “top of the ladder” in one company or industry (without any real protection should an economic downturn hit), consider climbing trees instead! The Tree Approach supports sustainability for the long haul by prioritizing professional development, exploration, agility, and a willingness to change—or evolve. The many branches and leaves on a tree are the perfect visual metaphor for exploring myriad directions, possibilities, and revenue streams throughout our lifetimes.
YES’ Resources
We can help build on your resilience with your job search strategy, identifying opportunities to CV, and interview prep. By keeping you motivated and focused on your search,you maintain your resilience in a tough job market. Click here to get started!
You can also check out our Job Board! Click here to find open positions in Quebec as soon as they become available and apply directly.