Career Resilience During Economic Uncertainty
Economic shifts can trigger intense fear and worry about our careers and livelihoods, sometimes leaving us feeling on edge or hopeless about the future. This fear is a valid survival response to threats to your security and professional identity. Maybe you’re spiraling about potential lay-offs or feeling stuck and dejected in your current job. Know that you're not alone in these feelings. Acknowledging these emotions is actually the first step toward regaining a sense of agency. It is possible to experience a felt sense of safety and trust in yourself through meaningful, practical steps that help you feel more in control.
Your Career Resiliency Framework
1. Reflect On Your Unique Professional Identity
Take a moment to consider your core strengths, interests, and values relating to your career that transcend your current role.
Identify the consistent threads or themes in your career journey throughout your evolution (this doesn’t have to only be paid work - consider projects and volunteer experiences too)
Reflect on core problems you're skilled at solving across different contexts
Consider how your unique perspective and background adds value in your field or could fulfill an unmet need in a different field/industry
Different jobs come and go, which of course can feel scary and unpredictable, but these questions will help you pinpoint your strengths and articulate your value beyond your current job title.
2. Identify Your Circles of Control
Redirect your energy toward what you can actively influence:
● Direct Control: Your skills development, networking efforts, small action steps
● Indirect Influence: Professional relationships, reputation building, professional visibility
● Outside Control: Market trends, organizational decisions, and economic forecasts
By concentrating on the first two circles, you'll feel more empowered even when external circumstances seem overwhelming.
3. Build and Nurture Your Support Network
No one navigates uncertainty effectively in isolation. When things feel scary and unpredictable, our community becomes our safety net and is crucial for both professional wellbeing and emotional processing.
Reconnect with former colleagues across various industries
Find an accountability partner who can help you check in on goals, process emotions, and celebrate wins
Join professional communities where you can exchange ideas and discover new opportunities
Consider working with a trauma-informed career counselor or therapist or joining a support group, especially if you have experienced financial hardship or insufficient resources to meet your basic needs in the past
4. Develop A Contingency Plan
A back-up plan can feel reassuring when you feel like your job security is out of your hands. Small, consistent actions towards this plan can feel grounding and less overwhelming.
Update your resume, LinkedIn profile, portfolio, or website before you need them
Research organizations whose values and culture align with yours
Identify trainings or certifications that might enhance your qualifications or facilitate a potential pivot
Collect job descriptions that energize you, even if you're not actively looking
Consider ways to supplement your income or jobs that could serve as a stepping stone between roles. Try to think outside of the box - maybe a part-time job that can flex different strengths to avoid burnout or freelancing work
Sometimes being thrown for an unexpected loop can actually open the door to opportunities you never would have considered otherwise. Just remember that you've likely already successfully navigated changes throughout your life and career. The same inner resources and adaptability that got you through past challenges are still in you now.
Please note: This blog post is solely intended for informational and education purposes - it is not a substitute for diagnosis and treatment of mental health conditions, nor is it considered therapy.
