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Why Your Career Adaptability Matters and How to Boost It

May 21, 2021
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In the past few years, we have witnessed a global change in the workplace. Increases in technology use at work, changes in job requirements, or difficulty of finding a job – you name it. The truth is, the job market is changing and you need to change with it. In this article we talk about career adaptability, what it is, why and how you should  boost it.

What is career adaptability?  

Career adaptability is a psychological term that describes individuals’ readiness and resources to adapt and cope with changing careers and transition from one career phase to another, such as switching jobs or retiring. In other words, career adaptability is your capability of navigating through an uncertain environment and dealing with changes in your career efficiently.  

For example, career adaptability pops up when people are laid off, when they retire, or maybe when their job is slowly digitalised. In such situations employees need to shift gears and be open towards learning new skills, or acquiring new jobs.

Sooner or later, career adaptability becomes essential for everyone, especially in the current fast-paced environment. 

Why does career adaptability matter? 

With uncertainty looming in around every corner, career adaptability is your armor. It gives you strength and shields your well-being but also your performance. People with high career adaptability have lower work stress and are less insecure about their future. Additionally, if you have high career adaptability, you are more likely to be satisfied with your job, be less stressed, encounter fewer decision-making difficulties and ultimately have a higher quality of life. 

How to boost career adaptability 

Let’s try to understand what I mean when I say “career adaptability”. The concept of career adaptability lies on 4 pillars – the 4 C’s. These are Concern, Control, Curiosity and Confidence. By addressing each of these components, you can increase your career adaptability. Shall we discuss each of them?  

Concern

Aka chasing your career goals. That means that you actively think about your future and what you want to accomplish. It is also about planning how to reach your career goals. For example, if your goal is to start your own business and become an entrepreneur, then planning your steps, visualising the path that gets you there, can help you become more adaptable to changes in your career.  

There is plenty of evidence showing that individuals who have career goals and who are concerned about how to pursue and achieve them are more satisfied with their career. Thus, if you feel like you are floating with no direction, start creating goals and pursue them. This will give you strength because then you will have a direction. 

Control 

When it comes to controlling your career, it’s all about flexibility. Sounds a bit contradictory, right? Well, actually, you can feel more in control of your career when you can adjust to whatever comes your way.  

Let’s say, if your goal pursuit is not going as you thought, exerting control means that you adjust your goal to the current environment. Maybe your goal was to land a specific job, and you got rejected. Trying to remain flexible and adjusting your goal can prove beneficial. It may be that this will require you to make difficult career decisions such as considering other positions or roles, but in turn, you will be more adaptable and more flexible.  

Curiosity

Remember when as children we were curious about everything around us and proactively looked for new discoveries? When it comes to careers, being curious means being willing to learn. It means that your goals are “learning goals”.  

People who set learning goals are looking for opportunities to learn new skills and find it important to constantly learn. Therefore, success is no longer dependent on other people’s opinions or other uncontrollable outcomes but rather on developing yourself every day as a professional. Focusing on learning makes you more adaptable because your goal achievement is tied to your own efforts, rather than to other people. Additionally, the more you learn, the more skills you acquire and the more employable you become. When you are curious and proactive about learning, you are more likely to become more adaptable in your career.  

Confidence 

The final “C” of career adaptability is confidence. This entails being optimistic about your future and having the belief that you possess the skills to tackle whatever hurdle comes your way.  

Having high confidence also means taking the time to reflect about your strengths and weaknesses and to reassure yourself that you are able to make good career decisions. Take some time to think about your strengths and weaknesses, write them down. Then, think about how you can make the most of your strengths and put them forth so others also see them. 

Advantages of Career Adaptability in a Changing Job Market 

Change is everywhere, especially in the job market. This is where individuals with high career adaptability will triumph. These people are not only more employable but they are also better problem-solvers, and are able to articulate what they want and how they want to get there. 

By taking a step to become more adaptable today, you are ensuring a more secure future for your career.  

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This post is based on the following sources and academic articles

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