6 Tips for Building a Resilient Mindset When Your Career Is Fragile was originally published on Ivy Exec.
Fox 9 reports that 1 in 3 US workers has layoff anxiety attributed to economic uncertainty. Your career can start feeling fragile after your boss lays some people off or fails to promote them. You may also feel less job security after getting a bad performance review or several warnings.
While these aspects can reduce your confidence, staying steady during hard times is still possible. Here are some powerful ways to build a resilient mindset when your career is falling apart.
1️⃣ Name Your Feelings
Most people try to power through difficult emotions like fear, embarrassment, and anger. But pretending you’re fine only makes it more challenging to cope.
The first step to building resilience is being honest with yourself. When your career takes a hit, ask yourself what you’re feeling. Then, write those feelings down, talk about them in a voice recording, or speak to someone who will listen without judging.
At first, you might feel overwhelmed or ashamed, thinking there are measures you should have taken to prevent the situation. However, labeling your emotions will help you process and regulate them to move forward.
2️⃣ Control What You Can
If you’re unsure about the fate of your career, you might start panicking over things you can’t even control. You may feel anxious and ask yourself questions like:
- Will my employer lay me off?
- Will the industry recover?
- When will I hear back from the interviewers?
- Do I need to shift to another industry?
While seeking answers to some of these questions can be helpful, many don’t have clear or final solutions. So, worrying about them will stress you and affect your mental health. Focus on the things you can control by doing the following:
- Updating your resume and portfolio
- Practicing for interviews
- Learning a new skill online
- Growing your network
- Sending follow-up emails to your network
- Sticking to a simple routine
Such actions will help you feel more stable and less overwhelmed. They also allow you to make wise choices regarding the future and direction of your career.
3️⃣ Talk to People Who Understand
Talking to people who’ve faced career setbacks is a great way to build resilience. Identify several professionals in your circle and ask how they overcame the challenge.
Besides, share what you are experiencing and how you feel about it. You could also ask for advice on navigating issues like a career change or accepting a lateral role.
Listening to the stories of people who faced similar challenges can be encouraging and comforting. It also helps you look at your situation positively.
For example, learning about how a layoff helped your friend rebuild their skills and bounce back can inspire you to do the same. It gives you some insights into managing the situation without letting it affect your confidence and aspirations.
4️⃣ Avoid Career Comparison
When your career feels off track, you may be curious about your peers’ journeys. In the process, you may hear a former coworker’s announcement about their promotion or new role. Besides, you could discover that some of your peers have started their businesses, which are thriving.
Comparison may sometimes be motivating, but it can also make you feel less about yourself. You may start doubting your abilities and business acumen or regret turning down an opportunity.
However, remember that some people only talk about their wins, leaving out their struggles. They may not let others know when they lose a job or fail to close a major deal. Others could also fail to share the rejections they got, the struggles they encountered, or their self-doubt.
If you discover that comparison makes you feel worse, instead of motivating you, set limits. Take a break from LinkedIn and avoid checking updates during stressful parts of your day. Replace spending time on social media with something that makes you feel better, like walking.
Focus on rebuilding your confidence and getting in a better headspace to enjoy peace of mind and progress with less pressure.
5️⃣ Reframe Your Failures as Feedback
You might feel disappointed or embarrassed when your career isn’t working out. But you can still look at failure as a way to learn, grow, and improve.
If you had a job interview, for example, and didn’t get the role, avoid thinking you aren’t good enough. Instead, ask yourself what you can learn from the process. You may realize you didn’t get an offer because your examples were unclear. Your resume may have also failed to highlight your strengths.
If you feel your career is hanging on a thin thread because you got negative feedback from your boss, figure out what went wrong. Review notes from the meeting to identify the concerns and use them to improve yourself. If the issue resulted from missing deadlines, think about how you manage your time.
On the other hand, if it was due to poor communication, review how you write emails or speak in meetings. You could also take on new tasks or suggest ideas more frequently if your boss thinks you don’t take the initiative.
6️⃣ Celebrate Small Wins
Recognizing your progress motivates you and can help you feel better about your growth. Every step forward will ultimately build your confidence and resilience. Rather than waiting for big achievements, reward and recognize yourself even for small ones. These may include:
- Finish a task you’ve been postponing
- Asking someone for advice and using it
- Showing up for yourself on a tough day
- Gaining new transferrable skills
- Networking with an industry leader
These actions may seem small, but they’ll help you build momentum.
Track all your wins by writing what you accomplish daily, even if it feels minor. After some time, you’ll see how much progress you’re making and appreciate your growth.
Build Your Resilience Through Action
A fragile career may make you feel like you’re failing and won’t be able to recover. However, building a resilient mindset will help you navigate challenges and gain more control.
Instead of trying to fix everything immediately, start by naming your feelings and focusing on what you can control. Then, lean on people with a similar journey, but avoid over-comparing yourself. Focus on learning from your setbacks and build strength by celebrating your growth.
