SUCCESS Materials – English

Resilience – Theoretical Background – Research Findings Relating to Employability & Workplace Outcomes (Cont.)

Preparation for the World of Work Through Resilience Building

Given the array of challenges that await students who are departing the school environment in search of viable employment opportunities, it is vital that the career guidance and education systems from which these young people emerge adequately equip them with the requisite skill set to aid their smooth progression into the world of work, as this transitional period represents a crucial stage in their lives (Pavlova, Chi-Kin Lee, 2017). One means through which to support more successful school-to-work transitions in young people is through the provision of adequate career preparation (Koen, Klehe, & Van Vianen, 2012). A higher standard of career preparation has consistently been seen to facilitate enhanced productivity in the process of job seeking (Creed & Hughes, 2012; Hirschi, Niles, & Akos, 2011; Koivisto, Vinokur, & Vuori, 2011) and improved career decision-making skills (Marock, 2008).

The nurturing of resilience has become a progressively more prominent feature within this preparatory phase and is now viewed as a critical aspect in the development of employability and career development skills (Di Maggio, Ginerva, Nota & Soresi, 2016). Career skills interventions geared towards the promotion of resilience have been shown to be efficacious in aiding participants’ capacities to adapt to change and constraints of the jobs in which they may find themselves (Rossier, 2015). Resilience and the ability to self-regulate are also correlated with the ability to navigate challenging or difficult periods in one’s employment journey (unemployment or low levels of job satisfaction) (Trevor, 2001).

It is vital that the adequate preparatory work alluded to earlier does not solely begin and end with the intention to provide students with the armory of skills required to enter the labour market. By focusing on key skills such as resilience, character strengths and positivity, guidance counselors can help cultivate a cohort of young, future oriented early career employees who feel comfortable carving out a rewarding career in their specific fields and, in turn, flourishing and thriving within these fields. Building the resilience of the young people concerned is a pivotal aspect of this process.