Two Careers: James and Alexis
Consider two people who entered the workforce a few years ago, James and Alexis.
- James’s early career is going well. The company at which he works is thriving, and he’s a solid performer. He’s gotten nice raises and been promoted out of his entry-level position.
- Alexis has experienced a setback in her young career. The industry in which she works hit a downturn about a year after she began working, and she was laid off not long thereafter. She’s unemployed and trying to find a job in a different industry.
Which person do you think will have a more fulfilling career over the long term? A recent study finds that Alexis is likely to have a better career than James.
Study Finds That Adversity is Linked to Career Success
The study authors interviewed people in a variety of industries who had early career setbacks and those who didn’t. Career setbacks included not getting the job they desired, being fired, being laid off, or being passed over for promotion.
The researchers found “that people who had experienced setbacks, despite initially feeling they had fallen off track, had had a positive shift in perspective. The jolt of a setback had pushed them to reconsider and reframe their careers in ways that were more authentic to their inner selves — and that helped them be more successful. In contrast, individuals without career setbacks had predominantly pursued conventional paths driven by ‘safe’ choices; wider career opportunities seemed unattractive — or invisible — to them.”
Those who suffered setbacks did more sensemaking than those who didn’t suffer setbacks. “Sensemaking” refers to the process by which individuals interpret and give meaning to their experiences, particularly in the face of unexpected or ambiguous events, such as career setbacks, romantic breakups, or illness. Sensemaking involves the retrospective development of plausible explanations for past events, which then shape individuals’ understanding of their current situation and future possibilities.
The researchers found that those who suffered career setbacks were “more likely to continually reassess their goals and job moves — even long after they’d gotten back on their feet. These individuals also demonstrated a focus on learning that accelerated their careers and gave them an advantage over people who had never faced adversity.”
The Importance of Resilience and a Growth Mindset
Nobody wants to fail or experience a setback. But when one happens, we should remember that a setback isn’t a death knell but rather might be a door that’s opening. Realize that things will almost certainly turn out well as long as you are resilient and adopt the right attitude.
If things are going well, remember to adopt a growth mindset. Don’t just stay in your comfort zone—look around and see how you can learn and grow even if you aren’t forced into action by an external event.
Grit and resilience are major determinants in academia too. Tough life lessons for students, especially the high achievers.
There is one flaw in this set back story- women who leave the work place to start or care for family/children – historically and still today-often lose ground in their careers, sometimes they choose a different career path as a result of family which may be fulfilling in some way, but almost always lower pay. And if they choose a different career path as a result of family, they may then be on a trajectory that doesn’t allow for transitioning back or into another more advanced career path.