Career adaptability and career resilience: a systems perspective

Abstract Amidst constant societal, environmental and labour market changes, people are urged to be resilient and adaptable in their careers. Career guidance often portrays career resilience and adaptability as measurable traits, overlooking the privileging, discriminating, oppressing or marginalising impact of multiple systems (e.g. social, economic, political and educational) on them. The systems theory framework of career development offers a holistic view of the complex systems influencing career adaptability and resilience. This conceptual article proposes systems thinking as a perspective that links career adaptability and resilience with social justice towards more effectively addressing the needs of a diversifying population.