How do you show resilience to potential employers?

1 Identify your resilient qualities

Think of some examples from your past experiences, both personal and professional, where you showed resilience. How did you deal with a difficult situation, a setback, a failure, or a criticism? What did you learn from it? How did you grow as a person or a professional? Write down your resilient qualities, such as perseverance, optimism, flexibility, problem-solving, self-awareness, or emotional regulation. These are the traits that employers value and want to see in their employees.

2 Showcase your resilience in your resume and cover letter

Your resume and cover letter are your first opportunities to show your resilience to potential employers. Use action verbs and specific details to highlight your achievements and accomplishments that demonstrate your resilience. For example, you can mention how you overcame a challenge, improved a process, resolved a conflict, or delivered a project under pressure. You can also use keywords and phrases that relate to resilience, such as "adapted to", "recovered from", "responded to", or "managed stress". Avoid vague or generic statements that do not show your impact or value.

3 Prepare for behavioral questions in your interviews

Behavioral questions are questions that ask you to describe how you handled a specific situation in the past. They are often used by employers to assess your resilience and other soft skills. To answer these questions effectively, use the STAR method: Situation, Task, Action, and Result. Explain the situation you faced, the task you had to accomplish, the action you took, and the result you achieved. Focus on the positive outcomes and the lessons learned from the situation. For example, you can talk about how you dealt with a difficult customer, a tight deadline, a team conflict, or a negative feedback.

4 Demonstrate your resilience during your interviews

Your interviews are not only about answering questions, but also about showing your personality and attitude. You can demonstrate your resilience during your interviews by being confident, calm, and positive. Show that you are enthusiastic and motivated about the job and the company. Avoid complaining or blaming others for any challenges or failures you faced. Instead, show how you took responsibility and learned from them. Be honest and humble about your strengths and weaknesses, and show that you are open to feedback and improvement.

5 Follow up after your interviews

Your resilience does not end with your interviews. You can show your resilience after your interviews by following up with your potential employers. Send a thank-you note to each interviewer within 24 hours, expressing your appreciation and interest in the job. Reiterate your key skills and achievements that match the job requirements, and mention any relevant information that you did not get to share during the interview. If you do not hear back from them within a reasonable time frame, you can send a polite and professional follow-up email or call, asking for an update on the hiring process. Do not give up or lose hope, but also do not be pushy or desperate. Show that you are patient and respectful, and that you value their time and decision.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?