If you’re a working mom or a job-seeker in South Africa, you’ve probably faced career setbacks - retrenchments, career breaks, or unexpected challenges. But here’s something encouraging: more and more employers are recruiting for resilience rather than just looking for a flawless career history. This shift in hiring practices means that recruiters are actively looking for candidates who have overcome challenges - because resilience has become one of the most valuable workplace skills. Instead of seeing setbacks as career obstacles, it’s time to turn them into proof of your strength and adaptability. In this blog, we find out why employers are recruiting resilient candidates and how to turn your challenges into opportunities.
"When we recruit, the conversation is around the scars on your back: What were the setbacks, and how did you handle those? Because that’s much more important to me than how you achieved something when the wind was in your back."
Why Employers Are Recruiting for Resilience
A recent McKinsey & World Economic Forum report found that 84% of organisations aren’t investing enough in resilience. The ability to adapt, problem-solve, and persevere has become more valuable than an uninterrupted career path.
Think about it: Who is better prepared for the realities of the workplace?
- Someone who has had a smooth, predictable career? Or ...
- Someone who has faced challenges, adapted, and kept going?
Employers are realising that real leadership is built in tough times, so they are hiring for resilience more than ever before.
How to Use Your Setbacks to Get Hired for Resilience
1. Reframe Your Career Story
Recruiters are not just looking for technical skills - they want to see problem-solving, perseverance, and adaptability. Instead of focusing on the setback itself, highlight how you responded and what you learned.
Example: Instead of writing “Career gap from 2020–2022” on your CV, try:
"Upskilled in digital marketing and managed a small business during a career break, developing adaptability and entrepreneurial skills."
2. Talk About Challenges in Interviews - With Confidence
When asked about difficult situations, don’t just describe the problem - explain how you handled it. Show that you approach challenges with a solutions mindset.
Example: “After being retrenched, I completed a financial management course and secured a freelance role, demonstrating my ability to adapt under pressure.”
3. Showcase Adaptability on Your CV
If you’ve switched industries, taken on freelance work, or had to upskill due to life circumstances, that’s not a weakness - it’s proof of resilience. Highlight the skills you gained from these transitions.
Example: If you started a small business after leaving formal employment, that’s proof of:
✔ Entrepreneurial thinking
✔ Financial and strategic management
✔ Self-motivation and leadership
4. Demonstrate Emotional Resilience
Resilience isn’t just about bouncing back - it’s about managing stress, staying composed, and leading under pressure. Employers now see emotional intelligence as a key leadership skill.
Think about the times you’ve had to:
✔ Balance work deadlines with family responsibilities
✔ Navigate financial uncertainty with a proactive mindset
✔ Stay calm and problem-solve in high-pressure situations
These are valuable workplace skills - ensure your CV and interviews reflect them.
Setbacks Don’t Define You - Your Comeback Does
If you’ve ever felt like career gaps, retrenchments, or unexpected challenges make you less employable, think again. Today’s most competent recruiters are hiring for resilience, knowing that the strongest candidates aren’t those with perfect records but those who have faced obstacles and kept moving forward.
So, the next time you doubt your journey, ask yourself: What did I learn? How did I grow? That’s your strength. That’s what makes you a valuable hire. And that’s what will set you apart in today’s job market.
Your career doesn’t have to be smooth to be successful - just resilient. Even your job search needs resilience if you are to succeed.
