Career Readiness Skill of the Month: Adaptability

Adaptability is the ability to modify one's behavior, mindset, or approach in response to changing circumstances while maintaining productivity and effectiveness. This means learning to recognize change as an opportunity to gain new skills and experience, not just as something to overcome. Be curious by asking questions, exploring how things work, and looking for better ways to do the task. Work, tools, and industries are continually changing, so employers look for people who can be effective when priorities, technology, or team structures shift. 

Sample Behaviors are clear, visible actions or examples that show you’ve developed a particular skill or competency. For Adaptability, you need to…

• Learn new systems or software without giving up, even if it’s frustrating at first.
• Stay calm when plans change (a project pivots, a supervisor leaves, a class or event moves online) and focus on solutions rather than blame.
• Be willing to work with different personalities, structures, and expectations while still meeting deadlines and quality standards.
• Intentionally take on at least one “stretch” task each semester (new tool, new role in a group, new type of assignment or project).
• Pause, re-clarify the goal, or suggest a small next step instead of freezing when something changes (syllabus update, group member drops the class, internship priorities shift).
• Take note of examples of adaptability for resumes and interviews, like learning unfamiliar software for a class project or helping a student club pivot an event to a new format.

Schedule an appointment through your Handshake account with a Career Counselor to discuss how to make the most of your time at Idaho State University and help you meet your goals.