Developing ‘Antifragile’ graduates for an uncertain future of work

The rapid development of artificial intelligence, automation, and changing job design is transforming expectations of graduate employment. Career pathways are becoming less linear and more unpredictable, requiring graduates to navigate uncertainty, continuous learning, and repeated transitions throughout their working lives. These changes raise important questions for work-based learning practitioners regarding how students can be prepared for careers that may not yet exist and workplaces that continue to evolve.
This Research Showcase introduces the concept of Antifragility (Taleb, 2012) as a lens through which to reconsider the purpose and design of work-based learning. While resilience focuses on recovering from challenges, Antifragility emphasises growth through uncertainty, disruption, and complexity. The project also draws on Planned Happenstance Theory (Krumboltz, 2009), which highlights the importance of recognising and acting upon unexpected opportunities throughout a career journey.
The project explores the following question:
How can concepts of Antifragility and Planned Happenstance Theory help reimagine work-based learning for careers shaped by artificial intelligence, automation, and changing job design?
The study was conducted through an interactive workshop with undergraduate and postgraduate Cork University Business School Students. The workshop began with a presentation exploring contemporary career development, Planned Happenstance Theory (Krumboltz, 2009), and Antifragility in the context of a rapidly changing labour market. Students then participated in discussions and completed an adapted Systems Theory Framework activity (Patton & McMahon, 1999) to identify the personal, social, educational, and environmental influences shaping their career development. Finally, participants completed the Antifragility Questionnaire, developed through the Erasmus+ project Innovation in Career Guidance: Antifragility in Career Guidance, as a tool for reflection and self-assessment.