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It can be anxiety-inducing, watching colleagues around you getting laid off and wondering when you’ll be next. And while fear of layoffs feels like it’s at an all-time high, it seems an increase in the general price level of goods and services is a more significant concern among workers. According to LinkedIn Workforce Confidence Index, 85% of American workers are concerned about inflation, yet just 44% feel prepared for an economic downturn.
Here is where the new workplace term, “career cushioning,” was birthed. Introduced through LinkedIn by Career Expert Catherine Fisher, “career cushioning is taking actions to keep your options and cushioning for whatever comes next in the economy and job market.”
Borrowed from the dating world, career cushioning is a concept rooted in romance, keeping your romantic options open to soften the blow if your current relationship abruptly ends.
To cushion ourselves from an unexpected shift in the economy, experts are advocating for professionals to prepare themselves in two areas.
- Nurturing Your Network: Sharing More With Your Network
- Skill-building: Becoming Difficult to Replace
Become Difficult to Replace
What’s a surefire way to protect yourself from downturns in the job market? Take an inventory of your skills and see what skills are in high demand in your industry or your job function. Become irreplaceable. When you become difficult to replace, it becomes effortless to stay employed. So, be difficult match in terms of skills and expertise. Explore LinkedIn Courses, Earn a certificate, take a volunteering gig that will allow you to work on a project to grow skills, take note of the skills required for the job you want, and build around that.
49% of American workers agree that “the current economic uncertainty is negatively impacting my mental well-being.” Up-skilling may be the remedy for this.
Nurture Your Network
The “hey LinkedIn friends, I was unfortunately impacted by the recent layoffs” post can be effective if crafted well. Successful posts like that perform well for one main reason. They are specific and clear about what they are asking from their network. You don’t want thoughts and wishes. You want introductions, a volunteer position, recommendations for certification programs, and referrals. More than, “I’m looking for a remote job opportunity,” successful posts gain attention because they disclose:
- The type of role they had
- The type of role they want next
- Their top skills
Answer those questions in your post, and you’ll be surprised at the response.
People in your real-life and social network must know what you want to do. Keep sharing your professional interest, post your career-related inquiries, what you learned this week about your job, etc. Share your LinkedIn feed like your work diary (excluding the complaints and rants).
While 85% of the workforce is highly concerned about the economy, you can be the 15% resting easy because your unmatched skills and unparalleled network of professionals are arming you with confidence. Come what may, you have what you need to stand in the wind.