Career cushioning will help you prepare for a job loss

Career cushioning is one of the workplace trends taking off in the US as workers everywhere prepare themselves for potential layoffs. The results of a recent LinkedIn Workforce Confidence Index revealed that 85% of American workers are worried about inflation, while only 44% feel that they are prepared to face an economic downturn.

What is career cushioning?

Career cushioning is an umbrella term for every action that you can take in your professional life to “cushion the landing,” in case of unexpected termination. Considering that many large-scale employers have begun massive layoffs in the past few weeks, it isn’t surprising that career cushioning is spreading among the US workforce. If you are working in the tech sector, or any other sector, layoffs are prevalent as employers battle with finances. Here’s what you can do to secure your career’s safety starting today.

Identify your career values

Not everyone wants the same things from a career. While someone you know will only care about higher pay and better benefits, you may deeply crave a positive work culture and work flexibility. Asses your career values in detail before you commit yourself to a job. This will help you evaluate your current and future employers and ensure that you don’t get stuck in a job you hate a few years down the road.

Build marketable skills, and sell them

The first thing recruiters will be looking for in a candidate will be their skill set. If you want to ensure that you can still secure a good job after a layoff, you should equip yourself with marketable skills. Did you know that over 40% of employers globally use skills to search for candidates? Just like hard skills, employers demand soft skills from strong candidates. It isn’t enough that you develop the right skills, you should also take care to advertise them the proper way, through your resume and LinkedIn profile.

Keep applying for jobs

Lost a job recently and don’t know what to do? Or want to get out of a toxic workplace for a better opportunity? The best thing you can do is to apply for new jobs. Use online job boards and company websites to find unadvertised job openings. Talk to your network about employment opportunities. The success of your job search depends on the weight you put behind it. So, never stop applying for jobs even if it takes a few weeks for an opportunity to open up for you.

Start a side hustle

There is no better way for career cushioning than starting a side hustle. We have done one whole article on side hustle ideas for introverts, which will help you. Starting a side gig or a freelancing career will help you earn some extra cash. It will also help you smooth the finances over a long job search. Did you know that 40% of Americans are currently having a side hustle? Stuck on where to start? Consider turning your hobby into a business. That way, you will get to do something you love while earning money!