Career Cushioning: Back-up Plans at Work
The workplace isn’t what it used to be. In the past, people held one job until they retired. While this may still happen from time to time, most employees are often looking for better career opportunities, sometimes during their tenure. Let me explain about the carrier cushion. This is a lesser-known term, but it describes a common practice in the workplace. Simply put, career cushioning is preparing for your next job while continuing with your current job. This includes taking online courses, updating your LinkedIn profile, and sending in your resume in case something goes wrong with your current position.
The term became popular at a time when job security was at stake post-pandemic. The pandemic has affected every industry, changing the way we work and leaving many professionals wondering if they will have a job at the end of the day. After all, there is still a lot of uncertainty in the business world. From layoffs to AI and financial issues, people fear losing their jobs and start buffering their careers. Keep in mind that this is not because they are dishonest, but because they are smart. they try to survive. But is it the best choice? This article details the benefits and pitfalls of career cushions, both for employees looking to secure their careers and for companies that don’t want to lose talent.
Advantages of employee career cushion
employment stability
Career Cushion prepares you for worst-case scenarios at work. Especially now, even if you’re great in your role, you can still get fired, so they try to beef up their resumes in time. So when a company announces budget cuts, you can see that their skills are updated and their resumes are ready to start job hunting. This will give you peace of mind knowing that you have the upper hand if the worst happens.
professional growth
When it comes to skills, career cushioning isn’t just about securing the next position, it’s about “upgrading” yourself. When you take a course or attend a workshop, you’re not just learning, you’re actually becoming more adaptable. The more skills you have, the more opportunities you can get. Additionally, in today’s job market, new technologies emerge every day, so staying relevant is critical. A career cushion gives you an excuse to keep up with industry trends and become more versatile.
stress reduction
The job market is changing a lot, and having a Plan B isn’t a bad thing. It’s actually empowering. You’re always two steps ahead, so no matter what happens at work, you can plan your next move. This puts you in control of your career, including upskilling, networking, and job postings. Additionally, it provides a huge confidence boost and a valuable sense of security. Even if things go south, there’s no need to stress because there are plenty of opportunities to grab.
negotiation power
Relaxing your career can give you greater confidence in salary negotiations because you know you have options. Improving your skills, networking, and interviewing elsewhere can give you more leverage when it comes to starting conversations about raises. why? You’re no longer begging for it, you’re explaining to them why they want to keep you. Of course, that doesn’t mean you should go around bragging about other offers. Instead, use it to show that you are in demand. That way you know the employer will appreciate this and negotiate better terms.
what’s not good
loss of concentration
When you’re stretched thin in your career, you’re essentially multitasking. While working, you’ll be applying for jobs, networking, and taking courses at the same time. The danger with this is losing focus on your work and responsibilities. Therefore, productivity decreases because your mind is elsewhere, resulting in unread emails, missed deadlines, unfinished projects, and poor work quality. It will be. Needless to say, your boss will notice and probably ask what’s wrong. So before you start actively securing your career, ask yourself if you can juggle everything at once.
ethical issues
Ethics is a big part of your career buffer. Specifically, let’s talk about conflicts of interest. If your boss notices that you’re practicing skills that have nothing to do with your current job, there may be a problem. For example, let’s say you want to start a side business making candles. If your boss notices that you’re taking a course on small business management or building an e-shop, even though your current position is in sales, they might suspect something is wrong. . This can cause them to lose trust in you and damage your reputation as an employee.
Advantages of career cushion for companies
Developing proactive employees
Whether it’s learning new software, a second language, or networking, it’s not necessarily a bad thing for your company to have employees upgrading their skills. Those skills are also incorporated into my current role. For example, employees who have taken courses in data analysis can be leveraged for company reporting. Career Cushion propels companies towards building a culture of adaptability and continuous learning. Companies become more dynamic when employees are actively engaged in self-improvement. Remember, successful organizations are those that are open to the personal growth of their employees. Companies that encourage development show that they value their employees.
indirect retention
Let’s talk about talent retention. Career cushioning is certainly not ideal, but if employees feel like they’re getting opportunities to grow at your company, they won’t look for those opportunities elsewhere. When employees know they have a future, they’re much more likely to stay and give their best effort. So start offering upskilling opportunities, professional development programs, or open conversations about career goals. This makes employees feel more loyal and secure in their positions, and eliminates the need for them to quit.
Reduce impact on sales
How can you turn the fact that your employees are actively looking for new opportunities while still working for your company into something useful? Well, when your staff is preparing for their next move, you can It’s more likely to alert you and give you a chance to prepare. This means you can start planning for a smoother transition. Whether it’s cross-training, reallocating workloads, or preparing for a new hire search, knowing when an employee is leaving can greatly reduce the complexity of the entire process.
Negative impact of career buffers on organizations
Decline in employee engagement
If your employees are busy searching the job market, they’re probably not giving their 100% to their current position. They mentally quit long before they actually do. That’s because they work on side projects, update their resumes, and schedule interviews with other companies. While you expect them to carry out their role, they are planning their next career move. Needless to say, they are no longer invested in the company’s goals. So instead of bringing in new ideas and committing to leveraging them for the organization’s success, they become isolated and disengaged.
disloyalty
When companies discover that their employees are practicing career cushioning, trust is diminished, if not destroyed. A loyal employee who has been with your company for years suddenly seems less loyal. Imagine the tension this creates in the office. Office drama can ensue, especially if employees begin to learn that co-workers are preparing to leave. They will start to wonder what happened, reconsider their job security, and think about their own career cushions. Overall, a loss of trust from the workplace can lead to increased rigidity on the part of employers and a loss of team spirit in companies. This leads to micromanagement and suspicion, which ultimately leads to more and more staff leaving.
loss of talent
A career-blocking employee is likely a high-potential employee, one who has a lot of skills and knowledge and needs to move up the corporate ladder. If these employees leave, it’s a loss. Essentially, their departure shows that you as a company aren’t doing enough to keep them engaged and happy. And as soon as they leave, they take with them their innovative ideas, work ethic, and the relationships they built with clients and teammates. These are people who could have contributed to your company’s success.
conclusion
As long as there is mutual understanding on both sides, career cushioning is not difficult to prevent or combat. Employees want security and growth, while companies aim to keep their teams engaged and loyal. If both parties communicate openly, things can work out. So be transparent and encourage open dialogue about career growth. By doing so, everyone can grow without fear or anxiety.
