How career cushioning can help you survive a shaky job market
Written and accurate as at: Dec 11, 2025 Current Stats & Facts
It’s an unfortunate fact of life these days but job security isn’t always a given. Companies go through rough patches, and the economy can take unexpected turns (as the last few years have done a stellar job of showing us).
For the average worker, the prospect of redundancy or any other unwelcome change can be stressful, especially if there are kids or a mortgage in the picture. But there’s one strategy many are adopting that can help make professional challenges less daunting: career cushioning.
What is career cushioning and when should you do it?
Not to be confused with actively looking for another job while you’re employed, career cushioning is more about taking small, proactive steps in your current role so that you become more employable and resilient over time.
The keyword there is ‘proactive,’ as career cushioning works best as a pre-emptive measure. The idea is that if your company or industry suddenly experiences a shakeup, you’ll hopefully have enough skills and leverage to escape relatively unscathed.
And even if the worst doesn’t come to pass and you remain secure in your job for years, the effort is never truly wasted. The skills and connections you gain will hopefully make you better at your current role, and potentially open doors to promotions or other opportunities down the track.
Here are three ways you can go about cushioning your career.
1. Find opportunities to upskill
It’s worth remembering that you won’t build resilience to career shocks by resting on your laurels. What was a cutting-edge skill five years ago might now be standard, or even on its way to becoming obsolete, so continuous learning is a must.
To help future-proof your career, try to identify skills that would make you more valuable to your current employer (and more attractive to future ones), and then look for opportunities to build them.
Many universities and online platforms offer short courses and microcredentials for everything from data analytics to digital marketing. Taking up one of these and committing to even a few hours of study each month can make a big difference to your career prospects.
There might even be internal opportunities too. Ask your manager if you can get involved in any cross-team projects that can help you cultivate a particular set of skills. And if your company has a professional development budget for staff, try to take advantage of any workshops or external courses that are available.
2. Keep up to date with emerging trends
Career cushioning is also about keeping your finger on the pulse of your industry, so you’re not caught unprepared if it undergoes a major shift.
Make an effort to follow industry leaders on platforms like LinkedIn, subscribe to relevant trade publications, and listen to podcasts that discuss the future of your field. Networking is also crucial, so if there are industry events that let you learn and connect with peers at the same time, don’t pass them up.
3. Seek out additional income sources
This one might be easier said than done, but if you’re able to diversify your income sources it can provide a great deal of security if you suddenly lose your primary job. There are plenty of ways to do this, including turning a hobby into a small side business or putting your professional skills to extra use by taking on freelance work.
Activities like these aren’t just a great way to bring in extra cash, they expand your professional network and build a portfolio of work outside your main job. If the time does come to apply for another role, there’s a good chance they’ll make you a more compelling candidate in the eyes of employers.
At the end of the day, career cushioning isn’t a surefire way to protect your job, but it does give you a strong safety net and a sense of control amid an ever-changing job market.