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With the cost of living crisis affecting many young professionals, it’s no surprise that many choose to make sure they have a solid plan B in place in case something goes wrong at work.
The concept of future-proofing your career seems to be becoming more and more popular, with many striving to ensure that your CV is constantly prepared and your skill set is evergreen.
The phenomenon is called professional damping, and LinkedIn career expert Charlotte Davies told FEMAIL it’s definitely on the rise.
And getting involved doesn’t have to be a chore. Upskilling, keeping an eye on who’s hiring, and constantly updating your LinkedIn profile are all ways to remain an attractive option for future employees.
The concept of future-proofing your career seems to be becoming more and more popular, with many making sure their CV is constantly groomed and their skill set evergreen (stock image)
“Career protection is about employees taking steps to ‘buffer’ or protect themselves and their careers,” Charlotte explained.
“In the midst of today’s economic uncertainty, it’s an insurance policy to set yourself up for success.”
The LinkedIn expert also said that the networking platform has seen a definite rise in the trend.
“We’ve definitely seen an increase on LinkedIn of people upskilling,” he added. “We’ve seen a 43 percent year-over-year increase in the number of members adding skills to their profile – 35 million added in the last 12 months.”
Charlotte says it’s industries with high-profile layoffs that may currently be looking at backup plans, but cautions against “underestimating the transferable skills you have.”
“If you need to move into a new industry, you rarely need to completely overhaul your skills and you may already have the ‘similar skills’ needed to change your career,” he explained.
The running expert also shared her top five tips on how you can cushion your own run with FEMAIL.
1. Be open
Charlotte says that if you’re not satisfied with your current role, it’s important to take the time to “have an open and transparent conversation with your manager to see if anything can be changed or if there are any opportunities for growth.”
“Be sure to make it clear to your employer that you are committed to your current position if that is how you feel,” he added.
The phenomenon is called career buffering, and LinkedIn career expert Charlotte Davies (pictured) told FEMAIL that it’s definitely on the rise.
2. Update your LinkedIn profile
The expert warns that it is not just about the biography and the close-up. It’s important that his network is aware of the latest and most relevant news and keywords that could lead him to the desired jobs. This can further increase your visibility in recruiter searches.
3. Start improving your skills
For many people, professional cushioning is an exercise in building confidence.
Charlotte says that by taking advantage of online classes (citing LinkedIn learning courses as an example), you can build an arsenal of secret weapons to have up your sleeve.
This, he continued, could “give you the confidence that if things go wrong, you’ll be armed with a broad skill set to support a future job search.”
Charlotte says it’s industries with high-profile layoffs that may currently be looking at backup plans, but cautions against “underestimating the transferable skills you have.” Stock image used
4. Touch your network
Future-proofing your career means relying on connections old and new.
The important thing, says Charlotte, is to really use them.
“There are 9,000 connections made every minute on LinkedIn,” he explained. “And touching the right person at the right time is the magic formula that can help get your foot in the door.”
5. See who’s hiring
It’s important to keep an eye out for job opportunities, even if you don’t plan on applying for anything.
“You can also check and follow companies that might be hiring,” Charlotte said. “On LinkedIn, when you visit the ‘Jobs’ tab, you can now see who’s hiring in your network and your network’s network.”
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