What the Heck is Career Cushioning?

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What It’s About: Career cushioning is one of those new age terms that labels an old age practice. Essentially, it’s a “Tik Tok“ version of looking for another job, while one currently has a job. Sorry to deflate the hipness of this emerging lingo, but people with common sense have been doing that for the 50 years I’ve been in the workplace.

A CEO I know kept an updated depth chart of possible VP candidates from outside the company. He was always recruiting, just in case. I think that’s prudent leadership and good succession planning. It would be fair then, if each of his VPs was open to opportunities elsewhere. It’s also prudent for them to have a depth chart of possible new jobs.

So What?: Some people think it’s disloyal and even unethical to be considering another job while actively employed. I’m not suggesting that one should be “cushioning” at the expense of one’s employer. We all have an obligation to do our best work while getting a paycheck. On the other hand, each of us is self-accountable for our own career planning. We need to be building a body of work and results that are transferable outside of our current situation. The people we work for have to be loyal to the organization first, and sometimes that does not include us. So we have to be ready for the next step at any time.

Now What?: I don’t know if we should be career cushioning (dumb term), but we’d be naive if we didn’t have our head on a swivel looking for what could be next for us. I find the people who somehow think their situation is permanent as those who are most devastated when their jobs dramatically change or disappear.

Preparing for a future role also includes building relationships with folks that can help us find that next step, or a new path. Frankly, there is nothing “coushy” about working at that. It takes intentional energy, hard effort and realistic thinking. Tik Tok like a clock, do your best work while always getting ready for what might be next.

Think Big, Start Small, Act Now,

- Lorne

One Millennial View: Geez, is thinking up new, cute, catchy terms the only thing anyone wants to work at anymore? We as society messed up, bad. According to this CBS News article, 86 percent of young Americans aspire to be a social media influencer. No wonder there’s no more glamor in a cubicle, but there needs to be. To the plumbers, the truck drivers, the brick layers, the nurses, the electricians, to everyone not a social media influencer - thank you! You keep our world “tik toking.” Let’s get some appreciation back in all those positions, and maybe people won’t have such a desire to jump ship.

- Garrett

Edited and published by Garrett Rubis

What the Heck is Career Cushioning?

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