How to start 'career cushioning' so you aren't screwed if you lose your job

• Layoffs are creeping upward — already Amazon and Meta have cut tens of thousands of staffers.
• That's why it's wise to "career cushion" so you're not blindsided if you lose your job.

It can be terrifying to watch colleagues across your industry — and maybe even in your own company — get the ax, wondering whether you'll be next.

Already, layoffs are sweeping the US. Large companies including Amazon, Meta, and Disney have let go of chunks of their workforces. And there might be more layoffs in store.

Knowing you're prepared for a possible worst-case scenario by "career cushioning" can mitigate some of the stress you're feeling, according to Blair Heitmann, a career expert at LinkedIn. "Cushioning" in a romantic context refers to keeping potential partners on the back burner in case your current relationship fizzles. In a work context, it's more like a Plan B insurance policy.

Career cushioning is getting a lot of attention lately. This is likely in part because it's a catchy term akin to "quiet quitting" or "Bare Minimum Monday," but also because it helps you to know that you have some control over your career trajectory.

Cushioning makes you feel that you're ready "for whatever comes next in the economy and in the job market," Heitmann told Insider.

Here are some simple tips.

Update your social-media profiles

Heitmann said the first — and potentially easiest — thing to do is update your LinkedIn profile. You can update your presence on other social-media platforms too while you're at it — to "demonstrate the scale of your expertise." She recommended making sure your profile reflects your latest job experience and skills, so that recruiters can see that you'd be a good fit for certain positions.

It helps to have on-hand copies of recent performance reviews, client testimonials, and "anything that you could use as fodder to help you update your profile and your résumé," Amanda Augustine, a career expert at TopResume, previously told Insider.

Ramp up your networking efforts

It's the wisdom most every professional knows but doesn't want to hear: It's easier to ask someone for a favor when you've stayed in touch, and maybe even helped them, compared to when you drop in out of nowhere.

Heitmann shared some relatively passive ways to do just that. For example, you could post some insights about where your industry is headed on LinkedIn or comment on something a colleague shared. "Your network and relationships are two-way streets," she said.

Think about what you want

It always helps to think about what you're hoping to accomplish in your career — knowing that those ambitions might evolve. "Even if you love your job and you're happy, it's always a great moment to take a step back," Heitmann said. In the event that you lose your job, it won't be the first time you ask yourself what you might actually want to be doing all day.

Once you've identified some goals, you can start reverse engineering your success by pinpointing the skills and experiences you'll need to get there. The authors of "The New Rules of Work" advise browsing job postings all the time to get a sense of the qualifications you'll need to land your next role.

In the past, Heitmann said, she's jotted down her own plan for getting to the next step in her career. "It's always helped me to really think through how to be prepared," Heitmann said. "Write it down and make a game plan."

An earlier version of this story published on December 10, 2022.