Social media networks such as TikTok have become powerful platforms that can shape consumer trends in a wide range of different sectors and markets. One area that social media has played a pivotal role in shaping is the job market, highlighting niche industries, business development and a wide range of viral career trends that can impact both the employee and employers, wrote AiApply, a job recruitment platform in a note to the media.
Taking a closer look at some of the career trends that have emerged over the last few years on TikTok, AiApply said that there has been trends from the self-explanatory ‘bare minimum Mondays’, ‘quiet quitting’ for those who have checked out of their job role and ‘the lazy girl’ for those who looking for a well-paid job with minimum stress levels.
Whilst some trends have a humorous side to them, many others hold genuine value and could have a positive impact on your employee’ future careers and personal lives. One of those trends is ‘career cushioning’, they explain.
What is career cushioning?
Career cushioning is a strategy where people build a backup plan or safety net that protects their career and financial stability.
There are several ways that the career cushioning trend can benefit our lives and help build a personal safety net for our future job prospects and financial stability.
How to make career cushioning work for you?
Aidan Cramer, founder and CEO of AiApply, has explored this Tik Tok trend in more detail outlined below to explain why we should be taking more notice of career cushioning and how we can incorporate it into our lives.
Building an Emergency Fund – A great place to start is creating an emergency fund that could help cover expenses from issues such as losing your job, long term illness or even unexpected repair bills. It’s recommended that emergency funds cover the cost of your expenses for 3 – 6 months, which should help relieve some of the pressure as you search for another job.
Continue to Develop your Skills – Continuously updating and learning new skills is something that could help future proof your career and make you more marketable in the job market. Does your line of work have a wide range of learning opportunities or courses that could help you develop your skill set? Speak to your manager or HR team to see what’s available to you.
Build your Professional Network – Social networks specific to careers and business such as LinkedIn is a great way to build your professional network within your industry. Whether you want to build your personal brand with social media posts, comment on relevant topics or you simply want to connect with like minded people within your industry, social media is an easy way to get started.
Consider a Side Hustle – Having a secondary source of income could help supplement your main income and provide you with that extra financial stability to cushion that career. The possibilities are endless too – a secondary source of income could come in the form of freelancing, teaching a fitness class or even setting up your own ecommerce business.
Make your Money Perform Better – You work hard for your money, therefore it should perform well for you to get the optimum returns on your savings. If you’re well on your way to building a fund that will act as your safety net, consider looking into high interest savings accounts and ISAs to help your money grow. And if you’re starting out on your savings journey, take advantage of banks that allow their customers to create savings and round up pots to help make saving for that rainy day fund a whole lot easier.