Making sure you keep in touch with former colleagues is one way of career cushioning
(Picture: ES Composite)Once a month, Mark, 41 a film production manager, goes out for drinks with former colleagues – people he met at the start of his career – many of whom now have high status roles across the entertainment industry. While Mark is mostly there for the gossip and good times, these get-togethers are also a calculated and essential part of his career strategy. It’s his way of low-key networking, despite being happy in his current role.
This is just one facet of “career cushioning”, which essentially means having a solid, albeit secret, “plan B” just in case you are laid off without warning. Also known as recession-proofing your career, it is about being open to and prepared for opportunities before you really need them.
