Work Trends (2 of 5)

 Boomerang Employee

Boomerang employees are those who leave an employer only to come back later. Workers may return to their old workplaces for a number of reasons. They might leave their jobs, feel shift shock in their new roles elsewhere, and decide to come back, or they may boomerang to get a raise.

I don't think there's anything wrong with that, nor do I think that practice is frowned upon. Whether people are after a good environment or a raise, people are just trying to get what they deserve. Not much controversy here, so this is something that doesn't need avoiding/overcoming.

Career Cushioning

Career cushioning is a bit like an employment insurance policy, particularly in the face of a possible recession or layoffs. The idea is to have opportunities on the back burner if you should lose your current job, whether it's by keeping your LinkedIn updated, networking, or actively applying for new jobs.

Again, nothing wrong with this practice in my opinion. This looks like something that's pretty normal, especially when one job doesn't pay enough; it's just now, there's actually a term for it. In fact, I encourage people to practice this, especially since the world has changed. More and more people have side hustles, amid the uncertainty of layoffs. It's way to keep working and growing, should you ever lose a job. It's also a great way to broaden your perspective, and find work, and an environment that would suit you. It's normal to look for opportunities outside, because that's really how you grow your career nowadays, especially in the IT industry. And, I don't see any way one could be at a loss when doing this. So don't be ashamed of applying outside.

Sure, if you've become a linchpin yourself, you're not at risk, as much as the rest, of getting laid off. In any case, it still might be a good idea to cushion your career.