Like many Black women, Candace Steele Flippin, D.M., senior vice president and chief communications officer for Acuity Brands, learned the importance of career cushioning early in her career. “I once had a colleague who refused to participate in networking events and focused solely on working hard as the means to get noticed,” she says. When the colleague’s division was outsourced, her job went with it, and, unfortunately, “she didn't know anyone inside the company or the industry, leaving her with few options,” Dr. Steele Flippin says.
Thanks to the advice of mentors, Dr. Steele Flippin used a different strategy. She got to know people at all levels of her organization, joined professional and industry organizations and kept her résumé up-to-date. “Throughout my career, I've had seven jobs, including my current one, that were referrals from people in my network,” she says. “While having a network may not guarantee job security, it can be invaluable in helping you find new opportunities and navigate challenging situations.”
Maybe we do it out of a sense of self-preservation, but cultivating authentic relationships is nothing new for Black women. We are always ready to drop a word of advice or solicit another sister’s opinion whether at a church service, sorority meeting or trade conference. We’re also always on the lookout for a better opportunity. In fact, 49 percent of Black workers are either considering or taking steps to find a new job, according to a recent survey by the job site Indeed.com. Perhaps that’s why 93 percent of Black and Latinx workers feel confident about their job outlook, according to LinkedIn, despite the layoffs taking place all around us.
With life returning mostly back to normal after the turmoil of the pandemic, many of us are also venturing back out to after-work happy hours and professional networking sessions. When you use career cushioning tactics such as expanding your network, your actions are saying, “I’m being intentional, I’m being strategic, I know where I’m trying to go,” says Velera Wilson, a speaker and author who helps women build career leadership skills. Even if you love your job and you’re happier than you’ve ever been, “when things start turning sour, you’ve already got people that you can connect with and it doesn’t feel like a cold call,” Wilson says.
As Black women, we’re not ones to let grass grow beneath our feet. To make sure you’re ready when opportunity strikes, try these career cushioning tactics yourself.
Use social media to build your professional brand. Post what you want people to know about you, says Wilson. If you received a new certification or got a promotion, share it with your network on LinkedIn. You never know when a hiring manager who needs those skills will see it. It positions you as the person who does X, says Wilson. When people in your network see opportunities, you’re likely to be top of mind.
