Ready for Anything: Jobs Come and Go, But Your Career is Here to Stay

You may expect the majority of the American workforce to retreat and shelter in-job with layoff news and increasing economic uncertainty. But on the contrary, a new LinkedIn survey finds that many professionals are feeling confident (95%) about their career prospects in 2023 even though almost half of respondents have fears of layoffs. This confidence is showing up in the majority of people asking for raises or looking for their next job. They’ve come to realize that jobs come and go, but their careers are here to stay. 

This powerful mindset—coupled with increased confidence—is helping professionals show resilience as they kick off the new year. And this is evident as people are making strategic moves and investing in careers with longevity to give themselves the widest spectrum of possibilities. Remember: it’s all about playing the long game of building a career, not solely focusing on your current job.

Here are three steps to get you started.

Don’t be precious about the job or industry. 

Remember: it’s a long game. You need both short-term and long-term goals. What job today will get you the career you want in the future? Right now you need to focus on the jobs with staying power and that will give you the opportunity to learn and leverage the most in-demand skills. 

Our newly-released 2023 Jobs on the Rise list outlines the hottest jobs with staying power right now. The 25 Jobs on the Rise are: 

Unlock Your Skills Wallet

If you have your sights set on one of these roles, begin by identifying the skills needed to land this job, and how your own “skills wallet” compares to that. If you find gaps, look to LinkedIn Learning courses to gain those skills – we’ve unlocked courses like “Build a Career You Love No Matter the Market with Elatia Abate,” “Mel Robbins on Confidence,” and “A Bold New Approach to Goal Setting with Michael Bungay Stanier.” Then, update those new skills on your LinkedIn Profile. The more equipped with knowledge you become, the clearer your confidence will lead the way.

Fortify Your Network

Persevering is all about having a community to rely on. And community is more than just who you know: It’s about who your community knows, and how you can work alongside each other to find success. That’s how some like Sierra Ellis bounced back from a layoff in just 4 weeks using the #OpentoWork feature. Set a realistic goal to keep up with your network, e.g. reach out to one person a week with a thoughtful question or conversation starter. Connect with five people you know once a week and engage with them. If you break it into bite-size pieces, it won’t be as overwhelming. 

There’s no such thing as being over prepared when it comes to crafting a career with confidence and resilience, and we’re here to guide you through the ebbs and flows of reaching your professional destination and building a career with longevity. Because as the world of work continues to change, building towards what works for you is the strongest action you can take.