3 Things to Do Right Now to Protect Your Career in a Shifting Job Market
In uncertain times, career insurance is how ambitious professionals stay ready and visible. It’s not a policy. It’s a proactive plan.
The Rise of Career Uncertainty Across Every Industry
Across every corner of the workforce, one truth is becoming harder to ignore: job security just isn’t what it used to be. Healthcare systems are downsizing. Tech companies are restructuring entire departments. Nonprofits are freezing new hires. This past week, another round of federal government layoffs and final separations caught public servants off guard, with little time to prepare. Many are still reeling from the ripple effects, including those, like me, whose final separation came after months of uncertainty.
These shifts are unfolding across an already turbulent career landscape and are a clear sign that traditional ideas of job security are disappearing fast. High performance, advanced degrees, and years of service no longer guarantee stability in systems shaped by unpredictable change.
If you’ve been feeling the unease of it all, you’re not alone. The world of work is evolving rapidly, and with it, the expectation for how we manage our careers. That’s why now, more than ever, we need to talk about the one thing most of us were never taught to build: it’s what I call career insurance.
The New Non-Negotiable for Ambitious Professionals
You might be wondering, what exactly is career insurance? It’s not something you purchase to protect your job. It’s something you build.
I tell my clients all the time: invest in “career insurance” for yourself. It’s your personal safeguard against uncertainty, designed to protect your peace, power, and professional relevance, especially when everything around you is in flux. Think of it as your personal policy that keeps you visible in a shifting climate and ready for whatever comes your way.
It starts with three types of coverage:
Visibility Coverage - Be recognized for what you do best. Your brand should speak clearly before you even enter the room. The people who need to know your name already do… or soon will.
Your presence should reflect your leadership, not just your last title. Make it easy for others to see what you’re known for, why it matters, and how you lead. If no one knows your value, they can’t open doors for you when opportunity arrives.
Narrative Coverage - Own your story before it owns you. That’s a mantra I stand by, because if you don’t shape the narrative, it will shape you, and not always in your favor. Regardless of whether you’re navigating a layoff, career pivot, or leadership transition, your story, not the system, should define the shift. From LinkedIn to boardrooms to interviews, make sure the version of your journey people hear is the one you’ve written.
Network Liability Coverage - Go beyond collecting contacts on LinkedIn. What you need is an ecosystem, a trusted network or advisory board of mentors, advocates, allies, and colleagues who endorse and sponsor you. These are the people who will speak your name in rooms you're not in. They also remind you who you are when everything else feels uncertain. You don’t need a thousand contacts, but you need the right ones built on purpose, not panic.
Visibility and Voice Are No Longer Optional
For high-achieving professionals, especially women of color, self-advocacy often takes a backseat to delivering results, supporting teams, and leading through uncertainty. This moment calls for a shift. Leadership today requires intentional visibility, consistent brand alignment, and clear positioning for impact, mobility, and peace of mind.
Career insurance requires the same level of purpose and precision you bring to your clients, teams, or mission. It reflects what you've accomplished, who you are, and where you're headed. Rarely do we pause to consider how we are positioning ourselves for the future, or whether our presence reflects the power we bring.
5 Micro-Actions to Strengthen Your Career Insurance This Week
Here are a few small but powerful moves you can make today:
Update your LinkedIn headline to reflect your value, not just your past title
Share a post that shows your thought leadership, lived wisdom, or insight
Reach out to a mentor, sponsor, or colleague to reconnect intentionally
Review your résumé, bio, or speaker profile with fresh eyes
Join a circle, group, or space that supports your leadership evolution
These protective actions can strengthen your position, expand your visibility, and open the door to new opportunities.
Want to Build This with Support? Join the Career Accelerator Intensive™ | Founders Circle
If you’re ready to lead with clarity, visibility, and purpose, join me inside the Founders Circle of the Career Accelerator Intensive™, starting July 31. This 6-week experience is designed for ambitious professionals, especially women of color, who are done waiting, hiding, or second-guessing, and are ready to elevate their brand, influence, and direction.
Only 3 spots remain. Secure your seat now before enrollment closes.
Inside, you’ll receive:
Private coaching and peer community
A proven roadmap to clarify your narrative and strengthen your leadership voice
A bold space to step into your next level, with support and strategy
Ready to step in? Explore the Founders Circle.
Let’s ensure your story and strategy are working for you. Real career insurance starts with how you lead yourself