Career Flexibility Strategies

Work is evolving. The data show us where to focus: => Remote workers aren't thriving. => FIXED ONSITE employees are struggling. New Gallup Global Workplace: 2025 Report shares data to guide where to improve employee experiences and achieve better results. Remote workers need more support--better management and sense of belonging through culture and connection. Hybrid employees are clearly also experiencing high stress which needs addressing. However, notice the data for fixed onsite workers: - Only 19% are engaged - the lowest by far - Only 30% are thriving - the lowest by far FLEXIBILITY is essential for EVERY worker. More autonomy is necessary and possible for ALL onsite workers with different options depending on the role. Flexibility for onsite workers means more: - Shift patterns and options; - Staggered start and end times; - Rotating shifts and compressed workweeks; - Shift swapping; - Floaters and part-time schedules; - Job-sharing to fulfill a full-time role; - Phased retirement and on-demand labor; - Choice of vacation timing. Manufacturing, retail, and hospitality examples: - Land O'Lakes, Inc.: Introduced “flex work” program in 60 of 140 facilities, allowing factory workers to set their schedules vs rigid 12-hour shifts. - RICK STEIN RESTAURANTS: Flexible careers scheme allows staff (all ages and experience levels)to work as little as one shift per week. -Pets at Home (UK): Offers job-sharing and part-time options for store managers supported by manager training and explicit policies. Humans thrive with more autonomy, wherever they work. What greater workplace flexibility can your company offer every worker so that your workforce and business can thrive more?

I met my younger self for coffee. She looked at me, eyes filled with ambition, and asked: How can I make it as a woman in sales? I smiled. “Let’s start with the biggest myth. Sales isn’t a rigid, inflexible career. In fact, it’s the most flexible one if you know how to manage it.” She frowned. “But what about late-night meetings? Travel at odd hours?” “Easily solvable,” I told her. “You don’t always have to give in to pressure to work late. I never did. My boss knew I left by 6:30 PM, because I had workouts and needed time with my daughter. And guess what? I still hit my numbers.” The real game-changer is choosing the right organisation. Progressive companies don’t micromanage clock-in times.  They trust you to get the job done. If your calls are done and targets met, you don’t need to sit around just to be seen. The best workplaces operate on trust and results, not rigid hours. Time management is everything. You need to make sure that you  ✔ Cut out unnecessary meetings. ✔ Only attend customer calls with a clear agenda. ✔ Focus on what moves the needle, not just what fills the calendar. So to every woman wondering if sales can be a flexible, thriving career - it absolutely can.  But the real power is in your hands. Would love to hear from others - what’s one way you’ve created flexibility in your career?👇 #womeninsales #salesleadership #flexiblework #careeradvice

Career Transitions Are the New Normal! According to LinkedIn's Economic Graph's Work Change Report 2025, professionals entering today's workforce will hold TWICE as many jobs as those just 15 years ago. This isn't just change—it's transformation. The most successful career pivots don't just transfer skills—they create unique value at the intersection of your expertise, emerging trends, and market gaps. 🔍 Self-Assessment (The Foundation That Many Skip) 1. Document transferable skills with quantifiable results 2. Identify core values that guide your authentic career path 3. Complete "peak experience" analysis from previous roles 4. Define your unique value proposition as someone bridging two worlds 🧭 Strategic Planning 1. Create a before/during/after transition roadmap with specific milestones 2. Map your top 3 skill gaps (by 2030, 70% of job skills will completely change) 3. Set realistic timelines with built-in adaptation points 4. Prepare for AI integration—51% of businesses adopting AI report 10%+ revenue increases 🌐 Network Cultivation 1. Connect with forward-thinking professionals already thriving in your target field 2. Join communities where professionals are actively discussing AI and work evolution 📊 Market Positioning 1. Position your outsider perspective as your competitive advantage 2. Stand out by demonstrating adaptability—skills addition on LinkedIn profiles up 140% since 2022 💡 Self-Regulation Framework 1. Practice cognitive flexibility through continuous learning experiments 2. Build resilience through incremental milestone achievements 3. Develop emotional intelligence to navigate rejection cycles 4. Balance technical and human skills—AI-skilled professionals are 13× more likely to develop change readiness 🚀 Execution Strategy 1. Identify "gateway roles" that bridge your current experience and desired position 2. Prioritize organizations embracing AI transformation (88% of C-suite executives say AI adoption is a top priority) 3. Target companies valuing adaptability—38% of global executives prioritize agility over experience 4. Develop AI literacy skills that have seen a 177% growth on professional profiles 🧠 Mindset Management 1. Transform rejection into competitive intelligence 2. Implement weekly resilience and skill-building practices 3. Join transition communities to normalize the challenges of evolution Remember: As AI transforms work, human skills become MORE valuable—communication remains the #1 most in-demand skill across industries The professionals who will thrive aren't those with the most experience, but those with the greatest capacity to evolve alongside technology. Read More in this report : https://lnkd.in/gh325iQi by LinkedIn's Economic Graph. #CareerReinvention #AIWorkforce #FutureOfWork #CareerEvolution #linkedineconimicgraph

Have you ever changed your work environment to make more time for yourself? Sometimes, when you're overloaded and under supported, it requires structural change. We all know burnout is rampant right now. And if you're unable to nurture your creative callings or care for your mental, physical, and emotional health, you can revisit your career, job or employer, in ways that better serve you. I had the pleasure of speaking with Thato Mwosa all about this. Here are the key points from our conversation: 1. Reassess your needs Thato said, “When I turned 40, I started panicking because I hadn’t produced anything creatively for 10 years. After giving birth to my first child, I chose to be a stay at home Mom while I pursued my passion for filmmaking. A year after my second child was born, I secured a job as a film teacher. For 10 years during my high school teaching days, I didn’t have space mentally, spiritually, or emotionally outside of that..." Most of us are desperate to make more time for ourselves. But unless you work and live in conducive environments, all of the boundary-setting in the world, won’t be enough. Yes, self-advocacy is crucial. But it’s tricky for women and harder still for women of color to have our limits honored. 2. Determine how much flexibility you really have Almost every job can have some type of flexibility. Whether it’s the hours, expectations, or benefits, but not every employer provides it. What’s possible, depends a lot on your industry and line of work. Most (61%) people can’t work remotely. And many roles like, teaching kids or operating on patients, have rigid schedules. So, you might need to restructure. Which is why women led in the great resignation, and start businesses at higher rates 3. Assess your options Consider what you really need right now. You may be eager to complete a creative project. Or perhaps you need more time to care for your kids, aging parents, your own health or energy. If you have the psychological safety to do so, renegotiate. But if you have a difficult manager or work culture, pushing back can be career limiting. And advocating with colleagues, like via an employee resource group, can be more effective and less risky. #workingparents #workingmothers #careermanagement #careerchange #worklifeintegration

💼 The Job Market Has Changed — It’s Time to Career Cushion We’re in a new era of work. Layoffs, reorganizations, and AI disruptions aren’t just headlines, they’re reminders that job security looks different now. That’s where career cushioning comes in. Career cushioning isn’t about quitting your job, it’s about preparing for what’s next during off hours while you're still working. It means building options, visibility and confidence before you need them. Here are 5 ways to build real career resilience: 1️⃣ Strengthen your brand – Keep your LinkedIn active. Share your wins, insights, and learning journey. Visibility builds opportunity. 2️⃣ Expand your network – Connect with people in and beyond your industry. Every genuine connection is a safety net. 3️⃣ Keep learning – Certifications, webinars, or even micro-skills show you’re adaptable in an AI-driven world. 4️⃣ Diversify your income – A side hustle, freelancing, or consulting can give you stability and leverage when markets shift. 5️⃣ Stay emotionally agile – Resilience isn’t just strategy — it’s mindset. Change is constant, but so is growth. The goal isn’t fear — it’s freedom. Cushioning your career means you’re always ready to stand tall, no matter how the market moves. #CareerResilience #CareerCushioning #FutureOfWork #AIProof #CareerGrowth #layoff

In today's chaotic tech landscape, many of us in UX and beyond are facing uncertainty. Whether you're content in your role or seeking new opportunities it's crucial to proactively enhance your skills, expand your network, and remain adaptable to various work configurations and locations to whatever extent you can! 😊 Satisfied in Your Current Role? * Stay Put: If you're happy where you are, stay there. * Enhance Your Value: Find ways to make yourself indispensable. Deepen your understanding of your company's business and work to contribute strategically as best you can. * Build Your Network: You shouldn’t consider any job as secure right now, so your network is going to be crucial if you experience a layoff. * Skill Enhancement: Invest time in learning new skills, particularly in AI and business strategy, to increase your marketability. * Financial Preparedness: Aim to build an emergency fund to cushion a future job loss. 🤔 Unfulfilled in Your Current Job? * See above * Reflect on whether changes within your current role could increase job satisfaction. Although you can consider exploring new opportunities, assume it would be difficult to find a new role right now. 🚀 Actively Seeking Employment and Need Income Quickly? * Broaden Your Search: Be open to different types of jobs. Look beyond your specialty to include roles that utilize skills that you may never have considered before. The job market isn’t good so flexibility is important. * Consider Relocation and ability to work in-office: If feasible, be open to moving to areas with more job prospects; if you can, be willing to consider full-time in-person roles. * Leverage Your Network: Your network could be one of the best pathways towards a new job. * Upskill Strategically: Focus on acquiring skills in high demand, such as AI proficiency. Also consider the ever-increasing importance of business knowledge . ⏳ Unemployed but Financially Stable for Now? * Invest in Learning: Use this time to gain new skills – AI and business skills are apt to be especially important, but you have the time, so also look at what skills and knowledge job listings are highlighting. * Network Actively and spend lots of time building out your network. * Consider Further Education: If it aligns with your career goals, pursuing an additional degree or certificate can enhance your qualifications. * Evaluate Relocation: Reflect on whether moving to a different region could improve your long-term job prospects. ------------------- In these crazy and uncertain times, think about what else you can do outside of work that would bring you happiness and calm? For me lately, it’s personal fitness and meditation as well as making sure that I have enough in-person time with family and friends. Remember it's important to make decisions that align with your personal situation as you do your best to stay positive, adaptable, and proactive in navigating your career path! **** #UX #Career #LIPostingDayApril

#Careers Week is coming soon in my organisation. Here’s my advice from working 30+ years at the BBC: Our jobs have boundaries that are, and can be, as elastic as we want them to be. This elasticity is good as it helps to give us autonomy and empowers us to think beyond the confines of our official job spec. With the best will in the world our managers would be hard pressed to come up with all the value adds we can, uniquely, bring to our jobs. So how can we capitalise on the elasticity of our roles? 💥 Put aside time after work for networking 💥 Organise shadow shifts in different departments, if possible 💥 Read job descriptions and think how to gain all the required skills - in this way we can be the architects of our future. 💥 Volunteer on projects to learn new skills, and eventually there will be a spider’s web of infinite pathways to choose from. When I joined the BBC I was told I wouldn’t really progress as I was “too nice”. It turns out they were wrong, I have progressed pretty successfully! Don’t let other people pigeon hole you! So, enjoy the elasticity that you can make within your job boundaries to help you achieve your ambitions. The returns not only bring value to you, but also to your colleagues, and your department. #careergrowth #career #jobadvice