Let’s get real for a second. Corporate jobs used to be the safe choice—the thing your parents (and probably their parents) drilled into your brain as the only responsible way to make a living. Benefits! Stability! A guaranteed paycheck!
Yeah, not so much anymore.
In 2024, US companies announced over 760,000 layoffs, which is up from 721,000 in 2023. Let that sink in. It’s not just you—no one is safe from a sudden, unexpected restructuring, downsizing, or the dreaded we’ve-decided-to-go-in-a-different-direction email.
And if you’re not let go? There will come a day when you decide you need to leave. Because let’s face it: very few people are staying at the same company for 40 years and getting a gold watch at retirement anymore.
So what actually is stable in today’s ever-changing job market? What can you count on when your employer sees your role as just another line on a spreadsheet?
Here are 5 things that will outlast any job, global event or technological shift.
1. Your Values
Your job title might change. Your company might shut down. But what you stand for? That stays with you.
Whether it’s integrity, creativity, freedom, or making an impact, knowing your values will help you make better career decisions—ones that align with you, not just a paycheck.
2. Your Talents
Layoffs don’t erase your skills. If you’re good at solving problems, writing killer copy, leading a team, or building systems that just work, those strengths go with you wherever you land next. Invest in them. Hone them. Because no one can take them away from you.
3. Your Passions
That thing you can’t shut up about? The work that lights you up inside? That’s yours forever. It doesn’t have to be your full-time job (yet), but the more time you spend leaning into what excites you, the more options you create for your future.
4. Your Relationships
Networking isn’t just some buzzword people throw around—it’s your safety net. Your connections can lead you to new opportunities, support you when you’re in transition, and remind you that you’re more than just your job title. So nurture those relationships. Be a person, not just a LinkedIn connection.
5. Your Curiosity Mindset
The people who thrive in any economy, in any industry, are the ones who keep learning. They ask questions. They adapt. They stay curious about what’s next. You don’t need to predict the future—you just need to be willing to roll with it and figure things out as you go.
So, What’s Your Move?
If you take nothing else from this, let it be this: your job is not your identity, and it is not your forever.
Get crystal clear on what you value
Hone your skills and talents
Make time for the things that actually make you happy
Build and nurture relationships (yes, even when you don’t “need” them)
Stay open to learning and evolving
Because when—not if—your job disappears, these are the things that will carry you forward.
And trust me, your future self will thank you.
Ali Goodin Certified Career Coach in Central FL
I'm a former Disney employee, graphic designer turned career coach, and job transition expert. I created Ful Life Coaching to give professionals of all ages & stages a safe space to navigate career transition. My passion is equipping professionals with the tools and confidence they need to transition in their careers – from launch to retirement – so they can live happier, healthier lives.