Career Cushioning
Quietly building a fallback — certifications, network, updated CV, discreet applications — while still employed and not yet committed to leaving. Insurance, not escape.
Full definition of Career Cushioning →:: COMPARE ::
Career cushioningvsQuiet quitting
The short answer
Opposite energy directions. Cushioning adds effort outside the job; quiet quitting subtracts effort inside it. Neither source measures the total against anyone else's.
Side by side
| Aspect | Career cushioning | Quiet quitting |
|---|---|---|
| Effort | Increased | Reduced |
| Where | Outside the job | Inside it |
| Visible | Rarely | Eventually |
| Motivation | Insecurity | Resentment |
What each one means
Quiet Quitting
Quiet quitting is doing exactly your job and no more — meeting the requirements, but no longer volunteering, staying late, or going the extra mile. You don't leave the job; you leave the unpaid extras.
Full definition of Quiet Quitting →