Before we discuss this week's topic, I want to share something new that I’m very excited about. On September 15, I’m launching the RB Lnkdn Club. It’s a private LinkedIn group designed to help professionals like you build a consistent and credible presence on LinkedIn without the overwhelm.
Here’s how it works: Each week, you’ll get a structured LinkedIn task, done-for-you templates, and feedback on your posts. We’ll also meet for a monthly live Q&A, and you’ll be part of a supportive community of peers who are working on their visibility and career growth, too.
The idea is simple: Instead of spending hours guessing what to do on LinkedIn, you’ll have a clear plan, guidance, and accountability.
If this sounds like what you need right now, you can join the RB Lnkdn Club today.
The End of Permanent Stability: Interim Careers and the New Rules of Work
Corporate careers have reached an inflection point. For decades, the corporate career model was predictable: Climb the ladder, secure a permanent role, and rely on longevity for stability. However, this hasn't been true for quite some time, but the mindset of many professionals still hasn't adjusted to the new reality that this model no longer holds true. It is clear now that even the most talented professionals are not shielded from external decisions. The security executives once associated with permanence has eroded.
The 15th Annual Interim Executive Survey from Watermark, which I discussed with Donna Burr in this week's episode, offers a glimpse into what comes next. This is one of many avenues available to those who take charge of their career outcomes and start making strategic moves to achieve their goals.
The report's findings reveal that interim and portfolio careers are no longer fringe options. They are becoming mainstream paths for senior leaders. And the implications reach beyond interim executives to every corporate professional, considering how to safeguard their future.
Interim Careers as Plan A
The most striking change is mindset. Interim roles were once a stopgap, something to do until the next permanent position. Today, more executives are choosing them as their preferred way of working. Freed from the illusion of permanence, leaders are drawn to the autonomy of short-term, high-impact roles. Organizations, facing constant transformation, are using interim talent strategically to solve problems and drive change.
Interim executive work, or more broadly, contingency work, may not be for everyone. But the factors that determine its success can be applied in every type of corporate career. Let's look at the key factors below.
The Rise of Self-Agency
Underlying this shift is self-agency. Interim executives do not wait for recruiters to chart their course. They take ownership. They build networks, define their value propositions, and treat downtime as prospecting time. According to the survey, 75 percent of interim roles come through networks, not job boards. The lesson is clear: In today’s market, visibility and reputation matter more than resumes.
AI as a Dividing Line
Another surprising finding: 90 percent of interim executives use AI tools daily, while only 3 percent of organizations have formally adopted them. Interim leaders are already leveraging AI to boost productivity and improve decision-making. Many permanent executives, by contrast, remain hesitant. This gap will separate those who thrive from those who stagnate. Leaders cannot afford to wait for formal adoption. Digital literacy is already a prerequisite.
Diversity and Longevity
The survey also highlighted shifts in who pursues interim careers. Women now represent 33 percent of interim executives, up from 19 percent in 2011. Meanwhile, the number of executives over 60 has doubled. These trends reflect broader demographic changes: more inclusive leadership pools and longer career spans. Interim roles provide a path for both groups to continue contributing at the highest levels.
What It Means for You
For professionals and executives navigating today’s job market, the lessons are immediate:
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Permanent jobs no longer guarantee security. Diversification offers resilience.
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Building networks is not optional. It is the lifeblood of career sustainability.
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AI literacy is already a leadership competency.
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Career design must be intentional. Interim and portfolio paths reward those who plan.
The era of waiting passively for corporate loyalty is over. The professionals who will thrive are those who embrace agency, experiment with technology, and design their careers with foresight. Permanence has given way to adaptability as the foundation of stability. And in that shift lies opportunity for those willing to act.
Actionable Strategies for Job Seekers
What can corporate professionals do with these insights? Here are practical steps:
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Build and maintain your network. Identify advocates, reconnect with colleagues, and create a visible presence on LinkedIn.
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Develop AI literacy. Experiment with tools that boost productivity and decision-making.
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Define your value proposition. Be clear about your superpowers and the outcomes you deliver.
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Plan intentionally. Treat your career like a portfolio and consider multiple income streams.
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Embrace self-agency. Accept that you are responsible for driving your career forward.
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Reflect on your motivation. Interim work requires intentionality and discipline, not escapism.
Unsure about your career next steps? Listen to this week's episode:
From the rise of portfolio careers to the growing importance of digital transformation, the 2025 Interim Executive Survey highlights how executives are choosing new ways of working. Discover insights from Donna Burr on what this means for professionals navigating change.
- Listen to the full episode on the podcast website
- Listen on Apple Podcasts
- Listen on Spotify
- Watch on YouTube
An Invitation to Join the RB Lnkdn Club
If LinkedIn is a challenge for you, I invite you to take the next step and join the RB Lnkdn Club. This is a private, unlisted LinkedIn group I created exclusively for experienced professionals who want to build a strong, consistent presence on LinkedIn without second-guessing themselves.
Inside the Club, you will:
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Receive weekly step-by-step tasks to strengthen your LinkedIn activity
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Access practical templates and examples you can adapt immediately
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Learn how to post with confidence, comment with intention, and grow visibility
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Get direct feedback from me on your posts and engagement strategies
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Connect with other senior professionals who share your career ambitions
I created the RB Lnkdn Club to simplify LinkedIn for you and reduce the "noise" and confusion in your career to-do list. I'm focusing on LinkedIn because I know it's crucial that you get it right, and that you do it now. This service is designed to provide you with clear guidance and hands-on support, so that LinkedIn becomes a career asset rather than a source of stress.
Membership is private and unlisted. This creates a safe space for learning, experimenting, and refining your professional voice.
If you’re serious about advancing your career, safeguarding against unexpected change, and positioning yourself as a visible leader in your field, this is the place to do it.
Time Out
- If you're unemployed and haven't yet found your community on TikTok, you're missing out. There are hundreds of creators sharing their experience with layoffs, job searching, interviews, and rejection. I will soon be interviewing one of them on the podcast! But for the last 24hours, I found myself in this corner of TikTok, following two women who boarded a flight to Tunis, instead of to Nice, France. I was refreshing my TikTok every hour to find out what was going on, as it was absolutely surreal. Start with this video - they are all very short - and scroll up to find out what happened.
- On Sunday, we went to Hamer Hall to watch my friend Genevieve Lacey play with the Australian Chamber Orchestra. We loved it. There's a beautiful lesson about Genevieve's amazing expertise: Focus on something, as simple as it may be to others, and be the best at it. Chances are, you will be a reputation and be sought after time and time again. She plays the recorder all over the world. Yes, the recorder! Watch this short film about her called "The Recorder Queen." And there's nothing quite as mesmerizing as the beautiful, ethereal sound different recorders can make. Watch as she plays Telemann's Fantasia No. 1 at the ABC Auditorium.
I hope you'll join me inside the RB Lnkdn Club. If this service isn't for you, please consider spreading the word and recommending it to a friend. If you have any questions, please reply to this newsletter and I'll respond as soon as possible.
Here's to your career success
RBX
Renata Bernarde | Career Coach | Host, The Job Hunting Podcast
