It seems like every time I glance at a headline, I discover a new piece of corporate jargon to add to my vocabulary. In the last three years alone, I’ve added The Great Resignation, The Great Gloom, lazy girl jobs, rage applying, quiet quitting, and quiet firing to my repertoire. As of late, a new terminology has been creeping its way into my lexicon—”quiet cutting.”

For good or for bad, this term is here to stay. In order to better understand the trend, I spoke with three recruiters to break down what quiet cutting means for you and your career.

WHAT IS QUIET CUTTING?

Quiet cutting is when employers cut down on their employees by subtly reducing their workforces. Quiet cutting does not involve cuts that result in clear termination, but rather cuts that downgrade roles, responsibilities, and/or compensation.

“Quiet cutting is a trendy term for ‘demotion’ but on a broader scale involving more than one employee,” explains Forbes.jobs recruiter Tom Caravela. “The quiet cutting strategy is a restructuring tactic that is gaining momentum since it relieves the employer of severance costs and unemployment claims.”

“Quiet cutting is a new tactic or passive workplace trend a lot of companies are using as a way to ‘restructure’ their organization where some employees are either losing their titles and initial salary rates then reassigned with other job obligations as a subtle push out of the door,” adds fellow recruiter, Anoop Kundra. “Companies are using this tactic to cut costs in order to avoid mass layoffs.”

Simply put, quiet cutting is a form of forced attrition.

THE SHORT-TERM IMPACT OF QUIET CUTTING ON YOUR CAREER

Quiet cutting doesn’t mean you’re out of a job completely, just that your role, responsibilities, and compensation may have changed. But what does that mean for your career?

The short-term impact can include self-doubt and a lower level of confidence. In addition to diminished confidence and stunted personal growth, quiet cutting can also impact team dynamics, lead to limited recognition, and missed networking opportunities.

“The biggest short-term impact is on the emotional and mental side that comes along with the cut,” says Caravela. “The disappointment, confusion, and uncertainty most always come with a quiet cut.”

It’s crucial that during this time of change, you remember the value you bring to the professional table. Being “quiet cut” doesn’t necessarily correlate with your performance, so don’t let this temporary setback hinder your confidence and belief in your abilities.

THE LONG-TERM IMPACT OF QUIET CUTTING ON YOUR CAREER

Without taking back the reins of your career, the short-term impacts of quiet cutting can have long-term effects on your career. Prolonged periods of low confidence can negatively impact your professional trajectory, but as Caravela puts it, “Quiet cutting is not a career death sentence. A résumé that shows a strong body of work, good experience, and well defined transferable skills will overcome career setbacks such as layoffs, demotions and now ‘quiet cuts.’”

The best way to overcome a career hindrance like quiet cutting? Take a proactive approach to your career. “Be your own advocate! Control the controllables and build your career one day at a time,” says Caravela. Without taking control of your career, Kundra highlights the long-term impacts can also include lower compensation compared to colleagues who advocate for themselves, limited career progression, and career stagnation.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU’VE BEEN ‘QUIET CUT’

While it is nice to think our employers have our backs to support us, this is not always the case. It’s always in your best interest that you keep your career and success top of mind.

If you’ve experienced quiet cutting, you have a few options. You can leave your company on your own terms and look for a new role elsewhere. You can ride out the quiet cut and remain hopeful your loyalty pays off in the long run. Or the more unlikely option is to negotiate the terms of your new situation.

Regardless of whether you decide to stay or go, “the key is to leverage skills, experiences and potential in a way that demonstrates true value,” says Kundra. “Some options could be career coaching, consulting, advocacy work, entrepreneurship, as well as networking and relationship building.”

Ultimately, remember that quiet cutting as a minor detour in the long path of your career. This perspective is especially helpful because it can make it easier to steer your career in the direction that works best for you in the long run.