The expert listed the skills that help to avoid redundancy at work

Against the background of cost optimization, the introduction of artificial intelligence and the restructuring of business models, more and more Russians are thinking about the stability of their careers. Formally, the labor market remains stable, but within companies there are reductions and reallocation of functions, which is why the decisive factor for employees is not the position or length of service, but the ability to adapt to new requirements. Natalia Ivanova, the founder of the AIMIKA job search platform, told Izvestia on January 31.

According to her, the risk of optimization does not disappear even with the external stability of the market. VTSIOM data show that the majority of Russians are generally satisfied with their jobs, but income levels and a sense of professional stability continue to cause concern.

In 2026, amid economic pressures and an increasing tax burden, companies are actively reviewing the structure of their teams, reducing duplicate functions and automating routine processes. According to Ivanova, employees with narrow or outdated competencies, those who are not involved in digital processes, whose work is poorly related to the financial result of the business, as well as employees who are not ready to expand their area of responsibility, are in the zone of greatest risk.

"One of the key skills that directly affect career sustainability is the ability to talk about your value. Experts note that strong professionals often underestimate themselves and avoid talking about money and growth," the expert emphasized.

Employees who cannot explain their contribution to the company's development are more likely to be optimized. Ivanova clarified that self-presentation does not consist in demonstrativeness, but in the ability to connect one's work with business results and participate in the discussion of the career future within the team.

An equally important factor is the ability to work with artificial intelligence tools. The expert compared the current technological transition with the massive introduction of spreadsheets in the past, noting that specialists who failed to adapt then quickly disappeared from the market. Today, AI takes over document preparation, data analysis, and draft reports, allowing employees to focus on more complex tasks. In the face of cuts, she said, companies are more likely to retain those who are able to work faster and scale the result.

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Systems thinking is becoming another sought-after quality. Ivanova noted that in conditions of time constraints, employees are appreciated who formulate thoughts briefly, highlight the main thing and offer solutions, and not just fix problems. Employees who do not know how to structure information gradually find themselves outside key processes, which reduces their chances of career stability.

The expert also pointed to the growing demand for hybrid roles. Employers are less likely to look for specialists with a single narrow function and more often for employees with a portfolio of skills combining the main profession with analytics, project management, automation or creative competencies. Such employees, she says, adapt more easily to changes and find alternatives faster when changing employers.

Even in conditions of remote and hybrid employment, Ivanova added, the importance of professional presentation remains. Appearance, communication style, and behavior at online meetings still affect the level of trust and career decisions within companies.

The expert emphasized that in 2026, the winners will be those who consciously manage their professional trajectory, regularly evaluate their own skills, master digital tools, develop the ability to negotiate and diversify sources of income.

"Ultimately, a specialist's resilience is determined not only by what they can do, but also by how visible, useful, and adaptive they are in a changing system," Ivanova concluded.

On January 22, experts said that smoke breaks during working hours often become a cause for disputes between employees and employers, but this issue is not directly regulated in labor legislation. It was specified that if the working day lasts more than four hours, the employee is given a break for rest and meals — not less than 30 minutes and not more than two hours.

On the same day, Alexander Khaminsky, a lawyer and head of the Law Enforcement Center in Moscow and the Moscow Region, said that employees could face disciplinary action for frequent smoke breaks.

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