Redundancy.
It’s a horrible experience.
You’re working hard to help the business be successful, trying to help them hit goals and targets, and then suddenly they flick a switch and tell you you no longer have a job.
It’s gut wrenching. How are you going to pay your mortgage? The bills? How are you going to find a new job? What if it happens again?
Having been through the experience twice, and worked with many people who have been made more redundant, we’ve developed a way of coping and moving forward that works.
Give yourself space and be kind to yourself. You will almost certainly go through a period of mourning - shock, denial, anger, the whole shabang. So allow yourself a few days to deal with these emotions and only speak to recruiters when you’re in a better place.
Most importantly, don’t go through this journey alone - speak to friends, family, colleagues, a counsellor, us, it doesn’t matter. Just don’t bottle it up. Being made redundant is no reflection of you or your ability. It is a result of the company needing to save money and that’s all.
Take the time to think about your priorities, as they will dictate the next steps and the sense of urgency. If money is the No.1 priority, don’t be afraid to accept the first job that comes your way so that you have more time to work out the rest without the stress of worrying about bills, etc. Just do so understanding that, for you, the job is only temporary, and make sure you continue with the following steps.
Compile a confidence journal. It is completely normal for your self-confidence to take a hit when are you made redundant (again - it’s not your fault), so start a confidence journal to remind yourself of how good you are.
In a notebook, write all your achievements, everything that you are proud of, every time a colleague or friend has patted you on the back and said well done. Add to it regularly and read it every few days. On the bad days, it will pick you up and remind you of what you are capable of; on the good days, it will reinforce that sense of positivity and push you on to achieve more.
Learn from your experience. Do you need to look at growth or recession proof industries? Is your job (like Talent Acquisition, for example) always the first to be let go, but also the first to be hired? Do you need to think about a career change or look at more diverse organisations that hire whatever the economic climate, or simply accept that it’s part of your chosen career?
Update your CV. Once you have worked out your priorities, you should know if you are looking for the same, similar, or a very different job. From here, you can update your CV based on the job that you are looking for and not the jobs you’ve had.
Take action. Now that you are feeling more positive and have a clear idea of what you would like to do, it is time to take action. Apply for jobs, pick up the phone and meet people.
Develop a pattern or structure to your day, such as spending the morning looking for a new job, and then fun or productive things in the afternoon so that you always end each day on a positive note. This will make the journey feel so much easier and straightforward.
Whilst being made redundant may feel like the scariest thing that can happen right now, in a few months you will have moved forward and turned this mountain into a mole-hill. Above all, be kind to yourself.
If you feel you are struggling with any of this, sign up to The Returners’ Tribe and work your way through Modules 1 to 4 which will help you work out your priorities, build your self-confidence, write a knock-out CV and show you the most effective ways to find the right job for you.
If you're struggling, don't forget that you can book in a 1-2-1 coaching session for as little as £29.99. We are here to help.
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