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How to recover from redundancy
SONIA VITIELLO| the 15th of September 2023
It may be obvious to say that with redundancy comes the end of a job.
Less obvious is what that sense of incertitude creates inside the person who is laid off.
Redundancy happens for different reasons such as employee performance but more commonly because of company costs.
In most cases, redundancy comes out of the blue, making the situation hard for companies, but harder for the employees.
Redundancy is not the end of the world, but most probably a blessing
If you are just been made redundant, and/or after a few weeks from that event you still feel overwhelmed, and sad, you see no hope and you lost trust in people together with your motivation...is ok...everything is going to be all right.
Take this forced redundancy as a break, this is the time to review your skills and rethink of your career path.
You may think that is easier to say to actually get it done, as with the loss of your "stability' you feel like you lost your motivation and your purpose but believe me, I've been there, and there is a solution to everything.
Here are a few simple steps that may help to find your way back
Give yourself time to recover
This is the hardest part, especially if you're been in that role and company long enough to make a habit out of it.
You can't start something new, without being ready for it.
For a fresh start, you need positivity and awareness.
To reset your mind and body take a break from social media, and forget about Linkedin and any other recruitment platforms. Distract yourself.
Do what you like to do, read, write, listen to music, do sports, watch Friends for the 10th time, anything. This is your time to enjoy and don't feel guilty about it, you deserve that.
Sometimes you may feel the rush of applying for another job, but please don't do it. Believe me, there are tons of job opportunities out there and there is a bigger chance you'll get the right one for you once you are fully recovered.
How can you pass an interview if you are not the same positive and chill soul you usually are?
Focus
After your well-deserved break, you regained your confidence and now it's time to focus on what are your goals.
Knowing what you want to achieve is something, being able to achieve it is something else as it is a process that needs focus.
Opposite from before, you need fewer distractions.
In this phase, it's easy to get distracted by many things you want to do, but you need to choose what you really want and what is worthy of achieving.
This is probably the moment when you need to understand if your previous role was what you really wanted. Did you enjoy working in a corporate environment? Was your previous routine fulfilling?
Ask yourself these questions, meditate, focus, and don't let distractions trap you away from the answers you need.
Organise your thoughts
Here you are, you are confident and you decided what path to follow.
It's time to be productive and achieve these goals.
Start by updating your LinkedIn, and review your top skills if you haven't done it yet, these are probably different from when you initially started your latest job.
Review your whole profile, and change anything that is not "you" anymore.
The same happens with your CV and if you have one, your portfolio.
Think what are your strenght point, what you want to highlight about yourself, and always keep in mind what you want to achieve, this can help you choose what to highlight.
Write down notes, and tasks and mark them out along with your progress, you can do it!
Be active and positive
Don't hesitate to put yourself out there; fear shouldn't hold you back! Seize all the opportunities you desire because now, you have a clear sense of your goals and are aware of your potential. The experience of redundancy can sometimes lead to self-doubt, but it's essential to let go of those doubts.
You have the ability to market yourself effectively, reach out to recruiters, and seek references from your former colleagues and managers. This proactive approach can be immensely beneficial, but, most importantly, maintain a positive outlook!
What's the worst that can happen? You might face rejection. And even if that happens, so what? It could very well be a sign that something better is waiting for you.
Keep it going, you have all the abilities to do that!
Remember to give time yourself to recover so you will be ready to focus, organize your thoughts, and smash the next interview.
When you reflect on it, redundancy may not have been such a negative experience after all. It helped you to break free from your comfort zone and pursue better goals.
Be gentle with yourself, and remember, everything will work out just fine!
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