Dealing with redundancy - How to handle the transition and stay positive

Don't let redundancy make you feel redundant. We can help you to process what's happened and how you're feeling and then proactively move forward to finding the right role for you.

I’ve been made redundant twice in my career so I know first-hand what it is like to experience the professional rollercoaster created by job loss. Losing a job unexpectedly (or even taking voluntary redundancy) can massively change your financial circumstances and can be a very stressful and emotional experience. You often have to deal with this at the same time as trying to motivate yourself to move forward and find a new role. 

It’s tough and change can be daunting but one way to overcome it is to try and embrace it. I find this definition of change by Greek Philosopher, Heraclitus, helpful: 

Change happens (sometimes in our control and sometimes not) and therefore rather than fearing or worrying about it, instead learning to become more comfortable and conscious of it. Things are going to change and therefore identifies strategies that help you navigate that change will put you in good stead for dealing with it when it comes.

I’m sharing what I’ve learnt from my redundancy experience and how I navigate change as I hope this provides comfort for anyone currently experiencing it. I also want you to know, you are not alone.

Here are some tips on how to navigate change around the redundancy process and how to switch your focus to job hunting:

It’s perfectly natural to feel all sorts of emotions both when you initially find out your redundancy news and then as you start to come to terms with it. I find the Kubler-Ross change curve (1969) chart really helpful to explain and normalise the feelings associated with job loss. It also hopefully shows that each type of feeling is relatively short-lived and that things do improve over time.

It’s easy to place blame on your direct manager or the leadership team in your organisation for the decision to make you redundant. It’s also normal to be tempted to be negative or unprofessional towards them or any other annoying colleagues! I would refocus your energy, stay civil and positive and this way you will demonstrate real professional maturity and integrity. Instead, ask your colleagues for constructive feedback and see if they will write a LinkedIn endorsement for you. Be the bigger person. 

Redundancy used to be a taboo subject and something people were embarrassed and ashamed to talk about. In an economic downturn, it is far more common for anyone to experience an organisational and role restructure and redundancy too. It’s healthy to talk about it and to tell others as I guarantee everyone will want to support and help you. Plus anyone else who’s also experienced it will have some great tips to share too.

If you feel you have unfairly been made redundant seek professional help immediately from an employment lawyer. Ask around for personal recommendations and use the Law Society Directory to find one near you. If it’s specific to being made redundant whilst on or returning from maternity leave then many organisations offer free advice such as the fantastic Pregnant Then Screwed telephone advice line. Ideally, it’s important to speak to someone as soon as possible whilst the redundancy process is happening.

I know it’s really hard but try not to take the redundancy decision as a personal slur against you and your professional competence. There are often a whole host of financial and organisational structure factors why decisions are made and often they look at it from a functional role level rather than the specific individual involved.

It’s totally natural for your confidence to take a nosedive after redundancy. It’s hard but you need to focus on ways to rebuild your confidence. When it comes to being confident, there are often barriers that get in your way. Stanford University psychologist Carol Dweck developed the idea of two mindsets: the fixed mindset and the growth mindset. If you have a fixed mindset you are often resistant to change and want to be seen as flawless. 

Somebody who has a growth mindset is somebody who takes on situations that can be quite challenging. They are risk-takers and are comfortable stepping out of their comfort zone. Also, with a growth mindset, people are more open to listening to what others think of them and will be receptive to feedback.

The aim is to try to switch to a growth mindset. So how can you do that?

1. Be willing to push yourself out of your comfort zone

2. Be ok with failure and see it all as a learning experience

3. Ask for and act on constructive feedback - but don’t take it too personally!

Linked to the ‘embarrassment’ or ‘shame’ of being made redundant, when re-interviewing for new roles, it’s often hard to try to explain what happened in a positive light. You need to try to come up with a new positive story about your change of role and career direction and own it! Try to break it down into three key messages:

1. Briefly and honestly acknowledge that you were made redundant. 

2. Reference the positive experience you gained from your previous role

3. Highlight what transferable skills you have and what you can bring to a new role. 

Finally, to remind and reassure you, you are not the first person to experience redundancy, it is nothing to be ashamed or embarrassed about. Stay positive as I know there is an exciting new role out there for you. I’m a firm believer in things happening for a reason. 

Please share this article far and wide to anyone who might need it, and do add comments, your own tips and experience and share any feedback.

Working Wonder provides tailored confidential coaching programmes to support anyone experiencing redundancy and job loss and gives you a confidence boost to inspire your job hunting. Do get in touch if we can help you.

Nichola (one half of Working Wonder!)