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Redundancy – could it be the making of you?

Redundancy has always been a worry for the employed – we all know that job security has sadly long been a thing of the past. However, not for some time has redundancy been as prevalent as it is right now. If you haven’t been directly affected by the recession, chances are you know someone who has.

For some time we have lived in a 24-7 culture with many of us “living to work”, as opposed to “working to live”, spending hours in the office and sacrificing our personal or family life for career progression. Take that away, and what’s left?

Losing your job for whatever reason is devastating. On a practical level, it can mean financial disaster if you’re left unable to pay the mortgage. On a personal level, it can lead to loss of confidence and self-esteem, stress, depression, relationship problems, and even worse. The very word “redundant” basically means “no longer needed” so it conjures up images of being thrown on the scrap heap, leaving you wondering whether you have anything left to contribute. This low self-worth makes it even harder to contemplate where you go next and it’s the worst frame of mind for job hunting.

But what seems like a desperate situation can turn out to be a life changing opportunity. There are countless women out there who will tell you that redundancy was the best thing that could have happened to them. It allowed them to escape a career path which was unfulfilling, and enabled them to change direction and focus on a more rewarding goal.

Through redundancy, many find a new work-life balance, or seize the opportunity to re-train. A significant proportion of female business owners set up their businesses after redundancy or a similar life changing event.

Here are some tips for getting the best out of the situation:

1. Don’t panic. Your immediate instinct may be to leap into the next available opportunity. Don’t. Use this window to ask yourself what it is you really want to do and work out a plan for achieving that. It may mean taking a temporary role in the meantime, but use the time to put together a longer term career plan.
2. Write down the positives and the negatives of the job you were doing. It may be that what you were doing wasn’t inspiring you that much after all or maybe your employer was holding you back. Then, write a wish list of all the things you would look for in a new career. It can be a revealing way of learning more about what you really want to do. And don’t forget to bear in mind those things that are important for you in your personal life – for example, a shorter commute, better hours, more flexibility. Use this chance to find an opportunity that is better suited for you, whether that’s a different job or working for yourself.
3. Write down your skills and attributes, and don’t be modest about it. It will give you an instant boost to physically list what you can offer a new employer or it might even give you the confidence to branch out on your own when you discover talents you didn’t realise you had.
4. Be proactive. Receiving rejections can be disheartening but remember my favourite motto – there is no failure, only feedback. Ask any prospective employers for feedback on why your application wasn’t successful and use that feedback to tailor your applications better next time.
5. Don’t apply for jobs just for the sake of it if they aren’t roles you are genuinely interested in. You would just be compromising your values and if you receive countless rejections it will just make you more despondent. Focus your job search on what you really want and stick to the plan.
6. Visualize where you want to be and keep that image of you doing your dream job in your mind. It’s amazing how effective positive visualization can be. Someone once told me that when going for an interview you should imagine yourself already employed there. It certainly helps cure nerves. If you’re planning to work for yourself, reinforce that goal with a mental image of you being successful in your new venture.
7. Finally, remember that this time is not just about you finding another job or impressing prospective employers. It’s about you finding your true calling. It’s a chance for you to re-evaluate what’s important to you, define what you really want to do, and to put that into practice. Pretty exciting, don’t you think?

If you’re facing redundancy, have been made redundant, or are considering a career change I’d like to hear from you. Drop me an email at info@makeoveryourmind.co.uk.

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