Redundancy is a word that is rarely, if ever, met with joy and enthusiasm. For many, it can feel like the wind has been taken from your sails and you have gone from being full steam ahead to floating aimlessly in a vast ocean with no idea how to get going again or even which way to go. You may be a graduate who has finally secured a role in your industry of choice and then a year later, your role is made redundant. At the other end of the career spectrum, you could be a senior leader or c-suite executive in a comfortable role with 5 years to retirement and all of a sudden you are back in the job market again.
Feelings of shock and anger about someone else’s decision derailing your life and anxiety over your future are all completely normal and understandable, but redundancy does not have the power to define your future – you do! With a positive mindset and a clear plan, it can become a powerful pivot point and an opportunity to reset, refocus and reinvigorate your career.
Redundancy Isn’t Rejection: Reframing Your Mindset
As humans, our brains are predisposed to look for the negative (after all, this was how our ancestors ensured their survival back in the cave dwelling days); however, this is no longer useful to us as modern day individuals. After redundancy, it is important to focus on the positives and separate redundancy from personal failure. It is normal to look introspectively at our own performance and value for the cause, but in most cases, redundancy is simply about restructuring, budgets or shifting business priorities and not about you at all.
It can be helpful to remind yourself that no one is safe from redundancy, even executives, senior leaders and high performers experience redundancy; sometimes entire teams or departments are affected. More often than not, it is about organisational change, not personal worth.
Reframing can look like this:
“I wasn’t good enough at my job” becomes “My role was no longer required; however, my skills and experience are valuable”. Repeated reframing of the narrative stops the negative thought loop and kick-starts the positive one, and the more you do this, the easier it becomes. Put in a different context: you are thinking of buying a new car and then suddenly you start to see that type of car everywhere, because your brain is prioritising what you tell it is important. So feed it a positive narrative and it will look for positive confirmations.
Following the positive train of thought, an unexpected silver lining to redundancy is space. In our busy lives full of work, family, friends and general life admin, space to reassess what you want, what you are good at and what you are no longer willing to tolerate can be an unanticipated bonus. It may feel uncomfortable at first, but having time to reflect can lead to better decisions and a clearer sense of which direction you want to steer the boat in.
For some, this reflection may confirm that you were sailing in the right direction and reinvigorate your drive to secure a new role in your chosen sector. For others, such as senior leaders or c-suite executives, you may decide to completely change course and build a portfolio of roles including consultancy, non-executive director roles or fractional work. A cost-effective solution for SMEs in times of constraint, and according to Executive Heads, there is a notable rise in senior leaders and executives opting for these flexible and non-traditional fractional roles.
I’ve Reframed, Now What Do I Do?: Getting a Plan in Place
Once the dust has settled, the next thing is to focus on practical steps that can help restore a sense of control. Start with the essentials:
Confirm your notice period, final pay and any redundancy package- Clarify any holiday pay, bonuses or commission that may be owed
- Check your pension arrangements and benefits package (if applicable)
- Request a LinkedIn recommendation whilst relationships are still fresh
Next, review your finances and create a realistic weekly or monthly budget based on your redundancy pay and savings. Having a timeframe can help ease the sense of panic and enable you to be more strategic with your job search, saving you from wasting time and energy on applying for roles you do not actually want.
After that, and to prevent days from drifting by in a blur, make finding a new job your job and create an action plan for the coming weeks. It doesn’t need to be perfect or have every minute of the day accounted for, but having structure keeps you in that working routine and focused on the task at hand.
Putting Your Plan into Action: Updating Your CV and LinkedIn Profile
Before you start applying to roles, it is important to invest time in your CV. This is a valuable document and a key component in securing you a new role, so it deserves attention. Update it to include your latest role, focusing on outcomes and measurable achievements, whilst ensuring you optimise the keyword content for ATS software.
Next, update your LinkedIn profile, adding details about your most recent role and a short, professional headline that signals to recruiters that you are open to new opportunities and what you are looking for next.
Alternatively, you can decide to invest in having a bespoke and professional CVand LinkedIn profile created for you by an executive CV writer such as Sarah Lovell.
Where to Focus First: LinkedIn, Networking or Training
When searching for your next role, it is important to focus your energy where it is likely to have the greatest return. Visibility matters so switch on “Open to Work” on your LinkedIn profile (privately if preferred) and start engaging with connections and organisations. Comment on posts in your target industry or share insights and reflections from your experience, whilst being mindful to maintain a professional tone.
Many roles are filled through contacts rather than job listings, so networking can be a valuable endeavour - as the saying goes, ‘It is often who you know, not what you know’. Reach out to former colleagues, managers, clients and recruiters with simple messages such as:
“I’m exploring new opportunities in this area. If you hear of anything suitable, I would really appreciate you keeping me in mind.”
Where possible, schedule a few informal catch-ups in person or over the phone to stay connected and reinforce or re-establish relationships, keeping you present in their mind.
For senior leaders and c-suite executives, many new roles and opportunities are found through word of mouth and personal referrals as opposed to the more traditional job listings, so networking has the potential to be a fruitful and worthwhile use of your time.
If there is a gap in your experience, training or qualifications, now is the time to address it. Focus on practical skills that will enhance your CV and are relevant to the type of roles to which you plan to apply. Short courses, certifications or online programmes can strengthen your CV and demonstrate initiative. The Open University has over 120 free courses focused on work skills, as well as many reasonably priced microcredential courses that can be completed in 10-12 weeks. There are also free courses in England that provide over 70 nationally recognised and accredited qualifications via government-funded free online courses for adults in England.
Moving Forward: Treat Your Job Search Like a Job
Aim for focused and productive hours every day: retarget your CV for new roles, stay visible online, reach out to your network and start any short training courses. If you receive feedback, review the application and identify what is working and what is not and practice interview skills to make sure you are prepared.
Redundancy is rarely part of the plan, but it can be the moment that causes you to move towards better pay, a healthier work/life balance, greater flexibility or even a whole new career. With a positive mindset and practical plan in place, you can turn an unexpected ending into a powerful new beginning. Should you like assistance with reframing and refreshing your CV, feel free to contact Sarah Lovell CV Writer.
