Redundancy can be complicated for employees to understand. Losing your job and source of income is one thing; however, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re being “fired” due to poor quality work or problematic behaviour.
While employment laws vary depending on where you are in the world, protections prevent companies from discriminating against employees.
This means you can’t be made redundant for reasons like your age or gender. However, companies can choose to implement redundancies when:
- Specific employees are no longer needed: Your team may no longer need your particular skills, so your role becomes obsolete.
- New systems are introduced: If new processes or systems are introduced which cause your job to be unnecessary, this can result in job losses.
- Other workers carry out your role: If other employees can handle the responsibilities of your role, your employer might choose to downsize.
- The workplace is shutting down: If your workplace closes its doors, it will no longer need its employees. This could make every employee in the workplace redundant, though some may be moved to another location.
- The business moves: If the company is relocating to a new state/country or location, and they don’t want to employ you remotely, they may make you redundant. This will allow the business to offer your position to a local candidate instead.
- The business is transferred to a new owner: When a business moves to a new owner, this doesn’t automatically end contracts for employees. However, a new owner may decide to remove some employees they feel are unnecessary.
Redundancy: Knowing Your Rights
If you’re dealing with redundancy, it’s important to know your rights. The rights you have and the support or financial compensation you can receive will vary depending on your employer and location.
If you have any questions about your redundancy or concerns, you can contact non-profit organisations for support.
Coping with Redundancy: Initial Steps
Losing your job in the is a huge adjustment. You’ll likely encounter not just financial issues and anxiety but also a range of emotions. You might feel shock, anger, and resentment. You might even feel a little relieved if you weren’t particularly happy in your role.
It’s important to give yourself time to adjust emotionally and think about what you want to do next. While redundancy is perceived as not a good thing it does offer an opportunity to take stock of your situation and refine your career plan.
Here are some of the initial steps you can take to cope with redundancy.
Step 1: Examine Your Finances
When you’re made redundant, your finances will likely be the most significant cause of stress and anxiety initially.
- Create a plan to preserve your mental health and avoid unnecessary stress
- Start by learning as much as possible about the compensation you might be eligible to receive.
- Assess your finances.
- Budget based on your new financial situation.
- Possibly speak with a financial advisor.
Step 2: Build Your Support Network
Losing your job can be terrifying. Many people find their self-esteem diminishes as they blame themselves. This can prompt you to isolate yourself and withdraw from the people who can help you.
- Stay connected with your support network. They’ll remind you that your job loss is not your fault nor something you can control.
- Friends and family can provide guidance and support.
- If you’re feeling overwhelmed, you can include various other forms of support in your network, as support groups are available worldwide.
Step 3: Invest in Self-Care
Looking after yourself is crucial. If your mental health suffers, your physical health can begin to diminish, too. You might struggle with higher fatigue levels, poor sleep, and a problematic immune system.
All of these things will make it harder to stay focused on finding a new role and thriving once you enter a new company. Make sure you look after yourself by:
- Preserving your routine: It’s important to stick to a relatively consistent schedule.
- Staying physically active: Exercising and spending time outdoors can improve your mental health and boost your mood. Try not to allow yourself to transition into a sedentary lifestyle just because you’re not working.
- Caring for your mental health: Practice mindfulness to ensure you’re present and engaged in every moment. Make sure you’re kind and patient with yourself.
- Eating the right food: Nutrition is important to preserving your physical and mental health. Avoid too much caffeine, alcohol, or sugary foods that can affect your mood.
Dealing with Redundancy: Preparing to Move Forward
Entering the job market again, particularly if you’ve been employed for a long time, can be daunting and liberating. While there are skill shortages in every industry today that can make it easier to find a new role, it’s important to have a plan and strategy in place.
Here’s how you can effectively prepare to move forward.
1. Set Realistic Parameters
When you’re eager to re-enter the world of employment, opening your search to a wider range of opportunities is tempting. When preparing to start your search, think about the following:
- Geographical location: Are you willing to relocate for a new job or commute to the office? Do you want to work for a local company, or are you exploring new remote and hybrid work opportunities?
- Economic factors: How much do you expect to earn in your role? Would you expect lower pay for better benefits or flexible working?
- Priorities and preferences: What kind of company culture are you looking for? Are you committed to finding a position in a company that focuses on empathy and well-being for staff?
2. Set Clear Career Goals
Using the parameters you laid out for your job search above, you can set specific goals for your future job search.
Take a moment to consider your ambitions and what you want to achieve in the industry going forward. Are you interested in a particular part of the industry you hadn’t considered before?
It’s worth setting short- and long-term goals as you enter the next stage of your journey. For instance, if you want to enter a managerial or leadership position in the long term, you might set goals that involve seeking out new forms of professional development in the short term.
Assess your skills, experiences, and qualifications, and decide what steps to take to ensure you can access the role you want.
3. Get Organised
Once you have a clear set of parameters for your job search, the next step is ensuring you have all the necessary resources to apply for a new role. This might start with obtaining any references you might need from previous employers.
Think about how you’re going to present yourself to potential employers. Is your LinkedIn profile up-to-date, with recent achievements and endorsements? Do you have a strong online presence, and what will employers see when they search for you online?
It’s also worth reviewing your resume and cover letter. Ask yourself whether you need to change them based on your experience.
4. Start Networking
Networking is an excellent way to enhance your professional brand and unlock new potential job opportunities.
There are various ways you can expand your network. Start by retaining relationships with the people you met in your previous role adding them on LinkedIn and other social media channels. Join online forums and groups to connect with like-minded people and companies.
You can also find specific forums related to the industry online, where you might be able to filter through job postings and opportunities.
In-person networking can be extremely valuable, too. Consider attending industry events, training sessions, and other environments where you can interact with new people.
5. Hone and Improve Your Skills
Being made redundant means you will potentially have extra time in your day. While some of your schedule may be dedicated to job hunting, you can use the extra hours productively by building on your existing skills and knowledge.
Look at your career goals and ambitions, and ask yourself where you may benefit from acquiring new skills and knowledge.
Obtaining additional certifications will help you to stay competitive in the job market. It also shows future employers that you’ve used your time effectively during redundancy.
Find a Recruitment Partner
Searching for the ideal role alone in a complicated job market can be time-consuming and frustrating. Getting your name in front of the right potential employers is often difficult without a little extra help.
Many recruitment agencies can also help with other important steps, like preparing for an interview, refining your CV, or showing you how to explain your redundancy to employers.
Navigating Job Interviews and Staying Motivated
While applying for roles can be daunting enough after losing your job, many candidates find the interview process particularly challenging.
Feeling embarrassed or nervous about sharing that information with a new employer is natural. However, it’s important to remember that redundancies doesn’t indicate a problem with your performance or skills.
Most employers and hiring managers will understand that it wasn’t your fault. The only question they’re likely to ask is what you’ve done since leaving your prior role.
During a job interview:
- Explain your situation: Don’t be embarrassed or ashamed when an interviewer asks you to expand on what happened. Be transparent and honest, and avoid talking negatively about your employer, as this can seem petty.
- Demonstrate your successes: Look for evidence of your success in your previous role to ensure you can demonstrate value to a future employee. Highlight what you accomplished in projects with facts and statistics. Use your references from previous employers, too.
- Highlight adaptability: Show your potential employer how you stayed resilient by updating your network, seeking out new forms of training, and enhancing your CV.
- Show why you’re an excellent fit: Avoid giving your new employer the impression that you’re simply applying for any role to make ends meet. What experience and skills do you have that are relevant to this role?
- Stay positive: Don’t spend your time complaining about how difficult the transitional period has been. Draw attention to what you’ve gained instead, such as the opportunity to refine your career plan and seek out roles you’re truly passionate about.
Staying Positive and Resilient
One important thing to remember is that even if you nail your interview, you’re not guaranteed to get the first new role you apply for. It’s important not to take this personally.
Working with a recruitment company will help. They can offer advice on adjusting your CV or cover letter and guide you towards new skills you should adopt.
They will already have connections in your industry and may be able to represent you to contacts they have privately.
Above all else, stay focused and committed. It can take time to bounce back after redundancy, but you can and will get yourself back on track.
