When you work in an organisation, redundancy is unfortunately sometimes a fact of life. In most instances redundancies occur because of organisational issues and challenges, so if you are experiencing redundancy then the most important thing is to try not to take it as a personal attack on you and your capabilities as an employee.
This is of course easier said than done, especially for those that have been in an organisation for many years. It can be difficult to go through such a big change if you have been in an organisation for a long time. Even for those that havent, it can be an overwhelming, stressful and even traumatic experience, especially if the process is long and drawn out.
It’s easy to feel powerless and out of control, but its important to recognise that there are a number of things that are in your circle of control that you can influence and decide which can help you feel more in control of where life takes you and what happens next. As someone who is going through redundancy for the first time, there are a number of things I have done that I wanted to share. Here are my top five tips to get through redundancy!
#1 Set up a meeting with your Manager or ER
Make sure you fully understand the redundancy process. What it looks like, what will happen and when it will happen. Go over the details, when will your exit date be, what will a severance look like for you if your eligible to receive one and if so when will it be paid. Can you return to the organisation in the future and is there anything you can’t do or anyone you can’t work for a certain amount of time. Dont assume anything and make sure you ask everything.
#2 Reflect and Reassess
Take some time out to reflect and reassess your career and your life. Were you in the career you wanted to be in or were you always waiting for life to figure itself out. Taking redundancy is often a great point to stop and reflect on whether you’ve just fallen into a job and career or whether you’ve been doing what you love and want to do more of it. It’s often a great opportunity to change career tracks, start that business you’ve always wanted to start, travel or study, unless of course you’ve been doing what you love and want to do more of it.
#3 Tap your network and get connected
It’s not what you know it’s who you know. Sometimes this phrase rings true, especially in the job market. So tap your professional contacts and networks to get your ear to the ground on who’s hiring, whats coming up and who knows who. I’m always surprised how connected people are so this is always the first thing I do when I know I’m going to be in the market soon.
#4 Update your CV and social networks
Once you’ve started working your network the next thing you should start doing engaging with headhunters and recruiters. The first thing they are going to do is ask for your CV or find it themselves on LinkedIn, so make sure that you’ve updated your CV and profile on any social networks that you’re on. If you aren’t on Linked in then you should be. It’s long ago became the number one way that I find jobs and jobs find me replacing the likes of Monster.co.uk. It’s the next best way after my personal network of finding a new job.
#5 Take Some Time Out
If you can afford to, take some time out in between jobs. This may be the only opportunity you get for a while to take that holiday or do that course you’ve been thinking about for a while. Bear in mind that any gaps between employment will need to be explained during the referencing process, but a short gap between employment and especially following redundancy is acceptable and can be easily explained.
Going through a redundancy isn’t an easy time for anyone, no matter how old, young or tenured you are. Whilst we will of course all experience it in an individual way, it may be helpful to understand that we will all go through the exact same grief or loss cycle as we process our emotions. The only difference will be how quickly or slowly we go through it depending on how we feel. Following these five steps have definitely helped me move through it quickly, feeling relatively comfortable and in control and hopefully they’ll help you too!
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Great post with some really helpful tips… I’m a SAHM currently, but my partner faced redundancy earlier on this year and with us having just the one income coming in, it was a bit of a scary time, but we implemented some of the things mentioned here and thankfully a new job was found before he was actually made redundant. #MarvMondays
Jade @ Captured By Jade recently posted…Walking with Young Children
This is a great post with lots of good advice. #marvmondays
Oldhouseintheshires recently posted…#My Sunday Photo. May 7th 2017
Good advice, I’ve made lots of people redundant but am now in the position of being made redundant myself and it’s different being sat on the opposite side of the table! Networking is crucial as you say. Thanks for hosting #MarvMondays
Jo recently posted…TAKING A FOOD TOUR IN THE CITY OF PORTO -WITH KIDS
Great post honey – lots of useful advice for those facing this daunting prospect xx #marvmondays
Fi – Beauty Baby and Me recently posted…The Celebrity Mum I Admire The Most
I’m not working because my when I follow my husband, that works for an NGO, I don’t get a work permit. So I am embracing no 5 and taking time out. #MarvMondays
Mama Grace recently posted…Little Girl Blue
Great tips. It’s something that seems to be happening more and more. #marvmondays
Donna recently posted…Hunky Husband’s Lemon Tart
Having been made redundant twice in my career I can honestly say it sucks. And it doesn’t get easier second time round. As much as you can logically know that your role has been made redundant there’s just no way not to take it personally. My advice would be to cry and rant if you want to and let people close to you know how it is affecting your personally. And then pick yourself up and make getting a job be your job 🙂
Nothing really prepares you for redundancy – it’s a horrible process whatever side of the divide you’re on – but these are some great tips for dealing with the process
Tubbs recently posted…The Fact Is Fiction. Reading the News and #GE17
Great tips! I’m not working at the moment but my husband is and I think we’d be devastated if he was made redundant so it’s worth thinking about.
#MarvMondays
Lady Nym recently posted…Why Can’t You Just…?
I’ve been fortunate enough to have never been made redundant but I can imagine what a scary time it can be. These tips are great and for sure will help anyone going through this process. Thanks for sharing #MarvMondays
Really useful tips, I hope that we never need them! But you just don’t know do you?
#MarvMondays
Thank you so much! The company I work for is currently going through a restructure and we have collective consultation that will result in redundancy, we just don’t know who or how many of us. So reading your post has got me determined to make sure I am as prepared as possible. #MarvMondays
So much of this really resonated! I’m still reflecting almost two years later but this time out has just been so wonderful – who’d have thought it as sobbed all the way home from the big announcement that day…
Thanks for hosting #marvmondays xx
MMT recently posted…The Good Life: Starting a family allotment
Great post with some great advice for people facing this scary situation. I love helpful posts like this when i’m looking for advice.
#MarvMondays
Laura Simmonds recently posted…Why being an Auntie is the best!
Great post with some great advice for people facing this scary situation. I love helpful posts like this when i’m looking for advice.
#MarvMondays
Laura Simmonds recently posted…Why being an Auntie is the best!
This is a really good post. My department is currently just going into Group Consultation because of some organisation changes. I am fortunately not deemed at risk, with my role being mapped sufficiently close into the new structure. A third of my team are not so lucky. About 15 of them need to re-apply for roles and another 8 have to re-apply for roles which would require relocation. Ironically my blog post this week is about the whole experience. I am relieved to hopefully be keeping my job but it’s horrible that some of my colleagues (who are also friends) are living through the redundancy process. Thanks for sharing. I’ll bear these tips in mind when trying to support my colleagues. #MarvMondays
Angela Watling (Life, Motherhood and Everything) recently posted…The moment I realised that working really is right for me
This is my right now. After we got our E Book up, out and promoted I just wanted to be away from the screen.
#marvmondays
kristin mccarthy recently posted…What’s Happening With The Environment? Oh Right, It’s Dying.
I’ve been through a redundancy situation four times. Three times I was lucky, the fourth, not so. After applying for my own job I was told after the interview I was unsuitable to do the job I’d been doing for 7 years – it was soul destroying. But I believe everything happens for a reason and I don’t believe I’d be where I am now had it not happened. Great post. #MarvMondays
Jaki recently posted…The Art of Overcoming Personal Setbacks and Disasters
Such a confidence crashing process to go through, some great tips to take it practically and sensibly #MarvMondays
Fiona Cambouropoulos recently posted…Win a Pop N Jump from Summer Infant UK
Great advice…I’ll admit I’d not considered that Linkedin was such an important tool. Number 2 is really important – my organisation went through a restructure and my post was cut. It was a tough time, but I was redeployed into another role that gave me the chance to appreciate that I’d not been taking my career in the direction I’d hoped. Sometimes a shake-up can be painful, but isn’t always the end of the world.
#MarvMondays
Sadie recently posted…my birth plans [ part 1 ] – home birth
I was facing this before I went on maternity leave and as I was about to return was told I was to be on consultation. Luckily, i was transferred to a different company within the same organisation and I prefer this job and with cheaper travel i also get more money and flexible hours.
Redundancy 9 times out of 10 sucks, but every now and again it actually gives a better solution! #marvmondays
Mrs Mummy Harris recently posted…Triumphant Tales #10
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Wow that all sounds like it worked out really well for you in the end! I know redundancy is scary, but I do think that sometimes something better comes out of it 🙂
I’ve survived a company ‘restructure’ twice – thankfully it’s not an issue now I’m self employed! #marvmondays
Crummy Mummy recently posted…10 reasons blogging IS a proper job
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Wow, I so envy you! I’d really like to take the plunge but im way too scared to. Definitely something I’d like to consider in the future if I have the opportunity to 🙂
Good tips – I have been on both sides of this, been made redundant and having to make people redundant. x #MarvMondays
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