Reinvigorating your career after redundancy

Redundancy is something most employees will dread, but unfortunately it will happen to many of us at some point and can really knock your self-confidence. It’s very easy to feel overwhelmed, so we’ve compiled some tips to help you bounce back if you ever find yourself in this situation.

Give yourself some time to recover & reflect

In a lot of cases, people can be completely blindsided by redundancy, leading to an onslaught of overwhelmingly negative feelings about the situation. It is natural to feel resentment for your employer, but bear in mind that often these decisions come from much higher up within an organisation, and you may need a reference from your boss fairly soon for your next role so try not to let these feelings get the better of you. Most people will also question themselves and their capabilities after being made redundant: these feelings in particular need to be nipped in the bud – this is a business decision and doesn’t reflect on you professionally or personally. Treat yourself with the same kindness and support you would offer a close friend in this situation.

It can be tempting to panic and try to rush into a new role, but you owe yourself time to think about what you want in your next career move. Think about your skills and experience, but also about what you are looking for in a new role and how you want to develop.

Try and hack your mindset

Feelings of despondency are common after redundancy – we all want to be in control of our own destinies and no one like the feeling of life happening to them. But try and see this event as an opportunity and a fresh start. Chances are, the job you’ve left wasn’t perfect! Whether it’s something more drastic, such as a career change or returning to education, or just having the opportunity to seek out a role that is ultimately a better fit for you, sometimes redundancy is a push to get out of your comfort zone and eventually end up where you were meant to be, and better off as a result.

Keep up with your connections

If there were other redundancies amongst your colleagues, try and be a support network to each other – you’re all going through the same thing so it will help to talk and keep each other’s spirits up. A lot of people can feel isolated after a redundancy, especially if they live alone, so try and get some human interaction to prevent sitting at home and dwelling on things. If you’re in a specific industry but not in competition for the same role, you might even be able to help one another in your job searches. Similarly, reach out to colleagues in previous jobs and step up activity on your LinkedIn account – make genuine endorsements for others and it’s likely they’ll return the favour.

Take steps when you’re ready

If you need a breather, but aren’t in a financial position to be out of work for too long, consider taking on temp or contract roles while you reevaluate what it is you want. This will help with breathing space, and you can take the next steps in your career at your own pace. Even if you aren’t sure what you want, speaking to a knowledgeable recruitment company can help you get some clarity and provide advice when you are feeling a little lost.

Most of all, hold your head up high! It may not feel like it, but redundancy happens to the best of us, and no one (including those hiring for future positions you might apply for) is going to think badly of you. Be kind to yourself! Sheridan Ward is here to chat if you need career advice.

Sheridan Ward is an independent recruitment agency based in Uxbridge and covering jobs in Uxbridge, Harrow, Watford, Slough, Southall & Hayes. We mainly recruit generalist roles such as administrators, customer service vacancies, human resources, sales & marketing, finance & accounts and supply chain & logistics. 

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