A sudden career redirection propels me from being in life’s comfortable passenger seat to becoming the driver of my own career.
Having recently been made redundant I'm going to share my story with you.
When redundancy raises its ugly head, there is no single magic solution to solve the problem. The approach taken is dependent on each individuals' respective situation. Having recently been made redundant I'm going to share my story with you. Why you may ask? Well I want to give you hope and belief that it will be ok. If you are in this difficult situation, I want you to realise that the emotions you are feeling or will be feeling are very natural. There are a number of steps you can take to regain control and alleviate the stresses.
Very little did I know that 2019 would start off in such a stressful manner. I was informed I was being made redundant in the first week of January, and the first emotion to hit me was panic. I had been working at the same company for 13.5 years, so naturally my mind was filled with vast amounts uncertainty and doubt.
A voice in my head was telling me that I wasn’t capable enough, nor skilled to find another job that would sustain my current lifestyle. The voice was continuously reducing my self-esteem. I was scared that I was going to go backwards with my life and career.
Yet I longed for the change to bring progression.
I experienced a roller-coaster of emotions including shock, anger, sadness and fear of change. It's really important to acknowledge that these feelings are quite normal. When you've been made redundant, it's been done to you. Someone made a decision which takes the control away from you. This is a tough one to deal with, especially if you’re a control freak like me!
I gave myself a few days to absorb the news and let my emotions settle. Do give yourself time and very importantly, be kind to yourself. In order for me to positively move forward, I knew I had to regain some personal control and take action. I had to orientate myself to the situation and formulate a plan around the following areas.
Practicalities:
I had to get my ducks in a row regarding finances. I felt it important to get a handle on my outgoings. It gave me an immediate sense of comfort understanding what the essentials were vs the luxuries. It's a good exercise to do if you're like me who sets up direct debits/standing orders and never revisits them, subsequently forgetting about them!
It's very important to reach out for support from family and friends. I must've chewed many ears but it helped rationalise my own thoughts and gave me an outlet to pour out my feelings.
Confidence building and positive thinking:
Even if you realise it wasn't personal, being made redundant can knock self-esteem, even for the most confident of people!
One of the first things I did was to ask my colleagues (ex-colleagues rather) for LinkedIn recommendations. Not only did this bolster my LinkedIn profile (talk more about this later) but it reminded me of all the positive qualities and of my value add. If I felt a little low, I had a quick read and it was an instant pick me up! Reach out to those you've worked with and ask them for recommendations, it's a brilliant reminder of our capabilities.
I took some time to reflect on what I'd really love to do next and what would really energise me. A positive mindset is crucial and I'd absolutely encourage you to focus on this. I read countless books to help move me along and whilst some stuff can be 'fluff', I took the important themes and applied them to reframe my thoughts. It can be a game changer!
Job search strategies:
It goes without saying that creating your CV or updating it is a fundamental requirement! Now is the time to really ensure your CV showcases your skills and experiences. I spent time updating mine until I was confident it was a good representation of my professional capabilities.
Updating your LinkedIn profile is also essential in the current world! Seek out those recommendations, make further connections and widen your network. Have more of a presence by commenting and liking posts as you'll get noticed. LinkedIn is a powerful tool and should not be underestimated as part of your job search strategy!
Talk to your contacts and network of people, ask them if they know of any job openings or if they can put you forward to someone that can help. Consider reaching out to people you've worked with years ago and let them know you're looking for work. Referrals and recommendations are invaluable. In actual fact, the role I secured was via an ex colleague, so I'm a testament to this very point!
Engaging with a few good recruitment agencies can be helpful, especially if the area you're looking to get into is niche.
Registering with some job sites can open up a ream of opportunities that perhaps you might not have considered. It's definitely worth a try.
Preparation for interviews:
Needless to say, when invited for an interview after all the hard work you've put in, prepare well! Practice until you are confident you've nailed the range of questions you may be asked!
Research into the organisation and get to know what they're about.
If you have names of those interviewing you, look them up on LinkedIn. People like to know you've taken time to not only research the company but also about them. I had a couple of interviews whereby I threw in some interesting points I'd learnt about them, it was well received!
Redundancy contains a bucketload of emotions. It is unwelcome and brings self-doubt and anxiety. I sincerely hope reading this blog will reassure you (even if a little) that you do have the ability to turn things around to a positive outcome.
Like me, you can take charge and transform the turbulence of redundancy into that of opportunities.
Give me a call if you need help/support on any of the points I've mentioned. I've lived and breathed through it all and very pleased to say I look forward to my future with much excitement.