Navigating Redundancy

I had a conversation with someone the other day about redundancy, and we agreed that whether it’s voluntary or not it can often feel similar to when a relationship ends, it can bring out a wave of emotions that can feel somewhat overwhelming.  

In today’s climate, it’s rare to go through a professional career without at some point going through some kind of redundancy threat, I’ve been through it myself! So, I thought I’d share some advice. 

Firstly, you are not alone and please remember it’s not personal, it’s the role that’s being made redundant and won’t be perceived negatively by any future employer.

I think it’s important though to say amidst the uncertainty and emotional turmoil, lies an opportunity for growth, resilience, and exciting new opportunities, that’s not just lip service its true! Many people I’ve met over the years would say it made change happen for the better.  

Acknowledging the grief

The first thing I’d say when faced with redundancy is it’s natural to experience a range of emotions akin to mourning, just like when a relationship breaks down.  You may feel shock, denial, anger, sadness or even a sense of relief. These feelings are valid and should not be dismissed. Allow yourself the space and time to process them fully. Just as in any loss it’s essential to acknowledge and honour your emotions before you can effectively move forward.

Embracing the transition

Once you’ve allowed yourself to grieve the loss, it’s time to shift your focus towards embracing the transition. Treat redundancy as the end of the one chapter and beginning of another. While it may feel daunting it’s also an opportunity to reassess your goals, skills and job aspirations.   

What about learning some new skills? OpenLearn and FutureLearn are just two examples of organisations who offer free courses.  

If you have some free time on your hands and want to keep busy why not look at volunteering? At TPP we advertise a number of voluntary roles on our website. 

Treat job hunting like a job

I always say to people to treat a job search with the same dedication and discipline you would apply to a full-time position. Set specific goals with a redundancy plan; create a schedule, keep a record of roles you’re applying for and deadline dates. Treat each application as unique and tailor your CV and cover letter to each individual role highlighting key hard and soft skills, your experience and it is also worth noting where you feel you have potential to develop new skills. Make sure your LinkedIn profile is up to date and reach out to your network for some testimonials or advice and see if there’s any networking opportunities coming up.

Don’t spend your payout! 

It may be tempting to spend some of your payout, but don’t! You don’t know how long it will be before a regular wage starts coming in, so you need to manage your money wisely, a good idea is to set up a redundancy budget for yourself. You can get free and impartial help with Money Helper.

It’s important to know what you’re entitled to ie tax rebate, credit claims. The list below are useful links to guide you with this.

• ACAS - Your rights during redundancy
• GOV.UK - Redundancy: your rights
• Money Helper - Claiming your tax rebate after losing your job
• GOV.UK - Claim back Income Tax when you've stopped working (P50)
• Citizens Advice - Get help with the cost of living
• Working Families - Benefits you can claim if you are made redundant

Cultivating Resilience

It may seem obvious but navigating redundancy requires resilience, you will get setbacks and it may take a little time to secure the role you’re looking for.

If you haven’t had an interview in a long time it’s only natural to feel nervous, so it’s a good idea to practise your examples and think about potential interview questions/answers in advance, the job description can give clues as to what you’re likely to be asked about.  

The TPP Recruitment Careers Hub offers a range of helpful advice on there, including overcoming nerves in an interview and how to succeed at interview.

Recognise that setbacks are a natural part of the process and use them as learning opportunities. Stay focussed on your long-term goals and remain flexible in your approach.  

Don’t hesitate to reach out and garner support from friends, families or professional networks to help bolster your spirits and chat through how it’s going.

It’s also important to work with a trusted recruitment consultant; as they’ll be able to guide you, share market information, CV and interview tips and provide valuable recruitment support.

If you do feel like your mental health is suffering please don’t be afraid to reach out and get support. Mind is just one charity that’s there to help.

I know it may sound like a cliché and feels very unsettling but remember it’s an exciting opportunity for change and more often than not, it turns out to be for the better.

At TPP we have specialist divisions, Finance, IT and Facilities, HR, Marketing and Communications, Fundraising, Leadership and Governance, Office and Specialist Support and Education and Training and each one of our consultants are here to support and give you guidance with your job search, please call 020 7198 6000.