What to do if you are facing redundancy

As the effects of coronavirus continue to wreak havoc on the economy and with the furlough scheme coming to an end, more and more people are facing redundancy. It really is an uncertain time for business owners and employees alike.

If you are concerned about your career prospects, here is what to do if you are facing redundancy or have been made redundant.

1. Don’t panic

If you know for sure you are being made redundant, take a break and don’t panic. While this will be easier said than done, it is important. You might have worked for your employer for a long time and knew the business inside out. You might have enjoyed your job and even described it as a career. Now it’s gone, it might be a shock to the system so taking a break is the best way to take stock of what has happened and how you feel about it. 

Think about what you want to do; what you can do. There are many stories about people who have been made redundant and it was the best thing that ever happened to them. Focus on the opportunity rather than what you have lost. It’s always important to stay positive, and in this situation even more so.

2. Think about what you really want

Whilst this may be a hard time, it’s also a great chance to think about what you really want. The job you have lost might have been something you fell into by accident and perhaps you have been dissatisfied for a while. Now is your chance for a complete change. Even if you were happy, it’s still good to take stock and think about what your priorities are and if they’ve changed over the years. 

The following exercises can help you with this step and they will give you clarity about what’s important to you and what you might want to do in the next 5-10 years:
 

• Wheel of Life
• Live Your Best Life
• Be, Do, Have
• Ideal Job Checklist

3. Know yourself

This is all about being clear about your strengths and weaknesses, your skills and achievements, what you’re great at and what you love to do. A great tool to use for this is DISC profiling and it’s something you can sit and do when you are taking that break we discussed earlier. 

Completing a DISC profile will help you understand yourself (and others!) better. It will show you what you need to shine in a job and it will make it easier for you to know what sort of job (or even starting a new business) is most suited for you.

And this in turn will help you be happy and successful, because if you do something you’re naturally drawn towards, you will be better at it and feel happier.

4. Update your CV and LinkedIn profile

This shouldn’t be the first thing you do. Come to this after you’ve had a break and completed the exercises. This way, you will be better prepared to write about the skills and attributes that will help you stand out to future employers. 

Research how to write a CV if it’s been a while since you last submitted one. Google the latest ‘trends’ for your industry in terms of what works well on LinkedIn. In fact, LinkedIn itself can be a great way to search for job opportunities so it might even be worth looking at my article on how to use LinkedIn to find a job or at the very least, widen your reach.

5. Tell everyone!

When you are looking for a new job or starting a business, word of mouth can be extremely effective. So, tell everyone you know, from family, former colleagues, customers and suppliers. Put it on social media. Don’t be shy about it.

If you have completed some of the exercises mentioned above, you should be clear about what you want and this will make it easier to find that perfect opportunity.

Then, once you have found it you will be genuinely excited and enthusiastic. This will shine through in your interview and massively increase your chances of getting the job.

6. Get help

The strain over the last few months is likely to have taken its toll on your mental health. This, coupled with the threat of redundancy and then the actual act of being made redundant, will have been stressful and talking about it is the healthiest step you can take. 

Whether it’s talking it through with friends and family or even a career coach, you should think about getting help if you’re feeling the strain.

I offer a 30-minute free session in which I can help you put your priorities in order and help you narrow down what it is you want from your new job and your next step, or you can simply look at my book, The Happy Worker. 

The most important fact to remember in all of this, is that while you won’t be the only person made redundant or the only person looking for a job, you are unique. When you can approach the job hunt with confidence, you are more likely to find your ideal job. You never know, it might be the dream job you were always looking for.