Redundancy - Not the End of the World
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So, you've been culled. You're out. Let go. The big 'R' - Redundant. What do you do now? Your head's in a spin, panic is on the list of options, and your emotions are going haywire. Have no fear - redundancy is not the end of the world.
Not unlike grieving, there are steps you must go through in the process of recovering from being made redundant: Acknowledgement (deal with it), Mitigation (damage control), Plan (plan of action and execution) and then Mitigation again. (damage control again).
Acknowledgement - Deal with it.
This might be blunt, but the most important thing is to get through the denial phase. Accept that you've been made redundant and that you are the only one who can get yourself back on your career path. Ok look, feel sorry for yourself for a day or two, take a chill pill - whatever. Three days maximum though, as you are in the perversely luxurious position career-wise of having nothing to lose.
And the therapy-esque line you were waiting for: Making up your mind to find a better job is the first step to doing just that.
Mitigation - Damage control.
Your redundancy is not unique or interesting to anyone else, so don't focus on it. The fact is that you must now try to sell yourself to another company. So take some steps to mitigate the effect being made redundant might have on your success at finding a better job.
Contact your old boss, explain that there are no hard feelings, and that you are looking for another job. Ask what he would say if a prospective employer were to call for a reference. This is important for a few reasons.
First, you may be surprised at the answer. Employers will often go out of their way to not get into trouble over references, and if you were on good terms, your employer will probably give you a decent one. If you know in advance what your old boss will say and there are a few, shall we say 'issues', then at future interviews you can smoothly address the 'issue' as a 'learning point'. Explain how much you learned and that you know how to do better next time.
Worst case scenario - forewarned is forearmed.
Plan - Plan of action and execution.
This bit is dead easy. Get another job. A complete run down on job hunting is a whole piece of advice in itself. For now, just get busy with your best job-hunting techniques - networking, CV posting to job boards and potential employers, recruitment consultancies, whatever. Just put together a plan and make it happen. If you are not sure how to start - well, you got that last job, didn't you? Start with how that happened and work from there.
Mitigation - Damage control again.
Right, you've achieved an interview. Now what? You don't have to volunteer that you were made redundant. If the interviewer has any brains at all, he/she will ask. If asked, don't tippy toe around it, just confirm it straight up. Be gracious, mention you enjoyed your time at your old firm, that you learnt a lot and you are looking for an opportunity to repeat the success you had there. Make sure you are prepared to explain exactly why the job you're seeking is just such an opportunity.
Being gracious and positive can have an incredible effect - it will work in your favour if you do it right.
Do not, EVER, say anything negative about the former employer. Ever, ever, ever. You'll only look thoroughly unprofessional, or worse.
This advice does not come from your Fairy Godmother, or come with any kind of guarantee, but it will help you present yourself in the best light and with your chin up.
And remember, if you've been made redundant, it's not the end of the world.
Acknowledgement - Deal with it.
This might be blunt, but the most important thing is to get through the denial phase. Accept that you've been made redundant and that you are the only one who can get yourself back on your career path. Ok look, feel sorry for yourself for a day or two, take a chill pill - whatever. Three days maximum though, as you are in the perversely luxurious position career-wise of having nothing to lose.
And the therapy-esque line you were waiting for: Making up your mind to find a better job is the first step to doing just that.
Mitigation - Damage control.
Your redundancy is not unique or interesting to anyone else, so don't focus on it. The fact is that you must now try to sell yourself to another company. So take some steps to mitigate the effect being made redundant might have on your success at finding a better job.
Contact your old boss, explain that there are no hard feelings, and that you are looking for another job. Ask what he would say if a prospective employer were to call for a reference. This is important for a few reasons.
First, you may be surprised at the answer. Employers will often go out of their way to not get into trouble over references, and if you were on good terms, your employer will probably give you a decent one. If you know in advance what your old boss will say and there are a few, shall we say 'issues', then at future interviews you can smoothly address the 'issue' as a 'learning point'. Explain how much you learned and that you know how to do better next time.
Worst case scenario - forewarned is forearmed.
Plan - Plan of action and execution.
This bit is dead easy. Get another job. A complete run down on job hunting is a whole piece of advice in itself. For now, just get busy with your best job-hunting techniques - networking, CV posting to job boards and potential employers, recruitment consultancies, whatever. Just put together a plan and make it happen. If you are not sure how to start - well, you got that last job, didn't you? Start with how that happened and work from there.
Mitigation - Damage control again.
Right, you've achieved an interview. Now what? You don't have to volunteer that you were made redundant. If the interviewer has any brains at all, he/she will ask. If asked, don't tippy toe around it, just confirm it straight up. Be gracious, mention you enjoyed your time at your old firm, that you learnt a lot and you are looking for an opportunity to repeat the success you had there. Make sure you are prepared to explain exactly why the job you're seeking is just such an opportunity.
Being gracious and positive can have an incredible effect - it will work in your favour if you do it right.
Do not, EVER, say anything negative about the former employer. Ever, ever, ever. You'll only look thoroughly unprofessional, or worse.
This advice does not come from your Fairy Godmother, or come with any kind of guarantee, but it will help you present yourself in the best light and with your chin up.
And remember, if you've been made redundant, it's not the end of the world.
Here Is The Writer : JohnnyBoy
Johnny Boy has worked in the City for 11 years and heads up the IT search practice for a niche head hunter. Johnny plays Polo quite badly, is more accomplished at cooking, and reads voraciously.
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