5 ways to navigate redundancy or an unexpected career change

Let me tell you a brief story. It was the week before Christmas. I was 28 years old, had a mortgage and a car to pay for, and about £3,000 in credit card debt.

I was called into my manager’s office and told that I was one of two people in our department being made redundant. After the other person received their news, we were both given an hour to gather our belongings and were escorted to our cars.

There we were: one person in tears and the other feeling happy and relieved. I was the latter.

That does not mean there wasn’t some part of me thinking, “What now?” I had been unhappy and miserable in my job for a while, but I had never felt certain about what I wanted to do next or confident enough to walk away from a job that paid. Suddenly, someone else’s decision had changed my circumstances, and I had no choice but to adapt.

People no longer necessarily remain in the same job throughout their working lives. Roles, organisations and even whole sectors can change, sometimes through personal choice and sometimes because of circumstances outside our control.

Job security can never be guaranteed completely. As I experienced during my time working in probation, your career and the sector you work in can sometimes be affected by organisational decisions over which you have little influence.

Five ways to navigate a career change

Whether the change is redundancy or a shift in role or organisation, you may still have choices to make and actions you can take.

1. Breathe and take a moment

It is understandable to panic at the thought of losing your job, irrespective of whether you love or hate it.

A host of difficult thoughts may begin to run through your head: “How am I going to tell my other half?” “What am I going to do now for money?” “Am I going to lose my home?” or “How will this affect my children?”

Take a moment and breathe. Give yourself an opportunity to process what has happened and some time and space to think through your options.

Once the initial shock has eased, review any formal paperwork, consider your immediate finances and find out what practical or professional support may be available. You do not have to make every decision immediately.

2. Gain some perspective

It is easy to lose sight of yourself when circumstances change in ways that are beyond your control.

Remind yourself of what you have achieved so far. A setback does not erase your experience, knowledge or previous accomplishments.

List your achievements, the training you have completed and the skills you have developed over the years. Use this information to regain perspective and remind yourself that your current circumstances do not define your entire career.

3. Identify your strengths

At times like these, it is natural to experience moments of doubt. However, it can help to remind yourself of what you could offer another employer.

Identify your strengths and write them down. Leave the list for a day or two, then return to it and add anything else that comes to mind. You could also ask trusted colleagues or other people who know your work what they see as your strengths.

When applying for jobs or preparing for an interview, consider the attributes, skills and examples that demonstrate what you could bring to the role.

4. Consider the opportunities

When you feel ready, you may be able to use this moment to reassess what you want from your career.

Perhaps you have been in the same field since leaving school or university. How have you changed since then? What do you know now that you didn’t know when you began?

Consider whether there is something different you would like to pursue or whether you want to continue along a similar path in a new environment. A different job could allow you to meet new people, use your skills in another way or find a working environment that suits you better.

Maybe you have always considered setting up your own business, but the stability of employment made it difficult to explore. Redundancy could provide an opportunity to investigate that possibility, although it is important to consider the financial risks and plan carefully rather than make an immediate decision.

5. Take practical action

No one asks to be thrust into a situation where they feel rejected, out of control or uncomfortable. However, once you have had time to process what has happened, practical action may help you regain a sense of direction.

The labour market changes over time, and finding another role may take longer for some people than others. Your experience will depend on factors including your occupation, location, circumstances and the type of work you want.

Focus on the actions within your control. Update your CV, identify suitable roles, set up job alerts and consider whether any additional training would improve your options.

Do not forget the network of people you have built over the years. Former colleagues and professional contacts may already know the quality of your work and the strengths and knowledge you could bring to an organisation. Reconnect with them and let them know that you are considering your next move.

An unexpected change in circumstances can be extremely difficult, but it may eventually lead to positive changes that you could not initially see.