The Step-by-step Redundancy Plan

‘ASK WHAT YOU CAN LEARN FROM THIS LOSS’

1. BEFORE IT HAPPENS… Plot your Plan B

It might seem negative to plan for the worst but, according to Dr Kahn, preparing for the inevitability of change can be liberating. ‘No one is on a path of absolute work security, so you should always consider alternative ways of working,’ says Dr Kahn. Learning to separate your identity and sense of self from your current role will make you better equipped to handle a dismissal should it arise.

2. ON THE FIRST DAY… Be gentle with yourself

‘When you hear the news, you may be shocked, ashamed, angry and depleted,’ says Dr Kahn. ‘Do what you need to do to get through the day. Try to separate yourself from your workspace to create some distance, and find someone supportive to talk to.’ You could also try imagining yourself a year from now. From this perspective, you can have greater clarity; remind yourself you can handle whatever comes next.

3. IN THE FIRST WEEK… Prepare how you communicate

We base so many of our conversations on work, so communicating that we have been made redundant can be challenging. Dr Kahn recommends preparing a sentence, such as ‘I’m looking for a new position’, or ‘I’m having a rethink’, without any further explanation. Or reverse the question: ‘Have you ever been made redundant?’ This could be an opportunity to find out how others have coped and even forge new bonds. Redundancy can feel isolating, but it doesn’t have to be.

4. IN THE SECOND WEEK… Process the loss

‘Write down what exactly you feel you’ve lost,’ says Dr Kahn. ‘It could be the project you were on, a great team, or your identity. Write what you miss, and what you’re angry about. Then ask what could you learn from this loss.’

5. IN THE FIRST MONTH… Rebuild your confidence

‘Write down everything you achieved in your previous position, big or small,’ says Tweddell. ‘This is a confidence booster, and will also help for future job interviews.’ Then, she recommends creating a grid with four sections: strengths, weaknesses, what you love, what you hate. ‘Look at the weaknesses and think, “Is this something I actually want to work on? Do I care? Am I happy to embrace my weaknesses?” she says. Understanding these parts of yourself will help you figure out your next move.

6. IN THE FIRST THREE MONTHS… Stick, twist or bust

‘If you decide you were great at this job and you enjoyed it, you will want to stick – so start looking for a similar role at a different organisation,’ says Tweddell. ‘But you can also make changes to improve on what you had before.’ You may choose to twist: keeping to the same skill set but working differently, perhaps by going freelance. Or you might realise you want to bust, and start something completely new. Be honest with yourself about what you really want.

7. IN THE FIRST SIX MONTHS… Move forward

The financial pay-off of redundancy may grant you the time to plot a next move that’s right for you. But, if you do take what Tweddell calls a ‘rebound job’ in order to pay the bills, you can still use the experience. ‘View each step as an opportunity to develop,’ she says. Keep moving forward and you’ll eventually find that door.