Overcoming Redundancy: A Recruiter’s Advice
“When one door closes another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us.” Helen Keller
If we’re being completely honest with you, we aren’t the biggest fans of the word “redundancy” or “redundant” at RecruitmentPlus. The Oxford Dictionary’s definition of redundant is: no longer needed or useful; unnecessary, needless, and inessential. We would never choose these words to describe any of our talented candidates. The language we use is important and can shape how we view ourselves substantially. Redundancy can be an incredibly difficult time for anyone. It often does come with feelings of worthlessness and fear about what is going to happen next. Although in the short term being made redundant can really feel like the end of the world, we have to pick ourselves back up and look forward to new opportunities.
Now, don’t get us wrong. There will be a phase of mourning for what you had or what you thought your future looked like. However, as Helen Keller said, the more we focus on the door that has just closed, the longer it will take for us to notice a new door opening for us.
As you can imagine, RecruitmentPlus has supported hundreds of candidates who have found themselves at a crossroads in their careers. The recruitment business is a people-based business meaning that our support comes in all shapes and forms, from confidence building to figuring out what your true goals and aspirations are.
With all of our experience, we want to share with you some advice on overcoming redundancy and how, without knowing it yet, it could lead to even bigger success and possibilities.
But first things first… we need to address the elephant in the room. How are you really feeling about redundancy? No matter how long you were in your previous job, you’re more than likely going to go through some grieving. Have you heard of the Kubler-Ross Change Curve?
Let us explain it to you to help you better understand how you’re feeling and what to expect.
Kubler-Ross Change Curve
Source: https://stresslessco.com
To help you on your journey of overcoming redundancy, it would be advantageous for you to understand the grief cycle. Originally depicting 5 stages; denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance, the Kubler-Ross Change Curve was created by Swiss-American psychiatrist Elisabeth Kübler-Ross. However, as seen in the above graphic, this model can extend to changes you experience in the corporate world.
The most important thing is to accept how you feel, no matter what that looks like. Your feelings and emotions are valid. The more you lean into them, the easier it will be to overcome them and move into the next stage.
Once you feel mentally and physically able to (remembering that our bodies experience grief and loss too), you can experiment with new ideas and situations which could lead to endless opportunities. We think that it’s important to highlight what is going on internally and acknowledge how you’re feeling so that you can move forward with confidence.
We’re going to take a practical turn now and discuss some essential information everyone who is facing job loss and trying to overcome redundancy should know. Let’s dive in.
6 Steps to Overcoming Redundancy
1. Know Your Rights
It can be so easy to get caught up in the shock of what is happening that we don’t stop and question the situation. Knowledge is power. Know exactly what your rights are and what you’re entitled to. To help you, here are some useful links from Citizens Information:
Further information on your rights can be found on the Workplace Relations Commission.
2. Manage Your Money
Don’t shy away from the, sometimes, daunting task of managing your finances. Consider your finish date, what you’ll receive in redundancy pay and how much you currently have in your bank account as a buffer. Coming to grips with your financial situation will help you make a plan for the near future. How long do you have to secure another role? This step is crucial and inevitable. The quicker you get on top of it, the better you’re going to feel.
3. Take Time to Reflect
You will probably be experiencing a rollercoaster of emotions with thoughts whirling around your head. Try not to rush into any decision-making right away. It’s easy to do this as naturally, you’ll be trying to “fix” the situation out of fear and panic. Depending on your personal circumstances, you should take a bit of time to process so that you can make the best decision for your future.
4. Start Making Decisions
If you have taken our advice up to this point, you should be ready to start making decisions! The very first decision you need to make is… what do you want?
We know it’s a big one to land you with first, but without knowing what you really want out of your career and life, you definitely can’t make any other decisions.
- Where do you see yourself in 5 years’ time? (this cliche interview question is a powerful one!)
- What do you enjoy doing?
- What is your dream job and/or life?
Be really honest with yourself about what you want. Don’t diminish your BIG dreams because you think they are too out of reach. Write down exactly what you want your life to look like and what steps you’ll need to take to get you there.
5. Get Out There
You have your goals in the forefront of your mind now and you’re ready to get out there! The internet, as we all know, is an extraordinarily powerful tool. Use it to your advantage and start networking on social media platforms. Update your LinkedIn profile with any new experience you’ve gained, start connecting with new contacts in the industry you want to work in, and update your profile to Open to Work.
Take it a step further and share your insights and knowledge about your industry to your LinkedIn page. Start engaging with other professionals in your industry or the industry you’re looking to work in.
6. Contact a Recruitment Agency
Job searching can feel overwhelming, especially after redundancy. You might ask, “where do I start?” Working with a recruitment agency like RecruitmentPlus means that you not only have an expert recruiter but a human being that will take on board all of your concerns, apprehensions, ambitions and dreams. You are more than just a CV. Each candidate that we have ever worked with has been unique, meaning the service each of them has received is unique too.
Right now you need someone who not only can get the job done for you, but someone who truly cares about your success too.
You don’t have to overcome redundancy alone… so don’t!
Get Started with RecruitmentPlus
Step One: Upload Your CV
Step Two: Call Us – Stillorgan: 01 2788610/ Dundalk: 042 9356910
Step Three: Search Live Jobs
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