Redundancy – a turning point

Redundancy was a big turning point for me. I felt like I lost my identity, who I was, what value I brought to the table, where I fitted into the work world and was thrown into disarray. I immediately wanted back in – to be back on the circuit and in the fray. 

Although getting back in the fray and on the circuit did settle me because it was familiar, I was clinging to my sense of identity for what had been. As time went by I began thinking more and more about the legacy I wanted to leave and felt something was missing. I questioned myself on what I wanted my identity to be and what I wanted to be known for. I started putting a plan together – my career plan. 

Tips for making redundancy work for you

If you have found or find yourself being stood down or receiving a redundancy my tips are to: 

1. Negotiate the terms. Ask for what you’d like. If you’re offered coaching, do your own research and ask for someone you want to work with, rather than whomever they choose. If you’d like to take a particular learning pathway, ask for it. It’s your redundancy, see how much of it you can own.

2. If you receive an outplacement program look carefully at what they are offering you. If they offer different training experiences, make the most of them. There may be some opportunities for you to explore topics that you’ve been curious about and haven’t yet looked into. 

3. Take the time to assess what is next for you. Imagine yourself in different scenarios. Imagine yourself working in different places, ways, companies and roles. As you do this think about how you could achieve what you want for yourself. What would you do or have in place for it to become a reality? Be intentional and put together a plan for your career.  The career planner is a great tool to work out what is next.