5 Tips - Rising Strong Post Redundancy
- Written by Gill Holden
With the Australian economy hammered by the effects of COVID-19 and JobKeeper set to end in early 2021', the alarming number of job losses already experienced this year is set to continue rising.
However, while more redundancies are inevitable, there are strategies to help deal with the shock, anger, sadness, and other ramifications of a job loss say redundancy coach Gill Holden.
Gill, an Irish-born HR and recruitment expert who was herself stood down on St Patrick’s Day this year, has launched her own business, Clover Lane Consulting, to help others recover from setbacks and forge their own career pathways.
“I’d been made redundant before and it was an emotional time,” says Gill, who’s had a successful career of more than 20 years, mostly in healthcare management and recruitment.
“However this time it wasn’t as bad because I was so driven and compelled to do my own thing anyway. In fact, I felt like this was the opportunity; this was a sign for me to move forward.”
Gill says redundancy can be likened to an unhealthy relationship, depending on how the employer chooses to deal with and deliver the bad news. When the redundancy is delivered by email, or even worse, by text message, it holds particular characteristics that resonate with rejection.
“It leaves a sense of unworthiness, of total rejection,” she says. “It has been likened to grief, it’s like breaking up from a partner, even if it was a toxic one.”
This year, as we navigate our way through a global pandemic where many of us have been forced to stay at home for months on end, the emotional impacts of a job loss can be even greater, she says.“We need to assist those individuals to pivot from where they are to where they need to be.”
So, how to begin dealing with the aftermath of a redundancy? Gill offers these five tips:
1. Give yourself time to heal. If you can, take some time out to breathe. This can be a great opportunity to re-evaluate your career and consider what you’d like to tap into in the next phase of your professional journey.
2. Use any support services available. If your former employer offers you professional services – such as help with building your resume, and exploring your career goals and objectives – accept this as soon as possible, even if you are feeling emotional.
3. Reach out to your network. Let your people know that you are or will be ready to get back to work as soon as possible. Word of mouth is an incredible tool.
4. Remember, your ROLE was made redundant, not you. Recognize you still have plenty to offer, and with the right mindset, support, and guidance, you’ll soon get the opportunity to showcase the new you.
5. Don’t forget, this is just a moment in time. This is a vulnerable moment and one that will test and challenge you. But still, it’s just a moment. As you heal, allow yourself to think of what might come next in your career. Easier said than done, I know!
Gill says there is still plenty of hope for people who have been made redundant, or may find themselves in this position during the next 12 months or so. For her own part, she’s enjoying the challenges of finally starting her own business, and helping others navigate the path forward in a very challenging time.
“Now, people that have never had to deal with this before are being thrown into a world of redundancy insecurity,” she says. “If there was ever a time we needed to coach people into their new phase, this is it.”
To find out more about Gill’s redundancy coaching services, go to Clover Lane Consulting’s website at www.cloverlaneconsulting.com.
