How to bounce back after redundancy

The tech industry has been awash with Lay-offs and redundancies over the last few months. Between Twitter and Meta alone, thousands of people have had their lives turned upside down.

My heart goes out to you if you’re reading this wondering how you are going to bounce back after being made redundant. Redundancy puts you through so many different emotions, it’s hard to see past your immediate situation.

You might be feeling angry, upset, sad, frustrated, scared, hurt, alone all at the same time. You might even be feeling a strange sense of relief if you saw it coming or guilt, if you are secretly glad, because you weren’t enjoying your job anyway.

Redundancies and lay-offs have been a recurring theme of ‘recruiter life’ since the financial crash in 2008.

I’ve experienced facing into prospect of redundancy more often that I would have liked. First in 2009, twice in 2015 and then again in November 2020.

In 2009 the company I worked for more than halved in size, losing friends and colleagues was heart breaking at such a young age.

In Summer 2015 the oil price was crashing, and I could see the impact all over the news, and in the streets as the to-let signs increased. I was working for a HR consultancy on client sites waving my magic wand over their recruitment functions to make their wishes for much needed talent come true.

The recruitment team I was part of went from 20 to 3 in a matter of weeks. My manager was made redundant, and I could see the writing on the wall. Ater re-connecting with my previous employer in tech recruitment we made a deal that I would return…..

Alas, by December 2015 the Oil and Gas price had tumbled into oblivion and there really was no escape. The Aberdeen office closed and just like that, 3 weeks before Christmas I was out of work. My heart ached, I’d never cried over a job before, but I did that day.

Fast forward to November 2020 and there I was again. Waiting for a call from my boss to let me know if I still had a job or not. I took it personally that time. Waiting for the call, I was feeling angry and let down. My confidence was low, and I felt like I didn’t matter.

Here are 4 tried and tested tips to help you bounce back From redundancy

1: Give yourself a break

There is no harm in spending a couple of days on the sofa watching TV, eating snacks and feeling sorry for yourself. Loss of anything is never easy and it isn’t just about not having work to get up for, it is the people that you used to see every day.  Even the ones who use the last of the water in the kettle or don’t clean up the tea bag drips after they’ve made a brew.

I have one caveat though; a few days is long enough. Back in 2015 I spend the best part of 2 weeks feeling sorry for myself. It only pro-longed the suffering.

2: Don’t take it personally

I took being at risk of redundancy personally in 2020. After working through the start of the pandemic against the odds with long hours and unmanageable stress I felt like the company owed me something. ‘Who are they to say they don’t need me anymore when I have done all of this for them’. This sort of thinking will not help you.

Redundancies (in the main) are a result of decisions that have been by other people, based on things that are out of your control. None of us can control the stock market, politics, or the price of energy 

Life isn’t always fair, don’t take it personally.

Your Tech Career Fairy Godmother

3: Remember what you’ve achieved

Just because you don’t have that job anymore, it doesn’t mean that you didn’t do valuable work and achieve great things. You still have those skills and abilities so it’s worth scribbling down some of the projects you delivered and your achievements.

You might be in denial about what is happening, you know deep down you’re going to have to update your CV soon. This will give you a head start.

4: Use your network

You WILL know people who can connect you with other employers who need your skills. Whether that’s people you know who are hiring managers, recruiters or mutual friends. Someone will always know someone who knows someone who… you get what I mean.

The most important thing to do is stay connected.

Asking for help is the bravest thing you can do. 

There is no shame in putting a post on Linked In or reaching out to people.

Don’t go it alone, there are people ready to help you. Seek support from your friends, family, they will be there for you.

The situation you’re in is temporary, you will find another job

Both 2015 and 2020 were years that redundancy meant I made choices that have given me new opportunities. In 2015 I made the decision to move to Edinburgh and built a new life in the thriving tech community that I love. In 2020, I promised myself I’d never have all of my ‘financial eggs’ in one basket again and the seeds for Once Upon A Tech Recruiter were sown.

As hard as the unexpected and frankly unwanted changes in direction have been over the years, they have led to me where I am now. No wonder ‘squiggly careers’ are promoted as a positive thing now.

If you really have no idea what you want to do next or want to use it as an opportunity to change direction, a career coach can help you move forward.

If you’d like some expert help from someone who’s been there, contact me here.

Change always brings opportunity even if you can’t see it yet.

If you’ve read this and think someone you know might find this useful, please share it with them.