Being made redundant feels like the ground has shifted beneath your feet, doesn't it? One day you're part of something, contributing and moving forward, and suddenly you're facing uncertainty about everything – your income, your identity, even your worth. If you're reading this after receiving that difficult conversation with HR, or whilst lying awake worrying it might be coming, please know that the mix of emotions you're experiencing right now is completely normal.

You might feel angry, relieved, scared, or even oddly excited about possibilities you hadn't dared consider before. Whatever you're feeling, it's valid. And whilst it might not seem possible today, this unexpected change could actually become the catalyst for something better in your career.

Finding Your Way Forward – First Steps After Redundancy

Right now, you might be torn between wanting to dive straight back into job hunting and needing time to catch your breath and think. Both responses are completely natural, and there's no right or wrong approach.

Give yourself permission to feel whatever you're feeling

Redundancy can trigger a whirlwind of emotions. Panic one moment, unexpected relief the next, perhaps anger followed by curiosity about new possibilities. This emotional rollercoaster is completely normal. Some people find comfort in immediately diving into job applications, using the familiar routine as a way to regain control. Others need space to process what's happened and reflect on whether they want to continue on the same path. Neither approach is wrong. Trust your instincts about what feels right for you right now.

Take time to acknowledge what you've lost

It's not just a job you've lost – it might be your routine, your work friendships, your sense of purpose, or the identity that came with your role. Recognising these losses isn't being dramatic; it's being honest about why this feels so difficult.

Recognise that redundancy isn't a reflection on you

What's crucial to understand is that redundancy rarely reflects your personal performance. These decisions typically stem from economic pressures, market volatility, or strategic company pivots. Your skills, experience, and professional value remain intact – they simply need redirecting towards new opportunities. Redundancy says nothing about your capabilities or your potential for future success.

Consider your immediate practical needs

Understanding your redundancy package and how long your savings might last will help you make decisions without panic driving every choice. If you've been employed for two years or more, you're entitled to statutory redundancy pay, which can provide some breathing space to make thoughtful decisions rather than desperate ones.

Reflect on what you actually want from your next role

This might be the first time in years you've had the headspace to think about what truly matters to you in work. What aspects of your previous role energised you? What drained you? What would you prefer to do more of, or less of? These insights will be invaluable as you move forward.

Recognise the hidden opportunity redundancy provides

I often encourage coaching clients to think about redundancy as the start of a new chapter, rather than the end of the story. When the choice is made for us, it often provides the courage to explore possibilities we might never have considered whilst safely employed. Sometimes what feels like an ending becomes the beginning of something much more satisfying than what we had before.

Be gentle with your confidence

Redundancy can knock your self-belief, making you forget how capable you actually are. Try to remember your achievements, the problems you've solved, the difference you've made. These skills haven't disappeared – they're still there, ready to be applied in new ways.

Job Hunting After Redundancy

If you don't feel the need to pause and consider your career direction on what you want, and want to go straight back into the job market, here are a few initial things you can do:

Identify your strengths. Make some notes about your strengths, things you do well AND enjoy. We all have things we’re good at that don’t give us any sense of energy or motivation, so instead try to identify those things which you really enjoy. These are likely to be the areas where you are most value to others, as well as increasing your satisfaction at work. Also recognise your industry knowledge, and most important achievements. Redundancy often damages confidence, making us forget our considerable capabilities. This exercise reminds you of your professional value whilst providing content for future applications.

Gather evidence of your impact. Collect performance reviews, project outcomes, client testimonials, and quantifiable achievements. These will be invaluable for CV updates and interview preparation.

Let people help you. Former colleagues, contacts, clients, people in your network may be happy to help you identify opportunities, share job openings and put you in touch with others who may have useful information and insights. Don't be afraid to harness the power of your network!

How Career Coaching Can Support You After Redundancy

Navigating redundancy and career transition alone can feel like trying to find your way through unfamiliar territory without a map, especially when your confidence has taken a knock. Having someone in your corner – someone who understands both the practical challenges and the emotional complexity of career change – can make all the difference.

Career coaching isn't about telling you what to do; it's about helping you work out what's right for you. Together, we can explore what you really want from your career, identify the skills and experience you can build on, and create a realistic plan for moving forward. Sometimes just having someone listen to your concerns and help you see possibilities you hadn't considered can shift everything.

The people I work with often tell me that having professional support helped them avoid settling for the first available job and instead find opportunities that genuinely excited them. When you're feeling vulnerable, it's easy to accept less than you deserve. A good coach will help you remember your worth and pursue roles that truly fit.

Ready to Explore What's Possible?

Redundancy might have brought you here, but it doesn't have to dictate where you go next. Your skills, your experience, and your potential are still intact – they're just waiting to be applied in new ways, perhaps in places you haven't yet considered.

If you're ready to explore what might be possible for your career, or if you'd simply like to talk through what's happening for you right now, I'd welcome the opportunity to help. Sometimes having someone listen to your situation and help you see it from a different perspective can be the first step towards feeling hopeful about the future again.

Why not start with a free discovery session? We can talk about what's going on for you, what might be getting in your way, and explore some initial ideas about moving forward. There's no pressure – just an opportunity to gain some clarity and feel a bit less alone in working out your next steps.

Book your free discovery session here or learn more about how career coaching can support your transition.

Remember, feeling uncertain about your future is temporary – but the resilience and self-awareness you develop navigating this change will serve you throughout your career.