Redundancy: the impact and what support there is

Being made redundant can be a painful experience. Beyond a means to pay the bills, many of our identities are closely linked to what we do for a living. And of course, even if not, suddenly losing your means to pay the bills can be stressful enough as it is.

As therapist and coach Caroline Ingram wrote: " Redundancy brings uncertainty, anxiety, worry and confusion. Futures are threatened and the comfort of a certain path forward is lost. It is a time of stress, and for anyone already experiencing poor mental health, the loss of a job is almost certain to exacerbate symptoms." You can read some of Caroline's advice for coping with the mental health impact of redundancy here.

Redundancy is a loss, and like all losses may trigger a grieving process. Anger, denial, shame, embarrassment, feelings of failure are all perfectly understandable in the face of losing your job. Alongside the emotional fallout, your life will suddenly look very different on a day-to-day basis: your usual routine will disappear, and you will have to handle the practicalities of redundancy, too. You can visit the gov.uk website to ensure that you are being treated fairly by your employer throughout your redundancy process. You can also visit your local Citizens Advice Bureau to get advice on what financial support might be available to you as you look for your next job.

Redundancy, too, can represent an opportunity for change – even if it's hard to see it at first. This is where working with a professional coach specialising in redundancy – a career coach for example – may help you.

Redundancy coaching: how does it work?

Redundancy coaching (also known as outplacement coaching) will give you dedicated time, structure and support to help you navigate what is likely to be a challenging and confusing time. Working with a coach will help you tackle you clarify your future goals and help you reach them. Your coach will help you:

identify your transferable skills
discover what motivates you
understand your strengths and weaknesses
maintain a positive mindset in a period of change

Career coaches are well-versed in the impact of redundancy and are skilled in helping people construct and then – importantly – follow a plan. Redundancy coaching will equip you with strategies to manage your motivation and confidence levels, as well as helping you understand your skills and where you can add value. Career coaches and redundancy coaches can also help you with practicalities such as writing a winning CV, crafting cover letters and preparing for job interviews.