Part of your employment journey – So…redundancy beckons!
It can be hard to rationalise the conflicting emotions of anger, frustration, despair, and sorrow that come to the surface as a result – all of which are exacerbated by familiar feelings of self-doubt.
But it’s worth taking the time to sit with these thoughts and process them in your own time.
If you look at redundancy as just another part of your employment journey, you may find it’s an easier pill to swallow. Admittedly, not everyone will find themselves redundant through their working lives, but there are others who will experience it several times. And in the current climate, it’s a position many of us are finding ourselves in.
So, how do we move forward?
This will differ from person to person, of course, but in my view, the quicker you can dispel some of the thoughts and fears I mentioned, the better chance you have of moving forward.
There’s no denying that redundancy can be very unsettling – particularly if you are someone that likes to be in control. But remember that this is not something you have caused.
Take this time to reflect on what is important to you in a job. Are you trained in a specific role? Can you improve your standing with some further training? And how do you define your relationship with work? Is it purely a way of earning money, or are you pursuing a career?
As much as I have prioritised my career throughout my life, I have always made a conscious decision not to be defined by my role. I found this has helped me to rationalise my thoughts and consider my next steps more clearly.
Ask yourself: can you find a role in the same sector? Or will you have to consider other opportunities? Your CV is a good starting point to help you to define what you have already achieved and what your skillset really is, but if you want to move into certain sectors, you may find you need an additional or alternative document.
Rather than just listing your previous jobs, outline your achievements and strengths in each role. This will help you to determine how your existing skills can be adapted to other environments. Many skills utilised in the hospitality industry, for example, are transferable, and put you in a good position to find roles in other sectors. You may have taken advantage of training offered through your job role. If that’s an apprenticeship, there may also be opportunities to continue your studies.
But beyond simply looking at the courses you have attended or the certificates you have received, think about what you have actually learnt through your career. There’s always time to learn new skills, and there’s support for ongoing training even if you have been made redundant. The Food Service Circle website is a great resource for this.
In today’s tech-centred culture, it’s particularly important to think about the skills that our new world of work will require. As an example, within my area of expertise, online training development has largely replaced face-to-face training. Taking into account your computer skills, could you adapt?
There are many pilots now with their feet firmly on the ground, working as delivery drivers. Others have found alternatives working in the health sector. We are all living through difficult times and the shadow of redundancy can be tough to deal with on our employment journey. But stay positive and who knows, new avenues may be on the horizon.
The original version of this article was first published in: https://foodservicecircle.com/redundancy/
We are a catering and hospitality recruitment company. We can support you to find a new role or the staff you need to grow your business.
