Are You Worried You Might Be Facing Job Loss Or Redundancy?
[Updated July 2020]
The fear of losing your job, facing redundancy or being unemployed is almost as insidious as concern about Covid-19 itself at the moment.
You may have heard the rumours that the business you work for may not survive the economic repercussions of the pandemic, or they are about to reduce staff. You feel concerned, knowing that no-one is safe in their employment at the moment. How could they just suddenly announce that your job no longer exists? After all, you know how hard you’ve worked, and you believe your work is valuable and valued.
But an unsettling feeling has crept in. Media and government reports are negative and worrying. What if you are about to lose your job! What will you do? How will you react? You imagine the worst; losing your job; facing redundancy; being unemployed. In your mind, especially at 3 am, it is not a pretty sight!
Prepare Yourself For Possible Redundancy
How can you prepare so that you will be able to cope well if you lose your job? Here are nine things you can do immediately to ensure that you are ready “just in case”. Let’s not make this into a disastrous speed bump in life or an incident that will define your future career or your retirement. You can prepare yourself to take swift and decisive action to get new work as quickly as possible. Businesses are still hiring!
Maintain your usual high standards
It is natural that emotions will arise, that you will feel vulnerable and perhaps angry that your working life may be affected like this. Accept that it is reasonable to feel emotional, but don’t lash out. Try your best to be dignified and to continue to work as usual, maintaining your high standards as if the rumours did not exist. You don’t want to tarnish your reputation. Your boss or colleagues may need to be your referee for your next job.
Remove personal belongings
At the first hint that redundancies or job losses could be imminent, remove all personal files from your work computer. If you are working in a corporate environment, take home any of your belongings that you aren’t using regularly.
Don’t get involved in nastiness
There possibly will be increased tensions in the workplace. As people consider the possibility that they might lose their job, they often become hyper-critical of the people around them. Don’t become the problematic person yourself, or fall into the trap of other people’s nastiness. Use this time to support one another, not cause additional drama. If the atmosphere becomes toxic, do your best to rise above it and escape whenever you can.
Know your redundancy and dismissal rights
Read any information you can access about your rights, so you know what to expect. That way, you can discuss the situation knowledgeably, which will help you to feel more rational and composed. The more knowledge you have, the stronger you will feel when you are facing job loss or redundancy.
It’s the JOB, not YOU
Remember that it is the JOB that is the problem, not you as an individual. Job loss or redundancy is a road-bump in life, but it is not a crisis if you manage it appropriately. Yes, it can be more difficult for an older worker to regain employment than for a younger person. However, don’t discount the invaluable experience that you can market to another company, or other alternatives involving self-employment.
Don’t buy into the trap of thinking negative thoughts about your future. Don’t focus on fears of being unemployed. Now is the time to be positive and start to get yourself ready for your next challenge so that if the redundancy occurs, you have prepared yourself to act quickly and decisively to get yourself employed again as soon as possible.
Remember that being made redundant is not a reflection on your work or a blight on your character. It is a business decision that unfortunately affects real people and their lives. And job losses right now are simply an indication that a business is trying to survive and can’t afford another employee.
Look towards your network
The best way to make a smooth transition from one job to the other, especially in situations where you have been made redundant, is through recommendations and introductions. Your existing network is where you can gather information about where jobs may be coming up in the future. It is also most likely that someone in your professional or personal network will recommend you to others if they know of opportunities that might interest you. Use the Hidden Job Network to your advantage during this time.
Get your resume up to date
Get your resume up to date. Take your time to consider what you have achieved and to determine the direction you want to take next. It will help you to know how to target the resume even though you don’t yet have a specific position description for which you are applying. Be aware that if your resume is more than about five years old it is likely to need a complete refresh to give it a contemporary feel and to reflect the skills, experiences, and achievements you want to showcase.
Be prepared to hand over company belongings
If you are departing from a business, you will have to hand over company belongings such as a laptop, phone, or car. Be prepared for this so that you know you have a backup plan for transport and telephone.
Get help from a professional Career Counsellor
Consider being proactive and organise to see a professional career counsellor who will be able to help you to re-envision your working life and plan your strategies for the next stage of your career. This way, you will know that you have prepared yourself for whatever happens at work, giving you a sense of empowerment. It is possible that the redundancies won’t eventuate or won’t affect you, but the opportunity to reflect on your future may inspire you to make a career change anyway.
