Coping with Redundancy: What I’ve Learned

With 32% of UK businesses in 2025 planning to reduce headcount either through redundancies or by recruiting fewer staff, the number of people coping with redundancy and the need for redundancy support has never been more pressing. (CIPD, Labour Market Outlook)

We asked our Managing Director, Mike Burgneay, for his own personal experiences on being made redundant, and any advice he has for those facing the challenge.

 

The Current Market and Growing Need for Redundancy Support

 

There seems to be a lot of green in my LinkedIn feed these days.

I’m seeing more “Open to Work” lozenges than I have in a long time. Some of the stories I’m reading are powerful – folks who have been out of work for months or longer without a sniff of an interview, partners in a relationship both made redundant at the same time. Some of these stories make for difficult reading.

Of course, we are living in economically and geopolitically uncertain times, so the news of redundancies is not much of a surprise.

But seeing so many “Open to Work” lozenges and so many headlines about job losses has reminded me of my own personal experiences. Redundancy support is crucial in times like these, and I can empathize with the challenges people face.

 

What I Learned from My Own Redundancy Experiences

 

I’ve been made redundant twice in my life. Each experience couldn’t have had a more different impact on my life.

The first time, I was in my early 20s. I had a good job, a job I enjoyed. But I wouldn’t call it a career and it wasn’t a job I was particularly wedded to.

I was also very fortunate in that the job market at the time was very buoyant and, in reality, finding another job was relatively easy.

So, when I was called into the boss’s office late one afternoon, told that my job was redundant because my team was being outsourced and handed an envelope that included a cheque for £450, it really wasn’t a problem to me. While I was disappointed to leave the job, I wasn’t especially stressed, as I knew the prospect of landing another job doing something similar on a comparable salary would be relatively straightforward—and so it proved.

In fact, it turned out to be a real turning point for me. The company I joined next was the first company I had ever worked for that took training and internal promotion seriously.

Looking back, I can see that it was there that my career really took off. So, in my case, at that time, redundancy actually turned out to be transformational for my career in a good way. Not only that, but I walked away with a cheque that paid for a holiday I hadn’t expected to have.

Fast forward 30 years to the second time I was made redundant, and the story couldn’t have been more different. Suddenly, it felt like my career had been cut short. There was still a mortgage to pay, university fees to cover and the job market wasn’t great and retirement felt a long way off.

But, in truth, I didn’t just need to work, I wanted to work. I’d been very lucky thus far and had enjoyed a string of great jobs working with amazing people and brilliant clients. I was along way out from giving all that up.

 

The Emotional Toll of Redundancy and the Need for Redundancy Support

 

I’m not afraid to admit that I found the experience very stressful. The fear of the unknown and the anxiety was overwhelming at times and I can honestly say my confidence was at its lowest point in my entire career.

Part of the issue was the classic stigma of redundancy. I truly doubted that anyone would want to employ me – having just turned 50 and having been made redundant.

So, I completely empathise with the stories from folks of all ages that I’ve been reading on LinkedIn who are now going through redundancy and finding themselves in a difficult job market. 

But as I can testify, there is always hope.

 

Redundancy Support: What Can You Do Next?

 

So what did I learn back then, and what advice would I give anyone in this situation now?

I would say it breaks down into five things:

1. Look after yourself—physically and mentally.

    

Emotional resilience, maintaining confidence and energy are three of the most important characteristics that will help you succeed in your job search. Redundancy support isn’t just about the practicalities of finding a new job; it’s also about maintaining your well-being.

Eat healthily and try to stay as fit as you can. Be active and find the right balance between your job search and other important aspects of your life. The worst thing you can do is spend all day, every day, in front of the laptop.

One of the best pieces of advice I was ever given was this:

“Work hard on your job search but also make the most of the time you have.”

This balance is crucial. Give yourself permission to do other stuff.

Whether it’s going to the gym, going for a walk, decorating, gardening, crafting, visiting family and friends, afternoons out – it really doesn’t matter. Just make sure you spend time doing things that you enjoy and/or find rewarding.

It’s much better to spend three real quality hours a day on your job search than to spend eight or nine hours going down rabbit holes on LinkedIn.

 

2. Don’t do anything until you’ve worked out what you want to do next.

    

The temptation is to do the CV, send messages to your closest contacts and start applying immediately to satisfy the need to be seen to be doing something to land a role quickly. Resist that temptation, take a breath and think hard about the next role.

What type of business do you want to work for? Where can you add most value? What gives you fulfilment and purpose? Spending time working out what the goal is then informs everything else.

This also means reflecting on all the skills (especially transferrable skills) that you’ve developed and all the experience you’ve gained. 

Why is this so important? Because it forms the foundation of your proposition – the message you’ll include in your CV, on your LinkedIn and in your pitch when you’re interviewed.

But from my own experience, one of the biggest benefits of going through this process was that it rebuilt my confidence at a time when I was at a low ebb. Going through a structured process of reminding myself of all the things I was good at time when, in reality, I was flirting with impostor syndrome was incredibly beneficial.

 

3. Write a plan.

    

It might sound like a cliché, but treating your job search like a job is really good advice. Get into a routine. Look at how you allocate your time and make sure you’re balancing it effectively.

Structure your day. Set aside dedicated time for different aspects of the job search—researching companies, refining your CV, writing cover letters, networking, and interview preparation. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed, so breaking it into manageable tasks will make the process more productive and less stressful.

Tracking your progress is also important. Keep a simple spreadsheet with the jobs you’ve applied for, key deadlines, and any follow-ups you need to do. This will help you stay organised and prevent opportunities from slipping through the cracks.

 

4. Network, network, network!
   

I know from my own experience – landing the role here at Chiumento – that networking works, pure and simple. And that belief has only been reinforced over the last 10 or so years I’ve been at Chiumento.

Networking doesn’t mean asking for handouts (which is exactly how I felt back in 2011). It’s about having conversations. The conversations in themselves can be uplifting but, critically, you will find that your contacts can be an incredible source of insight, introductions and ideas.

I’ve heard countless stories from people – some of whom were skeptical at the start – who embraced networking and, just as I did back in 2011, found that it was the key to landing a new role. Networking is positive, proactive and can be energising.

Ultimately, it gives you a much better chance of being in the right place at the right time.  

If you find networking intimidating, as I did, start small. Set a goal to connect with one or two new people each week. Over time, these small efforts will lead to significant breakthroughs.

 

5. Stick to the plan.

    

A structured approach to your job search will keep you focused, productive, and motivated. Stick to the plan, trust the process, and keep moving forward.

There will be days when it feels frustrating—when you don’t hear back from employers or face rejection. It’s natural, but the key is persistence. Stay consistent with your efforts, and don’t let setbacks derail your momentum.

Find ways to stay accountable. Maybe that means checking in with a friend or mentor about your progress or joining a job search group where you can share updates and get support.

Most importantly, take care of your mindset. Job searching can be draining, but keeping a positive outlook will help you push through. Celebrate small wins—whether it is setting up a networking conversation, getting an introduction, making a new connection, or improving your CV.  Every step forward, no matter how small, makes a difference.

 

Final Thoughts

 

I was lucky in many respects. I had the chance to work with a brilliant career coach who was an incredible help to me. And I still feel fortunate to have landed the role at Chiumento. I was definitely in the right place at the right time.

But it is also true to say that I played a part in making that good fortune happen. And that is my point. There is always an element of luck in landing any role but there are things we can do that can make us a bit luckier.

 

Need help navigating redundancy? Trust the outplacement experts and get in touch with us today.