In these current economic times of uncertainty and unexpected failings within the financial power-houses, we are hearing about more and more companies having to face the unthinkable task of reducing their overheads by downsizing their workforce.
Whilst some of the big blue-chip companies will have the option of reducing their dependency on the temporary sources, such as contractors and perhaps reducing their outsourcing budgets many will face the only other option - redundancy.
From the perspective of the workforce, a voluntary redundancy package may seem attractive - perhaps you are close enough to retirement age and have a good pension so that it would be no hardship for you to take a "deal" however small it may be.
However, for the majority (especially here in the UK) in-voluntary or compulsory redundancy is likely to be the norm.
So how can you face this daunting, perhaps frightening prospect and survive the process - coming out the other side ready to face the challenges of the next era of your life ?
Don't panic. Take deep breaths. Stay Calm.
We're human. We're react differently - some worse than others. There are usually two types of character that surface given this scenario, which you've probably come across before - flight or fight.
We tend to make the most rash decisions when we are under pressure, stress, or in a state of fear - sometimes that's flight, we try and run away. So don't allow yourself to be rash or irrational. Check your reactions and try and adopt a measure of the "other type" however hard that may be - it's your choice at the end of the day !
You may not have the true "fight"ing spirit within you, however, you can at least keep your wits about you and commit to making it through this in one piece. Get a sense for what this experience really means to you and what the real impact will be.
Take stock of the situation
"Is it really as bad as I'm imagining this ?" Do you have anything to fall back on?
Again, there are usually two type of people in these situations - those that plan ahead and have set aside something or those that think "I'll do that next year....".
These are often referred to as "back-up plans" or in simple terms - Plan B!!
Hopefully you've put something in place in those earlier years to give yourself a buffer, and if so, take some encouragement in the fact that you're prepared to weather a little uncertainty.
Look for the opportunity
You know what they always say, "It's not what happens to you that matters, but what you do about what happens". That might not be quite what you want to hear right now, but take a minute to think about it: might this sudden change be a silver lining to the big cloud hanging over you ? Commit yourself to finding out. Take some time for yourself, take a long walk in the open air (I like walking on a beach, there's something therapeutic about the waves!), even just a few quiet hours alone and just allow yourself to reflect on all the things you truly liked and disliked about your job.
Anything you might have done differently? Were you there because you had to be, or
because you wanted to be?
Use the here-and-now to shape your next-step, by learning from your past experiences. Is there a chance to take a step up the ladder? Maybe changing career path completely if you're not as happy as you wanted to be? So many times, abrupt changes like this are exactly what people need to get out of a rut and move on to something they'd really love to be doing.
Make the most of the power of your contacts network
You might be surprised, but I bet you have a lot more friends, colleagues and supporters than you realise. Dig out your address books, go through the PDA, the business card files and social networks you may be hooked into, to see who's really in your "inner circle" - those that are closer to you - without discounting your wider network, who might be able to help lead you to some new potential opportunities. Talk to friends and family and see who they know as well.
Then start reaching out to catch up with as many people as you can. Get in contact with old friends online (try one of the re-union websites, you never know!), send a load of emails (be prepared for some to bounce though due to old addresses!), even invite a few perhaps more local ones for coffee or a drink down the old favourite "haunts".
Start talking to everyone you can! Ask your contacts who else you should be talking to, then reach out to them. Update (or get some if you don't have any) your online profiles with the latest news and let people know that you're actively exploring your options. This is not the time to hide out and wallow. Just make sure you force yourself to smile and at least appear to have a positive outlook for the future (some call this fake-it till-you-make-it" !).
Repeat the mantra to yourself: "onward and upward!"...until you believe it.
