“Don’t take redundancy personally, but let it springboard you onto the next opportunity that’s out there. Let yourself breathe through that initial panic.”

Background

Married with a five year old son, living near Birmingham. Freelancing for just shy of 5 years.

When were you made redundant?

I’ve been made redundant four times in my working life so far, each leading on to bigger and better things. At the time, each redundancy felt like a punch in the gut, but it was my last redundancy that really opened up a world of opportunity for me. At the time I’d been working for the RAC for about eight and a half years and absolutely adored my job. But, I had a baby and it was during maternity leave that it seemed to go wrong. I couldn’t get any response from my manager about KIT days, let alone return to work dates and my last few months of maternity leave had me worried sick about what I was returning to. I was increasingly panicked and it turns out I was right to be worried – on my return, they simply wouldn’t give me my job back. It was hugely distressing and just a few weeks later, they made me redundant while keeping the (cheaper) person who’d been covering my role. I was distraught and felt I’d been treated appallingly.

What did you do after you were made redundant?

I allowed myself to wallow for a bit, but frankly I was furious. I felt my loyalty had been for nothing and I resolved not to let that happen again. I also decided that I wanted to try some new things, still in internal communications, which I love, but trying new sectors. If I was honest, I was probably ready to move on anyway – the timing just couldn’t have been worse. As I dusted off my CV and updated my Linked In profile, I was overwhelmed by the support I had and by chance, I was e-introduced to someone who had an interim role available.

How did you decide what to do next?

I didn’t see any permanent roles that I fancied, or that paid enough and my confidence had been shook. I met my Linked In introduction for a coffee and we got on brilliantly and I was offered the contract there and then – leading the comms for a key acquisition for another big brand. I decided to go for it. If I hadn’t been made redundant, I would never have had the courage to try interim or freelance work. As it was, I thought I would do it for six months until I found something permanent – but five years later, here I am, loving freelance life and no desire to get back into the permanent workforce. It’s given me flexibility, experience, confidence and opportunities with amazing people and brands – something that I wouldn’t have had if that redundancy hadn’t have forced me to make a change.

What would be your advice to anyone who has just been made redundant?

Allow yourself to wallow for a bit. You will feel angry – that’s OK. Use it to try something new, get in touch with new people and importantly, don’t panic and jump with both feet into any old role that may not be right, as you’ll only be miserable. Don’t take redundancy personally, but let it springboard you onto the next opportunity that’s out there. Let yourself breathe through that initial panic.

Thank you Kate!

Twitter: Kate_Goodman

Facebook: The Good Comms Company

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kategoodman/