On the 9th of April, 2021, my role was made redundant along with the majority of our team members. Only one position was to remain. I know I shouldn't have felt shocked. It is a familiar enough story.
From the company's point of view, redundancies seemed like a no-brainer as it began the process of turning the ship around in order to survive. But from my perspective it was difficult to remain unaffected.
I originally had big plans for my career in 2021, but then, the focus had to be how to navigate through my first redundancy effectively.
Now, two months have passed. I have charted a new course and emerged from the challenge. I have secured my dream offer with ISG, a leading global technology research and advisory firm.
Finding a way through was not easy. However, I found three techniques that were particularly helpful during the process. In this article, I'd like to share those strategies to help others who might be facing a similar challenge.
- I took some time to adapt and chose to accept the situation without a victim mentality.
- I created a 3-by-3 decision matrix to help me make critical decisions with confidence.
- Kind self-talk and exercise helped me keep my positivity and worry less.
Why does mindset come first? Because it reveals itself in every interaction with potential hiring managers and recruiters. It underpins how others see us in a professional setting, and we only get one chance to make a first impression.
Think of the human body as a smartphone and our minds as the operating system. All of our knowledge and skills are applications installed on the operating platform. Nothing will function properly if the operating system is not. So take some time. Don't rush. The process of change takes time and follows what is often referred to as the Kübler-Ross Change Curve. Everyone rides that curve differently, and it is absolutely OK to take your time.
As decisive and confident as I wanted to be, it still took me a weekend to get over the wooziness before I could make a conscious decision to accept the redundancy. With my manager's help, I was able to build a new story around the recent events. And that story was: the redundancy was not convenient, but it gave me a new opportunity. It was pushing me out into the market and refocusing my digital transformation career aspiration in a more competitive and advanced environment.
Sudden adversity often puts us in a victim mentality. If you can't change it, look for the new opportunity hidden within the event. We are in the driver's seat to make redundancy a disaster or a life present.
I built and used a 3-by-3 decision matrix to help me compare career options.
In the first column, I set my 3-level role target:
Bottom line — anything below this will not be considered.
Satisfying role — any offer at this level will be considered and compared in more detail.
Dream role — I would accept the offer and turn down all others.
Horizontally, I put the criteria that matter most to me, in order:
Job responsibilities — I know exactly what I want to do and I won't settle for less.
Growth opportunities — a growing environment benefits individual career progression.
Salary expectation — I know my worth and I am confident to deliver results for my future team.
At times we hesitate or decide impulsively because we cannot articulate what exactly we want. Take time to reflect on what matters most and write it down — digitally or on a piece of blank paper — to help yourself stay motivated and focused. My decision matrix did exactly that.
Once I had the right mindset and a clear decision matrix in hand, the last struggle was to ensure consistent behaviour throughout the process.
A famous Chinese saying goes: 'the fighting spirit aroused by the first roll of drums is depleted by the second and exhausted by the third.' It is critical to keep the momentum and positivity. So I set myself two rules.
Rule 01: Talk kindly to myself. So often we bring our most empathetic self to others but treat ourselves harshly, especially during uncertain times. I learned to see myself as a good friend — someone I trust, have 100% faith in, and will always support.
When I felt shocked initially, I told myself it was OK to need some time. When I was rejected, I told myself it was OK to feel frustrated — but that rejections didn't mean I wasn't good enough. It simply meant the role wasn't a perfect match. Practising kindness with myself boosted my resilience and made the process more enjoyable.
Rule 02: Exercise three times per week. When my body is busy being at its best, my mind just naturally keeps up.
Today is my first day joining ISG in its Digital Strategy and Solutions team. I am so thrilled.
Looking back, I know those three strategies carried me through my recent redundancy effectively. If you are also facing a career change, I hope my story can add value and spark some ideas for you.