‘Redundancy: The 8-step plan I used to move on after being let go’

I was made redundant in August 2019. People told me it was a great chance for me to retire … Really?! Not a chance, I’m too ‘young’ to even contemplate not being actively engaged in the workforce. Apart from the fact I have bills to pay and my superannuation needs to fund my lifestyle when I do decide to stop working, I need to get out and connect with people so why not get paid to do that.

This news was delivered to me a couple of days before I was going off on a planned overseas trip. Needless to say, it was a real dampener on the trip, but the end result was more than I could have hoped for. I did the normal — had a catastrophised how was I going to survive and keep a roof over my head etc. That done and dusted I got out of my own way and started using my strengths, number one being that I’m a big planner. I had a 22-hour flight to get my action plan in place and in place it was by the time I touched down in Rome, Italy.

Step one: I had to stop feeling sorry for myself. It would get me nowhere and what was the worst thing that could happen, I end up at Centrelink?

Step two: I needed to get my numbers guru to ratify the figures I was given as pay out and see where I stood in regards to take it or leave it. End result, she said, was to “take it and run”. I therefore advised HR prior to leaving that their offer was under consideration and I would inform them of my final decision on my return.

Step three: I needed to decide exactly what I wanted to do in this new chapter of my life. Did I want to do the same old or was there something else I wanted to do or try? Did I want to work full-time or part-time? Did I want to volunteer?

Step four: I had to dust off my resume and get it updated.

Step five: I had to get onto my network of friends, colleagues, family, acquaintances and whoever else I could think of. Put the word out that I was looking for new opportunities.

Step six: I needed my financial strategy in place. I also wanted a sanity check, which was done by a good friend that teaches this stuff for a living.

Step seven: I got together a list of employment agencies in the local area and any other employment avenues, such as Seek, Facebook, LinkedIn.

Step eight: I mapped out my first day and first week and what they would look like after I finished up my old role.

The one thing that I never doubted was that I would not find something. By the time I landed back in Sydney, Australia I had already started my game plan, I had the word out to my network, the numbers I was given as payout were confirmed and I was on my way to a new, better lifestyle.

I met so many wonderful and encouraging people on this journey it was amazing and I am very grateful for their support.

The end result is that I found a job within two weeks of finishing and it was all by chance, well rather being in the right place at the right time. I’m doing admin work in a medium-sized business doing what I love — writing procedures and processes to help them with efficiency and time management — in an industry I love. It may sound boring to some, but I am using skills I had lost and new skills to be creative. It is rewarding to see how I have helped my new company and know it is appreciated.

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