How to manage your team’s and your job search in the face of redundancy
Career Leaders
NABS offers practical steps to support your team and yourself during job loss.
Being made redundant in adland doesn’t just impact your income. It can dent your confidence, heighten feelings of anxiety, and generally put you in a challenging place mentally.
This can be accompanied by grief or a sense of loss, not only for your job but also for your routine, your colleagues, and your sense of belonging.
In a senior role, you may be especially worried about how your redundancy will be perceived. Plus, if you’re also managing redundancies in your team and your own, your team will look to you for support.
It’s a lot to navigate.
Taking care of you and your team at this time is possible by breaking down the practical actions that can help, as well as making sure that emotional support and empathy remain front of mind for everyone.
Helping your team’s job search
Your team will no doubt be in shock and could also be taking redundancy personally – even if they have been through the process before.
Reassure your team members that redundancy is about the role, not about them. Remember to take the message to heart if you’re also facing job loss: it’s one that can’t be reiterated enough. Redundancy is about role requirements, not someone’s ability.
Encourage your team to take care of their mental and emotional well-being. This is really crucial.
Signpost them to the NABS Advice Line for a confidential chat. Redundancy is the second-highest reason for people contacting NABS, and our support team are very experienced in supporting people who are facing job loss.
There’s also a host of other support available, free of charge, from NABS – such as a confidential and impartial listening ear, so you can say what you need to out loud.
There are also group workshops, coaching sessions and redundancy guides. Attending a group session can help build someone’s network, as well as their skills and confidence, at this critical time.
Support your team in framing their narrative so they have a positive story to tell when applying for jobs and interviewing. Having someone to bounce off of can be very helpful, as well as affirming.
Help them to focus on their achievements during your time working together. What impact have they made, and where have they added value? Where does their expertise shine?
Steer your team towards their CVs and LinkedIn profiles: working on both can give a sense of agency and motivation, and in any case, it’s essential to keep these career tools updated.
Encourage them to leverage their network within your organisation and the wider industry. Roles often make it to the grapevine before appearing on company websites, LinkedIn, and with recruiters. Is there anyone in your company or network who could be a mentor or sounding board during this period?
Managing your own job search
As well as all of the above points, which also apply to you, consider the following.
Pace yourself. Senior roles often take longer to find. This is normal across industries, not just adland. Give yourself permission to accept this and don’t take it personally if it takes a while to find the right thing. Managing your own expectations will help you to manage any sense of panic.
Use the pause purposefully. Take time to clarify what you want to do next, or the kind of organisation you’d like to work for. Now’s a great time to reflect on your achievements and where you’d like to build on them next.
Tap into your network. Not just to have strategic conversations, but to stay connected. It’s common to feel isolated when you’re not working, especially if you’re used to the fast-paced, buzzy rhythm of our sociable industry. Meet old colleagues and friends, attend industry events where you can – not just to keep yourself out there, but because staying social and connected brings about so many benefits for your mental wellness.
Mentoring and/or volunteering are also well worth investigating. Both can give a sense of purpose and community as well as an opportunity to give back. It doesn’t have to be full-time – a few hours here and there can be beneficial.
When you’re at work, your calendar keeps your schedule. When you’re not working, you can go into freefall. Scheduling your day (Mon-Fri) into the tasks of job hunting (broken into bite-sized pieces) can help keep you on track and accountable.
For your mental wellness, it’s beneficial to build in regular breaks, eg, go for a walk, exercise, start the hobby you’ve been meaning to, catch up with friends or visit a gallery/museum (many have free exhibits).
Include networking and industry events, if you have access. Also, if available, work in different areas inside or outside your home – the brain thrives on variety.
Finding a job when you’re down can be difficult. However, putting the above steps into place and being hugely compassionate with yourself can help.
And remember to call NABS anytime – we’re in your corner.
Karen Charles is the senior support advisor and executive coach for NABS