Redundancy – how to write your next chapters – Inspired’s practical advice on what to do next…

Facing redundancy can evoke a wide range of emotions and while utilising available support from the previous employer, friends and family can be extremely helpful, we wanted to provide some practical advice from our perspective as recruiters. Of course, each case will be unique but we hope that there is something in this article that anyone in this situation can take away…. 

Chapter One – On Your Marks!

In the case of redundancy, it can often mean that leaving your role is not part of your plan and may not have been your choice otherwise. Therefore, you may not have a clear idea of what you would like to do next and what your options are. In some cases, companies will provide professional support with this via an external outplacement company. In other cases, this is now the time to identify what a positive next step looks like to you and in what time of roles you may thrive. Before getting going, our top advice in this next chapter is to try and keep your routine as similar as possible – if you get up at certain time keep getting up at that time, if you leave the house to go to work every day, keep doing that and perhaps go to the library to work on your plan. You can also use this opportunity to vary your routine by adding in healthy habits you didn’t have time for before like walking or running. This is really important for your mental health on many levels. 

• If you have a mentor already, then this will be an important part of your discussions with them. Some mentorship schemes, such as the ALPSP, will allow you to retain the mentorship following your redundancy if your previous employer was an ALPSP member. 
• Speak to a recruitment consultant! Here at Inspired, we will love to hear from you. We work across a wide range of roles in all areas of publishing and will be well placed to suggest ideas of suitable next roles and help you identify your transferable skills. 
• Research via LinkedIn and other platforms, familiarising yourself with the types of jobs that are out there, even if they’re not vacancies. Whose job looks exciting? Reach out to them and invite them for a virtual coffee to pick their brains and hear about their journey. Networking doesn’t need to be expensive. 
• Identify how broad your network is – start with people you know and have been in recent contact with, then delve into people you used to be in contact with and then finally those who are relevant to what you want to do – this is just writing the names down at this stage so please don’t feel overwhelmed by this. You will find that you know more people than you realise! 

Chapter Two – Get Ready!

Once you have an idea about the types of roles that you want to apply for, it’s time to get yourself match-fit ready. Here are some things to add to your checklist for this chapter: 

• Finding the right job – if you have been thinking about a change in direction this is the perfect time to explore this, if you are happy to continue what you are doing then start having a think about where you might be able to do this 
• Sign up to relevant jobs boards; a quick link to ours is here: www.inspiredselection.com/user/register , also look at The Bookseller, The Guardian, publishing communities like Bookmachine, IPG, BookBrunch, SYP also advertise jobs! 
• Brush up the CV: https://www.inspiredselection.com/insights/career-advice/how-put-together-cv
• Creating a tailored cover letter: https://www.inspiredselection.com/insights/career-advice/inspired-guide-perfect-cover-letter 
• Interview tips: https://www.inspiredselection.com/insights/career-advice/virtual-and-person-interviews-comparison 
• TOP TIP! Keep a spreadsheet of where you are applying and when so you can keep track!

Chapter Three – Get Set!

You may also choose to use this time to upskill or develop, or indeed find that it’s taking a little while to find the ideal next step. Here are some ideas you could consider as you plan how to make the most out of this time. 

• Upskilling: You may have identified a dream career that uses skills you haven’t been exposed to yet. Perhaps this is the time to go out and get them if you can find an affordable course. Making yourself relevant by being skilled & knowledgeable in the areas that are high on business’s agenda right now – e.g. AI, digital marketing, data analysis, sustainability and DE&I – can help make you stand out from the crowd as well as being a fascinating learning curve. For more on upskilling, have a read of this blog: https://www.inspiredselection.com/insights/career-advice/upskilling-how-can-you-invest-yourself-progress 
• Try Temping: Working as a temp is a fantastic way of trying out new cultures and ways of working as well as developing new skills. It can also be a great way to earn money in the short term, while bringing your value and skills to a company that needs them. To learn more about being a temp, why not listen to this podcast: https://www.inspiredselection.com/insights/career-advice/inspired-publishing-podcast-temp-opportunities-top-tips-interviews 
• Volunteer: depending on the redundancy package, you may be in a position to dedicate time to volunteering to a level you otherwise wouldn’t be. Whether it’s directly relevant to your career plan or not, this is an amazing thing to be able to do, stretching you in new ways as you give back. 

Chapter Four – Go! 

At this stage you might be more ready than you think. No doubt, you will have had ups and downs along the way and that is natural. If you know what works for you to keep mentally strong through this period, try to build this into your every day. 

Remember, you are incredibly valuable. The redundancy will not have been personal but rather a decision for the long-term health and sustainability of the business. You’ve now got yourself ready for the long-term success of your own career and we can’t wait to see how your story unfolds. You’ve got this! 

You can find contact details of our superb team here: https://www.inspiredselection.com/about-us/our-team 

To search Inspired’s current job listings, click here: 

https://www.inspiredselection.com/jobs