By Toni-Marie Bonser - Originally published in 2024 at Multiverse https://community.multiverse.io/news/1893241

Author's Note (July 2025): When I first wrote this post, I said: “I don’t think a day has gone by recently when I haven’t seen someone announce a redundancy or lay-off on LinkedIn.”

It’s deeply disheartening that, nearly two years on, the same still feels true. However, although redundancy may feel like an end, it can also be a beginning.

Since experiencing redundancy myself, I’ve had the privilege of stepping into two thoroughly enjoyable, fulfilling, and impactful roles at my current company. These roles exponentially fast-tracked my professional development, and I’m thankful everyday day for the opportunities they’ve given me.

I’ve also had the absolute joy of working alongside some of the most brilliant and generous people I’ve encountered in the market research industry. They have been a daily reminder of what an energising and uplifting workplace looks like.

On a personal note, I also welcomed a baby. I used the proceeds from my redundancy to fund my maternity leave, so I was able to experience that precious time without financial stress – a genuinely priceless gift that I don’t take for granted.

For me, it’s become the gift that keeps on giving, and I am eternally grateful for how things turned out. If you’re going through a bit of professional uncertainty right now, keep moving through it.

There may be something better on the other side.

- Toni

So, you’ve just been made redundant. What now?

If you’ve just been made redundant, or are going through a redundancy process, you’re probably feeling a mixture of emotions. Shock, sadness, anger, confusion, relief, maybe even happiness. It is valid to feel any and all of these feelings in this moment.

This event can make you feel like you’re suddenly in freefall. I know that feeling all too well because, back in November 2023, I was blindsided by the news that my own role was made redundant. 

I am writing this post to share my learnings and provide a space where apprentices in the same position can know that you’re not alone and that there are things you can do to regain control and steady yourself for your next steps.

Going through the redundancy process

Before officially making you redundant, your employer must demonstrate that your role no longer exists, and consult affected employees to avoid it being an unfair dismissal (UK only). 

If you want answers, the redundancy process is your opportunity to get them. During this process, you should consider:

Looking for a new job

Regardless of what you believe the redundancy process outcome will be for you, it may be wise to start looking for a new job immediately.

Redundancy could be a blessing in disguise. You could use this as an opportunity to find a role that is a level or two up from your current one, has a significantly higher salary, or is in a more reputable company in your industry. Even if you don’t get made redundant at the end of the process, you may be offered a better opportunity elsewhere which you may consider taking.

I don’t think a day has gone by recently when I haven’t seen someone announce a redundancy or lay-off on LinkedIn. 

If you are comfortable being open about it, posting about your redundancy on LinkedIn will alert your network that you’re available for a new role, and anyone who interacts with your post may indirectly alert their own network to your availability. Potentially, your post could be quite far-reaching!

If you don’t want to go public about your situation straight away, you could reach out to trusted people in your network to see if they have any leads on open roles. 

As well as LinkedIn, you could search for roles on job sites relevant to your industry or check the careers page of companies you are interested in working for. 

In the meantime…

Get organised

When you’ve officially been made redundant, or possibly even while you’re still in the process, your days will suddenly be wide open. It is important to structure your day, use the time wisely, and, most importantly, take care of yourself.

I went from working as normal one day, to never returning to my role again. I suddenly had all the time in the world. Some people said this sounded great and were a bit envious, but for me, it was a severe shock to my system. Up until that point, my days had been structured down to the minute. Then when I wasn’t working, I forgot to eat on some days because it hadn’t been scheduled in!

Have some fun!Redundancy, applying for jobs, emotional processing… It's all very exhausting! Make sure you take some time to do whatever you feel like doing. Personally, I got all my Christmas shopping done in a week, watched the entire back catalogue of “Vicar of Dibley”, and did some sightseeing. 

Of course, be sensible in terms of making sure you don’t overspend but do look after yourself as your number one priority.

Don’t let this affect your self-esteemSome people lose confidence in themselves and their capabilities when in this situation, but it’s important to remember that being selected for redundancy is almost never about your talent or skills. 

Redundancy is a reflection of your company’s business needs. It is not a reflection of your intrinsic value or worth. 

This is tough for anyone at any level to deal with and is an unfortunately increasingly common scenario. If you’re going through something similar, or have done in the past, I’m truly sorry to hear that. If you feel able to, it would be great to hear your experiences, stories, and advice in the comments so future readers can find some comfort.

Useful links for advice and understanding your legal rights (UK only):

CONTRIBUTOR AND AUTHOR BIO

Toni-Marie Bonser is a Level 4 Business Transformation apprentice at Multiverse based in London and is writing for the Apprentice Lens.

She has spent the last 10 years working in the market research industry in various project management roles. She has recently pivoted her career, and her most recent role was Tech Team Lead at a research technology company. 

In her spare time, she enjoys reading, watching true crime documentaries, and sightseeing.