Redundancy is one of those things that nobody thinks will happen to them until it does.
And when it does, it is rarely just a practical problem. Yes, there is the immediate reality of finding a new role, updating the CV, working out the finances. But underneath all of that there is a knock to your confidence and you might be left wondering: was it me?
In cybersecurity that question can feel particularly sharp. This is a field where people invest enormous amounts of time, energy and money into building their expertise. Where certifications, experience and reputation feel like they should count for something. And then one day they call you into a room (or a Teams meeting!!) and tell you the role no longer exists.
It is allowed to hurt.
Being upset is normal, give yourself permission to rest before you jump into planning mode.
Don’t sit with it for weeks, but have a genuine pause before the frantic LinkedIn updating and the mass applying begins. The people who recover well from setbacks are not the ones who feel nothing and spring straight back into action. They are the ones who let themselves feel it without letting it become the whole story.
Here is what I genuinely believe about redundancy though. It might not feel like it at the time but it can be an opportunity to look at your career direction more intentionally than you ever would have if you had stayed.
When you are employed there is rarely a moment to stop and ask the bigger questions (unless you already have me as your coach! 😀 ).
Redundancy forces that moment whether you wanted it or not and once the dust settles a little that space is worth using properly.
Some questions worth asking yourself:
- What did I actually enjoy about my work and what was I just tolerating?
- What am I good at that I would rather leave in the past?
- What new skills do I want to learn or develop in my next role?
- What matters most to me now, that perhaps didn’t matter as much before?
These are not questions with quick answers. But they are the ones that will make the difference between landing in a role that fits and landing in a version of what you just left (which is absolutely fine if that is what you really want).
When you are ready to move practically a few things can help:
- Rebuild your visibility before you need it. Update your LinkedIn not just with your current situation but with your thinking and your perspective on the field. Reach out to people in your network not to ask for a job but to reconnect genuinely. Most roles in cybersecurity are filled through relationships not job boards.
- Be honest but brief about what happened. In interviews “the company went through a restructure and my role was made redundant” is a complete and professional answer. You do not need to over-explain or fill the silence with more detail than is necessary. Say it plainly and move on to what you bring.
- Resist the urgency to take the first thing that comes along. Redundancy creates pressure that pushes people into the nearest available role rather than the right one. The time you invest now in being clear about what you actually want will save you a lot of time later.
Some of the most intentional career moves I have seen have come off the back of redundancy. Not because losing a job is a good thing but because sometimes being forced to stop is the only way you would have ever allowed yourself to look up.
If you are navigating this right now and want to think through your next move properly, I would love to help.
Book a free 30-minute consultation here and let’s get started.