Although my redundancy had been anticipated for a long time and hadn’t been a surprise, I was determined to use it as a chance to launch a new career.
The problem was, however, that there is a big difference between what I imagined going through redundancy would be like in theory and what it is like in reality.
I secured support for career coaching and the “Be Found” programme as part of my redundancy settlement. Delays to the redundancy process also meant that I had 6 month’s notice (effectively gardening leave), which having been continually employed for over 30 years was a very new experience, and at times very unsettling.
I had no idea of what to expect of career coaching. The default thinking of colleagues, friends and family was that coaching was just a means to help search for jobs, polish up my CV etc.
Instead, it helped me think more deeply about my future and prevented me taking the easy option and applying for jobs which closely matched my previous experience (and would have led both to missed opportunities, frustration and regret). It also helped me realise that despite being made redundant, I had had an amazingly successful career and built a very strong network. Over the 6 months, I engaged with this network and made new connections and gained the confidence to embark on a freelance consulting career, specialising in an area which I am interested and excited about. Having started my first assignment, I can now appreciate that career coaching has also helped me change my mindset from employee to freelance consultant which has made the transition so much easier.
The “Be Found” programme has been enlightening and demonstrates how important social and digital is when securing new opportunities. As well as helping to grow my network, the programme has also encouraged me to become more creative through posts and articles and share my experience with others. This in turn has created more opportunities but more importantly has supported my personal and professional development and the transition from employee to freelance consultant.
If you would like to find out how career coaching can help you to get the results you want, please contact us for a complimentary conversation with one of our experienced career coaches on +44 (0) 203 384 4188 or email [email protected]
