Redundancy. For many, it’s the word you never expect to hear in your own career – until you do. And while it’s become increasingly common, it still carries an emotional weight. A generation ago, redundancy was whispered about, if at all. Today, it’s a normal part of the professional space. In fact, our recent Salary Guide showed the number one reason in-house communications professionals moved roles was because their jobs were made redundant.
And yet, despite its frequency, redundancy still triggers shame, self-doubt, and uncertainty. But here’s the truth: redundancy says nothing about you. It’s the role that’s redundant, not the professional. Once you reframe it that way, a different picture emerges – one of opportunity, renewal, and connection.
That’s where your professional family comes in.
When one senior comms professional we spoke to recently was asked if she’d reached out to her network, she replied, “Yes, of course, I need to speak to my professional family.” The phrase struck us immediately. Because that’s exactly what your network is: the colleagues, mentors, peers, and contacts who understand your world, share your language, and genuinely want to help.
As Rupert Gowrley, Group Head of External Affairs at Howden, puts it:
“The most valuable asset is your network. So many opportunities come from word of mouth – especially interim and project roles. 99 times out of 100 people are happy to meet and help. View each conversation as positive progress, either opening a door, testing an idea or giving you new ideas.”
Redundancy can feel isolating, but leaning on your professional family reconnects you – not just with potential opportunities but with your confidence, value, and perspective.
One of the biggest hurdles is deciding what to tell people. Do you admit you’ve been made redundant? Or do you gloss over it?
Our MD, Sarah Leembruggen, makes this point clear:
“The reality is, the reason for you leaving is very likely to come out, perhaps from your employer or from your reference. The comms world is small. It’s better to be upfront – you can then control the narrative. Many roles are made redundant because of restructuring or cost-saving, not because of performance. Hiding it, honestly, isn’t the answer.”
Several senior comms professionals echoed this. One Corporate Affairs lead shared that she kept a Post-It note on her desk with the reminder: “It’s the role that’s redundant, not you.” A simple but powerful truth.
When the dust settles, the temptation is to start applying everywhere – firing off CVs, refreshing job boards, going down the LinkedIn job ads rabbit hole. But this scatter-gun approach often leaves you more drained than inspired.
Sarah has seen this first-hand:
“We recently spoke with a corporate communications professional who had been a Director at an agency before moving in-house, but has since been made redundant. She’s now spending evenings and weekends applying for senior agency roles where her experience doesn’t align with the spec. Instead of making progress, she’s exhausting herself and missing the opportunity to lean on her network.”
The takeaway? Redundancy requires strategy, not speed. Speak to recruiters early, understand the market, and be deliberate about where you apply. As Rupert advises:
“Don’t get sucked into the LinkedIn job application vortex. Be very deliberate about applications. Don’t be shy about contacting the named recruiter to find out what they are prepared to pay, what they’re looking for, and whether it’s a real process. One message could save you a lot of time and effort.”
A common thread from our contributors was the importance of time. Too often, professionals rush into action before processing the emotional impact. An award-winning senior comms leader we spoke to said:
“Give yourself a little time to process the news before rushing into action; it helps you respond with perspective rather than panic.”
Another added: “I underestimated how much of an emotional rollercoaster redundancy can be. There are days you feel energised about new possibilities, and days you feel knocked flat. Both are normal.”
Voluntary redundancy, where it’s an option, can also provide space to reset. One senior Corporate Affairs leader described it as a turning point:
“It gave me time to breathe, reassess, and plan my next move without panic. Sometimes the best thing you can do is step away and reset.”
Visibility matters. Whether it’s updating your LinkedIn, enabling the discreet ‘open to work’ setting recruiters look out for, or posting to share your expertise, it keeps you on the radar. As Sarah says:
“Bite the bullet and use LinkedIn’s ‘open to work’ setting. The discreet option makes you visible to recruiters without broadcasting it to your whole network.”
At the same time, how you exit a role matters. One comms leader noted:
“Even if the process feels unfair, it’s worth leaving on good terms. Your reputation will follow you, and burning bridges can do more damage than the redundancy itself.”
Perhaps the most powerful advice we heard is to reframe redundancy not as an ending, but as a reset.
“Redundancy is a gift,” one agency Director told us. It gave her permission to explore a complete career change – and ultimately reaffirmed she was in the right field after all. Another called it a ‘career pivot’. Not an indictment of skills, but a moment to rethink priorities, sectors, or balance.
And Rupert reminds us: “In an orchestrated redundancy, always remember that you made a positive choice and took control. Even if it’s proving hard to land the next thing.”
It’s no secret the current hiring market is challenging. As one of the senior comms leaders we spoke to pointed out, application volumes are huge, AI filters are unforgiving, and senior roles are shrinking, especially for those over 50. Interim roles, portfolio careers, or consultancy work can be effective bridges. And with many employers in ‘wait and see’ mode until after major economic decisions, patience is part of the process.
Redundancy is rarely part of the plan, but it doesn’t have to derail your career story. If anything, it can sharpen your focus, reconnect you to your professional family, and push you towards opportunities you may never have considered otherwise.
Most importantly, remember this: redundancy doesn’t diminish your skills, experience, or value. The role is gone – not you.
So, lean on your professional family. Let them remind you of your worth, open doors you didn’t know existed, and walk with you as you enter your next chapter.
For a free download of our full Annual Salary Guide 2025, click here.
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The Works Search: a search consultancy specialising in PR and corporate communications. We have unrivalled matching abilities and are known for finding the top 5% performers in the industry - the ones who deliver and make your reputation great. For more advice or market insights, do get in touch with us on 0207 903 9291 or email: sarah@the-works.co.uk.
