The Uncertainty is the Worst Bit

I was speaking to a few people this week who are waiting. Waiting on news, waiting to hear about possible jobs losses. The headlines are slowly becoming reality as LinkedIn lights up with tales of people getting emails in the middle of the night telling them their job is gone. When I was speaking with those people the one thing I echoed again and again is “This is the worst bit. The uncertainty is always the worst”.?

In my experience that is true, it is is the not knowing which is a killer. It is not being able to plan, wondering who is next and if that person could be you. I have had two personal experiences of job loss. The first was well flagged, a voluntary redundancy package which I had eagerly stalked for over a year. It was a substantial sum of money and I was drowning trying to manage a job with no flexibility and two small children. The day I got the news my name was finally on the list I opened up a bottle of champagne and started the plans to build a new house. The package gave me financial stability and the freedom to stay at home for a few years. It was a great day.?

The second time I was impacted by job loss it was most definitely not a great day. The news came in on Christmas Eve. It was not expected and by then we had three still quite small children, substantial outgoings and I was not working.? It sent me into a tailspin of sleepless nights, spreadsheets and budget planning (Hello MrMoneyMoustache & Caitriona Redmond , you are still my heroes!). It became impossible to plan for the future and it was an incredibly stressful time.?

I imagine for most people who are being made redundant they will fall somewhere between those two extremes.? There will no doubt be people who had become tired of corporate life and had other aspirations but for most people I imagine it will be unplanned and difficult.?

Having been there (twice!) my advise is this.. Plan for the absolute worst. I appreciate this may seem counterintuitive and runs contrary to the toxic positivity mindset we have all been inculcated with. However in my experience planning for the absolute worst is actually really helpful. The key is to write it all down. Think about what is the worst that could happen (losing your house is always top of my mind) and then work out what that would look like. Once you have your health it is often not as bad as you may think. From there work out a financial plan. If you are worried about money it becomes very difficult to think creatively about what your future may look like. Once you have a plan I think it becomes a little easier to look forward.

Finally as I mentioned in my first newsletter,? LinkedIn is very definitely not your friend. Not now. There is nothing to be gained from hearing other peoples stories. Later when you are looking for a job LinkedIn is great but right now head space and clarity of thought are vital and social media never provides much in the way of either of those two.?

There are always fresh starts. We are hiring for tech jobs at the moment the need for people to work in Technology has 100% not gone away, you can take a look at them here .? We are also delivering a programme for Women Returners on the 13th of March which you apply for here. To new beginnings.?

Till next week,

Ciara

What we are Reading

I read this article in the NYT about a best selling author, Elin Hildrebrand whom I had never heard of who hosted a hugely popular weekend in Nantucket where many of her books are based. I was intrigued and bought her book “The Hotel Nantucket” . It is a hugely comforting beach read and just the thing for these still dark nights. The sunshine practically bounces off the page.??

Listening To

Big fan of Claer Barret’s, The Money Clinic. Although UK based it is always interesting. She sounds just like what you might imagine the head girl in Mallory Towers would sound like, which I find oddly comforting.?

What we are Watching

Somebody Somewhere Set in Kansas, the NY comedian Bridget Everett imagines her life if she had never left her home town. It is funny, sweet and believable.?