Contact Us | 0800 211 8443

Dealing with Redundancy - Part 3 - Psychological Impact

photo shows small plant overcoming advertisty and growing through a crack in hard ground

So far we have looked in detail at the practicalities surrounding being made redundant but it is important to be aware of the psychological impact that redundancy may have on you.

Psychological Impact

Unfortunately, many people are being made redundant each year and no sector is safe from this. Redundancy is usually caused by falling profits, increased competition, takeovers, technological advances or even poor management. In essence, factors that are beyond your control.

The most important thing to remember when faced with redundancy is not to take it personally; the job was made redundant not you. It does not reflect on you as a worker and should not be cause for shame or embarrassment. You should focus on moving forwards rather than looking back.

Negative thoughts

It is easy to slip into negative thought patterns after losing your job, particularly if it is a position you have held for sometime. We tend to wrap up our identity in our job and spend so much of our life working that losing our job can feel like a bereavement. This grief can easily lead you to self blame and anger. It is common to feel like you will not find another job or that you are somehow worthless.

Negative thoughts can prove to be very destructive so it is key that you remain positive. This is easier said than done but there are a number ways you can help yourself in this area. Focus on the positives of your situation. Is there something you always wanted to do? Could you use this opportunity to retrain (see Article 4 for more information on this)? Have you felt that you could receive a better salary or more job satisfaction from another job?

Be constructive

Try to be constructive. Make a list of relevant companies that you might want to approach, register with recruitment agencies and job boards (see Article 5 for more information on this). Make a list of your strengths to remind yourself why you would make a good employee as confidence is appealing to a potential employer. By focusing on the future and the opportunities available to you, you are much more likely to find employment quickly.

Talk to someone

Finally, it is important to know that it is natural to feel upset by being made redundant. You may find yourself shocked at the level of emotion you actually feel when faced with this situation but you should remember that you won’t be alone in feeling this way. If you find that your feelings are preventing you from moving forward or you would like to talk to someone do not be ashamed about seeking professional help from your doctor or a counseling service.

You may find the following numbers useful:


  Please share this article with your friends on Facebook - thank you.


Additional resources related to this article

The following organisations are based in, or near to Cornwall and may be able to help you with some of the issues discussed in this article - we hope you find them to be useful.


Counsellors near Cornwall

  • Castle Consultants Joy Roskilly BSc(Hons)
    Castle Gayer
    Leys Lane
    Marazion
    Penzance
    Cornwall
    Tel: 01736 711110
  • Sue Rossiter - Adv.Dip.Psych.Counselling
    First Floor Offices
    Totem Building
    Daniels Lane
    Holmbush
    St. Austell
    Cornwall
    Tel: 07881 735413
  • Julie Smith MA, Dip Couns, Cert Adv Couns, MBACP
    Carey Court
    Saltash
    Cornwall
    Tel: 01752 849183

Additional resources related to this article


If you contact any of these organisations, please mention that you found their details on AllCornwallJobs.com - thank you.

Could you help our visitors? To have your organisation listed here (for free) - please send us a message

Much of the advice on our website has been kindly provided by local companies and organisations for which we are very grateful - could you offer some advice to our visitors in return for some free coverage on our website? If so please get in touch here as we'd love to hear from you.

Careers Advice

We work with experts in and around our local area to provide useful information relating to careers advice - we hope you will find these articles to be helpful. You can view our news news archive here


photo shows man in a suit jumping in the air celebrating getting his new job

Dealing with Redundancy - Part 5 - Finding a New Job

Once your redundancy is dealt with and any retraining has been undertaken you will probably need to find a new job. This can seem daunting, particularly if you have not had to look for a new

read more
photo shows close of up a man's feet on a tightrope high above office buildings

Redundancy - Advice for Employers and Businesses

When we hear the word 'redundancy' it is natural to think of the impact that it will have on the person being made redundant with out regard for the difficulties inflicted upon the employer

read more
photo shows a blue piggy bank wearning glasses - he is providing financial advice to people facing redundancy

Dealing with Redundancy - Part 2 - Financial Advice

Do you know the tax implications of receiving a redundancy package and how to avoid paying unnecessary tax? If you are going to find yourself struggling financially do you know how to lessen

read more
photo shows positive image of a surfer - surfing life's trials and tribulations such as redundancy

Dealing with Redundancy - Part 1 - Knowing Your Rights

Do you know what redundancy package you are likely to receive? Do you know what the government stipulated minimum package is? As well as detailing the legal and financial aspects we will

read more
photo shows small plant overcoming advertisty and growing through a crack in hard ground

Dealing with Redundancy - Part 3 - Psychological Impact

Do you feel like you’ve lost your identity and can’t stop feeling negative? It is not only the practicalities of redundancy that need to be addressed. Redundancy can also have a massive

read more
photo shows dismayed candidate who hasnt had much luck in her career

Top 10 things not to do in a job interview

We've been asking local employers for tips on what to do in an interview – and, of course, what not to do! Here are our top 10 not to do in that all-important job interview.

read more
photo shows woman leaping whilst holding flowing coloured streamers out behind her - to give the impression of moving forwards through re training after being made redundant

Dealing with Redundancy - Part 4 - Retraining and Development

Have you thought about a new career or improving upon the skills you currently have? In this article we will offers tips and advice on increasing your 'employability' through courses and

read more
photo shows ladder reaching up to the sky - the career ladder

10 Steps to Creating Career Opportunities

It's too easy to start looking in the job section of the paper and applying for everything that has an attractive salary, car or any other perks, before falling into this trap, be really

read more

Cornwall Employment & Business News

When attending interviews it's always good to be up to date with what's happening in the local business and employment sector - we hope you'll find these selected news articles interesting


Cornwall’s jobless claimant count is down by 147 in February

Cornwall's unemployment rate of 3.2% is lower than the UK’s average of 4.7% ..read more

Part time Jobs in Cornwall

It can seem challenging to find a job that fits in with your life commitments. We are aware that 9 to 5 from Monday to Friday does not suit everyone. In fact, statistics show that the number of employees working over 45 hours a ..read more

Nursing jobs in Cornwall

Nursing and care is one of the largest industries in Cornwall with several hospitals and lots care homes and care services in this area. All of these establishments need staffing but how can you go about looking for the perfect ..read more

What not to do in your Cornwall job interview

As well as preparing for what you should do when attending a job interview, whether it's a part time job in Cornwall or that perfect next step on the career ladder, it is just as ..read more

Top 4 questions asked at job interviews for Cornwall job seekers

1. Describe your strengths You can be fairly confident that on most Cornwall job interviews you will be asked what you think your strengths are (and sometimes what you think your weaknesses / ..read more


Legal Disclaimer: Please note that this information is not intended to be exhaustive or be a substitute for legal advice. The application of the law in this area will often depend upon the specific facts and you are advised to seek specific advice on any given scenario.