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Jolene Otremba

Redundancy has recently become a buzzword, exacerbated by headlines splashing the latest cost-cutting measures as companies begin to prepare for tougher times ahead.
Being let go is perhaps one of the most traumatic experiences in a person's life, but knowing how to overcome it in an edifying manner is key to being successful in one's career, experts say.
'Losing your job is never nice, but it is important that you keep your spirits high and yourself focused,' said Hudson Asia's  managing director Mark Carriban.  'The right attitude is essential to getting through this time. Your mental and emotional state does come across when meeting people, be it networking or interviewing.'
So if you have been laid off, what should you do?
'It's important to take stock of the situation and to sit down and plan what your options are,' said Mark Andrews,  manager of the investment management division at Robert Walters, Hong Kong.
Experts advise those made redundant to not wallow in misery and to take this time to refocus and repackage themselves, understand their strengths, do the things they always wanted to do and come up with a viable course of action and a financial plan.
'Losing your job is not always down to technical deficiencies. The first thing people must remember is that it should not be something you carry around with you for months,' said Ambition Asia's  managing director Guy Day.
A number of his clients in the past two months had not wanted to lose certain good people but those people were just in the wrong place at the wrong time, he said. 'You just have to put it behind you and move on because it's often a cost-cutting measure.'
The key is to maintain a positive attitude and know that you are not alone. Be patient and realistic about time frames and set an attainable goal. This will be the success factor to finding a new job, experts say.
'When you exude positive energy, the tendency is for you to attract a similar frequency range of positive circumstances, events and people,' said PeopleSearch  consultant Kam Yew Cheun.
And Mr Carriban agrees, saying that 'positivity is contagious - people like to hire, work with and help people who have a positive outlook on things'.
The experts also advise those who have lost jobs to find a good mentor and consider career coaching.
'There is nothing to lose at this point - just try it and take it as a new adventure,' said Connie Burchfield,  director of strategy and development at Lee  Hecht Harrison,  which specialises in career counselling.
She explains that a trained career coach is able to exploit a person's potential because when a person is lost, they may not be able to clearly see their strengths based on past achievements. A coach, as an objective third party, is able to see the dynamics and piece together important information and traits.
'A coach guides a person in what he thinks is important so that people come up with their own solutions,' she said. 'It works best when you have an issue, you want to have a change or you don't want to miss the blind spots.'
It is also crucial to use your time effectively to network, utilising all your resources such as friends, family and old school networks.
'We encourage creating lots of informal conversation,' Ms Burchfield said. 'The more opportunities you create, the higher the chances of success you have.'
But an important thing to keep in mind during a new job search, according to Mr Andrews, is not to jump into the first thing that comes along but to think about whether the job can facilitate career growth.
'A big mistake in times like this is to take on a role that you really don't want just to get some money coming through. If this is the case, then motivation can drop as well.'
Dos and Don'ts
Do network
Do prepare a strong CV. Buy some books, consult websites and talk to recruiters
Do channel your energies into positive activities such as volunteering, further education/upgrading of skills or joining a gym
Do take bad news professionally and gracefully; it can go a long way
Do focus on the small wins, such as getting an interview, because they eventually lead to the big win
Don't feel sorry for yourself and wallow in self-pity
Don't just take the first job that comes along if it's not the right one
Don't let recruiters brief you on a role that could be anywhere. Always make sure that you meet the consultant representing you as you want to make sure they are doing it in the right way
Don't be idle, rather start job hunting at the earliest chance
Don't give up



Turn redundancy into an opportunity