Redundancy Is Not the End of Your Career

News of redundancies, organisational restructuring and uncertainty in the labour market are affecting many people right now – including those whose own jobs are not directly at risk. Not knowing whether or when these changes might affect you can be mentally exhausting. So how can you cope with this uncertainty without letting the fear of redundancy take over? And if the scenario you fear does become a reality, how can you move forward with greater clarity and purpose?

According to CV.ee’s Q2 2026 Labour Market Monitor, 24% of employees in Estonia are concerned about losing their jobs. In hospitality and tourism, the figure reaches 48%, followed by 35% in technical fields and 33% in the non-profit and third sector. One in three public-sector employees is also concerned about redundancy.

First, give yourself time to adjust

Redundancy is a significant change, and adjusting to change takes time.

It can be particularly difficult if you have worked for the same organisation for many years or if a large part of your professional identity has become connected to your role.

Before opening a job portal and sending out ten applications on the first evening, give yourself a moment to pause and reflect.

What did I genuinely enjoy about my previous role?
What do I no longer want to do?
In what situations do I perform at my best?
Which skills would I like to use more in my next role?
What matters to me today when it comes to an employer, manager and organisational culture?

Redundancy may feel like an unwanted and unexpected interruption to your career, but it can also create an opportunity to think more consciously about what you want your next step to be.

Don’t let redundancy define your professional value

One of the most difficult questions after being made redundant can be: Why me?

Redundancy can feel deeply personal, even when the decision is driven by the company’s financial situation, organisational restructuring or the elimination of an entire role.

It is important to separate two very different things:

Your position was made redundant does not mean you have lost your value as a professional.

Before starting your job search, take some time to write down your concrete achievements from the past few years. Focus not only on the tasks you performed, but also on the results you achieved.

What problems did you solve?
What did you improve?
What were you recognised or valued for?
Which projects did you lead?
What can you do today that you could not do three years ago?

This list will later be useful when updating your CV and LinkedIn profile and preparing for interviews. More importantly, it can help you recognise your own professional value again.

Don’t start your job search with “What vacancies are available?”

It may seem like the most obvious place to begin, but it is not always the best one.

Before diving into job portals, ask yourself:

• What am I actually looking for next?
• Do I want to continue in the same field?
• Do I want more responsibility – or perhaps less?
• Could my skills be valuable in another sector?
• What kind of organisational culture enables me to perform at my best?
• What are the things I am no longer willing to compromise on?

The clearer your direction is, the easier it becomes to evaluate potential opportunities. Otherwise, your job search can quickly turn into a stream of applications where the main objective becomes simply finding something.

Treat your job search as a project, not a full-time source of worry

When you no longer have a job, it can feel as though you should spend eight hours every day looking for one.

In reality, sending more applications does not necessarily mean that you will find the right job more quickly.

Create a clear rhythm for your job search. Set aside specific time for finding suitable opportunities, tailoring your application materials, contacting people in your network and preparing for interviews.

And consciously leave time for life outside your job search.

Finding a new role can take time. Constantly refreshing job portals and analysing every unanswered application can make the process emotionally exhausting.

Talk to people – don’t rely solely on job portals

Not every opportunity reaches a public job advertisement.

Let your professional network know that you are open to new opportunities. Reach out to former colleagues, partners and people in your field.

It does not need to sound like: “Please find me a job.”

You could simply say:

“My previous role ended due to redundancy, and I’m now exploring my next professional opportunity. I’m particularly interested in roles in X and Y. If you hear of something that could be a good fit, I’d be grateful if you let me know.”

The clearer you are about what you are looking for, the easier it is for others to help you.

Review your CV and LinkedIn profile

Make sure your application materials clearly demonstrate:

what you did + what you were responsible for + what results you achieved.

The same applies to LinkedIn. Your profile should help someone quickly understand who you are as a professional, where your strengths lie and what value you can bring to an organisation.

If you don’t know what to do next, you don’t have to find the answer alone

Redundancy may mark the end of one job, but it does not have to mean losing control over your next career step.

Sometimes an unexpected change can create an opportunity to ask yourself questions you may not have had time to consider while working:

What am I genuinely good at?
What kind of work do I want to do?
What kind of environment do I want to work in?
What would I choose differently this time?

If you find it difficult to answer these questions on your own, coaching can provide valuable support during this transition. A coach can help you create clarity and turn your thoughts into a concrete plan of action.

A coach will not tell you which job to apply for or make career decisions on your behalf. The purpose of coaching is to help you structure your thinking, recognise your strengths and the thought patterns that may be holding you back, set meaningful goals and develop a practical plan for moving forward.

Smartful’s coaching also supports people navigating career changes and looking for their next professional direction. Coaching can help you better understand your strengths, values and skills and create a clear plan for putting the change you want into action.

Redundancy ends one employment relationship. It does not have to determine the direction or quality of your next career move.

Explore Smartful’s coaching services and find greater clarity for your next step.