Being made redundant can naturally be a shock — professionally, financially and emotionally. While it can feel personal, redundancy is rarely a reflection of your professionalism, skills, competence, or potential. These decisions are made without any regard to the individual and are based on meeting certain company metrics.
This document is designed to help you deal with or plan for a redundancy situation. It will provide you with helpful tips and advice that will enable you to approach your next career move with clarity and confidence. Additional careers resources can be found here to assist you with planning your next steps. We also have an ongoing webinar series which covers a variety of topics which might be useful at this time.
Take time to absorb the news
Understandably redundancy often triggers an urge to act immediately. Before making any major decisions, give yourself space to think. This can feel counter intuitive, but it is important to take time to absorb the news, regain composure and to consider your next steps in a calm and considered way.
What NOT to do immediately
- Do not panic‑apply for roles as this can negatively impact your brand in the market. It can also lead to you accepting a role that is not the best fit just to get back working again.
- Do not undersell yourself or assume you must take a step backwards in terms of the level of roles you consider or indeed salary.
- Do not rush into a role you don’t want simply to “get back into work quickly”.
- Do not assume your career options are limited to your most recent job title.
- Do not isolate yourself— withdrawal can stall momentum and negatively impact your confidence.
Taking time to absorb the news and reset is an important first step as you plan the next stage of your career.
Reframe what redundancy means
It is important to remember that redundancy is about roles, structures and economics, not your professional value to an organisation. It is the role that has been made redundant and not you.
- Redundancy does happen and for some it can happen several times during their career.
- This can be an opportunity to reassess and look to change direction to what could ultimately be a more rewarding career with enhanced opportunities.
- Your Chartered Accountancy qualification is very much sought after in the market as are your skills and experience.
- You now have the potential to demonstrate your adaptability, flexibility, and resilience which will appeal to prospective employers.
- Having a gap between roles no longer has the same negative connotations and it is all about how you explain any gap and how you used this time.
Get clarity on your overall career before starting the job search process
Before applying for roles, clarify your focus.
Ask yourself:
- What aspects of my previous roles did I enjoy and what motivated me?
- What do I want more (or less) of in my next role?
- How can I best utilise the skills and experience that I have and play to my strengths?
- Do I want to stay in the same sector, or explore something new or different?
- Am I open to contract, interim or part-time options?
Gaining clarity will help build your confidence and ultimately save you time.
Update how you present and promote yourself
For some members, this will be the first time in a while since you have updated your CV and LinkedIn profile.
What to avoid
- Presenting an outdated CV that has no impact.
- Listing responsibilities and duties rather than impact and outcomes.
- Over‑explaining redundancy on your CV.
- Hiding your redundancy status and not updating the dates on your CV.
- Using a generic CV produced by an AI tool.
What to do instead
- Focus on your skills, competencies, achievements and the value that you have delivered in your roles, including specific outcomes and metrics.
- Clearly articulate your transferable skills.
- Ensure LinkedIn reflects your strengths and career narrative and is consistent with your CV.
- Prepare a short, confident and authentic explanation of your redundancy for conversations and interviews.
- Seek advice and support with the preparation of your CV. (Available via the Institute’s Careers team)
- Leverage online resources to provide you with a CV template.
- Tailor your CV to each role you are applying for.
- Invest time in networking and reaching out to and building your connections.
Be strategic about getting back to work
Do
- Target roles that genuinely align with your experience and goals.
- Leverage and build your network. Reconnect with former colleagues, managers and peers.
- Speak to recruiters with a clear brief. Ask for introductions to recruiters where they come highly recommended.
- Prepare for interviews and seek support with this process. Again the Institute’s Careers team can assist here.
- Consider interim, project or contract roles as strategic options.
- Be realistic in relation to how long it can take to secure the right new opportunity.
Do NOT
- Apply without tailoring your CV.
- Accept the first offer out of fear of not finding another option.
- Undervalue your experience and drop your salary expectations too low.
Look after your wellbeing
Redundancy can negatively impact confidence, self-esteem, and identity, especially in high‑performing professionals.
- Maintain routine and structure on a daily basis.
- Look after your mental and physical health.
- Stay physically active.
- Spend time doing things you enjoy.
- Don’t spend all your time job hunting.
- Talk openly with trusted people and ask for help
- Seek professional support if needed
Keeping a healthy mindset is fundamental to ensuring your job search is a success. As a member of Chartered Accountants Ireland, you do have access to the Thrive Wellbeing Hub that provides access to emotional and wellbeing supports.
Remember
- Redundancy is an event and will not define your overall career. What matters is how you approach the situation and how you show up
- Your qualification, experience and skills remain valuable
- The fit of your next role is important and that should be your priority, even if that means it takes longer to get back to work
- Very often members look back at a later stage and recognize that being made redundant was a turning point for the better
Final thought
Getting back to work successfully is not about rushing — it’s about making informed, confident choices that support your long‑term career and wellbeing.
Chartered Accountants Ireland is committed to helping members navigate this transition with confidence. If you are facing redundancy or have been made redundant, please contact the Careers Team for confidential assistance with planning your next steps.
You are not starting from scratch but building on a strong foundation. You are moving forward with experience, confidence, and the potential to add value in a new role.
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