Simply Sam T

Facing Redundancy at the Start of the Year

At the beginning of this year, my role was made redundant – a moment that arrived with a strange mix of shock and a sense of relief. I had been thinking about leaving for a while, quietly wishing for a fresh start, but I never expected the decision to be taken out of my hands. Even when you’re unhappy in a job, redundancy can feel like the ground shifting beneath you. It’s sudden. It’s unsettling. And it forces you to confront change long before you feel ready.

How Losing My Role Affected My Confidence

The truth is, I had already lost a lot of confidence in myself long before the redundancy happened. Over the years, I started to doubt my abilities due to outside influences. I questioned my value. I felt small in spaces where I should have felt empowered.

So when I started job‑hunting, those insecurities grew stronger. Interviews feel intimidating. Speaking about my strengths feels uncomfortable. I know I have the experience but saying it out loud feels like trying to convince myself as much as the interviewer.

I’ve been to a few interviews since being made redundant, and while I haven’t secured a new role yet, I’m learning not to see that as failure. I’m learning that rebuilding confidence takes time – and that it’s okay for me to take that time.

The Journey Has Been Challenging — But I’m Not Giving Up

This season has been harder than I expected. There have been days when the uncertainty feels heavy, when the silence after an interview feels personal, when I wonder if I’ll ever feel like myself again.

But I’m still trying. And I’m not giving up.

Every application, every interview, every moment of doubt is part of the process. Growth rarely feels comfortable while it’s happening. But I’m choosing to believe that something better is on its way — something aligned with who I am now, not who I had to be in my old role.

The Routine That Helps Me Stay Grounded

One thing that has helped me stay grounded is sticking to a simple routine. It gives my days a bit of structure when everything else feels unpredictable. My days currently consist of:

• Waking up early to keep a sense of normality
• Looking for new roles and applying for ones that fit my experience
• Exercising for 30 minutes to stay active
• Putting on my comfort TV shows when my mind needs a break 
• Reflecting on what I want next, not just what I left behind

It’s not a perfect routine, but right now it’s keeping me grounded.

Learning to Cheer for Myself

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned through all of this is that I can’t rely on others to validate my worth. I expected peers to be in my corner, cheering me on and reminding me of my worth — and when they weren’t, it hurt more than I expected.

But that hurt taught me something important. I need to be the one cheering for myself.

I am capable. I am talented. I am worthy of a role where I feel valued, supported, and seen. And I can trust that without relying on someone else to validate it.

Here’s to New Beginnings and Better Days Ahead

So here’s to staying positive. To finding a job where I feel appreciated. To growing into the version of myself I almost forgot existed.

And if you’re going through something similar — redundancy, job searching, rebuilding your confidence — I hope you know you’re not alone. This journey is hard, but it’s also shaping you in ways you might not see yet.

We’re going to get through this. We’re going to find roles that fit us. We’ve got this.