Organisational change or redundancy can leave you feel nervous or uncertain about your future.

However it can also be a chance to pause, reflect and consider what you want from the next chapter of your career.

Whether you are applying for your own role, moving sideways, or considering a completely new career change, we are here to help you take the next step with confidence.

Reorganisation or redundancy can involve a wide range of emotions.

• You may feel anxious, worried about the future, or uncertain about what comes next.
• Being told that your job is at risk can affect your confidence and sense of security.
• If you have dedicated many years to your role or feel a strong connection to your team or workplace, it is understandable to feel frustrated, disillusioned, or even betrayed.

It is important to remember that redundancy usually happens because of organisational change, restructuring, service redesign, or financial pressures. It is not a reflection of your capability, commitment, or professional worth.

Give yourself time to process what has happened and acknowledge how you are feeling.

Ongoing NHS financial pressures have led to recruitment freezes, reduced vacancies, and delays in recruitment processes across some healthcare employers, making it more challenging to secure a job. Despite strong demand for nurses overall, the current climate means increased competition for roles.

This means you may have to be more flexible, proactive, and resilient as you navigate the job market.

Be open-minded and flexible with your job search

Always apply for your dream job or roles that really align with your strengths and interests. You are more likely to write a compelling application and sell yourself at interview when you are naturally drawn to a role or field, giving you an advantage over your peers.

However don't stop there. Being open‑minded and willing to compromise in the current climate can significantly increase your chances of securing a post. Remember that any role you secure will offer valuable experience and serve as a stepping stone towards your preferred area.

Be prepared to be flexible and think creatively, considering a wider range of roles and settings, whilst still reflecting on whether the environment feels right for you. This could include moving into other roles, different clinical fields or specialites, or a different setting.

When facing uncertainty, it is easy to spend time worrying about decisions that are outside your influence.

According to research, focusing on the things we can control helps us feel more empowered and better able to cope with change, whereas focusing on things outside our control will usually increase stress and anxiety.

Focus on what you can control such as updating your CV, understanding your options, exploring suitable roles, organising career coaching, networking, exploring training, and/or seeking career support.

Before exploring your next steps, take time to identify the skills, knowledge, and strengths you have developed throughout your career. This can help you recognise which of these are transferable to other roles, specialties, sectors, or workplaces.

Understanding your strengths can help you recognise the types of roles, responsibilities, and working environments where you are most likely to thrive. It can also help you identify opportunities that better align with your interests, values, and natural abilities.

Ask Yourself:

• What am I good at?
• What achievements am I most proud of?
• What do colleagues often come to me for?
• What skills can I transfer into a new role?
• When do I feel I am working at my best?

Transferable skills could include:

• Communication
• Leadership
• Teamwork
• Teaching/mentoring
• Project management
• Problem solving
  
• Organisational skills
• Time management
• Digital skills

Reorganisational change or redundancy can make people question their abilities, even when they have a strong track record. One way to build confidence is to gather evidence of what you have contributed.

You could make a list of:

• Positive feedback from managers, colleagues, patients, students, or service users
• Achievements you are proud of
• Problems you helped solve
• Changes or improvements you contributed to
• Training, qualifications, or responsibilities you have gained
• Times you supported others, led work, or adapted to change
• Examples of when you made a difference

This evidence can also be used in your CV, applications, interviews, LinkedIn profile, and career conversations.

Redundancy can provide an opportunity to reassess your career goals.

You may decide to:

• stay in a similar role
• explore a new direction, or
• use this time to build your skills or explore consider opportunities you may not have thought about before.

You could:

• Find a similar role with a new employer
• Move into a different role or sector
• Progress into a more senior position
• Retrain for a new career
• Start a business or become self-employed
• Return to education or professional development
• Consider a career break
• Consider flexible work (e.g. bank, agency, locum)
• Consider your options around partial or early retirement (see more about this below)
• Explore roles outside of nursing

Think about what matters most to you in your next role, such as flexibility, salary, location, job satisfaction, or career progression. See navigating a career crossroads for more details.

Career Coaching

You may want to explore Career Coaching with the RCN. A Career Coach can act as a sounding board to your ideas, give you a safe space to reflect on your options, explore how your choices align with your values and goals, and/or help you weigh up the pros and cons.

Considering options around retirement

If you are concerned about the effect that redundancy may have on your pension, or are considering retirement, you should contact your pension provider for information in the first instance. We have some general information on pensions, and if you work in the NHS on the NHS pension scheme.  

Before making any decisions, you should seek independent financial advice, and might benefit from consulting with one of our corporate partners, Quilter Financial Advisers.

Updating your CV can be a helpful first step after redundancy. It encourages you to look back at everything you have achieved throughout your career, including the skills you have developed and the responsibilities you have held.

Sometimes it is easy to focus on the loss of your role and overlook your strengths. Creating a strong, current, and modern looking CV often results in a confidence boost, as you remind yourself of your experience, knowledge, achievements, and professional value. Many professionals say they are surprised by how much they have accomplished when they take the time to write it down.

The Careers Service offers on-to-one feedback and guidance via email on how to redesign your CV or rewrite your CV to target new roles. See our CV writing skills page for more details.

If you are applying for roles in the NHS or public sector, you will need to write a supporting statement. This is different from a CV.

Avoid submitting the same supporting statement for every application. A strong application should be carefully tailored to the person specification’s essential and desirable criteria. It should also have specific examples of how and when you met that criteria.

We recommend that your read our guidance and watch our tutorial on writing supporting statements. RCN members can also get one-to-one feedback and personalised advice on their supporting statement via email.

This can be a useful time to identify whether there are any skills, qualifications, or experiences that could strengthen your next application.

This might include:

• Updating mandatory training
• Completing short courses
• Improving digital skills
• Refreshing clinical knowledge
• Gaining leadership or management training
• Building confidence with interviews
• Improving your LinkedIn profile
• Learning more about a new sector or specialty
• Researching funding opportunities

You do not need to fix everything at once. Focus on the development areas most relevant to the roles you want next.

Interviews are an opportunity to demonstrate your skills, experience, and potential.

If you have been in your role for a long time, it’s possible you might not have attended an interview for many years and are feeling anxious about what to expect.

Our interview skills page has lots of advice, tips and practical steps to help you feel more prepared and in control. RCN members can also take advantage of interview coaching over the telephone.

Many job opportunities arise through professional contacts, former colleagues, and word-of-mouth recommendations.

Reconnecting with your network can help you learn about vacancies, gain insights into different organisations or clinical fields, arrange shadowing, and/or access advice from people who have been through similar experiences.

Consider letting trusted colleagues know that you are exploring opportunities, attending professional events, updating your LinkedIn profile, or joining relevant professional groups.

Networking is not about asking for favours. It is about building and maintaining professional relationships that can support your career.

If you are considering moving into a different role, specialty, or sector, arranging an informal visit can help you gain a better understanding of what the job involves.

Speaking to people already working in the role can provide valuable insight into the day-to-day responsibilities, working environment, challenges, and opportunities. This can help you decide whether a role would be a good fit for your skills, strengths, interests, and career goals.

Taking small, manageable steps can help you maintain momentum. 

• Update your CV
• Refresh your LinkedIn profile
• Research target employers
• Contact target employers
• Register with recruitment agencies
• Apply for suitable opportunities
• Attend careers appointments or workshops
• Identify training or development needs
• Explore whether RCN career coaching could benefit you

If you are at risk of redundancy, you may be able to access support from your employer, the RCN, or government organisations. Seeking support early can help you understand your options, build confidence, and make informed decisions about your next steps.

Support may include:

• Redeployment opportunities within your organisation
• Training and professional development opportunities
• Time off during your notice period to attend interviews or training. For more information see the ACAS guidance on Finding a job with a new employer - Your rights during redundancy
• Job search support through Jobcentre Plus Rapid Response Service, including finding training, CV writing, job matching, skills development. See the gov.uk information on Redundancy: your rights: Get help finding a new job
• Information about benefits and financial support if you become unemployed

You can explain redundancy positively and professionally:

"My role was affected by organisational restructuring, which has given me the opportunity to reflect on the next stage of my career and seek new challenges."

Understanding your rights during a redundancy process can help you feel more informed and confident about the decisions you make. Take time to familiarise yourself with your employer's redundancy process, any consultation arrangements, redeployment opportunities, and the support available to you.

Understanding your rights can help you ask the right questions, make informed choices, and ensure you are treated fairly throughout the process. If you are unsure about any aspect of redundancy, seek advice as early as possible. See the RCN’s advice on redundancy.