Redundancy vs. Getting Fired – What’s the Real Difference?
- Apr 7, 2025
- 2 min read
Updated: Apr 8, 2025
She is a Career and Personal Development Coach with almost ten years of experience. Her expertise is in Job & workplace readiness, career planning, growth, and personal development. Her work focuses on helping individuals build their capacity for career progression, navigate job transitioning with ease and achieve personal effectiveness using results-oriented methods.
Let’s face it: Losing a job stings. Whether you’ve been declared redundant or outright fired, the result is the same: an uncomfortable conversation, a box of personal belongings, and an unexpected amount of free time. However, the way you explain this situation to future employers, colleagues, or your judgmental aunt at the next family gathering makes all the difference.
Redundancy vs. Getting fired: What’s the difference
First things first, let’s set the record straight.
Redundancy happens when your role no longer exists due to business changes, company downsizing, restructuring, budget cuts, or the ever-dreaded “strategic shift.” It’s not personal, just business. Think of it as a corporate breakup: “It’s not you, it’s the market conditions.”
Getting fired, on the other hand, is when the company decides you’re not a good fit, maybe due to performance issues, policy violations, or a particularly unfortunate incident involving an office microwave and a fish curry. In this case, it’s definitely personal.
While redundancy usually comes with severance pay, a polite email about your contributions, and a respectful farewell, being fired can be a little more abrupt and, let’s be honest, awkward.
How to strategically declare redundancy without negative consequences
If you’ve been made redundant, you have the upper hand. Why? Because it doesn’t reflect on your performance. Here’s how to position it positively:
1. Frame it as a business decision
“Due to company restructuring, my role was affected, and I was unfortunately made redundant.”
“The organisation underwent a strategic shift, impacting several positions, including mine.”
2. Highlight what you accomplished
“During my time at company A, I successfully managed Project B and contributed to Result C. My role was made redundant, but I’m excited for new opportunities where I can bring my experience to the table.”
3. Spin it as an opportunity
“This redundancy has given me the chance to re-evaluate my career goals and look for a role that aligns even better with my strengths and aspirations.”
4. Use your network
People are more willing to help someone affected by redundancy than someone fired for, say, “creative time management” (a.k.a. too many coffee breaks).
How to declare being fired (without it sounding like a disaster)
If you get fired, you don’t need to throw yourself under the bus. Instead, control the narrative while staying honest:
1. Keep it short and neutral
“The role turned out to be a mismatch, and I’m now focused on finding an opportunity that aligns better with my skills and values.”
“I learned a lot from my time at CompanyD, but due to differences in expectations, I’ve decided to move on.”
2. Avoid over-explaining or being negative
Saying, “My boss was a micromanaging nightmare with trust issues,” may be true, but it’s not a great look. Keep emotions out of it.
3. Focus on what you learned
“It was a challenging experience, but it helped me refine my skills and identify the kind of work environment where I can thrive.”
4. Use a positive reference
Even if your direct boss wasn’t thrilled with you, a colleague or another manager might vouch for your skills and work ethic.
Key takeaways: How to make your exit sound like a stepping stone
Redundancy = business decision, not your fault. Position it as an opportunity.
Fired = keep it short and neutral, and highlight the lessons learned.
Always emphasise achievements and skills rather than focusing on why you left.
Your career isn’t over. Sometimes, a setback is just a setup for a bigger move.
At the end of the day, losing a job isn’t the defining moment of your career, how you bounce back is. Whether you’re facing redundancy or a less-than-ideal firing situation, the key is to own your story, focus on the future, and never underestimate the power of a well-crafted LinkedIn update.
So, next time someone asks what happened to your last role, just smile and say, “It was time for the next chapter.” Because that’s exactly what it is.
Read more from Esther Aluko
Esther Aluko, Career & Personal Development Coach
She is a Career and Personal Development Coach with almost ten years of experience. Her expertise is in Job & workplace readiness, career planning, growth, and personal development. Her work focuses on helping individuals build their capacity for career progression, navigate job transitioning with ease and achieve personal effectiveness using results-oriented methods. Her speaking engagements span the United Kingdom, Belgium, West Africa, and Ireland with corporate organizations and higher education institutions.
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