What Career Disruption Really Feels Like and Why It Might Be a Gift
- Brainz Magazine
- Oct 17
- 4 min read
Anne-Sophie Gossan, founder of Inner Spark Coaching, supports individuals going through career transitions so they find meaningful direction, reignite their spark, and thrive. She brings calm, clarity, and deep empathy, and asks the questions that unlock their truths while holding space for both vulnerability and growth.
Losing your job or facing burnout can feel like the end, but it might just be the beginning. This article explores the hidden gift of career disruption and how it can spark self-awareness, courage, and a more meaningful professional path.
What if losing what you thought you wanted is how you find what you truly need?
What if redundancy isn’t rejection, but redirection?
We don’t talk enough about what it feels like to be knocked sideways. Redundancy, burnout, or the quiet realisation that your career no longer fits, these moments throw us wide open. I’ve been there, sitting in that wide-open space, unsure what would rise from it. But that rupture can be a spark and become something powerful, the chance to reset, realign, and rebuild on your own terms.
What’s really going on when your career gets disrupted?
Redundancy isn’t rare anymore. In 2024, over 300,000 UK workers faced planned redundancies. And it’s not just job loss. 40% of UK employees are actively considering a career change. The reasons? Rising costs, shifting values, and a need to do something that feels true.
But behind the stats is something more personal. When disruption hits, most people ask:
Who will want me now?
What am I even good at?
How do I find work that pays the bills and feels fulfilling?
These aren’t just career questions. They’re identity questions. And they deserve honest answers.
Self-doubt shows up fast and might hold you still
Even high-achievers feel it, that quiet panic that maybe you’ve peaked, or that you’re somehow behind. After disruption, self-doubt doesn’t just whisper; it shouts. You might question your relevance, your worth, your skills, your choices. That’s not a weakness. That’s because you care.
The truth is, most people don’t bounce back immediately. Most of my clients don’t just grieve the job or the career they once loved. They grieve the identity that came with it. They sit in the fog for a while. And that’s okay. You’re allowed to feel unsure before you feel ready. Naming that doubt doesn’t make it disappear, but it does make it less powerful. And it’s the first step toward reclaiming your voice.
What if disruption isn’t the end, but the start of something better?
When I was made redundant, I didn’t know what I wanted to do next. I felt lost. So I did what many do. I watched TED Talks, took personality quizzes, and joined free webinars. That’s how I found coaching. It wasn’t clear at first. I tried things, talked to people who know me well, and stayed curious.
Here’s what I’ve learned (and what my clients discover too):
Disruption heightens self-awareness.
It reveals transferable skills you didn’t know you had.
It forces clarity: what matters, what doesn’t, and what’s next.
It opens doors to new ideas, new industries, and new ways of working.
According to the Outplacement and Career Mobility Trends Report 2024, 60% of those made redundant pursued new qualifications or training. Many launched micro-businesses, especially women over 40. Coaching and mental health support were critical to rebuilding their confidence.
What I know for sure, because I’ve lived it, is that change can make you stronger, clearer, and more honest about what you want. It can reconnect you with what sparks you up. It can help you build a life that’s not just successful but aligned.
“If it scares you, it might be a good thing to try.” – Seth Godin
How to move from fear to forward
As mentioned, disruption can trigger imposter syndrome. It might stir up limiting beliefs. But naming what you feel (I’m anxious, I feel I’m not enough) gives you power over it. As Whitney Johnson says in this HBR podcast, “When you name something you’re feeling, you now have a defined challenge you can address.”
Here’s a simple roadmap:
Feel it first: Don’t skip the emotional work. Name your fears.
Reflect: What did you learn in your last role? What are your non-negotiables now?
Audit your skills: What are you good at? What do you enjoy? What have you achieved?
Upskill if needed: Free courses, webinars, coaching, there’s support out there.
Network and ask for help: You’re not alone. Disruption is more common than ever.
This is not a failure, it’s the moment you get to choose again
Before, career disruption used to be isolating. Now, it’s a reset. People leave high-paid jobs to open B&Bs, move to the countryside, or start coaching practices. Not because they’ve lost it but because they’ve found something truer and more aligned.
If others react negatively, it’s not about you. It’s about their fear. Their envy. Their own unspoken longing for change.
Ready to begin again, on your own terms?
If you’re navigating career disruption, I invite you to explore my Spark Experiences and book a free Spark Session with me. Together, we’ll turn your “What now?” into “What’s next?”
Read more from Anne-Sophie Gossan
Anne-Sophie Gossan, Transformational Career Coach
Anne-Sophie Gossan spent 25+ years in the corporate world navigating high-stakes environments and career transitions. She spent years building a career and a home, juggling the demands of raising two boys while holding down a very demanding job.
When redundancy struck, it shook her confidence and identity in ways she hadn’t anticipated. She decided to qualify as a coach and to create Inner Spark Coaching: Reimagine Your Story, a safe space where her clients can reclaim the unstoppable version of themselves that’s always been there.
Through coaching, conversation, and deep transformation, she guides individuals into their next chapter with clarity, confidence, alignment, and renewed purpose.
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