Winter, the redundancy season that reminds us of the importance of cultivating our network all year round

The end-of-year period is traditionally associated with sharing and renewal. However, for many employees, this year it has taken on a completely different profile, with the increasing announcement of waves of redundancies in major companies. The wind is not light, and the backwash will also affect the sometimes precarious economic equilibrium of ecosystems, towns and subcontractors.

A contribution from Sylvain Langellier, Managing Director of the Networking Premium Group

Companies are under pressure from financial or strategic imperatives, and are not hesitating to adjust their workforce before the end of the financial year, in this almost soft month of December.

The winter landscape is hardly cheering or reassuring, so great are the uncertainties about political stability, economic recovery, geopolitical balance... In short, according to some, dystopia is moving from the literary genre to reality.

A phenomenon that accelerates at the end of the year

Budget decisions are made, reviews are completed and plans for the following year are drawn up.

According to the data from the DARES (Direction de l'Animation de la Recherche, des Études et des Statistiques), the number of redundancies in the private sector reached 238,200 in the first quarter of 2024, an increase of 5.3% compared to the last quarter of 2023. The figures show a seasonal trend of increases at the end of quarters, and particularly at the end of the year, due to budgetary and strategic reorganisations by companies.

Well, the mood is set! Happy Holidays!

Redundancies, often decided in the cold logic of profitability, can seem all the more cruel when they occur at a time when family expenses are rising and recruitment perspectives are temporarily diminished due to the slowdown in the labour market. The shock is even worse when the search for a new job promises to be long and uncertain.

The moroseness reinforces the feeling of isolation and the idea that there are no answers. But there is a solution to help you get through a period that can be particularly painful financially and psychologically: networking.

The network, an under-exploited rampart

This is where the role of the professional network comes into its own. Very often, networking is seen as an opportunistic approach, reserved for periods of unemployment or times when you are actively looking for a job. This simplistic view is a major mistake.

To be effective, a network must be alive. It's not about collecting contacts like business cards or sending messages only when you need a hand. Working your network means cultivating authentic relationships, taking an interest in others, sharing useful information, and maintaining regular visibility on platforms like LinkedIn.

People who know how to anticipate a professional crisis by constantly strengthening their network are better equipped to bounce back quickly. They avoid the isolation that often follows redundancy and already have contacts on hand ready to offer advice, opportunities or recommendations.

The network is also a doorway to the hidden job market, those vacancies that are never published but circulate via recommendations or contacts. In a world where more than 70% of jobs are filled through informal channels, neglecting this dimension means missing out on a major part of the opportunities.

The importance of raising employee consciousness

Cultivating your network should not be seen as a chore, but as an investment in yourself. It involves simple actions: checking in with former colleagues, taking part in professional events, etc.

With the world of work becoming increasingly precarious, it is essential to make employees aware of the importance of this process.

Companies also have their share of responsibility. In France, only 40% of employers offer formal support (skills assessment, coaching, outplacement) to employees affected by redundancies, according to a study by Pôle Emploi.

Even if you've been a good boy, there's little chance of Father Christmas bringing you a ready-to-use network under the tree. So give yourself a present, and sow the seeds in your network that will germinate in the rain and storms, like so many unexpected opportunities, and make the strongest links blossom once again. So keep a positive mindset to maintain your network, give, share... Because winter is an excellent season for networking!