Redundant But Not Defeated: How I Rebuilt My Life After Losing My Job in a Recession (As an Immigrant in the UK)

I came to the UK on a student visa, dragging behind me a suitcase that barely zipped shut and a heart packed with dreams.

In 2021, I left behind the warm comfort of Bahrain to pursue a Master’s degree in London, one of the world’s most expensive and competitive cities. My goal was straightforward: study hard, get a job, and build a stable life in the UK.

But the road to job security in the UK isn’t as smooth as it seems.

🎓 A Visa Countdown: The Pressure to Find a Job in the UK After Graduation

After graduation, the clock started ticking. I had just two days left on my Tier 4 student visa.

I sent out job applications in the UK like crazy, squeezing interviews between anxiety-filled nights. I knew if I didn’t land something in time, I’d have to return home, leaving my dreams behind.

Then, just in time, a job offer arrived. I signed my contract on September 2023, two days before my visa expired. That offer wasn’t just a job. It was my UK visa sponsorship, my hope, and my reason to stay.

📈 Career Growth in the UK: When Things Finally Click

From there, things started to flow. In November 2024, I was promoted in my UK job—a milestone that reaffirmed I was on the right path.

Then, in January 2025, I married my best friend, a man who stood by me through all the uncertainty. That month felt like a turning point. For once, everything made sense.

💔 Redundancy in the UK During a Recession: The Call That Shook Me

And then came April 2025.

A surprise Microsoft Teams meeting. A few awkward smiles. And then the words:

“You’re being made redundant.”

I felt numb. Redundancy during a UK recession feels like being shoved into a cold, unfamiliar place. One minute you're progressing in your career—the next, you're updating your CV and worrying about your UK visa status again.

🌍 The Immigrant Experience: Job Loss and Visa Anxiety in the UK

As an immigrant in the UK, being made redundant hits differently. You're not just losing income; you're losing your foothold.

Although I was now on a spouse visa, many international workers are on Skilled Worker visas, which can be revoked if you're unemployed for too long. I knew that fear well. It took me right back to my student visa days.

🛌 The Mental Health Impact of Redundancy

For a week, I couldn’t move.

I stayed in bed. I cried. I felt ashamed. I kept asking myself, "What did I do wrong?"

This is the part people don’t talk about: The Mental Health Impact of Job Loss. It shakes your confidence and identity. Especially when you’ve worked so hard to build something in a foreign country.

🧠 How I Recovered Mentally After Losing My Job in the UK

1. Grieving the Loss

Redundancy is a real, personal loss. I allowed myself to mourn it, to feel the sadness, and stop pretending I was okay.

2. Daily Journaling for Anxiety Relief

I started journaling to cope with job loss. Every morning, I scribbled out my fears, my anger, and eventually—my plans.

3. Gratitude Practice for Mental Resilience

Even on the darkest days, I forced myself to write down three good things. Some days, it was just:

I had tea. I’m breathing. I have love.

But that small habit helped rewire my mind toward hope.

4. Finding Support From the Immigrant Community in the UK

I leaned on fellow immigrants and friends who’d faced job loss in the UK. Talking to others reminded me that I wasn’t alone.

💸 How We Managed Money After Redundancy: Budgeting in a One-Income Household

We became a one-income household overnight.

Living in London on one income is hard enough—add in rising inflation in the UK, and it feels impossible.

But we made it work. Here’s how we managed our personal finances after job loss:

✅ Emergency Fund

We’d been saving 10% of our income monthly. That fund helped us sleep at night.

✅ Budgeting Tools We Used

• Monzo Pots: great for dividing expenses like rent and bills

• Emma app: helped us track every transaction

• Zero-based budgeting spreadsheet: I made it from scratch (you can download it below!)

✅ Subscription Detox

We paused Netflix, Amazon Prime, gym memberships, and takeaways. It was tough, but necessary.

If you're going through the same, check out my free UK redundancy budgeting toolkit below.

🔁 How I Turned Redundancy Into a Reset

When one door closed, another opened—eventually.

Here’s how I turned losing my job in a recession into a chance to rebuild:

📝 I Rewrote My CV and Optimised LinkedIn

I used Resume.io and added measurable achievements. I rewrote my summary to show my value during a recession, not just my job title.

💬 I Networked with Purpose

I reconnected with former colleagues, university friends, and strangers on LinkedIn. Most people were kind. Many had been through redundancy themselves.

🎓 I Took Free Online Courses

On LinkedIn Learning, I upskilled in:

• Personal finance

• Recession-proof business strategies

🌍 I Launched My Blog: Mind, Money, Maps

I always wanted to blog but kept waiting for the “right time.” Losing my job gave me that time.

Now, I’m helping others through their redundancy recovery journey—with real tools and relatable stories.

🎁 FREE: Redundancy Reset Toolkit

I built this for people like me, trying to survive redundancy in the UK, find work again, and manage mental health while doing it.

📥 What’s Inside:

• 7-Day Rebuild Routine Challenge

• Zero-Based Budget Spreadsheet Template

• Affirmations for Job Seekers

🔗 Download the Free Toolkit Here

💬 Final Thoughts: You’re Not Broken. You’re Being Rebuilt.

If you’re navigating redundancy during a recession, I see you. I was you.

You’re not a failure.
You’re not broken.
You’re being rebuilt into something stronger.

This chapter doesn’t define your story. But it could be the start of a better one.

📩 Let’s Stay Connected

• Subscribe to Mind, Money, Maps for weekly tools, budgeting tips, and job search advice

• Download the Redundancy Toolkit

• Share this with someone who needs hope today

• Leave a comment: How are you dealing with redundancy or job search anxiety?