Hi Katie

Sorry to hear that your work is changing, especially since you enjoyed it so much.

First of all, let’s be clear – you are not being pushed into going freelance. This is certainly one option, but the choice is entirely yours. You sound angry about the change and blaming the company for forcing you is a good outlet. It is perfectly normal to feel angry. In fact I’d be concerned if you weren’t since this it is a step in the process of adapting that you need to go through. The trick now is to see the opportunities it offers and begin to move forward.

You seem very sure you won’t like what’s about to happen or that you’ll be affected negatively. When change is first announced, it is often unclear and most people’s first reaction is just like yours. It’s natural to assume the worst in the first instance, but it is also possible that new opportunities will open up and that the company either want to keep you or have ideas for different roles that would suit you. So start by finding out more and check whether your assumptions are right.

If you are right, then going freelance is one option. Your first question needs to be: am I expert enough that people will want to pay for my advice or labour? If your answer is a resounding ‘yes’, then review your finances to make sure you can manage the downtime it will take to get going. I’ve written about setting up on your own in depth in a previous blog so go and look at Home based business - can I make it work?

Should you decide that self employment isn’t for you and you really want to move on, renew your CV and see what jobs are out there. Find out what your present company has to offer and scan the marketplace to see where the opportunities lie.

This would also be a good time to review your career, so take a look at my blog on using your Core Talent. Once you understand what you naturally do well, it gives you a wide range of options. Core talent is like white light going through a prism -  it opens out into all colours of the spectrum. Your core talent can take you into a wide range of careers, so regular review is always time well spent. And while you clearly love working in television, you may well be suited to a range of different workplaces, which will widen your reach.

While you are considering all your options, you can wait to see what the company is planning. If it's another interesting role, that would be great. If it's a redundancy payment that will help with the transition. It will also give you time for planning if you do decide to go it alone or time to link to your network if you are looking for new options. 

So good luck and let me know how you get on.

Judith

Post your questions in the comments section below, ask us on the Psychologies Facebook and Twitter page or email letters@psychologies.co.uk. I’ll be posting regularly, answering your questions.