The Unpause Project
For professionals rebuilding after redundancy or change.
Unpause your career. Rebuild confidence. Find your next chapter.
How Did I Get Here?
This isn’t somewhere I ever thought I’d be. Mid-thirties, life going well - and then a conversation with my boss: margins are tight. Suddenly, through no fault of my own, I’ve been made redundant.I’m Ahron. I have a decade of corporate experience and a Master’s degree - but no job. I left my role disappointed, but excited to see what might come next. One month went by. Then another. Almost a year later, after countless applications, a handful of interviews, and dwindling savings, reality set in.Eventually, I took a part-time job - something completely removed from my background and everything I’d worked toward - just to make ends meet. It was humbling, and it made me realise how fragile stability can be. My life felt literally on pause, like I was waiting for the world to start again and there was nothing I could do about it.I’d spent my whole life following the path laid out for me: get a good education, land a good job, work hard - and everything else will follow. But that world doesn’t exist anymore. The world our parents built their lives around isn’t the one we inhabit now. Redundancy, reinvention, and second (or third) careers have become the new normal.Still, it didn’t feel normal. The shame, the isolation, the uncertainty, and the financial strain all took their toll.Not everyone has a strong support network. And even for those who do - how do you tell your partner, your parents, your friends, just how bad it feels, when you’re still struggling to accept it yourself?The Unpause Project was born from that place - a space for honesty, hope, and rebuilding.
Why The Unpause Project Exists
The Unpause Project exists because I realised I wasn’t alone.
So many experienced, capable professionals find themselves suddenly adrift. The rug gets pulled from under you, and while everyone tells you it’s just a “career break” or “time to explore new opportunities,” inside it feels like something far more profound has shifted.Losing your job doesn’t just take away your income. It can strip away your sense of purpose, confidence, and identity. And yet, for something so common, we hardly ever talk about it.Most of what’s out there focuses on the practical: job boards, CV templates, interview prep. But what about the loneliness? The loss of momentum? The quiet panic when months go by and nothing changes?The Unpause Project was created to give voice to that hidden experience - to make space for honesty, for community, and for hope.
It’s about showing that being “on pause” doesn’t mean being finished. It’s a moment between chapters, and it deserves to be met with compassion, not silence.
What we are doing
The Unpause Project began as a personal story - but it’s quickly becoming a community.We’re creating practical, supportive spaces for professionals navigating redundancy, reinvention, or change:Co-working & accountability sessionsWeekly online sessions where people come together to get things done - applications, projects, small wins. Because motivation is easier when you’re not doing it alone.In-person socialsInformal meetups in coffee shops, pubs, libraries, or community spaces for anyone navigating career change, redundancy, or uncertainty. A place to talk honestly, share experiences and relax with others in the same situation.
Get In Touch
Have you recently been made redundant from your role?Are you navigating change and struggling to work out what to do next?You don’t have to figure it out alone.Reach out below to join The Unpause Project - a community for professionals rebuilding their confidence and direction after redundancy.
Thank You
We will reach out in due course.