Finding your next role after redundancy

Redundancy has been front of mind in recent years. It reached its peak during the pandemic, before hitting a low in May 2022. Now that the job market is settling, redundancies are rising to pre-pandemic levels.

It’s a stressful and emotional process, but there are ways to make the best of a difficult situation and move forward professionally. Many job seekers are unsure how to address redundancy in their job search, but with some planning, you can feel confident in your next steps.

In this blog, we’ve compiled expert tips for finding your next role after redundancy.

Plan your next steps

Instead of rushing into the job search process, use the security of a redundancy payment to take some time to reflect on your professional goals. This is a chance to turn a stressful event into a fresh start.

Consider these questions:

 Do you want to explore a new sector?
 Are you ready for a higher-level position?
 Are there new skills you want to develop to further your career?
 Do you have any requirements from a new employer, such as flexible or remote working?

This is the time to clarify what you’re looking for in your next job. From there, you can organise your job search.

Create a priority list of the positions you want to apply for and allocate time to complete these applications. You can also upskill and gain qualifications to set you up for your future job search.

Refresh your LinkedIn profile

Employers are increasingly turning to platforms like LinkedIn throughout the hiring process. Taking the time to optimise your online presence when looking for a job after redundancy will help you make the best first impression.

A professional profile picture, up-to-date contact details, and a succinct overview of your professional experience will catch the attention of recruiters and showcase your achievements. Make sure your headline includes the attention-grabbing keywords that appear on job descriptions you’re interested in, and use the Open To Work feature to let your network know you’re looking for a new position.

LinkedIn is also a key tool for networking and an increasingly popular online job board. Use it to connect with industry peers and gain insight into the job market.

Addressing redundancy on your CV

There’s no need to go into extensive detail about why you were made redundant on your CV. A simple line about company restructuring, the consequences of the pandemic or business closure is all the information employers require.

Be open and honest about the redundancy, but don’t make it the main focus. This space is better used highlighting the positives.

What did you bring to the role, and what were your key achievements? Even if your time with the company was cut short, you can show what you gained from working there.

If redundancy has left a career gap in your professional history, show employers how you made the most of this time. Perhaps you took up volunteering, held a freelance role or completed a qualification.

All of this information helps potential employers see that you are resilient, flexible and can overcome challenging situations.

You can find out more about addressing career gaps on your CV in our recent blog post.

Navigating interviews

A prospective employer will inevitably ask you about your previous role and why you left. The good news is that in the post-Covid job market, career gaps are less of a taboo than they once were.

Simply explain the context, as you did on your CV and focus the conversation on the future. Show employers how you’re using this challenge as an opportunity to take the next step in your career and that you’re enthusiastic about finding a new position.

Send speculative applications

If you’re interested in working with a particular company but they aren’t advertising a relevant job, you can send a speculative application. Even if they don’t have any open positions for you now, a successful speculative application will keep you front of mind for future roles and forge valuable connections within the business.

It requires a few tweaks to the usual application process, like researching what the company is looking for in an employee and who the best contact is. This is another example of where LinkedIn is a vital tool for finding who to send your CV to. Consider the company’s recent performance and anticipate what positions they could be hiring for in the future.

Redundancy isn’t the end of the world, no matter how stressful it may feel in the moment. By taking the time to understand what you want and plan out your next steps, you can prepare to re-enter the job market and find your next role.

*Emma Alkirwi is the Managing Director of the CV Guru which is the leading service provider of professionally written CVs, LinkedIn Profiles, cover letters in the UK and they also provide specialist consultancy services.  If want to feel more confident in your applications post-redundancy, check out their CV Writing Bundles. Their expert team will work with you to compile a bespoke CV, Cover Letter and LinkedIn Profile that impresses employers and helps you find your new role.

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