Being made redundant is not an easy or nice process for anyone to go through, but over the last few years, we’ve seen that unfortunately it does happen and has been experienced by many people. We understand that facing redundancy is daunting and can lead to not only financial worries, but it can impact your confidence and self-belief. However, it is something that you will overcome.
Often, the decision for an organisation to make redundancies is in an attempt to improve its bottom line and could be a result of a department restructure, company cutbacks, or perhaps due to circumstances outside of your control. Even though you’re told not to take it personally, we know this is easier said than done, but try to remember, it’s your role that is being made redundant, not you.
In this blog, we’re going to focus on what you need to do to move forward and walk you through what you can do if you’ve been made redundant and how you can turn this negative situation into a positive experience to keep your career journey on track.
Take the time to understand
It’s important that you try to process all the information that you’ve been given during the redundancy process, so take the time to do this. You may be given an overview of what happens next from your employer, along with details of their policies and procedures.
Give yourself time to read through everything to understand it.
You may then also find you have some questions: What’s my notice period? What will my redundancy pay be? Will this include any holidays? Are there any other roles within the company I can move to? Can I have time off to find a new job?
To limit any confusion or uncertainty, we recommend you write all your questions down, check your contract and ask your employer.
Try not to burn bridges
It’s OK and expected for you to feel emotional during this time but it’s important that you try not to burn any bridges with your employer. Although it may not feel like it, redundancies will be difficult for your employer too, so make sure you leave on good terms and throughout the redundancy process try to keep it professional.
It’s important to remember that you’ll need a reference from your employer in the future, so aim for a positive reference as this will be useful when looking for your next job!
Utilise LinkedIn
Once you’re ready to start looking for your next career move, update your LinkedIn profile. Don’t be scared to put it out there, into the world of LinkedIn, that you’re “Open to work” and are looking for your next role. This is a great way of getting the word out there quickly, and you may find that some of your connections will know of a new position or a company that is hiring.
We have a guide to creating the perfect LinkedIn profile that you can download here.
Look to build your LinkedIn network by connecting with local recruitment agencies and recruitment or HR professionals within companies or industries you are interested in working in.
Update your CV
It’s important to update your CV. It’s likely that you haven’t submitted a job application for a while and you will have developed as a professional and might have new skills or responsibilities that should now be included. You don’t need to include the reason for leaving your last position or including that you’ve been made redundant if you don’t want to – this is something you can discuss once you’re invited for an interview and is not something to be ashamed of.
We have an example CV template that you can access here. This will give you advice on what sections to have within your CV and what you can include in each.
Use recruitment agencies
Make contact with your local recruitment agencies. Get in touch with them and let them know you are now looking for your next opportunity. You might want to choose a specialist recruitment agency to assist you in your search.
The ONE Group can help you with the hunt of finding your next role. We know who is hiring in your industry and can also make enquiries for you with our large network of clients.
Create an action plan
To try and get back a sense of control, a plan of action can help.
You could write a list of the actions you need to take and a deadline for when you want to have them completed. Some items could be: contacting the agencies or companies you want to reach out to, the time you’re going to take searching for a new job each day, or the number of jobs you want to focus on applying for.
Take another direction
You could utilise your redundancy as an ideal opportunity to make a change.
Perhaps there is a different direction you have been thinking about taking in your career. Or possibly a new skill you want to learn or even a course you have always wanted to go on. You may even be considering setting up your own business. Make the most of this opportunity by upskilling or thinking about what you want from your career, then find out more and go for it!
Try out a temporary job
If you’d like to take your career in another direction or you don’t feel ready for your next permanent position, you could look at a temporary job (another perk for building new skills!).
This could also be a good time to take the time to reflect on your career so far, and really think about what you want your next role to look like. There are plenty of temporary roles available and these are the perfect opportunity to test out a new function or industry. Temporary jobs can often be more flexible than permanent positions, giving you the opportunity to try something new, meet new people, grow your network and learn new skills.
Take a look at our Temporary Jobs page for more information. We have a variety of temporary and permanent positions available and are here to help you with your job search.
Brush up on your interview skills
Interviewing at any stage of your career can be quite a daunting experience and with no two interviews being the same, it can appear to be more of an art than a science.
To help you to prepare for the all-important interview stage, we have a guide on our website that provides a framework for you to try to maximise your performance and impact.
We also have a competency-based interview guide for you to download here.
Our advice once you get to the interview stage is to concentrate on being yourself; you know they like you. Be confident, enthusiastic, and believe in yourself!
If you are facing redundancy, you're not alone, we’re here to help. Take a look at our current vacancies here or email us at jobs@theonegroup.co.uk to be put in touch with a consultant.
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