What to Do After Being Made Redundant

Planning your next steps after redundancy can be tricky, particularly if you’re still struggling with the emotional toll. Losing a job is stressful and it can hit different people in different ways. For some it’s easy to take a clean break and move on, while for others it can feel like a serious loss.

Wherever you fall on that spectrum, the best thing you can do is find a way to pick yourself up as soon as possible. After all, the longer you spend between jobs, the more likely it is that the situation will get to you.

In this article, we’ll be exploring the three steps you should take following a redundancy to help get yourself back into work. We’ll be discussing how to treat the situation as an opportunity and exploring your best options for finding a job that matters to you.

Step 1: Asses Your Options

Everyone’s financial situation is different and for some there will always be a need to get back into work as soon as possible. That said, if you can afford to, before diving into your applications, it’s worth taking a couple of weeks to survey your options and think about what you’d like to do next.

Would you like to pick up a new skill? Or perhaps retrain and switch industries altogether?

Of course, if you loved your previous job then this might not be such a problem. For you the answer is simple – head straight on to step two.

On the other hand, if the job you’ve just left was more about the money than the work – and especially if it was only ever intended as a stop gap measure – then we really recommend doing some research.

Take a look at the job market. Ask around and see if your friends and family have suggestions. Your job is going to take up the majority of your waking time, so it’s important to make sure you’re doing something you really care about.

Step 2: Start Networking

Speaking of friends and family, network, network, network. Everyone knows the pain of being out of work and you’d be amazed how willing people are to help you out if they can.

Get on LinkedIn and start messaging acquaintances from work. Even if people can’t directly find opportunities for you, you never know where those conversations might lead.

When you’re out of work, it can be easy to feel like there’s a stigma around you – as though admitting you’re currently between jobs makes you look bad. In reality, this often couldn’t be further from the truth.

Redundancy can happen to anyone for any reason. If a company needs to downsize or change direction, countless good employees can lose their jobs. Add to that the level of economic volatility the last five years have posed and there’s simply no reason to fear that people will judge you.

And if they don’t know you’re looking for work, how can they know to recommend you to their bosses.

Step 3: Applications & Interviews

If you’re being made redundant, then the chances are this isn’t the first time you’ll have been through a round of applications. Nonetheless, it’s important to remember that the application process can be brutal to everyone and, unfortunately, it doesn’t get easier over time.

On the other hand, it’s worth noting that standard practices do change. If you’ve been in a job for more than five years (and particularly if you’ve been in that role for over a decade), then it’s well worth brushing up on current trends in everything from CVs to interviews. Even seemingly small details could make a big, big difference.

Lastly, we’d like to take a moment to talk about the importance of not settling for less. If your next step after redundancy is to rush out and find the first job that will take you, then there’s a real risk you’ll end up taking a poor deal.

Everyone feels a little desperate when they’re applying for jobs but it’s vitally important that you push that instinct down and be prepared to negotiate. Don’t settle for less than what you’re worth and be prepared to say no to an offer that isn’t good enough.

Diving into the job market can feel a lot like fishing. Every time you cast that line, you never know what you’ll pull out, assuming you pull anything at all that is. Next time you cast that line, remember that there are lots of big fish still out there and there’s nothing wrong with throwing one back if it isn’t right for you.