How to get a new role if you have recently been made redundant?

If you are looking for a new job, congratulations; you have come to the right place. This is my guide on how to get a new job role. Mainly if you have recently been made redundant, I have been working in recruitment for almost 30 years and I am assuming you will have read the typical “How to apply for a new job” guides. This one only takes about 5 minutes to read, and it is meant to be an alternative view on how to get a new job role.

Toughen Up - Okay, that might seem harsh, particularly if you have recently lost your job due to redundancy. But the truth of the matter is that the world has become a more turbulent place. The days of having a job for life are mostly gone. A work career can be a bit like a game of Snakes and Ladders. Almost everybody I know has had their share of ups as well as downs. So, if you are feeling sorry for yourself, get over it. It happens to almost everybody at some point. There is no shame in it. Do not let redundancy define who you are.

Getting a Job is a Job in Itself: You have probably heard this before, right? But it's true. It's hard work and you are in competition with the rest of the job market. So, take it seriously. Put the effort in. Get organised. You need to be proactive. If you are not working, you still need to be up, dressed, and (if you have one) at your work desk every morning.

Smarten Up: Yes, I know that it’s become much more fashionable to wear smart casual clothing for work. Just don’t go too far. Make sure that it looks like you made the effort for an interview regardless of the company’s dress code. People make decisions based on your appearance, even if it's subconscious. So, dress to impress. Men, in particular, make sure you have had a haircut/fresh trim, etc.

Be honest with yourself about your goals: What do you want and what are the realistic chances of you getting that role with your current experience? Don’t be afraid to take a step backwards if, in the long term, you can move forward in a different direction.

CV Word Matching: The approach to recruitment can be very literal sometimes; think about the job specification of the role you want. Do the key skills and experience in your CV match what would be in your ideal job spec? This seems obvious, but it’s incredible how often this isn’t the case. Remember, the better the match, the higher you will be on the recruiter's search list.

Use LinkedIn as your online CV: LinkedIn, for better or worse, is your personal shop window. Update it with key words in the same way you have with your CV. Write online articles and posts that demonstrate your experience and expertise. Don’t be humble in your achievements.

Use your network: Everybody has a network. Even if they don’t think they do. Do not be afraid to reach out and ask ex-work colleagues you haven’t spoken to in a while if they know of any roles that might suit you. There is no shame in asking. This is doubly true if you are in Sales or Recruitment.

Practice tough interview questions: Be prepared or be prepared to fail. I cannot stress how important interview preparation is. I am not talking about Googling the company. I take that as a given. I am talking about having facts and figures to hand as well as prepared answers for the tough interview questions. Be honest about where things have gone wrong in the past. This is fine as long as you own your mistakes and show you have learned from them.

Contact organisations directly: Do not wait for the job to find you. One of the great unspoken truths in our society is that often, the best roles are not advertised. I am not here to debate whether that’s fair or not. But it is true. It might seem awkward, and you might feel uncomfortable doing it, but honestly, you may just surprise yourself. There is a massive talent shortage in almost every advanced economy globally. One thing I know for sure is that employers hate paying agency fees. If you have the right type of skill set, sometimes an organisation will create a position for you.

Be persistent and stay positive: Nobody said getting a new role was easy. Sometimes you will go for an interview, and you will get rejected, and you may never get a satisfactory reason why. Don’t take it personally. The reason may have nothing to do with you or how you performed. Just move forward.

These were my tips. If you want more advice or would like to chat, feel free to contact me. You can Google me or find me on LinkedIn.

Written by Ed Bushnell November 2024

Ed Bushnell