Job loss is a difficult reality for hundreds of people around the world every single year. Those who are suddenly made redundant often find themselves confused and unsure of how to take the next steps. This blog post will provide answers to these difficult questions. We will begin with a definition of “redundancy” and an overview of the difficulties surrounding the transition period, before moving on to ways to make the transition easier.

Redundancy often occurs when a company is unable to continue employing an individual due to financial pressures, cost-cutting, or other economic reasons. It often involves no fault of the redundant employee, yet the consequences can still be difficult and long-lasting. While redundancy can be a difficult and uncertain time, there are constructive strategies to make the transition as easy as possible.

First and foremost, it’s important to remain positive during a redundancy situation. Staying positive helps to keep your motivation levels up and will often open up more job opportunities. Keeping an open mind is also important as it can lead to unexpected job opportunities; for example, new job roles or industries that you may not have considered before.

Networking is another important tool for those seeking a new role; by interacting with people in your current industry and making introductions, you can make it easier to find new roles and gain knowledge of other potential job sources. Remaining knowledgeable about happenings in the job market can also be advantageous; even if a particular role wasn’t available when you initially started searching, this could have changed over the weeks or months of searching, so it’s important to stay up to date.

Redundancy can also be the perfect opportunity to learn a new skill. An additional qualification can help demonstrate that you have a genuine interest in the field plus can add value to your resume. Not only is learning a new skill often useful in the job hunt, but it can also be personally fulfilling and can help to pass the time during the job search.

With newfound free time and plenty of time in between job interviews, it’s important to use your time productively. Socialising with friends and family or joining local groups can help to maintain a healthy lifestyle and prevent feelings of isolation. Additionally, it’s important to remember to take regular breaks; even if you are dedicating most of your time to the job search, try to take breaks to give your mind a reset.

Volunteering is also a great way to stay connected to the working world and can help you make useful contacts in a number of industries. Regardless of the industry of volunteering you choose to do, it can help give purpose back into your life and may open up more job opportunities. Joining professional organisations is another great way to stay connected; not only can it help with your job search, but these organisations can often provide useful support and advice that could be of use during this transition period.

Redundancy can be a difficult and unsettling time. As shown, it’s important to look for new job opportunities utilising positive thinking, networking, and staying up to date with the job market. It is also important to remain connected by socialising, volunteering, or joining professional organisations. It is important to remember that feeling positive and staying motivated can often lead to a successful job search.

It should also be remembered that being made redundant does not blame or discredit you or your ability. These moments are often an opportunity to learn something new and to explore new paths life has to offer.
A note to remember; recruiters often know of job opportunities before they come to the market, so it will pay dividends to register with a specialist recruiter! Not only can they support you with finding a new role, but like Halecroft, they can offer career coaching and redundancy support.

We hope that this article has provided insight into how to handle redundancy and what strategies can be used during this difficult period of transition.