How to get Back into Work after Redundancy
Redundancy can be a real knock to the self-esteem, to be one of the people selected as expendable by an employer who needs to cut costs is never a great feeling. There's not much time for wound-licking and self-pity, though, even the most generous redundancy package will run out quicker than you think, and you need to get back into the job market. But how to get back into work?
The first step is psychological. Redundancy is a blow for many people's confidence, but you also have to realise that it's a brilliant reason for leaving a job, from the point of view of the next interview. You weren't fired, you didn't have any health issues that might deter a future employer from taking a gamble on you, the last place just couldn't afford to keep paying you. You're likely to get a glowing reference from an embarrassed former employer, and it's one of the best answers to the awkward "Why did you leave your last job?" question that inevitably comes up at every interview.
So take heart, you're in a much better position than someone who's been fired from their last job, for whatever reason, and you have more skills and experience than someone new to the job market. You have a lot going for you. And with luck, that redundancy payment will give you a bit of a cushion to really pick and choose the right job for you, rather than grabbing the first opportunity that comes along.
Having said that, it can be easier said than done to get a new job after being made redundant, for the simple reason that many redundancies tend to happen at times of economic upheaval, when jobs are thin on the ground. If your last employer had to let you go, it's likely that their competitors are having similar difficulties!
To get back into work, take heart from your strong position as described above, and also try to adopt the mindset that you have not left work. Continue to read the relevant professional publications for your industry, to make sure you are keeping abreast of developments and your skills are still current. When you do get into your next interview, you will be in a much stronger position if you are up to date, and you can resist your new employer's attempt to beat down your salary on the grounds that you've been out of the game for a while.
Similarly, keep in touch with your network of colleagues and contacts as though you were still doing your old job, to get advance warning of any opportunities that might be coming up on the horizon. There's always a vague sense of survivors' guilt in a company after a round of redundancies, and they will often be very happy to help point you in the direction of your next role.
Finally, accept that it might be a little while before you're working full-time again. Use that time productively. Try up-skilling by taking some evening classes or a distance learning course, or do some volunteer work for a charity project close to your heart. Anything which will bulk out your resume and avoid a nasty six month gap which you spent watching TV and eating Ramen noodles.
Redundancy can be a bitter pill, but really it's a clean break with a former employer, and an opportunity to give your career a new lease of life with a bit of breathing space. Take the time to really think about what you want from your next role, and get out there and start applying for that dream job!
