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It’s never easy to go through Redundancy. It can feel like an insurmountable barrier to the rest of your life and prospects. But it doesn’t have to be that way! You can do many things, as well as people who will help you on your journey back into employment. Here are a few tips for how to cope with Redundancy and find a job again

What to Do When Unemployment is on the Immediate Horizon “You’re fired” is probably the two worst words you will ever hear as an employee. Yet, for some reason, losing one’s job is a reality for everyone. Slackers and crooked employees may have it coming for them, but getting fired can devastate many who do honest work.

You may never wish to be on the streets doing nothing, but it is still good to be prepared for the eventuality. Here are some tips you can keep in mind should you have the unfortunate experience of receiving your walking papers.

What to Avoid

1. Emotional confrontation

Getting fired is emotional, no doubt. You will feel that the world is against you and everyone around you is there to contact you. During these trying times, learn to master your emotions. It may feel good to vent out, but the relief is only temporary. Never insult your would-be former boss or co-employees and yell or curse at them. The employment world is small; you might cross paths with them again. Rather than think of mending bridges in the future, it is much better not to burn the bridge.

2. Create havoc

When your back is against the wall, it sometimes feels like you go to fight back. But not in this case! When you are on your way out, it will be best for your sanity and security to leave everything as they are. Do not even think of throwing things around or messing up your company’s computer system and files. You will not gain anything from it but possible jail time.

3. Do not badmouth your company

Do not speak ill of your former company or bosses during your interviews or in your application letter. Doing so will not reflect on your previous employer but on you. Present yourself as someone who can rise above adversities rather than someone who is bitter and holds grudges.

Getting Yourself Ready for a New Opportunity

1. Show that You are a True Professional

The news may not be good, but it is not something that must bring out the worst in you. Take the information like a true lady or gentleman. Give your boss a firm handshake and walk out the door with your head high.

Your soon-to-be-former employer has no reason to keep you from getting employed again. Still, you can give them the incentive to provide you with glowing recommendations to other employers by showing how professional you are.

2. Go Out Somewhere to Vent

You are human, and getting fired hurts. However, do not keep the pain to yourself. Instead, grab a good buddy or a family member and share your heartache. It is better to let your emotion go outside the work environment and clear your head before hunting. Getting rid of your emotional baggage will help change your demeanour when you search for a new job.

3. Negotiate

You may not have any control over your employment situation, but you can still do something about your situation going out. Talk with your HR department and find out what benefits you can get once you leave the company. This is essential, considering the financial obligations you still need to meet when unemployed.

You may also want to discuss with your boss about providing a reference letter. This is something you can use when you apply to other companies. Also, learn about your employment record and how it would appear to future employees should they ask for them.

4. Create a Job Searching Strategy

You may want to take a break, but do not lose sight of the importance of finding a new job. Before you take a break, create a general strategy regarding your job hunting. That way, you know where to start once you get back from your mini-vacation and get the ideal job you want.

5. Have an “Unemployment” Fund

You must save money in the bank even if you are not in the firing block. Always remember that the possibility of losing your job is as great as the next person sitting beside you in your office. List down all your expenses monthly and save the equivalent amount. If you can keep an amount equal to six months of your living expenses, so much better for you. You do not know when to hear the phrase “You’re hired”, so it is better to be prepared for the long haul.

Having funds to spend for your daily necessity while unemployed will keep you focused on your job hunting and not worry about getting the boot for not paying the rent or having your utilities cut off because you cannot pay your bills. The added incentive in saving is when you reach the ripe old age of retirement without getting fired, then you have saved some extra “retirement” fund that you can use to pamper yourself.

Photo by Dorrell Tibbs on Unsplash & Photo by Stormseeker on Unsplash

Put your fears to rest.

Remember that you didn’t become redundant for your performances. So do not criticise your boss for having the right decision. Several people had experience going into Redundancy, but few had experience with it.

It’s up to you to look after yourself, come to terms with your situation and do what is best for you. The bad news is that if Redundancy is unexpected, it can be devastating. The emotional fallout comes in many forms, from hopelessness to loss of confidence. The important thing is to acknowledge the (widespread) feelings of resentment and betrayal that you might feel. If you ignore them, it may be hard to get on with the rest of your life.

Openly discuss your Redundancy in job interviews.

Recruiting executives to know how common Redundancy can be because it doesn’t necessarily reflect one’s skills. So if you’re worried about describing your Redundancy in a company interview, you can prepare to practise your answers in advance. – State the reasons for this Redundancy. – Describe the role achievements during the Redundancy.

Set a routine

It is sometimes called a Full-Time job which certainly seems to be the case. However, maintaining your motivation can be helped by treating your job search like a job. Set daily goals to work towards (such as researching and communicating with a certain number of organisations each day), take breaks at specified times and reflect positively on what you’ve achieved at the end of every day.

It’s often said that job seeking is a full-time job, which is undoubtedly the case. Maintaining your motivation can be helped by approaching your job search as you would a job. In other words, get up, get dressed and start your job search at the same time each day. Set daily objectives to work towards

Use your networks

Let your network know you’re thinking about new opportunities to work, and ask them to spread the word to your contacts. Most people will likely feel sympathy for your situation and get you back on your feet. Recall job placement is so hard. Do not hesitate to expand your networking efforts and reach out to recruitment consultants who might be able to refer you to a suitable opportunity. LinkedIn is an enormously helpful platform for establishing your network.

Do your research

Before the interview, the person must research and fully understand their roles. Afterwards, look closely at your CV by listing the qualities and experiences relevant to your career. It would be best to use this research as a starting point to write a compelling introductory note describing your experience, which may benefit the potential job seeker.

Do Retrain

Is it time to retrain? Do you want more responsibility? Are you ready to make a complete career change? Now’s the time to decide. You might not be able to make the new career immediately, but you can focus your job search and career development on the long-term goals that matter to you. Renovate your CV Dust off your latest draft. When you’re getting ready to apply for new roles, it helps to do a complete CV redraft.

Consider temporary assignments

The short-term assignment will help you develop your knowledge and expertise while keeping your motivation and happiness high. You may also look at taking up temporary work or casual employment. This provides you with the breathing room to find and maintain the best job position at full-time permanent that will move you further toward your ultimate success goals. Finding a role is a job in itself. We take this stage further by suggesting you treat it like a temporary job and create a temporary contract to hold yourself accountable.

Meet a recruiter

Recruiting is a personal business, and we are passionate about making valuable relationships with everyone we work with. We want to ensure that you find a job that meets your career goals and ticks as many boxes for you as by engaging an experienced recruiting agent who represents your skills to potential employers.

Set yourself up for success with a career plan

Success in the job market often stems from the effort put into your work and being disciplined in your approach. Following the usual routine helps you establish structure in the day. Create a clear and quiet working environment and set daily and weekly goals to improve your creativity and motivation. Choose your plans to keep yourself focused as you learn new things that keep you motivated. Remember the marginal gains. When applying to positions, it is far better to make five excellent applications than 50 average ones. So before you embark on your job search journey, get things organised and shipshape.

Always try to remain positive, and don’t be afraid to talk to others.

You may feel alone, and it’s essential to care for yourself. Give yourself a break, which will make the worst possible situation. So how can I boost my confidence? Remember: Support and advice are available if you ever feel in a state of weakness and struggle with the isolation of Redundancy. See your national health authority website for expert assistance and resources: See your local health authority website for specialist services and resources. Keep in touch with your local council if you need help getting some advice.

Find your ideal new job.

As the job market is vulnerable following Covid-19, it may take longer and make more applications to secure your next job. See how flexible you can be around your ideal job criteria. Don’t just choose one route to find a new role – e.g. searching on jobsRmine– use other job boards, recruitment consultancies, and your network and try contacting your ideal boss directly through a theoretical approach.

Get Career Advice

It’s a good thing to get excellent career advice. This is especially true if you have been looking for positions and can’t find anything that matches your current skill set. But, unfortunately, your choices are limited in the current market, so it would be better to gain relevant knowledge or new skills from a vocational course from an Accredited Training Organisation before the situation worsens.

Rewrite your CV and contact your current employer and HR department to find out more about the current vacancies in the company, which you can then add to current job roles.

It’s never too late to start fresh.

Try a productive job if you are able and teach more specific abilities. It will be useful in helpful of employers. Employers valued those who travelled the extra mile and wanted to learn. If you act professionally through the selection procedure, they may consider you above all others. Another valuable thing is to speak to your past boss and ask them to act as your reference for future applications. Remember, redundancies happen, but it was no personal choice. Make sure you leave on good terms and represent yourself as a professional. You never know – something will come to you soon enough, and your actions in such conditions can provide an excellent occasion.

Leave your current job on a friendly note.

Use all help or support outside your employer’s information on how to proceed from your union lawyer or an employment lawyer. For example, if your position is unclear, an organisation can use remuneration as an incentive if the employer is liable for such compensation. Ask your employer before you take any time off. Try to give them as much notice as possible and tell them what you need the time for – for example, a job interview. Giving notice and a reason will make your boss more likely to agree.

Suppose you feel the redundancy process hasn’t been handled well (such as being made redundant because you’re pregnant or a parent (both unlawful grounds for Redundancy). Seek advice from your trade union, ACAS or an employment lawyer. If talking to your employer doesn’t help, you can start early conciliation. After Acas’s early conciliation, your final option is to take your employer to an employment tribunal. Contact your nearest Citizens Advice as soon as possible if you need help, as there’s a tight deadline for taking action. Next, check you got all the money you’re entitled to. When you get your final pay, you should check if you got: any redundancy pay you’re entitled to. You will not be able to check what you’re owed until your current employer has finalised your paperwork, which can take up to two weeks.

If you are one of the many who have been let go, don’t panic. There is still hope for your future! Take time to re-evaluate what went wrong and see if anything can be done differently to get back on track with a new job opportunity. Use this as an opportunity to learn from mistakes and find ways to make yourself more marketable going forward — it will pay off! What can you do to make yourself more attractive to future employers? Let us know in the comments below!