Nobody enjoys being made redundant.  However, it’s also true that, with the benefit of hindsight, many people feel their redundancy enabled a positive turning point in their career.  It forced them to re-evaluate and spurred them on to find something which suited them better, whether it was a role that played more to their strengths, a healthier working environment or improved job prospects. 

Here are our tips for ensuring that your redundancy becomes a catalyst for positive change.

Even if you are looking for a role similar to the one you’ve just left, this is a great opportunity for you to explore what other career possibilities are out there for you.Make a list of your key skills and experience and then use these as keywords on recruitment search engines to find suitable roles operating at the salary level you need.Talk to your contacts or a career coach to gather suggestions.There are always many more options than you think there are and you could find a new career direction which fits you much better.

For many of us the pandemic has meant working from home.You may feel reluctant to go back to the 5 day week commute ever again.Or you may have realised that you miss the office, the social elements and the clearer boundaries around work.Certainly, many employers in the future are going to be much more open to flexible working, so this is your chance to think about your ideal scenario and look for roles that match this.

Be your own boss

Depending on the size of your redundancy settlement, it could be that it now becomes possible for you to consider being your own boss, in a way that just wasn’t financially feasible before.You can use your redundancy monies to cover your business set-up costs, as a financial cushion while you get established, or to help with purchasing a franchise.This might give you the launchpad you need to release that entrepreneurial spirit.

Instead of one job, perhaps you could experiment with a portfolio career where you work for a number of different employers.This might be one or two part-time or project based roles, that bring in your core income, along with others that are more in line with more personal areas of interest.For instance, you might mix consultancy work, with on-line tutoring, property rental and voluntary work for a charity.

It’s often only when you start to look for another job that you realise it’s a while since you undertook any professional development.Think about what interests you and will make you more saleable to employers.This might be a project management course, influencing skills, learning new software, or updating yourself on the latest developments in your field.This is going to impress employers who increasingly need an agile workforce able to keep pace with a rapidly changing workplace.If you are developing harder to find skills, such as understanding how to use brand new technology in your field, then you are also more likely to command a higher salary and have a greater choice of companies to work for.

Finally, the way you talk about your redundancy to recruiters and professional contacts is important. Employers want to hire staff who’ve had good relationships with their previous employers and who are genuinely interested in the job they are applying for.  So put aside any negativity about the past and talk with energy and enthusiasm about what you can offer them for the future. 

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