How to stay motivated in the face of redundancy

Have you recently been made redundant from your job? Or is it something you’re going to have to go through soon? Redundancy, of course, is always a challenging thing to face, and you may by turns be angry, apprehensive, and anxious. You may also feel as though the future of your career is unstable and in doubt. The prospect, furthermore, of addressing your redundancy on your CV and in job interviews might, understandably, be troubling you.

At a glance: what to remember about redundancy

• It’s a tricky situation – so you’re allowed to feel sad or disappointed
• There is no stigma attached to it – employers know it’s beyond your control
• You shouldn’t worry about how it might impact your future career
• It can be an opportunity for positive change and growth

If you’re worried about how redundancy will affect your career prospects, you can put your mind at rest. There’s no stigma related to redundancies – they arise as a result of commercial factors and are not a reflection of someone’s performance or abilities. Any prospective future employers will know this better than anyone, and they’ll be fully aware that it wouldn’t have been an easy decision. There’s therefore no need to feel ashamed or embarrassed about the position you’re in. The fact is, redundancy is rarely a career highlight – but it can be reframed as an opportunity.

Job hunting after redundancy

Employers are fully aware that redundancy is not something that you can anticipate or control, but what you do have jurisdiction over is how you communicate it to them. When speaking to hiring managers and interviewers, don’t hesitate to express pride in what you accomplished in your previous role, and emphasise what you learnt from it. Remember that being made redundant does not undermine anything you achieved while you were with your previous organisation.

Having said this, you may still feel unsure about how to frame it positively and professionally in interviews and on your CV:

Positioning your redundancy on your CV

Ensure your dates of employment are clear: Be as specific as you can be about your exact dates of employment for your previous role, to the month if you can. Don’t worry too much about any gaps – it’s much better to be transparent and avoid any confusion further down the line.

Give some detail about the context: You don’t need to include much information here, just a brief line about the economic or organisational context of your redundancy is enough. For example: ‘My role was made redundant due to budget cuts at my previous organisation, which were brought on by the recent economic downturn.’

Emphasise what you achieved in your previous role: Most of your focus should be on what you achieved in your previous job – not only with regards to professional qualifications, but any pieces of work or projects you’re especially proud of.

Mention anything you’ve achieved since being out of work: If you’ve used the time you’ve been unemployed to learn a new skill, undertake voluntary work or complete a qualification, you should definitely add this to your CV.

How to explain your redundancy in an interview

Elaborate on the context more broadly: Expand on what you detailed in your CV concerning your redundancy by explaining your former company’s situation and the challenges it was facing.

Bring up what you achieved in your last role: Your redundancy in no way negates your accomplishments in your previous job. You should feel empowered to discuss what you achieved and, if you can, back it up with results or metrics.

Talk about your previous employer positively: Criticising your last employer sounds unprofessional, however you feel about the redundancy. Emphasise that your time with them provided a great opportunity, which gave you the chance to learn and professionally develop.

Mention what you’ve done during your redundancy: As with your CV, this is a great opportunity to mention any upskilling you’ve done since leaving your last role, demonstrating to a prospective employer that you’ve used the time productively and constructively.

If you’re unsure of the best way to approach redundancy in an interview situation, the below answer might be a good jumping off point:

‘Due to rising interest rates and a slowdown in the economy, my previous employer had to make a number of cost savings. As a result of this, my role and that of several others in my team were made redundant. I’m grateful for the opportunities provided at my previous organisation and also proud of what I achieved there – increasing engagement and conversion rates, for example.

‘Since being made redundant I’ve tried to use my time proactively, and have undertaken a number of courses related to my industry, as well as spending one day a week volunteering at a charity.’

Look forward to a new start

It’s very natural that redundancy will seem like a setback initially – and the uncertainty regarding how to move forward can also be extremely stressful. Don’t be hard on yourself about the way you feel; sadness and disappointment are natural reactions and it doesn’t help to fight them.

It’s certainly easier said than done, but try to see your redundancy as a fresh start and a chance to change your direction of travel with regards to your career. Leverage the support of your friends and family, and remember your recruiter is always on hand to help. Once you’re ready to start looking for a new opportunity, we’d love to help guide you through your next steps.

If you’re on the lookout for a new role, then check out our latest vacancies – we add new ones daily.