How to Shake Off Your Redundancy and Get Back to Applying for Jobs
Applying for jobs after a redundancy will be tough, but here are some tips and tricks to help you succeed…
Our society is facing mass change everywhere they turn. This, alongside the mass redundancies still occurring daily, make it so important to face the subject head on.
Being made redundant has a lot of caveats, be it having to seek legal advice on settlement agreements, as well as the mental health side of it all. Then, you have to think about the all-important job hunt, which is tricky enough as it is without the onslaught of redundancy causing all sorts of anxiety.
Here, we’ll be discussing what you should expect when you’ve been made redundant. We’ll then be providing some job application tips and tricks to get you revved up to change your future. Are you ready?
How Can a Redundancy Affect Your Mental Health?
Working somewhere, especially for a long period of time, can get very comfortable, so any change will be tricky to adjust to. Suddenly your life has changed completely, and this can have a major effect on your wider health. Some classic ways that a redundancy can affect your health include:
- Second-guessing yourself: it’s natural to wonder why, of all people in the company, you were chosen to be let go. This can lead to you second-guessing your abilities, with levels of imposter syndrome creeping through, which can be destructive.
- A myriad of emotions: being made redundant is likely to spur a lot of confusing emotions, including anger, denial, fear, panic, and dread.
- Lack of focus: this drastic change is also likely to cause a lack of focus, as your mind will be unable to think about anything else.
- Trouble sleeping: people who experience redundancy may also have trouble sleeping, and sometimes even insomnia.
- Loss of appetite: losing a job can also cause enough anxiety to stop you from eating properly.
- Physical symptoms: the emotional side of it all can be very troubling, and this can even lead to physical symptoms. For example, sweating, hot flushes, a tight or dry throat, dizziness, stomach aches, and trouble breathing are all symptoms of anxiety, which can be caused by redundancy.
Dealing with Settlement Agreements
Being made redundant, at any stage of your life, will no doubt be tough. That said, things can get even tougher for you if you feel you were dismissed unfairly. This includes if you think the dismissal was based around your age, race, gender, religion, or anything else listed under the Equality Act 2010.
Most companies will get you to sign a settlement agreement after your redundancy, which agrees on your terms of dismissal. For example, any pay outs or compensation for this unexpected change will be included. That said, once this settlement agreement is signed, it will be very difficult for you to pick up any discrimination cases against you.
So, it’s important to seek legal advice before signing any agreements, especially if you feel you were dismissed unfairly. This should really be tackled before anything else.
10 Tops Tips for Applying for Jobs After Your Redundancy
Once you’ve dealt with the inevitable ins and outs of being made redundant, you’ll then have to think about what’s next. Getting back on the job-hunting wagon after so long can be tough, and it’s likely you’ll get shot down time and time again. With these 10 tips, you can be better prepared for what’s ahead…
1. Ask Yourself What You Want
If you try and look at this in a positive light, being made redundant should be seen as an opportunity. Many people stay where they work for long periods of time out of comfort, and sometimes fear of what a big change might do. Now, this could be the push you need to start afresh, and live life for yourself.
2. Start Now
Experiencing a redundancy, and then signing that settlement agreement, will likely feel very final, and you may be worried about the future. So, how can you tackle these feelings imminently?
Well, once you’ve had a few days to soak everything in, relax, and enjoy some time off, it’s important to not put it off any longer. The longer you wait, the harder it’ll be to hop on the job-hunting wagon. So, in order to combat the anxiety you’re feeling, getting started on the job hunt as soon as possible is key.
3. Treat it Like a Day Job
Looking for jobs whilst you’re still in a job is extremely tiring. So, one benefit of losing a job is that you now have all the time in the world to start applying to change your future.
So, one really great way to maximize this free time, and keep your mind off the inevitable lack of a job, is to treat your job hunt like a day job. Set a daily schedule, and some daily goals, and be sure to treat it like a 9 ‘til 5. Not only will this help you to keep your mind off your struggles, this should help you to get the job you always dreamed of, ASAP.
4. Revamp Your CV
If you’ve been in a job for a while, you may not have even touched your CV for years. That said, this is arguably the most important element of your application, as it’ll be the first impression your employer gets of you. Spending a day making this perfect is paramount before anything else, and some top ways to do this include:
- Keep it informative, but simple;
- Be creative, making it eye-catching and unique;
- Make sure the font is readable;
- Tailor your CV to each job role, showing why each experience makes you a good fit for them;
- Don’t include every job you’ve ever done, just the ones that are relevant;
- Ensure to include extra-curricular activities and hobbies;
- Include any side-hustles or training;
- Keep it short and sweet, as you can explain it in more detail using your cover letter;
- You could even attempt to put together a video CV!
5. Write a Brilliant Cover Letter
Writing a cover letter is no easy feat. It’s important to remember that your cover letter doesn’t have to tell your whole life story, but it’s also important that you go into detail about why your experience makes you a great fit.
You can do this through being a storyteller. Pick out a few key elements of your CV that you think make you a winning candidate, and explain their relevance here. Then, don’t be afraid to let them in on your passions, emotions, thoughts, and feelings to really show you care.
The main element of it all is to demonstrate your passion for what you do, but be sure to keep it concise and organised. Edit, re-edit, and proof-read it ensure you don’t ramble, keeping it to less than two pages long. But show off your personality at the same time. It’s a delicate balance, but one you’re sure to master with this now being your full-time job.
6. Provide Examples of What You Can Do
It’s one thing telling your prospective employers what you’re good at, but it’s another to actually demonstrate it. So, having a portfolio – either a PDF or a website – is paramount to proving your abilities. If you haven’t already, be sure to set this up so you can strut your stuff to your future employer.
7. Have an Appropriate Online Presence
In this day and age, having an online presence is key to any job application process. Without it, do you even exist?
Being sure to have an account on the major social media sites is a good start to showing you’re capable of living in the modern world. LinkedIn and Facebook are probably the most important ones these days, so getting on there is key.
That said, social media can tell you a lot about a person and their morals. This is why making sure your social media presence is appropriate is key to applying for jobs. Although there’s nothing wrong with showing you can have a good time, anything demonstrating debauchery, nudity, drugs, and alcohol is probably worth avoiding online.
8. Network
We’ve already mentioned the importance of a social media presence, but this is nothing if you don’t use this platform wisely. So, use these platforms to have a voice, show off what you can do, and connect with like-minded individuals who could be the key to your future success.
Getting the balance right when selling yourself can be tough, though, as you don’t want to be salesy or boastful. That said, being honest and open, with a hint of amusement, might just be the ticket to becoming an online success.
9. Be Prepared to Train for New Skills
Using your redundancy time wisely is a key way to develop your employability. After all, as we’ve seen already, you’re unlikely to get this time again to improve your skillset, so you can apply for a job you truly love. So, during your 9 ‘til 5 day of job applications, be sure to schedule in some time for online training courses to make yourself the A* candidate.
10. Be Yourself
Whether it be at your interview or in your cover letter, demonstrating personality in every way is now really important. Why?
Well, these days, company culture is a major aspect of hiring anyone, as you have to be sure that the person will fit what you stand for. So, by simply being the unadulterated version of, you’ll be sure to find a match that suits you both.
Let’s Get Applying!
Your job hunt will likely come with a lot of ups and downs. You’re very unlikely to receive positive feedback straight away, and for many jobs you apply to, you may not even hear back! So, be prepared for these eventualities and remember to never give up, and you’re sure to succeed.
If you’ve had any recent struggles with applying for jobs, or have any more tips and tricks to shake off the redundancy blues, leave a comment down below. Let’s help one another make the best of a bad situation!
We hope you enjoyed this promoted piece as much as we did!
