Navigating Redundancy

Unfortunately, we are currently seeing several redundancies across the sector.

Some of these are planned and carried out well, offering support to staff as they enter the job market. Others are chaotic and emotional.

There is no doubt that for many businesses making redundancies is tough, often a last resort and can come at the end of what has already been a very stressful period within a business. For you, the person who has been made redundant, it can really rock your confidence, and what you do at this point will really impact your future.

If you have been affected by redundancy and you haven’t been offered out placement services, we wanted to share our advice in the hope that it will help you navigate your next steps.

• Firstly, don’t panic! You will find another position. It can be a shock and your confidence may have taken a knock, so find someone you can talk to about how you are feeling, someone who can reassure you that it will be ok. Redundancy is part of the landscape of work, it is not something to be ashamed of and can often lead to something bigger and better.

• Make sure that you have been paid correctly. Check your contract and make sure that everything has been included. As well as redundancy you should be entitled to notice period, outstanding holiday pay and any other contractual benefits. https://www.gov.uk/redundancy-your-rights/redundancy-pay

• If you find yourself in financial difficulties get in touch with https://mrba.org.uk/. They are there to help market research professionals.

• Get your CV and LinkedIn profile up to date. Use the “open to work” banner if you are happy to. Do you have a regular recruiter, someone who advises you on the market and who has maybe found you roles in the past? Get in touch with them, they already know you and will be able to instantly help.

• Set aside some time every day to job search. Don’t spend all day looking for a job – it can be draining and nonproductive.
  
• In between job searches, find time to upskill. By developing new skills, you will become a more competitive candidate in the job market, and you’ll have the potential to increase your earnings.

• Be open in terms of what roles you apply for, consider roles slightly out of your normal range, this could be a good time to experiment and experience new sectors and environments.

• Prepare for how you will talk about the redundancy. You will be asked about it in interview, don’t focus on the negative elements of how your previous employment ended. You need to focus on the future.

Being Human is at the heart of what we do as recruiters and that includes supporting you on your job search post redundancy.