Just found out that you’re facing redundancy? Regardless of how long you’ve worked there and the exact circumstances that led to you being made redundant, this can leave you feeling defeated and unsure of where to go next. But instead of letting your uncertainty get the better of you, let us assist you in getting your career back on track with a confident and empowered job search.
Understanding your rights under redundancy
First and foremost, it’s important to understand your rights when facing redundancy. In the UK, your employer is required to adhere to specific rules to ensure you’re not being unfairly dismissed.
In terms of redundancy pay, this will vary based on your age and length of service. You’ll get half a week of pay for each full year you were employed under the age of 22, a week of pay for each full year you were between 22 and 41, and one and a half weeks of pay for each full year you were 41 or older.
Please note that the length of service is capped at 20 years. Your weekly pay is calculated as the average you earned per week over the 12 weeks leading up to the day you received your redundancy notice.
In addition to statutory redundancy pay, your employer must either pay you through your notice period or pay you in lieu of notice, depending on your circumstances. Your notice pay is based on the average amount you earned per week over the 12 weeks before the start of your notice period.
Your employer is required to give a statutory notice period before your employment ends. If your employment has lasted between one month and two years, you’ll be given a minimum of one week’s notice. If you’ve been employed at the business for between two and 12 years, you’ll receive one week’s notice for each year of employment. For any redundancies after 12 years of service or more, you’ll be given a minimum of 12 weeks of notice. Make sure to check your contract, as your employer may offer you more than the statutory minimum notice, but they can’t provide you with less.
How soon after redundancy can I start a new job?
As soon as you’re made aware of your redundancy, you should be able to jump straight into the hunt for a new job. However, it’s important to check with your current employer for any restrictions that could affect your job search.
You’ll normally be given a notice period before the date you’ll officially be leaving the business, and some employers might even allow you to start your new job during this period if needed.
Finding your next job after redundancy
After redundancy, you might not know where to start with your next job search. Luckily, we’re here to help you keep things on track and find something you’ll love with our handy tips and advice below.
Work out what you want to do
Maybe you’ve always worked in the same industry, or it’s been a while since you moved up the ladder. Whatever your career has looked like up until now, redundancy allows you to change it all. Whether you choose to upskill, pivot to a similar role in a new sector, or go for a total career change, you can easily reframe this situation into something positive.
Once you’re aware of your redundancy and have come to terms with it, spend some time researching different opportunities you might be interested in and working out which direction you might like to take your career in next. Not only can this distract you from any negativity you might be feeling about your redundancy, but it can also allow you to think about trying something new and exciting.
Update your CV
Giving your CV some TLC when you’re facing redundancy can help with securing interviews quicker and ultimately land you the perfect new role. Add in your experience, achievements and skills, and give your personal bio an update to reflect your current situation and goals. Doing this can even help you with working out what you want to do based on everything within your CV.
Preparing for your next interview
Interviews can feel daunting, regardless of the circumstances you find yourself in. This anxiety can be heightened when you’re job hunting after experiencing redundancy. So, how can you prepare and calm those pre-interview nerves?
The best approach is to be honest and open while trying to maintain a positive outlook about your situation. Even if the redundancy has come as a shock and affected your confidence, it’s important to shift your perspective to help you feel ready to take on this next step in your professional life. Preparing to talk about your redundancy, alongside your expertise, experience and skills is a great way to convert nervous energy into a drive to impress when the time comes for your next interview.
How to regain your confidence after redundancy
Being made redundant can understandably knock your confidence. But with a little support from your network, including family, friends and any professional connections, you can talk through your worries and find your feet again in no time.
If you feel like you could benefit from brushing up on your skills, you could even undergo training in relevant areas to build yourself back to where you once were. After being made redundant, some people will choose to take on education or training for a short period before joining a new workplace or becoming self-employed. This is a great way to show yourself that you can bring value and skills to your next job, whatever it may be.
It can also help to reflect on your strengths and career wins throughout your professional life. Write a list or collate your achievements, certifications and awards and remind yourself just how far you’ve come.
How do new employers feel about redundancy?
Bringing up your redundancy with a new employer during an interview might feel scary, but any good employer won’t see this as a negative. Perceptions of redundancy have changed for the better in recent times, and many employers now understand that this is something that’s normally out of an employee’s control and is due to a wider business issue. Most importantly, they’ll know that your situation is unlikely to be related to your skills, productivity or experience.
Although redundancy is quite common, the good news is that you can use it as an opportunity to take on a new challenge you wouldn’t have tried otherwise. Taking confidence and drive to your interviews will show potential employers that even in the face of adversity, you can see positives and take it in your stride.
We hope this guide can help you turn a redundancy from a scary situation to an open door filled with opportunity and excitement. For more career insights and advice, head to our careers blog.
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The views, opinions and positions expressed within this article are those of our third-party content providers alone and do not represent those of SEFE. The accuracy, completeness and validity of any statements made within this article are not guaranteed. SEFE accepts no liability for any errors, omissions or representations.
