Being made redundant can be one of the most unsettling moments in your career.
Whether you were expecting it or the news came completely out of the blue, losing your job can leave you dealing with a mixture of uncertainty, frustration and financial pressure. You may be asking yourself:
What happens now? How much redundancy pay will I receive? Can I afford to take my time looking for a new job? And how do I explain redundancy to prospective employers?
The good news is that redundancy does not have to define your career.
It can be a chance to reassess your current position, recognise the skills you have built and think carefully about what you want from your next role. With the right preparation, support and a clear plan, you can move forward with confidence.
In this blog we will Here are 12 practical steps to take if you’ve been made redundant and how we can help here at Mexa Solutions.
The Practical Steps
Lets look at all the ways you can set yourself on the right track after being made redundant.
1. Take A Moment Before Making Your Next Move
When redundancy hits, your first instinct may be to start job searches immediately.
While getting back into work is important, give yourself some time to process what has happened. Losing your job can affect your confidence, especially if the company decided on redundancy rather than you choosing to leave.
Try not to take it personally.
Redundancy is often linked to changes within an organisation, such as restructuring, financial pressures, mergers, changes in demand or the closure of a department. It does not automatically mean that you have failed in your job role.
Give yourself a short period to understand what has happened, then start focusing on what comes next.
2. Check Your Redundancy Package & Know Your Rights
One of your first priorities should be understanding exactly what your employer is offering.
Check your contract, redundancy notice and paperwork carefully. Your redundancy package may include:
- Statutory redundancy pay
- Notice pay
- Payment for unused holiday
- Your final salary
- Pension arrangements
- Other contractual or discretionary payments
- Benefits that continue during your notice period
Your notice period is particularly important because it can affect when your employment officially ends and how much money you receive.
If you are unsure about your legal rights, consider getting impartial legal advice.
You can also find guidance from GOV.UK, ACAS or Citizens Advice.
3. Understand How Much Money You Will Receive
Financial uncertainty is often one of the biggest concerns when losing your job.
Work out exactly what money you are expecting and when you expect to receive it.
Your redundancy payment may be a lump sum, while your final salary and notice pay may arrive separately. Check whether your employer will deduct any outstanding amounts and whether there are contractual arrangements that could affect your payout.
Create a simple budget covering:
- Mortgage or rent
- Household bills
- Food
- Travel
- Insurance
- Debt repayments
- Other financial commitments
- Essential monthly outgoings
Knowing how much money you have available can make the next few months feel more manageable.
If you are worried about keeping up with payments, get support early rather than waiting until you are in arrears. If you are facing serious financial difficulty, including concerns about repossession, speak to a suitable adviser as soon as possible.
4. Check Whether You Can Claim Benefits
If you have lost your income, check whether you are eligible for financial support.
Depending on your circumstances, you may be able to claim Universal Credit or Jobseeker’s Allowance.
Your eligibility can depend on your income, savings, National Insurance contributions and personal circumstances.
You can check the support available through GOV.UK’s benefits information or speak to Jobcentre Plus.
It is worth checking this early. The money you get from benefits can help cover essential outgoings while you are looking for work.
5. Get Your CV Ready For Your Next Opportunity
Once you’ve dealt with the immediate practical issues, it’s time to get your CV working for you.
A strong CV should do more than list every responsibility from your previous job.
Focus on what you achieved.
For example, instead of writing:
“Responsible for managing IT support.”
You could write:
“Managed IT support for 300+ users, improving response times and reducing recurring technical issues.”
Think about projects you delivered, problems you solved, improvements you made and skills you developed.
If you’ve been made redundant, you don’t need to make redundancy the focus of your CV. Your experience and achievements should take centre stage.
6. Update Your LinkedIn Profile
Your LinkedIn profile can be an important part of your job search, particularly when you are looking for a new job in a competitive recruitment market.
Make sure your:
- Job title is clear
- Employment history is accurate
- Key skills are included
- Recent achievements are highlighted
- Profile summary reflects what you’re looking for
- Contact details are up to date
If you are comfortable doing so, let your network know that you’re looking for a new role.
You don’t need to write a long announcement. A short, professional message can be enough to start conversations.
7. Start Targeted Job Searches
It can be tempting to apply for every job you see.
That approach can quickly become exhausting.
Instead, decide what you are looking for before you begin sending applications.
Consider:
- The type of job role you want
- Your preferred salary
- Location or remote-working preferences
- The industries you are interested in
- Your preferred company size
- Whether you would consider part-time work
- Whether you are open to changing jobs or making a career change
If you are in IT, for example, your search might include technical support, infrastructure, cloud, cybersecurity, software development, project management or IT leadership roles.
Being clear about what you want can make your job hunting more focused and productive.
8. Talk To Recruitment Specialists
Recruitment can be much easier when you have people working alongside you.
A specialist recruiter can introduce you to opportunities that may not appear on public job boards. They can also provide insight into salaries, current vacancies and what employers are looking for.
If you are looking for a new IT role, speak to recruiters who understand your area rather than sending your CV to every recruitment agency you can find.
At Mexa Solutions, we specialise in IT recruitment and can help candidates looking for their next opportunity.
The right recruiter should take time to understand your experience, career goals and preferred type of new role.
9. Tell Your Network You’re Looking
Some of the best opportunities can come through people you already know.
Contact former colleagues, managers, clients and professional contacts.
You might simply say that you’ve recently left your organisation and are now looking for a new position.
This can lead to introductions, recommendations or conversations with companies that are hiring.
Networking doesn’t have to feel formal. A one-to-one conversation over the phone or a coffee can be enough to get the conversation started.
10. Be Prepared To Explain Your Redundancy
One of the most common concerns after losing a job is explaining redundancy during an interview.
The good news is that you don’t need to give a long explanation.
Keep your answer factual and positive.
For example:
“My previous organisation went through a restructuring process and my role was made redundant. I’ve taken the opportunity to think about what I want from my next position, and I’m now looking for a role where I can use my experience in IT while taking on new challenges.”
Then move the conversation towards your skills and experience.
Remember that being made redundant is not the same as being dismissed for poor performance.
Your prospective employer will want to understand what you can bring to their organisation.
11. Consider Whether This Is The Right Time For A Career Change
Redundancy can give you an opportunity to ask questions you may not have considered while working full-time.
Do you actually want to return to the same job?
Would you prefer a different company?
Could your skills transfer to another industry?
Would training help you move into a new area?
Could this be the right time to pursue a career change?
You don’t necessarily need to make a dramatic change. Even moving into a slightly different job role could give you a fresh challenge.
If you’ve been considering changing direction for some time, redundancy may be the point at which you finally make that move.
12. Don’t Rush Into Another Job
Financial pressure can make accepting the first available role seem like the easiest option.
Sometimes it is.
Yet if you have enough financial breathing room, take the opportunity to assess whether a new role is genuinely right for you.
Look at the company, job responsibilities, salary, benefits, working arrangements and career progression.
Think about why you left your previous position and what you would like to be different this time.
Your goal isn’t simply to find another job.
It’s to find a new role that works for you.
How Mexa Solutions Can Help
If you’re looking for your next IT role after redundancy, Mexa Solutions can help. As a specialist technology recruitment company, we connect IT professionals with opportunities that match their experience, skills and career goals.
We can also provide honest advice on the current market, suitable opportunities and the recruitment process, helping you move forward with confidence and find a role that feels right for your next career step.
Redundancy Doesn’t Have to Define Your Career
Being made redundant can feel like a major setback, but it doesn’t have to be the end of your career story.
Use the time to understand your legal rights, review your finances, update your CV and think carefully about what you want from your next role.
Speak to people. Ask for support. Start conversations with recruitment specialists. Look at opportunities you may not have considered before.
Most importantly, remember that your previous job does not define your future.
You have experience, skills and knowledge that another employer can benefit from.
The next step may simply be a matter of finding the right opportunity.
If you’re looking for a new IT role after redundancy, Mexa Solutions can help you find a new position that matches your experience and career goals.
Your next opportunity could be the start of something better.
Frequently Asked Questions About Redundancy
What should I do first if I’ve been made redundant?
Start by understanding your redundancy package, notice period and final payments. Check your contract and redundancy paperwork, then work out your immediate financial position.
Once the practical side is clear, update your CV and LinkedIn profile and begin planning your job search.
How long does redundancy pay take?
This depends on the arrangements with your employer and the terms of your redundancy package. Check your paperwork to understand when your redundancy payment, notice pay and final salary will be paid.
If you believe your employer has not paid what you are owed, consider seeking legal advice.
Should I put redundancy on my CV?
You generally don’t need to make redundancy a prominent feature of your CV.
Your CV should focus on your skills, achievements and experience. If your employment ended because of redundancy, you can explain that clearly if asked during the recruitment process.
How do I explain redundancy in an interview?
Keep your explanation short, factual and professional.
Explain that your role was affected by redundancy and then focus on your experience, achievements and what you are looking for in your next position.
What if I’m worried about being made redundant?
If you’re facing redundancy but have not yet lost your job, start preparing early.
Update your CV, reconnect with your network, review your finances and monitor the recruitment market.
Having a plan can make the situation feel far more manageable.
This blog was written by Hollie Agombar, Senior Digital Marketing Executive at Mexa Solutions