How to Find a New Job after a Resignation or Redundancy
Finding motivation and opportunities is hard for under or unemployed job hunters who recently went through a ‘forced’ resignation or redundancy. It does not have to be that way.
Check out 4 simple ways to find new employment after you have quit or been made redundant.
#1 Leave resignations or redundancies off your cover letter
On the flipside, there’s no reason to explain why you left your last job in your cover letter. I wouldn’t mention your reasons in your cover letter as it will only draw attention to why you left or were made redundant.
It’s important to focus on the positives in your resume. Highlight and emphasise your strengths and what you have achieved. Don’t say why you left your most recent role, mention instead what you can bring and why the prospective job is so attractive.
Mentioning why you left your previous role is best left for interviews.
#2 Come prepared + have your answer ready why you left the last job
If you are currently unemployed, prepare to be asked about it at interviews. Write out a response and internalise it so it sounds natural. There is nothing to be ashamed of with redundancy or leaving a job, but you don’t want to invite uncomfortable questions. Consider something like, “My last position in my company was eliminated as part of a restructure. I am looking for X.” Turn the conversation away from being made redundant, which you can’t control, to what you want.
You need to state your job move with confidence. You should definitely not feel defensive about leaving or being made redundant from a past employer. And, under no circumstance should you apologise for leaving a role or being made redundant. If you apologise for your situation, it will create a negative impression of you.
#3 Take a focused but broader approach in your job search
Change and adjust your job hunt approach and try to match your skills with new job roles. Oh and don’t limit yourself to just looking for jobs in your specific skillset!
If you focus too much on skills, you may miss out on wider options. Try thinking about everything you enjoy, your interests and the things that genuinely interest you. Also be realistic and consider your personal limitations and your constraints. Is re-training or up-skilling an option? Can you take a drop in pay or consider jobs as a contractor?
Draw a link between your experiences and the job you want so potential employers understand how to use your experience in a new environment.
#4 Find your new purpose & carpe diem
When you’re unemployed, it can be very tempting to rush into the first job you’re offered. I recommend that if at all possible you give yourself space to find your ideal job, or at least a good job.
Think about what you enjoy doing. What are you really good at? Is there a problem that you always wanted to solve or that you’d love to help solve? These questions may unearth some answers that help to inform your future career.
The key is deciding on what you want, and then staying motivated throughout your job hunt.
The big Job Hunting handicaps appear when a job hunter is unclear about where exactly they want to position themselves in the job market. If that happens to you, get professional advise and counselling to find direction.
Job hunting is hard, and you really need to stay focused and replace negative internal dialogue and keep trying to get on to your new path. You have to find your new purpose and make good use of every day. But most importantly, you have to remember to hunt wisely!
Uli
