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Experiencing a redundancy can be a transformative event in your professional life. Managing the changes following this can be stressful, however it also presents a chance to reassess and redirect your career path.
According to SEEK data, 60% of Australians who faced redundancy found new employment within two months.
As recruiters, we encounter a large proportion of candidates going through life changes after redundancies. Here's some updated advice to help you navigate the post-redundancy phase and steer your career back on track.
Reflect on your career path
Take a moment to reflect on your past roles, identifying what aspects you enjoyed and what you didn't. Doing this can help you pinpoint your preferred future career path. Once you embark on your search for a new job, this information provides the perfect brief for a recruiter, helping them understand what is important to you and where you want to head with your career.
If you decide you are interested in a career path change, it’s important to research the new skills you will require to make the change. Upskilling can help lead you into new employment and career development; researching online or offline courses is a great way to help direct your efforts and gain a greater understanding of your chosen area of interest.
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Enhance your online presence
Nearly every industry uses LinkedIn to find and research candidates for roles - nearly 90% of recruiters find LinkedIn the most effective platform for vetting job candidates. In addition, 84% of companies use social networking sites for recruiting, primarily as ways of attracting candidates.
Ensure your LinkedIn profile is more than a storage unit for your career contacts. Developing your LinkedIn presence into a living, breathing record of your professional life will help market you as a candidate. Keep your work experience current, update your profile picture, and display your contact details. Activating the "Open to work" feature can make you more visible to potential employers.
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Once your LinkedIn profile is up to date, you can align your resume with more detailed information of your responsibilities and achievements. Having your resume ready to go makes sure you are in the best position to take advantage of opportunities as they arise.
Maintaining positive routines
Your mental well-being can take a hit when going through redundancy, even if it was a voluntary choice. Work provides a huge amount of structure to your life, so it’s important to develop positive routines and structures for your personal and professional performance.
During your break from work, make sure you do things that make you feel good such as exercising, eating healthily and maintaining social relationships. Remember, redundancy doesn’t last forever, staying positive and focusing on your wellbeing alongside planning your next career move will progress your life and career in the right direction.
Connect and consider
Reaching out to your network of connections to let them know you are on the market is a great way of steering your job search in the right direction. Grab a coffee with your contacts, you never know where it may lead.
Having an informed conversation with a recruitment specialist can provide you with up to date information about the market, current opportunities and ideas of where to direct your efforts. Make sure you are prepared to talk about the specifics of the roles you are considering, types of industries or organisations you prefer, and what’s most important to you in a new role.
As you connect with people, remember to bring an open mind and positive attitude to exploring new options. Considering alternatives such as contracting opportunities can help broaden your network and often lead to extended or permanent roles.
Stay open-minded and positive
As recruiters, we are in contact with a large number of people not happy in their current jobs, so it’s important to find a position that makes you feel fulfilled. The reality is that many roles are made redundant through circumstances beyond your control. As technology evolves and workplaces change through digital transformations, restructures and consequential redundancies are inevitable.
Often redundancies can be the catalyst for a positive career change, so preparing yourself for the future and staying open-minded and optimistic about career possibilities might help you land the job of your dreams.
If you or anyone you know needs help, contact Beyond Blue for mental health support.
For help redirecting your career following a redundancy, reach out to a recruitment consultant near you.
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