5 Crucial Things To Do if You’ve Lost Your Job
27 Feb, 20231 - 2 minutes
If you’ve lost your job or been made redundant, it can be a stressful, difficult and emotional situation.
However, in a situation like this, it is important to be proactive to make positive steps for the future. There are a number of practical things which you can start working on right away to stabilise your finances in the short term and future proof your career in the long term.
In our latest blog, we uncover 5 things to do if you’ve lost your job.
Don’t dwell on it
Being unemployed can throw your usually organised self out of sync very quickly. Without the routine of a working day, it can be easy to laze around moping about your situation.
However, choosing to dwell on the situation isn’t going to help; when faced with a challenge, hitting it head on with proactive and positive actions will make you feel much better in the long run.
Getting out of bed at an appropriate time, losing the casual wear, dedicating time to searching for a new position and getting plenty of exercise will help to keep you motivated and upbeat during this period.
A career break is also a golden opportunity to reflect on your career so far and question the things which you didn’t perhaps enjoy at your last job or things which you’d love to explore in the future. As they say, everything happens for a reason so maybe this has happened to thrust your career into a better direction.
Organise your finances
The uncertainty surrounding a job loss can place a huge strain on your financial situation and you might be forced to make some changes or cut backs during this period.
The first thing you need to do is work out your monthly outgoings including mortgage repayments/rent, house bills, child care fees and food. Organise your finances into an easy to read spreadsheet.
When analysing your finances, you might find that you have some unnecessary expenses which need to be culled such as trips to Starbucks, subscription services (e.g. Spotify, Sky TV and Netflix) and nights out.
For subscriptions to essentials such as the internet and your mobile phone, call up your provider to see if they can offer you a reduced rate or plan - you’d be surprised at what some companies can offer you if you only ask.
The second thing you should do is look into what financial help is out there. If you’re made redundant in particular, you could be entitled to redundancy pay. On top of that, you could be entitled to Jobseekers Allowance, Universal Credit, Housing Allowance, tax credits and tax rebates.
Prepare to discuss your story
Professionals can lose their jobs for a number of genuine reasons so don’t be afraid to discuss this whenever the question arises; it will inevitably crop up in future interviews.
Come up with an honest, relatable and positive narrative of how you came to lose your job.
If you parted terms with your previous company under disappointing circumstances, don’t badmouth your employers as this will paint you in a negative light.
By putting a positive spin on the version of events, it will make you appear like a much well rounded and pragmatic individual - someone you would want to hire!
Create a CV that wows
In a tough job market, your CV must stand out to get to the top of the interview pile. No matter how much skills and experience you think you have, the hiring manager will make a snap decision based on the 1-2 pages of your CV.
As well as customising your CV to every role which you apply to, remember to focus on your achievements rather than a list of duties you had to perform.
For example, instead of saying ‘My duties were to post on our social media channels,’ try ‘By frequently posting on our social media channels, I managed to increase followers by 100k and engagement levels by 214% within the first 12 months.’
Don’t be afraid to inject some passion and personality into your CV; hiring managers will view hundreds of CVs every day so if you can put a smile on their face or make them laugh, you will be a much more memorable candidate. Let’s not forget, the most exciting people to employ are the people who are passionate about what they do.
Start searching for a new job straight away
If you’re unemployed, there’s no time like the present to start searching for a new job. Scour job boards, platforms such as LinkedIn and sign up to a specialist recruitment agency which specialises in your sector.
Using a recruitment agency, even for short term or contract work, is a great way to keep the money coming in while you search for a permanent position.
By sending your CV to a recruitment agency, you are effectively putting yourself forward for a wide range of opportunities as agencies will have a large number of jobs to fill at any one time.
By keeping your options open, you will have a much higher chance of securing new employment. Remember to stay positive during this time, while it might feel like the world is working against you some days, the perfect job for you could be just around the corner!
Unemployed checklist
- Work out your redundancy pay.
- Research and claim any benefits and entitlements which you may now be eligible for.
- Cancel unnecessary subscriptions until your finances are more stable.
- Write your CV.
- Start applying for jobs right away.
- Contact recruitment agencies which specialise in your field. Have a chat about what options are available or upcoming.
How a recruitment agency can help
If you’ve reached the conclusion that a recruitment agency is the way forward, why not check out everything Spencer Clarke Group has to offer?
We have a range of permanent and contract roles within both the public and private sectors, some of which are exclusive to us.
As a specialist recruitment agency, it’s our job to connect you with the best career opportunities which best match your skills and requirements.
Who is Spencer Clarke Group?
Since 2017, we've been changing the face of recruitment. From our employees, to the way we do business, to the culture within our office, we're determined to make a difference and create a positive impact on everyone around us.
Recruitment to us isn't just about matching candidates and clients; we’re passionate about finding candidates the perfect job which has the ability to boost their salary and standard of living, better their work life balance and improve their mental health.
Similarly, we understand the impact which an experienced and skilled employee can make to a business and we love seeing clients thrive through the hard work of candidates which we have placed with them.
We operate in two sectors:
In eleven specialisms:
Healthcare, Social Care & Nursing
Corporate Functions & Business Support
Planning, Development & Regeneration
Highways, Infrastructure & Engineering
If you’re searching for a new role, why not visit our job page to take a look at the latest opportunities? Alternatively, upload your CV and one of our experienced consultants will contact you when a relevant opportunity becomes available.
If you’re struggling to fill a role, why don’t you give us a call on 01772 954200 to see how we can help? One of our consultants will be happy to listen to the challenges which you are facing and advise on the best possible solution for you.
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