Don’t let a redundancy mar your chances of finding work again. Find out how to spin it into a selling point.

The pain of a redundancy drags on, leeching even into the exciting opportunity of a potential new job. How do you sell yourself at application stage and in interview when your last employer let you go? This guide explains all.

Redundancy is no longer a dirty word – so be honest

No one needs reminding that there was a recession not so long ago. “Everybody knows somebody who’s been made redundant,” sighs John Dunn, marketing director of Randstad Staffing and a chair of the Recruitment and Employment Federation.

“Redundancy is no longer a dirty word - it’s perfectly acceptable.” Dunn stresses that, on your CV, you must be honest about when and why periods of work ended. “Gaps make me suspicious: why haven’t they told me if they’re out of work? Put a line in to explain.”

Get off your backside and make yourself more attractive

“People need to put as positive a spin on redundancy as possible,” Dunn says. “If there has been a gap, show that you’ve used that gap well and have not just sat at home watching daytime TV. Redundancy can actually be a very positive thing if it’s used constructively.”

Dunn recommends taking courses to make yourself more attractive to employers. Social media, project management, IT, soft skills such as communication – whatever will work best for you and your target role. “Even online courses are fine, as they show you’re flexible.”

Dunn adds: “Frankly, if you’ve been made redundant you might not feel like it. But it could make all the difference if you’ve showed some positive attitude and initiative when otherwise redundancy might have been damaging and negative.”

Courses aren’t the only option. Charity or community work can be a selling point, if you engage with it at a level that adds to your skillset. “It’s important to say: ‘My voluntary work improved my people management skills and helped me get on top of this new software’,” Dunn explains.

Setting up a small business will make your CV more exciting too. Dunn gives an example: “You wanted to experiment with online sales, so you’ve been running your own business selling birthday cards. You can then lead people to your website on your CV or application.”

David Clubb, managing director of Office Angels, says you can also exploit your redundancy if you’ve been eyeing up a different career. “We see a lot of people temping to try out a change in direction.

“You can then tell [the recruiter] you’ve used that opportunity to take stock: ‘I think the next five years of my career are important, and I’ve made a choice. I now know I want to come to your company’.”

Explaining redundancy in an interview

At interview stage, you have greater opportunity to explain why you were made redundant and to put a positive spin on things. You will inevitably be asked about it, so rehearse your answers. Clubb says: “Always bring your reasons back to why it’s a great opportunity to get into this company.”

Ultimately, your interviewer knows redundancy is one of the most adverse career circumstances to overcome. If you can prove your strength of character and determinedness by pushing yourself to turn it into something positive, you will impress.

Reproduced with kind permission from 'London loves Jobs'.

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