How To Handle Redundancy When Applying For Your Next Job

By Lilian Wamaitha
“Six months ago, I had the best job anyone could ever ask for. At least I thought so until new management took over and I was among 12o people who ended up losing their jobs. It was humiliating considering I had given my all to that company for five years only for it to fall apart in just a few weeks.
There I was, jobless and with no idea where to start. But life happens and I had to accept that before it drowned me. I had to find another job whatever the cause but how do you explain to an employer that you were laid off without ruining your chances of getting the job?” reads an email from Jacob.
Through no fault of your own at some point in your career, you may find yourself being declared redundant.
Economy, mergers, loss of business, new management and even technology are some of the things that may lead to you losing your source of livelihood.
While losing your job is stressful, being made redundant no longer carries the same kind of stigma it used to a few decades ago. Left and right companies are laying off people and this shouldn’t be the end of your career.
You can still go on and advance in your career. But like Jacob, I am sure the question on your mind is how do you go about looking for a job with a redundancy hanging over your head everywhere you go?
How to explain redundancy in your CV
When you are drafting your CV, the best thing you can do for yourself is being honest. Employers know that redundancies happen and there is no use hiding it. There is no way you could have had control over what was to happen.
So if your job was among those downsized, you don’t have to pretend otherwise. Include the end date of your contract and just a simple explanation like “position made redundant due to loss of business or merger”.
No employer will hold it against you for being declared redundant.
If your redundancy was part of a larger downsizing, you could explain this on your CV by a statement like; “redundancy due to divisional closure”.
Explaining redundancy in an interview
If you get past the application stage to an interview, be assured that the redundancy will come up one way or another.
Again just like in your CV don’t try to hide it. Mention the reason trying as much as possible not to come out bitter or angry.
Instead, focus on the skills that you were able to pick up in your last job and how they translate to the job you are interviewing for.
A lot of people will face redundancy at one point in their careers. However, those who understand that these things happen have found way of turning the unfortunate situation around and building a successful career despite losing their jobs. You too can have that.