Being made redundant is a difficult and stressful time for those on the receiving end of the decision. During any period of unemployment it is important that you get back to searching and applying for jobs as soon as possible – especially in light of the current situation regarding UK employment.
According to recent figures, just over 2.5million British adults are now out of work, with the Office for National Statistics revealing that the jobless rate currently stands at 8%. The means the job market is oversaturated with candidates, putting job vacancies in high demand but short supply. This means that you have to maximise the chances of your success by ensuring that you’re looking in the right places, managing your applications properly and presenting yourself well in interviews and on your CV.
The job search
When searching for a job, it’s important to have a good idea of exactly what it is you’re looking for, what your strengths as an employee are and what you will bring to a job.
This will give you the foundations you need in order to start building a good work profile. This will come in handy when it comes time to write CVs and covering letters and prepare for interviews.
Target your job search at relevant industries. If you have previous experience in banking and finance then jobs in investment banking might be a good place to start.
Remember to give thought to whether you want to work in the private or public sector and learn the difference between public sector finance jobs and those which operate in the public realm.
The CV
Your CV is one of the most important components in the application process and great time and thought should be taken over writing it. Remember that your CV is much more than simply a chronological list of employment or an autobiography and should be treated as a way of showing how much value you could give to any given business.
For this reason, it is important that you detail your core skills, how you have utilised them in the past and how transferable they are to a new working environment. Make sure that your CV is individually tailored to meet the requirements for each of the positions you apply for in order to give you the best possible chance of succeeding.
It is becoming more and more common in the digital age for employers to look for a good online presence from an applicant. This means your social media pages may be reviewed – so make sure you are sensible with what you post to the public.
The interview
When it comes to your interview, preparation is key. Though you won’t be able to script answers, you can come up with rough guides to answers for common questions. If you’ve researched the company well enough, you should be able to answer most questions in detail and with confidence.
Finally, it’s incredibly important that you keep a positive mental attitude whilst job hunting. Though it is easy to get frustrated by the process of finding work, maintaining a positive approach will ensure that you stay focused and will make you appear confident to employers.
Instead of being deterred by a failed application, use it as a learning tool. You can always ask employers to provide you with tips on how to improve or for reasons why you were unsuccessful and use these answers to adapt your job hunting technique for the next time.
Coping With Redundancies: Job Hunting Advice
