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5 Crucial Things To Do if You’ve Lost Your Job
22 May, 20251 - 2 minutes
In this blog, you will learn:
- 5 things to do if you’ve lost your job.
- Where the latest jobs are and how to apply for them.
If you’ve lost your job or been made redundant, it can be a stressful, difficult and emotional situation and not knowing what the future might hold can be overwhelming.
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.
5 things to do if you’ve lost your job
In our latest blog, we uncover 5 things to do if you’ve lost your job, including:
- Don’t dwell on it.
- Organise your finances.
- Prepare to discuss your story.
- Create a CV that wows.
- Start searching for a new job straight away.
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.
Dwelling on the situation might lead to increased stress levels at an already overwhelming time and prevent you from being able to move forward. The longer you leave your job search, the more difficult it may become to motivate yourself.
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.
Put a positive spin on your situation and use it to learn and focus on exciting new opportunities.
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 so that you know where to begin.
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. Whilst you might not want to cut back in these areas, in the long run it will be for the best, especially if your search for a new job takes longer than you expect.
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.
You should never be embarrassed to ask for help, whether it is from a professional source or family and friends. A supportive network is of utmost importance and can make what might feel like a negative situation, much more manageable.
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 and there is no reason not to approach employment gaps on your CV.
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 and you wouldn’t want to risk a hiring manager knowing the people you are speaking negatively about.
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!
Demonstrate to a hiring manager how the experience has helped to shape you as a person and how it has enhanced key skills such as proactiveness and strong initiative.
Create a CV that wows
In a tough job market, you must sell yourself on your CV 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 uploading 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
If you have found yourself unemployed, we suggest working off the following 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.
Searching for a new job?
If you’re searching for a new and exciting career opportunity, why not check out the latest jobs available or upload your CV and be contacted when a suitable vacancy arises.
Struggling to recruit?
Recruiting throughout the UK, across eleven different specialisms, we support local authorities, public sector organisations and private companies with their recruitment needs.
If you’re struggling to recruit top talent, why not take a look at everything we offer or submit a vacancy to get the ball rolling today!
Who is Spencer Clarke Group?
Established in 2017, we’re an award winning and progressive recruitment agency based in the heart of the North West. Our reputation is built on trust, expertise and an unwavering commitment to exceed expectations.
In 2024, we were named Recruitment Agency of the Year at the prestigious Recruiter Awards, an accolade we are extremely proud of.
We operate in two sectors:
In eleven specialisms:
Healthcare, Social Care & Nursing
Corporate Functions & Business Support
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