I will never forget the first time I faced redundancy. Little did I know back then that it would happen to me another three times throughout my career. People keep asking me whether it gets any easier? And to be honest, I’m not sure it does – it’s just different and you know more about the process and what to expect.

The first time I was made redundant I had transported my whole life from Canada to the UK to pursue the career of my dreams, leaving friends and family behind. So imagine my surprise when, within six months of being in my fantastic new role, the Managing Director told me the company was being sold and I was going to be out of a job!

Like so many people who have experienced redundancy, I went into panic mode. Being a new resident in the UK, the tax implications of going back to Canada within two years were extreme. I didn’t really know that many people. I thought I had no network. I was terrified! I knew I needed a new job, or did I? I had negotiated a great redundancy package but sitting back and waiting for the next role was not an option. My immediate thought was where do I start?

Questions started forming in my head: How on earth was I going to find a new role in the UK? What did I have to offer? What skills did I have? How should I present myself to get to the next prospective employer; to grab their attention in a new country with a limited network?!

I figured the best way forward was to focus on my in-depth Canadian sales experience, highlighting marketing successes from a year of extensive training within the European marketplace across the marketing mix where we created everything in-house with limited budget to tight deadlines.

Here are three tips for how I got started:

1. Make a list of potential companies and contacts in your network. This may take a bit of time and research, but it is well worth the effort. Next, start having conversations with these network contacts to find out the low-down on their business and upcoming roles that may be of interest.
2. Document your achievement. These should include the challenges, actions you took and, more importantly, the quantifiable outcomes that demonstrate your transferable skills.
3. Draft a CV or resume. It should be short and sharp that, in marketing speak, creates a ‘pull’ strategy. If done correctly, those people who read your CV will get in touch because you have effectively differentiated yourself from other applicants.

The UK economy is suffering its biggest slump on record as a result of the current pandemic. And it’s no secret that more companies than ever are experiencing financial difficulties and being forced to lower their overheads and re-evaluate their workforce. Unfortunately, that means more people than ever before are experiencing redundancy, whether that’s now or when furlough comes to an end. If you’re impacted by changes to your employment situation then the tips above are a good place to start your job search.