A reminder for those who find themselves unexpectedly out of work:

1/ Your role was made redundant, not you. It's not a reflection of who you are or your achievements

2/ Take a moment to figure out what the right next move is

3/ Be focused, accountable and proactive

4/ Find solidarity with other people in the same situation: a burden shared is a burden halved

5/ Understand your employment market by talking to peers, industry figures and recruiters in your area

6/ Use this insight to inform how you look for work, rather than relying on generic LinkedIn posts or other media

7/ Sometimes the market is the main reason you aren’t getting a job, not you

8/ Only take advice from people who can show insight into your situation

9/ Focus on what you can control, the steps you take, not the outcome

10/ If applying at high volume, keep track of whom you are applying to and when. When a recruiter hears "Sorry which role was this again?" it may work against you.

11/ Don't compare your efforts to the success of other job seekers

12/ Do celebrate wins, no matter how small

13/ Eliminate negative self-talk - don't define yourself by the wrong narrative

14/ Ask ex-colleagues what your strengths are. This is a better reflection of your capability than your situation.

15/ Make your CV good enough, not perfect. “ask 10 people for advice on a CV, and you'll have 11 CVs”

16/ Use your business skills. Everyone has different strengths. Work to yours

17/ Improve your odds at interview through suitable and sufficient preparation

18/ Bookend your job search day with exercise, meditation or other, so it doesn't bleed into the rest of your life

19/ Make sure your search is sustainable. It may prove a marathon, not a sprint

20/ Look after yourself

21/ Ask your friends and peers for help if you need it


Click on and follow #JobseekerBasics for advice on looking for work in the UK.

If you have any questions, I'll do my best to help: greg.wyatt@bwrecruitment.co.uk