How to recover after a job loss

In an unsteady job market, losing your job is unfortunately a common hurdle many people have to face at some point in their careers. From tips on how to spruce up your CV to self-care, Gideon Schulman, CEO at Pytronot, HR specialists, talks us through some of his top tips on how to bounce back from a job loss.

Revisit your CV
Your CV should reflect your best attributes and if these have changed in the months or years you were at your previous job then they should be front and centre on your CV. Have you had a promotion since being with the company? Won an award or done something you are particularly proud of? They should feature on your CV.

Anything that will make you stand out from the other candidates in an interview. Make sure to update your personal details too – the last thing you want to do is have a prospective employer call an old mobile number.

Decide what you want to be doing next – could this be time for a career change?
Losing a job can feel like the end of the world but it could be turned into a positive move. Is this the push you needed to pursue your dream job? If your ideal career is not in your current field, this is your chance to gain experience and tailor your CV to fit your new aspirations. Work experience is a great way to get your name out there while keeping busy, plus there’s always the chance they will offer you a job at the end of it.

“Losing a job can feel like the end of the world but it could be turned into a positive move. Is this the push you needed to pursue your dream job?”

Use your contacts
They say it’s not what you know, it’s who you know and, in some cases, this is correct and it’s extremely useful. If you know someone doing a job you would love to try, contact them. They will likely have a wide network of colleagues who will know of any jobs or experience going and can recommend you.

Practice your interview skills
Set up a mock interview with someone you know. The more practice you can get before experiencing an interview for a job you really want, the better. You’ll be more confident in the real thing and having a backlog of possible interview answers is invaluable. Before an interview always do your research on the company, it helps to know an interesting fact that other applicants might not mention to make you stand out.

Stay positive
It can be easy to fall into the trap of feeling angry, disappointed and worried for the future. But give yourself some time to bounce back, taking a short break can help you to recover from the setback. Look to the future rather than the past and take some time to work out your next move – taking the first job you can might not be the best move. Make sure the next role you choose is right for you to avoid job hopping.