Writing a CV after redundancy means setting out your experience and competences clearly and results driven, focused on the role you are looking for. You do not have to explain the redundancy itself on your CV; above all, show what you have to offer.
After dismissal, writing a CV can feel like a hurdle. Perhaps you have not applied for years, or you doubt whether your experience is still relevant. Yet your CV is your most important calling card right now. A well written CV opens doors, while a messy overview costs opportunities. In this article you read how to build a strong CV after redundancy, which competences to highlight and which common mistakes you had better avoid.
Writing a strong CV after redundancy
A strong CV is not just a list of jobs, but a convincing story about what you can do. Start with a short, powerful profile text at the top: two or three sentences in which you tell who you are, what your expertise is and what you are looking for. That way a recruiter knows within seconds why you are interesting.
List your work experience in reverse chronological order, with your most recent role at the top. For each role, describe not only your tasks but above all your results. Instead of “responsible for customer contact” you write, for example, “raised customer satisfaction from 7.2 to 8.5 in one year”. Concrete figures make an impression and make your value tangible.
Important: you do not have to put the reason for your departure on your CV. Whether it concerned a reorganisation or a situation in which your role was made redundant, you explain that at most in the interview or in your cover letter. Your CV is meant to show your strengths, not to account for your departure. You may readily describe a gap in your career as a period of orientation or development. Keep the design calm and professional: a clear layout, enough white space and a consistent font make your CV pleasant to read. Good interview training also helps you align your documents and your story.
Which competences do you put on your CV?
Employers have long since stopped looking only at diplomas and job titles. Above all, they look for competences: the skills and qualities with which you make the difference. Cleverly naming your competences on your CV considerably increases your chance of an invitation.
Distinguish between two kinds of competences:
- Professional competences are concrete, measurable skills, such as project management, bookkeeping, programming or operating specific machines or software.
- Personal competences are about how you work and cooperate, such as teamwork, problem solving ability, customer focus and resilience under stress.
Choose competences that match the vacancy and support them with examples from your experience. So do not just write “good communicator”, but show it: “as team lead, gave weekly presentations to the board”. That way your competences become credible instead of hollow words. Think of skills you gained outside your work too, for example through volunteering or a board role; those count just as much. Not sure which competences suit you? An outplacement process often starts with exactly that inventory, so that you get a clear picture of what you have to offer and which direction suits you best.
Common mistakes when writing a CV after redundancy
When writing a CV after redundancy, people often fall into the same traps. The most common mistakes are:
- Too long and too full. A CV of more than two pages puts people off. Choose relevance over completeness.
- Focus on tasks instead of results. Recruiters want to see what you achieved, not only what you were supposed to do.
- Explaining the redundancy on the CV. This does not belong on your CV and draws unnecessary attention.
- A standard CV for every vacancy. Always adapt your CV to the specific role and use words from the vacancy text.
- Sloppy design and language errors. A well kept, easily readable CV radiates professionalism.
In addition, avoid vagueness. Terms such as “hard worker” or “team player” say little without support. Every line on your CV should add something to the picture you sketch of yourself. Do not forget that your CV and your interview form a whole: what you promise on paper you must be able to deliver in the conversation. So prepare in parallel for the job interview, so that you can bring your CV to life with concrete examples.
Help with your CV after redundancy
Writing a CV after redundancy is something you do not have to do alone. Precisely because you are often too close to your own story, a fresh, expert view is valuable. A career coach helps you translate your experience into convincing text and name the right competences.
At Care4Careers, guidance with your CV falls under the Networking and Applying module, one of the modules you can deploy to fit your needs within an outplacement process. Together we map out your qualities, sharpen your CV and make sure you enter the job market with a strong profile. We stand beside you with your cover letter, LinkedIn profile and job interviews too. Get in touch for a no obligation advice meeting and discover how we help you apply with confidence again after your redundancy.