Made Redundant? How do I know what skills I have?

Have you been made redundant? Are you asking yourself, 'How do I know what skills I have and what kind of employee I should be?'? Looking for a job can be difficult. However, being able to describe and demonstrate your skills on paper will give employees more information about what you can do. Research helps to identify your potential skills and what is a good fit for you. And lucky for you, we're here to explain everything!

Some common threads of redundancy in the industry include:

• I've been eliminated by competition
• I'm University/College but I don't really know what to do with my life now
• I have been made redundant and now I need to make some money to provide for my family
• After being made redundant I don't have any income

These and other similar responses are not uncommon. But how do I know what skills I have? What skills will help me find a new opportunity? Okay, I hear you. During an interview, you will be asked to identify your strengths and encourage you to put those strengths to good use in gaining future employment. So, it's time for you to find out what makes you an attractive candidate!

Being made redundant means rediscovery

Considering an Internship and what will I get out of it?

From the first time you land the internship, you'll have an honest idea of what makes the company a unique place to work. You get the chance to see how the employer treats its employees and what the company culture is like too. Moreover, when you come to a new environment you love it or it really sinks in and changes your life forever - a new employer should be with you every step of the way.

Made redundant? Ask yourself why

So, when deciding on the skills required to retrain after facing redundancy, be honest with yourself before embarking on a new career. Ask yourself some tough questions, like:

• How do I feel about my job?
• How do I know what I'm capable of?
• Am I satisfied with my employment history?
• What can I write about my job experiences?
• Why am I so stressed about my future job?
• Is there a difference between my hobbies and my real job?
• What am I really supposed to do in life?
• Can I still be employed?
• What should be my next step?

If you've recently been made redundant, you're probably a bit unsure of the likelihood of future interview opportunities and future employment prospects. Moreover, many ultimately don’t fight for a new career. Don’t fall into that trap. And just because the way we work has been disrupted, it doesn’t mean that you cannot adapt.

Considering becoming a freelancer or self-employed?

If you're a freelancer, the question is pretty simple: "What have you done that hasn't worked yet?" Start by thinking through how you can be more productive. Utilise your time more effectively. Moreover, look to other people or your own experience for clues. Yes, even if you don't have all the answers.

"Why did you come up with this idea and when did you figure out that it wasn't going to work?" Also, consider what you can do better next time. As for your career goals, realise your limitations and then ask yourself how you can combine what you already know and what you're good at into your job.

Your basic knowledge and interest in the subject are most important. So, start there and then use these tools to study to delve deeper and master the subject :

• Google
• Youtube
• E-books
• Wiki
• Usergroups

If it's IT, learn to code and become fluent in multiple programming languages with time. Is it cooking? Well, you'll find thousands of blogs and videos teaching to create the perfect dish. Whatever it is, you can find plenty of guides, books, tutorials, etc. on the Internet. That's the beauty of the 21st century!

Meaning of "disruptive changes"

While the word "inconsistent" may be a useful shorthand for the wholesale organisation of work, it seems it also implies that those changes are causing a "disruption" and are simply not easy to adapt to. While there are certain skills and adaptability issues here, with the correct research and application, you can land that new job following redundancy. Be persistent, do your research and make the most of your existing skills and passions for your chosen career sector.

Were you made redundant? Don't worry, XpressJobs currently has tens of thousands of jobs available across several industry sectors. So if you are considering looking, then grab that dream new job today! Good luck and happy job searching.