In recent weeks, I have noticed a significant rise in the number of candidates I am speaking to within the Digital market who have recently been made redundant from their roles…
While different companies will have different reasons for making redundancies, there are a number of more common reasons being cited which are cropping up again and again, as well as wider market impacts that are likely to be driving companies to these decisions.
Why are we seeing a spike in redundancies in Digital?
In particular, the heightened demand that we have been seeing of late for skillsets within AI, automation, and specific data projects has meant a change in priorities for employers, which has the knock-on effect of a change in the skillsets they need to either retain or hire.
Generally speaking, if you have a niche specialism, you are more likely to either be kept on or find a new role with ease following redundancy. Whereas, if you are a jack of all trades, particularly within software development, you are unfortunately far more at risk of redundancy.
In certain areas, the amount of work available has decreased, as transformation projects undertaken during and post-COVID have now been completed. Equally, as other business costs have risen, the agency budget for development projects is generally being cut early on, although many in-house teams seem to have been affected too. Some digital teams seem to be considered as a cost rather than a value to companies, which is disappointing to see; particularly within businesses who aren’t specifically focussed on tech as their primary industry.
As many business types move to start considering digital a key pillar to their business processes, there are early signs that internal roles may be on the increase, although this is contributing negatively to agency-side teams.
What can I do?
With all of this being said, although redundancy can be a highly stressful and turbulent period, there are always opportunities available. Over the last 16 years, our team has successfully assisted in supporting professionals to find new roles regardless of the state of the market, operating through multiple types of recession, including the 2008 financial crash and the pandemic.
Our Digital team has put together this guide to advise you of the next steps post-redundancy, and how we can help you find an even better-suited and exciting opportunity to step into.
1. Breath, pause, and reassess your situation and priorities
Whilst redundancy might seem like a door closing, it can actually be another one opening. View this as an opportunity to assess all the options that are available to you. The jobs market has changed significantly over the last 3 years, so if you haven’t moved jobs for a while, you may be surprised by what is out there. This could be the perfect time to take your career in a new direction and find a position that is even better suited to you than your last.
2. Get the support you need
In such a critical period, it’s essential to get the support you need from a specialist digital consultant who can help you make an informed decision. Their position within the market means they are privy to a wealth of information about the current hiring market, and they will be able to share salary insights, information specific to your local area, and work with you to decide what is most important to you in your next move, whether that’s job security, salary, the type of business, or the time scale. As a specialist within your remit, they will understand the specifics of your role, location, and specialist niche.
3. CV & Profile building
If you need advice on updating your CV, we can assist in bringing it in line with the current market and skills landscape. Or, if you don’t have a CV, we can build a profile on your behalf and use this to market you and your skillset.
A lot of hiring managers want substance on CVs around what you’ve done in that role, achievements, projects completed, and where you’ve used your relevant skills. Be as specific as possible, being vague won’t secure you an interview. Some candidates I speak to have fantastic skills and experience that really qualify them for roles, but their CV isn’t an accurate representation of this at all. Admittedly, there can be stumbling blocks, such as NDAs that won’t allow them to share specific details of their work; but outlining your experience as much as you can definitely helps to give prospective new employers the detail they need to assess whether you would be a good fit.
Going into an extra level of detail not just about the types of tech and tools you have used in past roles, but also showing the range of projects and their outcomes is key for standing out in a competitive candidate market.
4. Focus your process
Save time by streamlining your job search: when you work with a specialist Heat Digital recruiter, we will be here to support and advise you throughout the application process and ensure your job search remains focused. The alternative of online applications will mean you spending time wading through options and often receiving no feedback at all, whereas we can target your search and put you forward for the best opportunities. Due to our existing relationships with contacts and hiring managers, we are able to send you to our existing clients, even if they don’t have open positions being advertised. Moreover, if you have been part of a mass redundancy, we will help you to stand out from the crowd.
Our established relationships with clients who are pioneers within the digital space will help us to match you with employers, saving you time and allowing you to focus on the interview process instead. Equally, when it comes to interview preparation, we are able to advise on the specifics that firms are looking for and give you the insights you need to help you prepare appropriately.
5. Securing the best deal
Once you have secured a job offer, we will continue to support you by negotiating the best possible offer. Salary negotiation can be difficult in ordinary circumstances, but in the case of redundancy, this can become even more complex. The bottom line is that you will want to walk out of your current role with job security, the best possible salary, and the confidence that you won’t have to go through the process again any time soon.