What to do in the first two weeks after redundancy in Australia

Being made redundant is genuinely hard. Even when you know it's not personal - and it isn't - it can feel deeply personal. One day you have a job, a routine, an identity tied to where you go every morning. The next day you don't.

I've worked with hundreds of candidates who've been through this. What I've learned is that what you do in the first two weeks matters enormously - not just practically, but for your confidence and momentum.

Here's what I'd recommend.

Week one: give yourself a minute

I mean this genuinely. Don't send a single application in week one. Don't update your LinkedIn. Don't tell everyone you're looking.

Take a few days to process what happened. Talk to people you trust. Be honest about how you're feeling rather than immediately going into "productive mode" to avoid it.

The job search will go better if you start it from a grounded place rather than a panicked one. A few days won't cost you anything.

Get the admin sorted

Once you're ready, there are some practical things to handle. Make sure you understand your redundancy entitlements - what you're owed in pay, leave, and notice. If anything is unclear, Services Australia (servicesaustralia.gov.au) has guidance on your rights, and Fair Work Australia can help if you have questions about whether the process was handled correctly.

Register for Centrelink if you need to, even if you're not sure you'll use it. There's no shame in it and no cost to registering.

Week two: start getting ready, not applying

The difference matters. Getting ready means:

Updating your resume so it's current, clean, and speaks to what you've achieved - not just what you were responsible for.

Refreshing your LinkedIn profile so it reflects where you are and where you want to go. (More on this below.)

Making a list of the people in your network you want to reconnect with - not to ask for a job, just to let them know you're moving on and exploring what's next.

Identifying 10-15 companies you'd genuinely like to work for, regardless of whether they currently have roles advertised.

Be thoughtful about how you talk about the redundancy

You will be asked about it. In applications, in conversations, in interviews. Have a simple, honest, non-bitter sentence ready.

Something like: "My role was made redundant as part of a broader restructure. It was disappointing but I understood the business context, and I'm genuinely excited about what comes next."

That's it. Don't over-explain. Don't criticise the company. Don't make it the centrepiece of your story. Acknowledge it simply and move forward.

Tell people, but tell them the right way

A LinkedIn post or a message to your network saying you're "open to opportunities" is fine, but it's passive. What works better is reaching out directly to specific people — former colleagues, managers, clients — with a personal message.

Something like: "Hi [name], hope you're well. My role at [company] was recently made redundant and I'm starting to think about what's next. I'd love to catch up and hear what you're seeing in the market." That's it. No ask. Just a conversation.

Most people want to help. They just need an opening.

One thing I wish more people knew

The best roles I've placed candidates in after redundancy were almost never the first ones they applied for. The first applications often come from panic and urgency - roles that aren't quite right, applications that aren't quite ready.

Take the time to get ready properly. The search will be shorter and the outcome better.

Career Kit has a dedicated section on navigating the job search after a career interruption - including exactly how to talk about redundancy in interviews and how to present yourself with confidence when you're feeling anything but. Available at careerkit.com.au.