Should you say you've been made redundant?
Asked by: Camylle Wilkinson | Last update: September 8, 2025Score: 5/5 (30 votes)
You should feel comfortable openly discussing your redundancy during a job interview with a recruiter or potential employer.
Is it okay to say you were made redundant?
Yes, nothing wrong with the person if the role was made redundant. Sometimes whole departments are made redundant.
Can I tell people I've been made redundant?
Yes tell them. It's possible they may be pleased you can start earlier. I got made redundant last year and my new employer was just happy to have me on board.
How do you say you've been made redundant?
Space on a cover letter is limited and you want the main focus to be what you can offer so just a brief explanation will do. For example, “My most recent employer was forced to make budget cuts and I was made redundant in the restructure. However, I am now eager to bring my skills and experience to a new role.”
Do I have to disclose that I was made redundant?
In summary, you do not have to keep your redundancy confidential unless you sign a settlement agreement or another document with a confidentiality clause.
How to Talk About Being Made Redundant in a Job Interview
Does redundancy affect future employment?
Knowing how to bounce back after being made redundant can be a real character-defining experience. True, it's emotionally draining, but it doesn't have to affect your chances in the job market. That's why it's so important not to let yourself get defeated.
Do you have to disclose all previous employment?
It's not illegal to fail to disclose a job, but once someone has been hired, it could become a disciplinary matter, which will probably end with termination. In the worst case, for high-level positions, one may even face legal action for misleading a company.
Does being made redundant look bad on a CV?
FOCUS ON THE POSITIVE
Look again at the job description of the role you're applying for and draw out the responsibilities, experiences and achievements from your last role that demonstrate your capability for the next one. It may be that you can even use your redundancy as a positive.
How do you announce someone has been made redundant?
Stay neutral and remain professional but be compassionate and respectful of how difficult it may be for them. Allow them time to process the information and express their feelings then move on to practical issues. Avoid trying to reassure them with statements like “You'll find another job easily.”
Should you say you've been made redundant in a cover letter?
Explaining your redundancy
Mention it when writing out your CV and cover letter and make sure you include any relevant information such as your start and end dates as well as the reason behind why you were made redundant (e.g., downsizing, budget cuts, economic impacts of COVID-19).
What to say when being made redundant?
State the reason why the redundancy occurred, share your successes in the role before your redundancy, then make a more positive comment on the opportunity it created for you and how you believe you could add value in this particular role.
What would my redundancy pay be?
1 and a half week's pay for each full year they were aged 41 years or older. 1 week's pay for each full year they were aged 22 or older, but aged under 41. half a week's pay for each full year they were aged under 22.
Can I go off sick during a redundancy consultation?
On the subject of sick leave, the general rule is that sick leave should not cause a redundancy process to be paused or delayed, especially if it is a redundancy process involving several people and/or there is an urgent need for the organisation to complete its restructure.
Can you tell people you have been made redundant?
There is no legal obligation upon you to keep your redundancy secret, it is just something that your employer has asked you to do. Of course, if you are definitely being made redundant then it does not matter if you talk about it – the worst that could happen is that you could be dismissed.
Is redundancy a red flag?
If you've been made redundant you may be concerned that this may put off future employers. However, if you've been made redundant in your career, you shouldn't be afraid to talk about this experience, both on your resume, and in any future job interviews.
Is being made redundant the same as being fired?
What is redundancy? Redundancy happens when your job disappears. It's not the same as being dismissed from your job for other reasons. When you're made redundant, you've done nothing wrong and no one is questioning your ability to do your job.
What are the 5 stages of redundancy?
- Stage 1: Preparation. ...
- Stage 2: Selection. ...
- Stage 3: Individual Consultation. ...
- Stage 4: Notice of Redundancy and Appeals. ...
- Stage 5: The Termination Process.
Is being made redundant traumatic?
Whether expected or sudden, redundancy can cause huge uncertainty, stress and anxiety, and can make existing mental health problems worse.
Can you make someone redundant and then re employ them?
Firstly, there are no restrictions on re-employing somebody who's been made redundant – in accordance with a legally compliant redundancy process. There should be no issues with re-employing your former employee, provided a genuine redundancy situation existed when they were let go.
Can jobs tell if you lie on resume?
Background checks.
It's very easy for a hiring manager to contact your former employers and educational institutions to verify what's on your resume. And even if employers somehow miss false or misleading information before an applicant is hired, the job seeker isn't really ever off the hook.
Is being made redundant a bad thing?
You shouldn't feel at all ashamed or embarrassed about being made redundant or worry over how it might impact your future career. Having said this, you will inevitably need to address the redundancy during your job search. Here's some guidance on how to handle it professionally and positively.
What is the most common CV mistake?
The most common mistakes you should look out for are spelling mistakes, wrong sentence structure, typos, punctuation errors, and bad grammar.
Can future employers see if I was fired?
The Hard Truth: Yep, It Goes on Your Record
Most companies will at least note the fact that you were terminated, even if they're light on specifics. Oftentimes, when a new employer checks your references, all they can check is your dates of employment and whether of not you're “eligible for rehire”.
What is a red flag on a background check?
A red flag in a background check is anything alarming or concerning about a person's past. This could be a history of breaking the law, lying about work experience or education, or other serious issues. However, not all red flags are the same. Some might be small and not that serious, depending on the job.
How far back do employers check work history?
Four Different States, Four Different Rules: Thyberg Law states that the state of California limits employer background checks to the past seven years.