If you (or partner/relative) were made redundant from high paid job - how long to get another?

[Sizzlysausage]

Hi all. My DH was made redundant over the summer. He was fairly senior and well paid (c.£150K). So he/we are/were very lucky. He has had quite a few interviews since then but no job and plenty of rejections. The common theme seems to be too senior for what he is going for. But when he has gone for more senior jobs, he hasn't even got an interview. Has anyone else had similar? How long did it take to get a new job? I'm worried about money obviously but also his mental health. He's 50, if that's relevant. Thanks!

I found out I was getting laid off on September 30th, last day was November 1st, new job starts on December 9th. It's a lateral move with slightly more money.

Less well paid than your DH but Head of Dept.

Last day of my previous job was 6th August. I started looking on Sept 1st, signed a new contract on 7th October, started October 21st.

For my industry at least, there is a definite skills shortage.

@Sizzlysausage

my friend 50's white male senior executive 18months and on lower salary.

no one wants over 50's males in senior positions anymore unless a very specific sector so to say.

I'd already been interviewing prior to redundancy so got a new job straight away, with a payrise. Has your DH been offered any outplacement services? Which sector/area, we might be able to offer some tips?

I’m sorry to say experience of my male friends made redundant at similar ages was not positive. Many ended up contracting. Those who got jobs it was through their network - working for people who know them and have hired them specifically.

DH is same age, similar salary. Trying to move sideways and struggling. I suspect age is an issue though I haven’t said it! Obviously depends on sector but there do seem to be a lot of people applying for the jobs he’s going for, seems to be more movement than one might generally expect at that level, which increases competition for jobs.

Friends DP similar age. Over 6 months no work. Ended up contracting. Wasn’t able to get a permanent job and savings had run out

Nowhere near your husbands salary level, but I've been made redundant twice. First time it took about 4 months to find another perm role (I freelanced in the gap), second time I got lucky and walked straight into a new job.

I do think it's harder the more senior you are because there are less roles. I've got friends who have taken almost a year to find the right thing.

Similar level of experience here. I'd say if not already he needs to not just apply for jobs but tap up every headhunter he can find on Linkedin.

Executive search agencies will so the keg work for him and find good opportunities not freely advertised. They're also working for the commission so they will prep a candidate and amend an application to suit the specific business that they know.

Significantly increases the chance of success.

Good luck.

What package is he on and what support did the company give him with CV writing, career coaching etc
When it happened to DH, we decided 3 months for the perfect job, another 3 months for a related job after which it would be anything which fitted around childcare/my job as I'd have to increase my hours to partly make up the shortfall in income,
He picked up some consultancy work in month 4. The initial 6 months was extended to 12 months during which a colleague moved role and then recruited DH. Consultancy can open doors and has the advantage of the increased rates when you're doing it - although I don't think DH or I managed the associated uncertainty that well as it was our first experience of self employment

Hmmm. This is slightly terrifying. I think also his age is not helping. He’s about to exhaust his networks. He is getting interviews at least …. 50 seems so young really to be effectively retired.

Consultancy may be the way to go in the short term...keep his CV refreshed, keep spirits up and produce some money.

Yes - I’m not sure he knows how to get into consultancy. He has tried a couple of options but they haven’t come through.

Consultancy often comes from previous contacts...people you have worked with before who may have projects....dont want or need an employee.

Also what about non exec positions? Worth looking at...

Hopefully he is all over linked in and puts himself as open to work.

What field of work is he in? May help to explore if consultancy will be feasible.

When was he last looking for work? If he's been in his current role for a while, the whole world of recruitment might have changed.
Where is he actually looking for roles? Is he working with recruitment agents? Has anyone taken a look at his LinkedIn profile and does he know how to use LinkedIn properly?
In the meantime, what is he doing to keep his knowledge current? Are there any soft skills he can improve or ancillary courses he can do.

He will be able to find work, so he won't be retiring unless he chooses to. He might not be able to find work at his previous level and those are different things. There has to be time limits as previous poster suggested, before he broadens the search.

Would he be open to taking a step down with associated reduction in pay? Maybe he could make it sound like this is a deliberate action to the people hiring for the jobs that he is currently getting interviews for - explain it as he is ready to take a step back now he’s getting a bit older

BF does contract work and hasn’t had anything for a year now. He’s looking for permanent roles too but the only one that looked half promising they said he was over qualified for and couldn’t meet his salary expectations.

My DH wasn't a high earner like that, but high in his specific field. When he was made redundant he took a job abroad for about 2 years whilst he found the right job in the uk.

Dp lost his job this year too. He's not found anything else either. He's also in his 50s. He has had loads of interviews and in almost all of the ones where it's got down to the last two, they've chosen the younger candidate. In fact, in one where he asked for some direct feedback, they actually told him (but not using these exact words obviously to avoid being sued) that they would rather have a younger person in the role.

My ex husband's dad lost his job in his 50s and never worked again. I think it's incredibly hard to find another job at this age.

Could he try the civil service? Age really won’t be an issue.

11 months it's taken my husband..

Gosh, I'm sorry for everyone this has happened to as well. @SleekWhisky is your husband still looking? Or has he found something now?

Is it ageism?