If you’ve been made redundant or you’re between jobs, seeing 80 or more applications on a vacancy can be pretty demoralising.
But good redundancy support should help you look beyond the headline number. In a competitive job market, the answer isn’t always to send more applications — it’s to be more focused about the ones you do send.
As a recruiter, I’m seeing more people apply for almost everything. A role can attract a large volume of applications and still have very few candidates who are genuinely right for it.
That matters, because the answer isn’t necessarily to send more applications.
It’s to be much more deliberate about the ones you do send.
If you see a role where you’re genuinely a strong fit, treat it differently. Research the company properly. Find out who the hiring manager is. Look at who you know in the business, or who might be able to introduce you.
In other words, do some detective work.
And then think about how you can make yourself more visible. That might mean contacting the hiring manager directly, recording a short Loom video explaining why the role caught your attention, or reaching out to someone senior in the business.
The point isn’t to be gimmicky. It’s to show that you’ve taken the time to understand the role and that you genuinely want it.
This is particularly important during a redundancy or career transition, when confidence can take a hit and it’s easy to fall into the habit of applying through job boards and waiting.
A more targeted approach can change the quality of the conversations you’re having.
So if you’re looking for your next role, don’t measure progress by the number of applications you send.
Find the roles where you’re a strong fit, research them properly and go after them with intent.
How Outplacement Support Can Help After Redundancy
Good outplacement and redundancy support should help people focus on the right opportunities, present themselves clearly and take action that gives them a better chance of being noticed.
