Redundancy is common, and it says nothing about your ability. Companies restructure, budgets get cut, whole departments disappear — none of that is a verdict on your performance. The task now is practical: update your CV so it presents your experience clearly, and stop treating the redundancy itself as something you need to explain on paper.
You don't need to mention it on the CV
A CV records what you did, not why you left. List your job title, employer and dates as normal. There's no line for "reason for leaving" on a well-built UK CV, and adding one only draws attention to something that doesn't need explaining at this stage. If it comes up, it's a conversation for the interview — not content for the page.
The exception is if a very brief note genuinely helps the reader make sense of a gap, for example where an entire team or site closed and it's useful context. Even then, keep it to a short, neutral phrase rather than a paragraph. Most of the time, it isn't necessary at all.
Lead with your most recent impact
Whatever the circumstances of leaving, your most recent role is still your strongest material. Rewrite it with the same discipline you'd apply to any CV: outcomes over duties, numbers where you have them, and the parts of the job that map onto where you want to go next. Don't let the ending of the role diminish how you describe the work itself.
Keep the dates honest
Use month and year for your most recent roles, and don't round or fudge an end date to disguise a gap. Recruiters see redundancy dates constantly, especially after larger restructures, and an honest timeline reads as more credible than one that looks smoothed over. If you're unsure of exact dates, check your P45 or old payslips rather than guessing.
Handling a short gap since leaving
A gap of a few months between your last role and now rarely needs comment — it's an entirely normal part of a job search. If you've used the time productively (a course, freelance work, volunteering, caring responsibilities), a single line under your most recent entry or in your summary can cover it. If the gap is longer, our guide to explaining a career gap goes into more detail on how to frame it well.
Refresh your summary for the next move
This is a good moment to rewrite your personal statement rather than reuse an old one built for a different search. Focus it on what you're looking for next and the strengths you bring, not on the circumstances that got you here. A tight, forward-looking opening does more for you than any explanation of the redundancy ever would. See our guide on writing a personal statement for examples.
Widen your options with transferable skills
Redundancy sometimes means looking slightly outside your previous job title, whether by industry, sector or seniority. If you're broadening your search, be precise about which of your skills genuinely transfer and how — vague claims read as padding. Our piece on framing transferable skills covers how to do this credibly.
Common questions
Should I put redundancy on my CV?
Usually not. Your CV should state the dates and the role, not the reason you left. Redundancy is worth explaining at interview if it comes up, but the CV itself doesn't need to carry that context.
How do I explain a redundancy in an interview?
State it plainly and move on: the role was made redundant as part of a restructure or downsizing, it wasn't about your performance, and here's what you've been doing since. One or two sentences is enough — don't over-explain.
Will a short gap after redundancy hurt my application?
A few months rarely raises concern, especially given how common redundancy is. If the gap is longer, a brief, factual line covering the period (job hunting, retraining, caring responsibilities) is usually enough.