How Do I Explain Redundancy in an Australian Job Interview?

Key facts

The specifics, before the explanation.

• Under the Fair Work Act, a genuine redundancy requires that the employer no longer needs the job done by anyone, and that consultation obligations under the award or agreement were met
• Redundancy pay under the National Employment Standards runs from 4 weeks (1 to 2 years' service) to 16 weeks (9 to 10 years), with small businesses under 15 staff exempt
• Part of a genuine redundancy payment is tax-free; the tax-free base and per-year amounts are indexed each July by the ATO
• Accounting and some corporate functions have seen falling demand in 2026 while engineering, mining, construction and health have grown
• Interviewers typically spend under a minute on the redundancy question if your answer is calm and specific

What this actually means

The redundancy question is not really about what happened to you. It is about whether you have processed it and whether there is something you are not saying. Answer it in three beats. First, the fact: the role was made redundant in a restructure that removed the whole team, or the function moved offshore, or the project the role was created for finished. Second, a quick signal that it was not performance: you were on a good trajectory, you were offered a reference or an internal transfer, or several roles went at once. Third, pivot to the present: what you have been doing since and why this role is the right next step.

What not to do is more important. Do not criticise the former employer, even if they deserve it. Do not over-explain, which sounds like a defence. Do not use the word fired, and do not say you are still working out what happened. If the interviewer presses, give one more specific detail and stop.

If the gap since the redundancy is more than a few months, have a one-line account of it: contract work, a course, caring responsibilities, a planned break. Employers are relaxed about gaps in 2026 if you own them. Where the sector itself is shrinking, as parts of accounting and administration have this year, say that openly and explain why your skills transfer to the sector you are now targeting.

This is the single most common interview answer that goes wrong when said out loud for the first time in the interview itself. Record yourself answering it, listen for tone, and cut it until it is 30 seconds of plain fact. The calmer it sounds, the less interesting it becomes to the interviewer, which is exactly what you want.

What to actually do

Rules and figures move. Confirm anything time-sensitive with the official regulator before you rely on it.

• Write a three-sentence redundancy answer: the business reason, a signal it was not performance, and what you are doing now
• Rehearse it out loud and record it; if it runs over 30 seconds or sounds annoyed, cut it again
• Never criticise the former employer, even when invited to
• Have a one-line explanation for any gap since the redundancy and offer it before you are asked
• If your old sector is shrinking, say so plainly and name the two skills that transfer to the role you are interviewing for

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to mention redundancy on my CV?

No. List the role and dates as normal. Explain the redundancy in the interview if asked, or in a single line in the cover letter if the gap is long enough to need context.

Will a redundancy hurt my chances in Australia?

Rarely, especially after the restructures of 2025 and 2026. What hurts is a vague or emotional answer. A short factual explanation usually ends the topic.

What if I think the redundancy was not genuine?

That is a matter for the Fair Work Commission within 21 days of dismissal, not for the interview. In the interview, stick to the employer's stated reason and move on.

Sources

Referenced for this guide:

• Fair Work Ombudsman: redundancy