Life after redundancy

Just being fired? You don’t know what to do… should you start searching jobs straight away? or give up and rely on JSA?

Finding a job is sometimes harder than other times such as after 40, after 50, with lack of experience, not enough qualification to start a new career etc..

Here is an article about Life after redundancy!

Redundancy can be a soul-destroying event. You’ve spent the best years of your life working for ‘the company’ and suddenly you are out on your ear. Companies have even been known to ‘break the news’ by pinning a list of names on the notice board with the subtle message, ‘If you’re name’s not on this list, you’re up for redundancy’. Nice.

It is easy to sink into an abyss at this point. We’re brought up to believe in the work ethic and a responsibility to provide for our ‘nearest and dearest’ is instilled in us long before we ever start our first job. When it’s all taken away from you and you are left peering over the edge, what do you do?

The answer is not to give up.

Here are six ideas to implement with which to beat the redundancy blues as well as keeping yourself fighting fit for when that job offer does come along. Remember, finding work is a job just like any other job you’ve done, only this time you are self-employed.

Remember there’s no shame in redundancy

It’s easy to feel embarrassed about what’s happened to you when, in fact, you’ve done nothing wrong. You were just unlucky – the consequence of a trend in the market, the victim of a bad decision by management or the whim of an accountant’s pen. Don’t drop out of circulation, and keep in touch with your workmates and friends. Each one of them is a potential source of information about a new job as well as a provider of emotional support.

Keep going to work

Your home is now your office. That means getting up on time, going to your desk, reading the jobs columns, writing letters, making phone calls, searching the internet and anything and everything associated with getting yourself back to work.

Win the battles and the war will surely follow

Obviously the end goal is getting a job but that’s ‘too big’ a concept. You need to have daily successes such as getting x applications out, finding y new sources of work and being invited to z interviews. Set goals and keep a chart to monitor your success. Award yourself a point every time you reach one and then give yourself a small treat when you’ve got a specific number of points.

The working day doesn’t last all day

It’s a temptation when working from home to just keep going – don’t. Have a time in your mind when you clock off and stick to it. If it’s ‘going home time’, say ‘goodnight’ to your job-hunting files and go and do something else – they’ll still be there waiting for you in the morning.

Stay healthy

Allocate at least a part of every day to going for a stroll, doing some exercises, working in the garden, cycling into town, taking the dog for a walk, going swimming and so on. It doesn’t matter what it is as long as it gets you out of the house and stops your muscles from atrophying.

It’s nothing personal

Remember, your redundancy was no reflection on your abilities (if it had been, you would have been dismissed, not made redundant). Don’t let anyone look down their noses at you – it could just as easily happen to them tomorrow. No job is 100% safe and nothing is guaranteed so don’t let it get you down.

Keep a positive attitude despite the knocks that you will surely get and, sooner or later, a job offer will land on your doormat. Redundancy is the beginning as well as the end.