(excerpt from my new book: how to get a job in a recession)
There are wide differences between how people will respond to a redundancy notice. For many people losing their job is a stressful time with mortgage payments to make and bills to pay. They need to get a job as soon as possible, regardless of whether this is the right job for them or not. For others, redundancy can be liberating.
If you have been unhappy in your work and you are now leaving with a reasonably generous redundancy payment, it can give you the impetus to make a change while you have six months or more salary to keep you afloat as you consider new opportunities. Don’t forget to ask about what professional support is available. You may get some money to spend on a career coach.
A redundancy situation may be an emotional time for you
You are highly likely to feel emotional, so take the time to express those feelings – it could be sadness, shock, disappointment, shame, resentment, and anger. You have
every right to feel angry, especially if your employer has been reassuring you that all is OK. That’s why you must look out for the signs of change in your company.
You can certainly take the time to grieve the loss of your job, but you need to let go relatively soon, otherwise you will drain your resources. It will be difficult to be
successful when applying for a job if you feel depressed or embarrassed by the redundancy. Look for ways to let those feelings out or they will fester inside of you. Exercise can help so go to the gym or take a brisk walk. Work in the garden or take a bike ride. You may prefer to find someone to talk with.
Don’t take it personally
Redundancy is more likely to be due to budget cuts and a lack of business than poor performance on your part. In this current recession, with an increasing number of people being made redundant, there will unfortunately be many other people in your position.
Think about what you want to do in the short and medium term
Review your CV and think about what jobs are likely to become available. In the current economic climate, no matter how great you are as an estate agent or banker, if there aren’t the jobs available you need a new plan. You may need to take a job which pays a lot less than you are used to, but with the current economic climate, future employers (those you will approach) will probably prefer to see you did something than not working at all. The bigger danger when applying for a lower wage is in convincing people that you actually want the job and that you won’t
leave as soon as something better comes along. Chapter Two, What Do You Want to Do? will help you with this.
Think about how you will spend your day
When you were working, it gave you structure to your day, so how will you spend your time? If you want a new job, you must focus your efforts and devote your time to your job search. Look for jobs on line, but also be proactive. Get out and meet people, do research, get support from a career counsellor, engage friends and family – any and all of these things will help to speed up the process of getting a new job. The Daily Tasks pages in the book will help you to structure your day.
Don’t retreat
It can be easy to take a step back from the world, and begin to get a bit too introspective. If you are feeling insecure or want to share your concerns, find someone to talk with. There’s a tendency to become self-centered when we are unsure of the future. It’s helpful to look for ways to be of help to others. Let your family know how you are and keep an eye out for them as well. Remember, family
members may also feel stressed, wondering if all the bills are going to be paid.
Think about networking
Research says that 80% of people find jobs via the unadvertised job market. This means they are going out there and talking with people, meeting people at meetings
and events, and specifically seeking people that they can talk with to find out more about jobs that interest them. You need to do the same. As you get clearer on the job you want, the more others can help you in your job search. You’ll read more on this in Chapter Five, Get Networking.
Look after yourself
Redundancy is stressful, and it will take a lot of energy and stamina to keep going. You will also want to make sure you are in good health for when you start your new job. So take some exercise, get out in the fresh air, eat healthy meals, and sleep well.
Think about voluntary work
Volunteering gets you out of the house and adds some structure to your schedule (since you have to commit to a few hours each week). It allows you to meet others (perhaps less fortunate than you) and it looks good on your CV as it shows you to be proactive.
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