You have just been told that your job is redundant. You are not alone. There are no longer the ‘jobs for life’ that previous generations enjoyed and most people can expect that they or those close to them will be faced with redundancy at least once during their careers. It can be a challenging and even traumatic time, but it is not difficult to turn your situation into a positive one provided you follow a few basic rules.
Professional advice
It is vital that your first step is to seek proper legal advice from an employment law expert to ensure that the redundancy process has been fair and that your rights have been protected. If the process is flawed, unfair or has ignored any of your employment rights, you may be entitled to compensation. Your Trade Union or staff association, professional body and independent financial advisor are also key advisors at this time, explaining your rights, your redundancy package and your financial options.
Support from the company
Provided that you have worked with the company for the qualifying period, you are entitled to take paid time off to look for another job or to receive redundancy counselling or further training. Check with your professional advisors or with Personnel, who will be able to give you full details of your entitlement.
Change of career
Redundancy gives you a fresh opportunity to look at what career path you wish to follow, and may provide you with the scope and support to retrain. Many people cite redundancy as a catalyst for a long overdue change in direction, turning it into an opportunity rather than a problem. Seek advice from a Thorpe Molloy consultant and remember to research your options thoroughly.
Be proactive
A new job is unlikely to come looking for you so it is essential to be proactive in your search. Seek advice on preparation of your CV; use your contacts - networking can be a very powerful tool when you are job-hunting; be focused - don't panic as lack of direction will hamper your search for the right job.
Temporary work
The fact that you are immediately available can act in your favour, with more and more companies using temporary roles as ‘working interviews’ before appointing an employee to the position on a permanent basis. It not only allows you to ensure that the company and culture are suited to your needs but can also give you some breathing space to think about your future career direction rather than jumping at the first permanent role that comes along.
Be positive
With redundancy no longer holding the stigma it may once have done, there are a lot of reasons to be positive - apart from the potential financial benefit of your redundancy package, you have the chance to empower your career direction or retrain to do something that you have always wanted. If you maintain a positive attitude, your redundancy is unlikely to be an issue for a potential employer as long as you don't portray it in a negative fashion but instead focus on the skills you can bring to a new role.
< back to career advice
