Coping with redundancy
Should you be made redundant, try to look at it as another stage in your career. There's
no stigma to redundancy now - a job isn't for life any more and getting the axe happens
to most people at least once in their lives. It's not much comfort but remember that
you're not the only one in this position.
You may have a couple of weeks or more before you have to leave the office and although
you won't be in the mood to give your all to your work, make sure you don't slack
off too much. Above all, keep your cool.
Don't try to infect the computer network with a virus, shred company records or lose
your rag with the boss. These things have a nasty habit of coming back to haunt you
- and that reference you were relying on may become worthless. Worst of all, you never
know who you will bump into later in life - the boss that you've just screamed abuse
at may just be the future managing director your dream company.
Preparation is key to surviving the axe and there are three golden rules that you
should try to stick to at any stage in your career:
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Make sure your CV is up to date. Keep one printed copy and one saved to disc - if
you lose your job, you don't want to have to start from scratch. If you haven't updated
yours recently, why not take a CV healthcheck.
-
Keep an eye on the jobs market. There are always different positions that can make
use of your skills and experience. Browse through the ads on Job Channel online -
we've got hundreds of jobs online 24-hours a day!
-
Try to keep on top of your finances. It's a good idea to have some cash to fall back
on in case you are made redundant and can't get work immediately.
When you've recovered from the bad news, make sure you check your work history:
-
How much holiday time you are entitled to? Do you want to work your notice and take
the holiday time as extra pay or will the firm let you leave early if you want to?
Now it's time to look to the future. Take a look at our guide
to finding a new job and consider your options. Do you want to stay in the same
industry or move on? Do you want to retrain? Put the feelers out - do you have any
old contacts who may be able to get you work?
Also, consider doing some voluntary work and improving your skills.
Above all, don't give up. It may take a little time, but you WILL find another job.
Redundancy doesn't have to be the end of your career - it could be the beginning.
Information provided on these pages is intended for general information
purposes only and does not constitute legal or other professional advice.
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