Surviving redundancy

The phrase a job for life simply doesn’t exist anymore and most of us will have to face redundancy at least once in our career. However, it needn’t be the end of the world - redundancy can offer opportunities to re-evaluate employment options and pursue new career avenues.

RightCoutts, part of Right Management and one of the UK’s leading HR consultancies, specialises in helping employees negotiate redundancy and Tony Martin, general manager at RightCoutts, has produced five top tips to help employees make the most of one of the most challenging times in their working lives.

Don’t panic - it is easy to let negative emotions take control when receiving bad news. Take a deep breath and try to assess the situation calmly and objectively. Don’t be tempted to hide the truth from friends and family - they will be equally anxious and also need to feel informed and involved. Remember that you have a wealth of skills that make you attractive to potential employers and that this is the simply the first step down a new career path.

Be positive and focus on the future - redundancy can open as many doors as it closes - envision new opportunities. Rather than accepting the first job that you are offered, take the time to consider your career goals and where you are going. Preparation and consideration now about your future career could save you a lot of soul-searching later on.

Be real - redundancy might offer you the opportunity to pursue new opportunities, but it is important to be realistic. Successful career change is based on setting realistic goals and making an honest assessment of your skills, then matching those against current market conditions. You may not have the necessary skills for your chosen occupation and many of us can’t afford to take a break and retrain. Look into other options - perhaps you could train on the job, or take a temporary position while you study for your new job at night school?

Seek advice - the prospect of finding a new job can be daunting, but try to remember that you are not alone. Not all companies provide specialised support for those who have been made redundant, so take the time to consult friends and family, and book an appointment with a careers advisor at your local job centre - getting a fresh perspective from an objective third-party might help you to focus your efforts.

Network and do your research - networking is the key to any successful job search , especially in the case of career change, so use your network of family, friends and previous business contacts. Do your research on industry sectors and companies - there are many routes to research using the web. See this as an opportunity to re-assess and evolve - you’ll be surprised at the support and goodwill that’s out there!

Tony comments, When someone is made redundant, it’s very tempting to panic and focus on the negatives. However, redundancy brings with it the opportunity to take stock and make sure that we are getting what we want out of our working lives - employees must remember that they have choices and that support networks do exist to help them achieve their career goals.