Redundancy

How do you deal with redundancy? With the constant reminders in the news of redundancy letters being received before Christmas, the start of the New Year is going to be an extremely stressful time.

As someone who has experienced redundancy it is certainly stressful, you are inclined to spend all your time wondering what if …?  Or how will I manage?  Even what should I do?

Unfortunately worrying and stressing yourself will not produce the answers you need.  I found it was important to concentrate on the positives such as a chance to do something you really want to do, a total career change, or maybe take a salary cut if affordable and volunteer. For me it was a case of losing a job I enjoyed and one that I didn’t particularly want to lose, unfortunately I had no choice as the company wasn’t making enough money to cover my salary.

So instead of complaining I took the opportunity to review what skills I had and to source a job where I would be able to use my skills but also be passionate about it.

I suggest you sit down and list all your skills and experience, it is important you are not modest about what you can do, make sure you list everything relevant.  Otherwise you will be under selling yourself.  You can also use your skills and experience list to assist you in completing your CV as this will give you more flexibility in the kind of positions you may be seeking.

Once you have finished the list you  need to decide why you enjoy using the skills or experience you have?  You should come up with a final list of all your skills and experience and what you enjoy in order of preference.

Looking at your list now decide what kind of jobs or positions your skills can be used for. If necessary carry out research and don’t be afraid to ask questions of friends and family or colleagues to help you decide?  You also need to ask the following:-

1.    With my skills and experience will I be able to be passionate about my career, if not why not?

2.    What extra skills or knowledge do I need to acquire to be able to have my chosen career?

3.    What will need to change for me to be able to have my chosen career e.g. drop in salary, change of location, longer working hours, but less days working, will I need to find part time work to allow me to study?

Who do you know who could help you find a position in your chosen career or will you be starting up your own business?  If starting a new business who do you need to speak to about the availability of funding, do you need to go back to college or university to study?  Who do you know who can mentor or coach you?  What do you need to do to start a new business?

But more importantly will you have the support of your family and friends? What action do you need to take to obtain their support?  Just like you, they will view redundancy as a scary situation, as it can change so much financially and emotionally for everyone, but unlike you they may not see it as an opportunity.  Your family’s support is essential while you are studying or finding your new job or career or even starting your own business.  If you don’t have family, call upon your friends, ask them for their help and support.  Having someone you can talk to can make all the difference to how you feel and how you approach the whole situation.
As Napoleon Hill once said “Do not wait; the time will never be ‘just right.’ Start where you stand, and work with whatever tools you may have at your command, and better tools will be found as you go along.”
Redundancy doesn’t necessarily mean the end of your world it needs to be viewed as an opportunity to create changes for the better!