and look for ways to add extra value, such as simplifying processes, improving customer service and reducing costs.
Be visible. It’s not just doing a good job but letting other people know you are doing a good job. Don’t hide your achievements. It’s also about being seen by senior staff, so get involved in meetings and focus groups; you want to be known to the key decision makers. Also get your boss to let their boss know what a good job you are doing.
Be indispensible. Be willing to volunteer for the jobs others don’t want to do and be flexible in helping out. Create great relationships with your customers or really learn the computer system. Your boss won’t want to let you go.
Make or save the company time or money. Look for what you can do to help the company’s bottom line. Can you save them money? Simplify processes? Negotiate a better deal with suppliers?
Have a positive attitude. When people are being made redundant, companies will often use this as an excuse to lay off the ‘difficult ones’.
Be alert but don’t worry. You should focus on doing a good job, not worrying about what might happen. But you can prepare your CV and be clear on the sort of work you would like to do should you find your job made redundant.
When redundancy happens
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 (recruitment freeze, loss of orders, sales people leaving).
You can certainly take time to grieve the loss of your job, but you need to let go fairly soon, otherwise you will drain your resources. It will be difficult to be successful in job search if you feel depressed or embarrassed by the redundancy. Look for ways to let those feelings out or they will fester inside you. Physical activity can help, so go to the gym, take a brisk walk, work in the garden or take a bike ride. You may also find it helpful 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.
So how do I start?
People differ. Following redundancy, some people decide to take on any job that is offered, while others will hang on for the perfect job. But remember, 100% of something is better than 0% of nothing. Do your research, and if the likelihood of getting a similar job or your ideal job is remote, identify what jobs are more likely to use your skills and experience, and focus on them.
Waiting might bring you your ideal job, but waiting may also mean that you get into more debt. Think carefully about any opportunity. It might be something with less money, but it might also give you a chance to learn and develop, or get you into a company that may have other jobs advertised internally.
Short-term contracts may give you the chance to try out a different career or to build contacts within a company though a temporary role.
As you look at the available jobs, you might notice that they seek people with a certain skill set or experience. Could you use this free time to develop new skills?
Think carefully before deciding to sign up for an expensive course. Use fact-finding interviews to explore options and be very clear on the benefits before you spend your money.
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 health administrator, if the jobs aren’t 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 have done something other 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 Three, What Do I 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 coach, engage friends and family – any and all of these things will help to speed up the process of getting a new job. The job search plan in Chapter 1 will help you to structure your day.
To be successful in job search you need to have a plan and to follow it. This book provides the plan and teaches you what you need to do, but will you do what you know?
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-centred 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.
Be an active job seeker
More people find jobs via the unadvertised job market than via the advertised one. You need to spend most of your time talking with people at meetings, events, and getting back in touch with people you already know. Specifically seek people you can talk with to find out more about jobs that interest you. 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 the Active Job Search section.
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
In the short term, you may have skills that a voluntary organisation could use. 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, some less fortunate than you, who may be able to help in your job search. It looks good on your CV as it shows you to be proactive and lets potential employers know that you didn’t just sit back and wait for a new job, but used the time to benefit others.
SECTION 1 - GETTING READY
Job search is a project and you need to be prepared. This section will help you to get organised, create a job search plan – with a downloadable file of forms to help you – be clear on what you want to do, and introduce you to different ways to get a job.
CHAPTER
