Careers Advice fromThe
CV Centre, the UK's leading CV consultancy.
Redundancy is undeniably a difficult experience, but it is important
to remember that being made redundant does not reflect on one's personal
ability to perform a job. Redundancy arises when a position, not an individual,
becomes financially untenable - and it is becoming increasingly frequent
across a variety of industry sectors as efforts are made to 'downsize'.
A background to redundancy
Employers downsize or 'reduce their headcount' for various reasons, including
mergers/takeovers, increased operating costs, loss of business, new management,
new technologies and reduced profit. There are two main types of redundancy
- 'compulsory', whereby the specific positions simply cease to exist,
and 'voluntary', where employees are given a choice whether or not to
take redundancy, although they are not obliged to accept.
Knowing that redundancy is a commonplace occurrence does not make it any
easier to cope with and it can often instil feelings of inadequacy, rejection,
loss and humiliation. It can also leave you feeling vulnerable and fearful
for your future security. However, there is no longer any stigma attached
to being made redundant and it should not be spoken about with any sense
of shame.
The way forward
Your CV is a vital first step and naturally we would strongly recommend
that you have it professionally prepared by The
CV Centre. You should also register with local recruitment agencies
and maintain regular contact with them to ensure they fully understand
your career objectives. The more information you provide them with, the
greater the chance they have of finding an appropriate position for you.
Be as proactive as possible in your job hunting - your ideal job will
not come and present itself to you - you have to get out there and find
it!
Money
When you are made redundant, it is often very easy to lose control of
your finances. You should never assume that you will be able to walk straight
into a new job no matter how skilled or qualified you may be. Any redundancy
package that you receive, and any savings that you may need to rely on,
should be budgeted carefully to ensure that you have enough money to survive
the full duration of your redundancy - however long this may be. It might
also be worthwhile investigating your eligibility for Jobseekers Allowance
or other similar benefits.
The Future
Finally, just remember that every cloud has a silver lining. Try to manage
your redundancy to your advantage. Many people find redundancy to be an
important - and positive - turning point in their lives, giving them the
opportunity to reassess their goals and achieve the future they desire.
The CV Centre
A CV is often all a prospective employer has to judge you on, so creating
the right first impression is vital. Whatever job you've set your sights
on, with our market-leading position in this field we are confident that
our assistance will maximise your chances of winning it. There really
is no substitute for taking advantage of in-depth professional experience.
Find out how The
CV Centre can help you.