A
dictionary definition of redundant is 'no longer needed
at work and therefore unemployed.' Sound familiar? However,
as negative as this sounds, it doesn't have to be.
Redundancy
has become a frequently used word in the media, with some
of the world's biggest companies being forced to shed jobs.
In the business world of today, redundancy seems a common
occurrence.
Jobs
for life are a thing of the past and it is becoming increasingly
common for people to have a range of different jobs throughout
their working life. This is not necessarily a bad thing
because it offers the chance to expand your experience
and skills.
Many
people say that redundancy was the best thing that's ever
happened to them because so many opportunities that they
otherwise wouldn't have had were opened up to them. It
provided the perfect opportunity for a boost up the career
ladder or even a complete career change and gave some people
the excuse to do exactly what they've always wanted.
Survival
Not
every business bad patch will result in redundancy. If
you think that there is a chance that you and your job
can survive then there are things that you can do:
-
Prepare
yourself. Preparation is the key to anything and you should ready yourself to withstand
whatever outcome is reached.
-
Keep
ahead of the game. Business is all about keeping ahead. Showing that you can do this will make
keeping you on a more attractive prospect as it makes
you more valuable as an employee.
-
Remind
your boss how much you contribute. By doing this you can make yourself seem invaluable and it will be harder for
the company to lose you.
-
Start
networking. Being successful in business can come down to your contacts. Network with people
with whom you can have mutually beneficial business
relationships and pass this success onto your employers.
-
Get
your finances in order. Things may get a bit tight with the threat of redundancy looming over you,
so be sensible and sort out your finances to put yourself
in the best possible position to survive should something
happen.
Redundancy
strikes - what now?
There
are a number of things you will need to do if you are made
redundant:
Be
dignified. Being made redundant is not your fault, so instead of wallowing in self pity,
think positive.
Know your rights.
When made redundant you do have rights regarding pay, notice
and non-salary benefits. Make sure you find out exactly what
you're entitled to and then get a written statement saying
how these were worked out.
Career review.
Turn the situation to your advantage by using it as an opportunity
to review your career. Are you happy with what you were doing
or would you like a complete career change? If so, this is
the time to do something about it.
Don't burn bridges.
Make sure that you maintain all your contacts and keep on
good terms with your boss. Keep doing your job to the best
of your ability and obtain a good reference.
Practicalities.
For tax and benefit reasons contact your local authority
and register as unemployed. Also notify your bank manager
or mortgage lender of what has happened.
Update yourself.
You will need to update your CV to include what you have
been doing since it was last updated. Be sure to include
anything relevant to your job search. Also think about interview
skills.
Finding a job.
Make sure that you start looking for a new job as soon as
you possibly can. Use as many job seeking routes as possible
and be open to change.
Taking
time to find a job?
Finding
a new job is not always easy and it is possible that you
won't have found something suitable by the time you leave
your old job. If this is the case, then while you are looking
for new employment, there are things you can be doing that
will improve your chances:
-
Charity/voluntary
work. This might be something that you have not considered before but it is a good
way of keeping busy and picking up new skills and experience.
It is also flexible so you will still be able to look
for work.
-
New
skills. You could also think about increasing your skills level now that you have the
time. Think about skills you would like to have or
those that would be relevant to what you want to do
and look into training courses.
Redundancy
can seem like the end of the world but it is up to you
to turn this to your advantage. Stay calm, think positive
and go for it
