| 15 Tips on Dealing with Redundancy |
Been made redundant? Whether it’s the news you expected or not, Laurell McManus of McManus HRD, a company which specialises in human resources and training, has some hints and tips to get you back on track. 1. Don’t panic. The role has been made redundant, not you, so don’t take it personally. This could be a great opportunity for you. 2. Give yourself some time and space to think and take the news in. It’s not a good idea to rush into anything without assessing the current situation and doing your research. 3. Be clear on your rights and entitlements. Ask the right questions, such as, ‘When do I leave? ‘Am I entitled to ‘gardening leave’? (paid leave). Keep in touch with your HR department as they are in place to support you. 4. By asking the right questions it will help you work out how quickly you need to look for another job. 5. Stay positive and focus on the new role ahead and don’t dwell on the past. No one wants to employ a negative person. Be mindful that people know people so never be negative about colleagues or your former employer. It’s not professional. 6. Assess your strengths and skills set – make a list. If you’re not sure what these are speak to trusted friends and colleagues and revisit past appraisals to refresh your memory. This will also help you to focus on the next role and help you to sell yourself effectively. 7. Register with a number of recruitment agencies. A good agency will help you stay on track and provide you with help and support as well as key contacts and current market information. 8. Use Google or other search engines to help you search you new roles e.g. monster.com, redgoldfish.com etc. Visit the job centre and even ask closer to home – friends and family will always be willing to help. 9. Consider changing your career, this might be an opportunity for you to realise a dream. Again, research is key, so ask people already in the role what it’s really like to do the job day-to-day. 10. Research what grants / funded training is available. It’s always worth visiting the website of your local college or business training centre, they will often have career advisors on site. 11. Update your CV and covering letter and always tell the truth. Remember a CV will get you an interview, so make someone’s first impressions of you count. 12. Research networking events. This can be done by searching for topic related issues or by specific areas. Networking will help you make new contacts - You never know who you’ll meet who might be recruiting. When you find a job, remember to continue networking as statistics show that 70-80% of jobs are found through networking. 13. Don’t underestimate networking sites. LinkedIn and now Facebook are being used in a business capacity and are often visited by Head Hunters. Everyone you meet knows between 200 – 250 people who might be able to assist you in some way. 14. Research companies either using a sector or job specific search. It’s worthwhile researching company information. This will help you decide who you would or wouldn’t work for. If you like what you read, there is nothing to stop you approaching them for a job directly. 15. If your company offers an Outplacement service take them up on the offer. This could mean that you have access to receiving a certain amount of 1:1 career coaching, Training on CV writing, group workshops, interview skills or even business start up sessions. If this or anything else is offered, take it. It could be so worthwhile. The most important thing to remember is that this is all about you! Take some time to research what is out there, plan your next steps and ask for help |
| Posted: 16/09/2010 13:11:52 |
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