How To Deal with Redundancy & Unemployment
21st Century CVs - Giving You an Unfair Advantage
Redundancy
There is little worse in one's career than being made redundant, although quite often it is not one's fault especially if the company has been forced to lay off large numbers of staff. 21st Century CVs offer the following redundancy advice and unemployment help to guide you through the difficult times when you have been sacked or laid off. Even in a no-blame scenario, the effect is demoralising and depressing. Such negative emotions are also counter-productive in the new job search when positive emotions are needed to get that new job.
The modern method of dealing with redundancy is probably to see a counsellor or trained employment specialist but in real life not many of us have access to such luxuries. In most cases, we have friends who don't mind being burdened with our over-loaded feelings, but after a time even they get rather bored with the subject! At least with redundancy, it is possible to shift the blame onto the former employer rather than on oneself.
Luckily, redundancy usually means redundancy pay, so that at least there is no immediate financial hardship and so there is a built-in cushion before the next job becomes urgent. However, redundancy pay is often not paid and generally amounts to about a week's pay for each year worked. If you have worked for many years, then a sizeable amount may be due. If the former company has gone into liquidation then redundancy payments can still be claimed through the statutory redundancy scheme.
Unemployment
Being unemployed is usually even more negative than being made redundant and the mistake is to blame oneself. There is, of course, no benefit in doing so, although it may be important to learn from any mistakes made. The first thing to do is to claim whatever benefits are available from the local Employment Service. You should be entitled to such benefits if you have paid all the National Insurance contributions. Even if you do not need the money, it is wise to 'sign on' so that you will get the National Insurance Credits for the period you are unemployed. If you cannot, for some reason, claim Unemployment Benefit then you should be entitled to Job Seekers Allowance.
Perhaps the easiest way of dealing with being 'off' work is to keep busy and not immediately sink into the daytime TV trap! (After a few weeks of Big Brother, you will probably go completely mad anyway). Seriously though, a good CV professional can explain away periods of unemployment or employment gaps by giving an explanation of time spent eg. looking after the old mother or bringing up the children. A bit of part-time charity work always looks good on the CV as does team sporting activities. A professional CV Service should always find positives in almost every situation.
The worst case scenario is to retreat into a self wallowing hole so you should keep as busy and as normal a routine as possible and not let adversity get the better of you. You may be surprised how supportive friends and even neighbours can be and it is worth remembering that there are very few people who have not been unemployed at some time in their lives. Winston Churchill was one and he conquered his negative emotions by building a brick wall! He did OK in the end, as well.
21st Century CVs advise that you look ahead rather than back and spend your new found leisure time in writing that perfect CV to get you back in employment. A job search is very time consuming and a good CV is your best chance in finding that job quickly. We not only offer an excellent CV writing service but you can read our free CV advice on how to write a CV.