Redundancy can be looked upon in a number of ways. To many people it is disastrous but to others it can be the motivating factor that encourages them to look for their next step on the career ladder.
Once you know how long you have left with the organisation you can plan your next course of action:
Stay motivated
Redundancy can cause stress not only to the person in question, but also to their family, friends and partners. Staying positive and bear in mind that activity is key to feeling good about yourself. So focus on the future and apply yourself to your new job search.
Key pieces of paperwork to take:
-
P45 form
-
Redundancy payment details
-
Any company support arrangements
The options
Redundancy is often the result of an employers need to reduce the workforce. This may be because the place of work is closing down or the area in which you work is no longer required. You can expect to receive a redundancy payment if:
-
You are made redundant
-
You have at least two years continuous service since the age of 18
-
You must be working as an employee working under a contract of employment
For more in-depth information on redundancy please visit www.redundancyhelp.co.uk.
Your CV
CVs are very individual and can convey a message about the author so spelling mistakes could demonstrate to the reader that the author has not taken the time to spell check the document and lacks attention to detail. If the CV is laid out badly, this may suggest poor planning so it may be an advantage to ask some one to read through, proof and criticise your CV where needed.
CVs should be concise and well laid out using a clean font such as Ariel as opposed to Times New Roman, especially is sending electronically. Your CV should be tailored to the position and the company you are applying to, in many cases you will have 2 or 3 versions of the same CV. More detailed information on CV writing is available from our Library. Please call + 44 (0) 1628 427333.
Transferable skills
Transferable skills are those skills you have developed in one job role which may be applied in another. For example: skills used by an Account Manager in a marketing agency in areas of design and production could easily be used in a design/production management role in another, possibly client side company. i.e budget handling, client liaison, and taking on the brief.
Firstly establish the skills you are required to use on a day-to-day basis and then link it to the benefit of the skills to the company. Once these skills and benefits are highlighted, they can be applied to future situations and employers.
Try to stay motivated and think of the positive rather than the negatives of your situation:
-
You are immediately available for interviews and work, so therefore more marketable for agencies and to employers.
-
Your next role may be more rewarding in terms of salary or career prospects
-
You can look for the job you have always wanted
-
Take advantage of the spare time by doing things you’ve never had time for before
Interviews
When attending interviews remember that redundancy is more and more common in today’s marketplace so do remain positive when answering questions to this affect. When asked, briefly detail the company’s reasons behind the redundancy then move on to the potential benefit to the potential employer. For information on researching new employers visit www.cim.co.uk/knowledgehub or call our Information Centre on + 44 (0) 1628 427333.
Networking
As many marketers will be aware, it is often the people with who they have met along the way in their business life who have helped them further their career and more times than not, have secured their next role.
Marketing yourself can be a powerful tool in today’s competitive world. The key to successful networking is to use your available resources to market yourself and try and uncover hidden job opportunities. Often finding opportunities in this way can give you a real advantage over other candidates.
Networking to new contacts is also key to a successful job search. Research the names of recruiters and visit trade shows with your CV as often you can meet key contacts on the stand.
For information on local and regional CIM events please visit www.cim.co.uk/events
CIM members can view this information in a downloadable factsheet. Login now and the pdf will appear as a link below.