Handling Redundancy / Unemployment

Being made redundant can be very demotivating and can lead you to blaming your former employer. Perhaps it may help to talk your feelings over with your partner or a close friend/relative or colleague or a counsellor (if your firm has paid for one). You must try to lose these negative emotions as quickly as possible so that you can concentrate on the job at hand - finding yourself a new and rewarding position.

To beat the redundancy blues you must keep active and not give in to depression. If you enjoy sport/keeping fit then make sure you keep active during your job searching activities. Sport is excellent for relieving the stress of everyday life. If you are not a great fan of sport a 30-minute brisk walk will do just as well. You should also keep up your normal social activities - do not retreat into a hole to die! The people who succeed in life are those who do not let adversity get the better of them. Your friends will be able to help you through what may be a difficult time for you - so do not shut them out, as they will be able to give you support and encouragement.

Your Finances

If you have been made redundant then you will probably be entitled to a certain amount of redundancy pay from your former employer; this will depend on how long you have worked for them. Your company should sort out your redundancy pay and any other monies they owe you in terms of your notice period, which is typically one month's pay, but may be more in your case - so check your contract of employment.

Please remember to sign on at your local unemployment benefit office. The address can be found in The Phone Book in the Business & Services section under Employment Service. You are entitled to this benefit as long as you have paid the required level of National Insurance contributions, so do remember to register. You will also receive National Insurance credits whilst you are unemployed if you have signed on.

Redundancy can often stretch your finances, particularly if you are the sort of person who spends every penny they earn each month. This may be a time when you have to budget more carefully than usual. You may want to calculate your monthly outgoings and then work out where you can make savings. Large bills which come through the letter box may be offset by paying them by instalment on direct debit.

Next: Other job hunting ideas.

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