Looking for work: Don’t put all your eggs in one basket

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Don’t expect the Jobcentre Plus to have access to the half million jobs waiting to be filled constantly referred to by the government; at last count only half that number had made it to them (apparently that’s because some companies will not register vacancies with Jobcentre Plus as they’ve found applicants from that source are unlikely to have been adequately screened for or have any interest in the job they’re offering).

We got a call from one of our local recruitment agencies yesterday, so here’s your sound bite from our conversation:

  • The temp side of things has gone right down but the perm side is creeping up
  • Companies are being quite shrewd and looking for “bargain” staff”
  • Applicants want to put themselves forward for jobs they don’t have a track record in yet believe they’re qualified to do
  • There are 6 to 7 times the number of people available for each post compared to a year ago

So this brings us back to:

  • Be visible
  • Spread your net: People you know socially, people you’ve worked with/ for, approach companies ‘on spec’, resond to advertisements, work with recruitment agencies, check out agent or franchise opportunities (talk to those who are doingit NOT those who are selling you the idea for a truer picture)
  • Be flexible
  • Be creative
  • Be determined

Others will!

Filed Under: redundancy advice, redundancy uk Tagged With: ,

Redundant with no money?

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For those of you entering your first recession, who have probably been employed since you finished education, redundancy is likely to be a big unwelcome shock to your system.

It’s not just the money, important though that is (look how often the term ‘breadwinner’ is used to describe those who provide financial income). You no longer have one of the main anchors in your life, if not the main one.

You may feel

  • Panic
  • Anger or unfairness – “Why me?”
  • A weird kind of relief that the suspense is over if you were half expecting it
  • Release from a job or workplace atmosphere you didn’t particularly enjoy, so a sense of freedom
  • Self-confidence that you’ll find something else swiftly or can now get on with what you really want to do

Your confidence may be well-placed although there are many more people out of work now than there have been for years – you may have to be more flexible and creative than you’ve been in the past.

And meanwhile one of the things you’re probably going to need to do is get to grips with your local Jobcentre Plus – a necessity if you want financial help from the government while you’re looking for work.You may as well find out what you’re entitled to sooner rather than later.

Don’t let any feeling of pride get in the way. Register immediatelywith Jobcentre Plus – that’s the date from which you’re officially in their system and the date any financial help will be calculated from – so even if you feel like curling up in a ball and telling the world to go away, wait till after you’ve registered.

The first stage is either on line or using the free phone number provided on their website (about 20 minutes you giving your details to a machine followed by a further 40 minutes with an operator).  Then you get an appointment to be seen in person.

Once you’ve set those particular wheels in motion you have your backstop in place and can get on with doing everything you can to start earning your own way again.

 

Filed Under: redundancy advice, redundancy help, redundancy uk Tagged With: ,

Redundancy money

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If you have some savings, received a ‘golden handshake’ or a good enough redundancy package then you may feel you have some breathing space.

That’s fine yet we’ve probably all heard of, or know of, people who’ve had windfalls of various descriptions – lottery wins, cash prizes, unexpected inheritance – and within a year or so all of the money has gone.

Beware The Seduction of Rest

You may feel you don’t need to rush to find income replacement.  And you could well be tempted to take a break.

A break of defined length, a holiday to regroup and think, might be ‘just what the doctor ordered’. Provided you don’t allow yourself to be seduced by rest:

The money alone may make you comfortable enough not to pay too much attention to the fact you may be gradually becoming without purpose – have a ‘bit of a lie-in’ which turns into getting up later and later. Start watching the odd bit of daytime televison but ignore the news (it’s so depressing) and don’t go out much, after all you’re being careful with your money.

Or maybe you’re really feeling ‘gung ho’ and think: “Right – now I can do what I always said I would if I had the money!” You may feel relief, experience a sense of elation and freedom and see this as a wonderful opportunity to do something completely different.

That’s great, yet how often do we hear stories of people who’ve enthusiastically sunk their entire nest egg and energies into a venture with disastrous results?

So a pause for considered thought to evaluate all your “what ifs?” and talking to people who’ve successfully done what you‘re contemplating could well be worth its weight in gold, couldn’t it?

Filed Under: redundancy advice, redundancy uk, voluntary redundancy Tagged With: ,