Why Being Made Redundant Isn’t All That Bad

Being made redundant isn’t all bad news. A lot of people want to avoid it at all costs, and when it does happen, it might feel like your life has just stopped in its tracks.

Where do you go? What do you do? Why did this happen? First off, let’s make it clear that redundancy is a very regular occurrence, and that it doesn’t mean you’re a ‘bad’ employee.

It only means that the job you were doing doesn’t need to be done any more for a multitude of reasons.

Think about it – would you want to continue working for an employer who doesn’t really need you?

Wouldn’t you want to work somewhere where you’re appreciated?

As you can probably tell already, there are benefits to being made redundant, more than you might initially think.

Let’s go over some now.

This is often the first thing people’s minds go to, obviously. When you’re made redundant, it’s best to consult with your boss to go over your employment contract and see what your redundancy pay entitlements are like.

The amount of money you get depends on the industry you’re in, and how long you’ve been working for the company, but it can get pretty high up there, so much so where I’ve heard people have gone on a holiday using their payout.

Of course, there are plenty more things you could do with the money, and you might be very excited to spend it all. But remember that you don’t know when you’ll get your next job, so you might want to use your new finances sparingly until you get another one.

Okay, let’s say the money isn’t grabbing you. Well, I’m sure there’s one thing you do want, and that’s time. Now that you’re out of a job, you’ve got plenty of that, right? But wasting all of that time away is pointless; you might as well do something that’ll go towards something you find valuable. Upskilling is one such decision you can make, which is where you develop your established skill set and/or learn more about the industry you’re interested in.

There are plenty of post-redundancy opportunities that you can take onboard, from completing an online course to an internship. By doing this and obtaining the certificates to prove your newly found knowledge to your potential employers, it shows your initiative and therefore, increase your chances of finding a new job. Perhaps even your dream job.

Finding a new job may seem daunting, especially if you’ve worked at your old one for a while. It doesn’t have to be as scary as you think. Take some time to think of all the possibilities. Do you still want to work in the same industry or somewhere different? How about starting your own business, or going part time?

That’s the beauty of the redundancy. Not only do you get some money in the form of compensation, but you also get the opportunity to take a different path career wise if you really want to. If you’re unsure about what you should do, then consider getting some expert career advice. This can include making plans based on your current skills and weighing up the pros and cons of each option you have in mind.

I’m sure you want clear-cut answers on how to find a job right away, as you probably have that lurking sense of doom that you’ll never find another one ever again. I’ll admit, it is hard to keep on being optimistic during a job search, especially with multiple job application rejections.

Keep in mind though that it isn’t all about work. It may very well seem like it since you’re now out of it, but be aware that there are other aspects of your life you need to take care of. This is also a time to catch up on your social life, as well as taking a rest from the constant lookout for new jobs.

It’s all about keeping a balance: work on your resume, apply for jobs, keep a plan of action in mind, but also take out time for yourself. One of the best ways to maintain a positive attitude is to maintain your overall happiness, after all.