IT COULD BE YOU
She says it is important to establish whether or not your job really is at risk. The process will start with a consultation period, where a company reviews what job roles it does and doesn’t need in the future.
You may then be offered voluntary redundancy, meaning that you can choose to leave and try to negotiate a compensation package with your employer. Or they may make compulsory redundancies, meaning your role is no longer available and you can try to negotiate a compensation package.
“Ask what dates and deadlines they are working to, allowing you to understand where you need to focus your time and priorities,” says White. “How long do you have until your last pay cheque, for example, if you are being made redundant? Or is there an option during a consultation period to state why your role shouldn’t be made redundant?
“Also, find out what is expected of you. If you are in a redundancy consultation period, can you take time off for interviews? If your role has been confirmed as redundant, are you expected to carry on working as usual in your role? And if not, what should hap- pen to current projects you are working on? Being told you are at risk of redundancy can be a shock, very stressful and upsetting. It’s only natural that you may feel anger towards the company. In fact, the emotions experienced at this time are often likened to grief — that of denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance.
“But being in control of your emotions and reactions is really important — so give yourself some distance if you need to get them back in check.”
White then advises you to follow the next steps: If available, use outplacement support quickly and get advice: Use their expertise to get your CV and interview skills up to date, while challenging yourself to think about what you really want to do next. Don’t mailshot your CV immediately: You need to take a targeted approach as opposed to signing up to multiple recruiters, jobs boards and direct mailing. It can mean that one potential employer receives your CV numerous times and effectively gets “spammed” — which could scupper your chances of securing an interview. Think about your next steps carefully: Considering how much of our life is spent at work, you need to make sure the next opportunity is right for you. Remember, it’s a job to find a job: Building connections, finding suitable roles, writing covering letters, tailoring your CV, attending interviews — it takes time to find a great job. Give yourself time to do job-hunting justice. Be aware of your personal brand: Lock down and amend privacy settings on personal social media and make sure all open professional profiles that highlight your expertise and experience are consistent. Use your networks: Look at all the people in your professional and personal networks and see if there is anyone you can get in touch with to support with your next career move; reconnect with an old boss or catch up with a friend who has gone it alone — it could inspire you in your next career move.