Redundancy

Why Redundancy Could Be Just What You Need

Redundancy is not a word anyone ever really wants to hear, but companies often find they need to lay off employees when costs start to rise. Around 106,000 people across the UK were made redundant between December 2016 and February 2017) and if it happens to you if can feel as though your world is falling apart. With just over 16,000 people in Kent falling into the unemployment bracket, it can be easy to think that you are simply another statistic, and that there is nothing in your future but worry and benefit applications. But there is another way to think about it.

Your redundancy could actually be the best thing that has ever happened to you, even if it feels like it’s the worst. There are many different career opportunities out there, and if you are made redundant you can finally take a deep breath and a good look around. You may even find the very thing you’ve been looking for all along.

You’ve Got Time

Being made redundant isn’t the same as a formal dismissal from your job. If you are made redundant you will walk away from your job with some kind of package – this could be statutory redundancy pay, or it could be what your company sets out in its contracts. It may be a lot, it may be a little, but the point is that, financially, you’ll be set for a while. Work out your figures and you’ll know exactly how much time you’ve got to find a new job – or an entirely new career.

But as well as this, you can finally get some you time. Spend some quality time with your loved ones, do the school run and enjoy family life; book an appointment with the dentist that’s long overdue, get the house shipshape. Whatever you do, your time off while you search for a new job won’t be wasted, and you’ll be amazed at the newfound freedom you can enjoy. This is the perfect time to get your mental and physical health in a place where job hunting becomes a challenge, not a chore.

You’ve Got Nothing To Lose

After redundancy you may feel as though you have hit rock bottom. But, as the old saying goes, once you’re at rock bottom the only way to go is up. And that’s what you need to focus on. This is your chance – maybe your only chance – to go out and do whatever it is you truly want to do. What career have you always dreamed of pursuing? What business have you always said you’d start if only you had the time? When you have a comfortable job, it can often feel as though ‘rocking the boat’ and trying something new is a bad idea. But when you no longer have that job which, if we’re honest, could well have been holding you back, you can start to spread your wings and look for something that suits you better.

It’s so easy to fall into a career that pays the bills but does nothing for the soul. Redundancy can help you get back on track, and that will make you a happier, more contented person in the long term.

Find Out About Yourself

Who are you really? Do you know? Or are you an amalgamation of everything that other people expect or want you to be? Having this time and breathing space that comes with a redundancy is a gift – and should be seen as such. Now you can truly be yourself and do what makes you happy. It’s a chance to start again. And, if the job you were doing was something that you definitely want to keep on doing, then go for it – you’ve got the experience and the knowledge, so start applying for jobs.

Blog by Sally Keys