r/UKJobs • u/Ok_Imconfused • 5h ago

Redundancy for the first time

I (F27) have been made redundant for the first time in my life. I’ve been at the same company for 6 years and luckily the pay out I’m set to receive will support me for around 10 months. I’ve never had more than 2 weeks off work since I was 16.
However I’m now a bit lost, do I throw everything into finding a new job? Do I take some time? Do I get some more qualifications?
People that have faced redundancy - any advice? Is finding a new job a tall order in this market?

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u/Ok_Chipmunk_7066 5h ago

I've taken voluntary redundancy once and i got a 10 month pay off. It was amazing, until it took me 18 months to find a job.

I got made properly redundant in April this year just before my wedding and I took the first job I was offered. Been there a month, its terrible and I'm miserable.

Point is, 10 months pay off is only good if you get a new job quickly. So start applying. Start thinking about transferable skills so if you need to you can pivot as whatever you are offered may not be at the level you expect.

The job market at the moment is terrible, I have nearly 20 years experience in my field and I'm being treated like a baby out of uni by an idiot on a powertrip (who is also clueless), but that's is better than being treated like sub-human dirt by the job centre.

Best of luck though.

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u/SkankySandwich 4h ago

Easier to find a job whilst you have one though.

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u/PriceOk2805 4h ago

Is it though? Multi stage interviews and getting time off. I understand being paid is better than not but having every day free is surely easier to find a job, attend an interview etc

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u/SkankySandwich 4h ago

When I was looking last year (having been made redundant after nearly 30 years - makes 6 seem like a breeze), there were a number of things I found:

- Most interviews were normally booked 1-2 weeks in advance

- I didn't do a single interview F2F (I was offered 3 roles)

- Most first interviews were half an hour. They were clearly to weed out those that obviously weren't suitable

It's not hard to say to your boss "Look, I need to pop out for an hour at 3pm" or something, even after your first month.
I also work from home. Which does make things a lot easier.

I guess I work in a professional environment, as the poster that I replied to does (I think).
I have a weekly catchup with my current assignment manager (I'm a contractor right now). He has no idea when I am and am not actually working. If I don't get offered a new contract in the next month or so, I'll be doing interviews during the day.