REDUNDANCY - PART 2 (unemployed)

The time has passed quickly since I was first told that I wasn't required anymore. I have had 3 months where emotions have run high. Anger, sadness, worry, bitterness are all the negative things that have come out of this forced retirement phase of my life. Hang on a minute there has been some benefits as well, no boss to shout at you, no obnoxious customers to deal with, and no annoying work colleagues. 

Being unemployed is a strange concept to adjust to, if you are like me and have been working all your life then it is a difficult situation. My moods have been all over the place, I can't get into a routine because I don't want to get into a routine.

If you want to work then it is a time for trawling the internet, reading the papers and contacting the recruitment agencies. This is great for passing the time but really isn't what you really want to do with your life. I have found that job hunting is like fishing, waiting patiently for a nibble before you have to go for the big catch - an interview, OMG this has to be one of the hardest things to do, I had 2 interviews, a 2nd interview in the space of 5 days. My head was in a mess with learning different company profiles and products in prep for the sessions. Unemployment puts you into a situation where you have to get a job to keep the money coming in so the 1st job that is offered has to be considered even if you are not really interested. This is a whole different aspect of job hunting compared to looking for a job when employed.

My job searching proved to be non-fruitful through January and I became down and despondent, it is very difficult to keep a smiley face and bat away the negativity when you are trying your hardest and the results are nil. In February I had a sudden surge as 2 recruitment agencies came up trumps with interviews. My world suddenly came alight again and it was good to be active. Although the interviews I attended were not successful I came out feeling satisfied that I had done my best, a good motivational stimulus. After another week of interviews I finally got a call back and was offered the job. It was a bit surreal if I am honest, being previously made redundant and rejected from interviews over the past 3 months had made me unsure of myself and I lost faith in being employed again (my heart goes out to all long term unemployed) I had to keep checking that the suited chap in the interview had actually said the words "congratulations you have got the job".

After the tense wait for the written confirmation it was time to say goodbye to being unemployed. My view of work has changed over the last 4 months, I can't wait to get into it and start moaning. I took work for granted and thought it would always be there, what a fool I was.

I am now Sales Executive for Deanta, a company manufacturing internal solid oak doors in Cambridgeshire. I have been there for just over a week and am now looking forward to the future.

Thanks for taking time to read this blog, I hope all you unemployed who want to work find it soon, keep trying and keep focused - all the best

Keeny

REDUNDANCY - HOW DO WE COPE?

Redundancy is a word that is a long way from our lips when employed. When someone says "I've just been made redundant" we have a reaction which is to show empathy and positivity without really understanding what it means. Yes we know it means you have no job, however there is more to understand. A feeling of being unwanted, low self-esteem, useless and no control of your own life. This sounds heavy but "hey" have you been there? The problem that I am facing is that I need to provide for my family and I need to have a reason for getting up in the morning. I need to work. Unfortunately I have no redundancy money so self funding is the only way to live, I am lucky that my lovely wife brings in her salary however savings can only go so far and with debt and living expenses the deadline looms.
So what have I done so far in a month? Well I have had my head buried online, registered with recruitment agencies and browsed the papers. Applied for about 20 jobs, some well paid, some not so well paid, a few rejections and a few pending decision for interviews. The days seem to go twice as quick when unemployed, also my tolerance for people moning about their job seems to be none existent, a symptom of redundancy I expect.
January has now gone and it is the start of another month, what will Feb bring? Keep your fingers crossed for a result this month, I wish all of you looking for a job the best of luck, if you have any comments please feel free.
Cheers Keeny