h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I was made redundant in my last job at the end of 2002, and I was lucky enough to find a new job fairly quickly afterwards - about 10 weeks later. I found the easiest way to get through the days was to make myself as busy as possible. I found job hunting to be quite demanding on my time, as it involves searching for jobs, writing covering letters, following up on old contacts and meeting people.

I found invariably, that recruitment agencies and websites will send you emails for totally inappropriate jobs, so you are best advised to do a websearch yourself.

I also spent quite a bit of time cycling and going on walks around the local coastline. It would take 2 or 3 hours a day every so often, but it kept me someway fit and I really benefitted from it. Not so easy when you are working, so I decided to take the chance when I had it.

I also had a chance to take my kids out of the babyminder when I chose. This was really good. Small kids are great to be around during a time such as this.

I also spent some time studying, but I found this the toughest part. Studying and me are not good bedfellows.

There were also some self-esteem issues. I was the only person to be left go from my group, and as things happened, my job was readvertised 2 months later. Although I am virtually certain that the reason I was left go had nothing to do with me, it still rankles a bit. Looking at it one way, I could be very bitter about this indeed. I got a lot of support from other people before I was left go and it helped somewhat to know that many other people had been made redundant themselves years before. I also tried to stay positive, adopting the attitude that life throws things like this up every so often, and that something better might be just around the corner. Looking towards the future and not back into the past helped me a lot.

Woodpigeon

If your job was re-advertised 2 months later, you almost certainly would have had a claim for unfair dismissal. An employer can't make an individual employee redundant as such - they can only make their JOB redundant, e.g. "we do not need a widget-maker any more so Mr. Jones will have to go". Re-advertising the same job shortly afterwards is a strong indication that you were moved out of the company under the guise of redundancy. If it happens again, make sure you get a written explanation stating that your position is surplus to requirements, then if it is re-advertised up to 3 months later, consult a solicitor specialising in employment law and sue the bastards for everything they have, plus 10%.

My fiance was made redundant back in March only days after we had booked our wedding which was a bit of a scare but we have that under control now. His office had already been through two rounds of redundency before this and in a way they were all quite glad the waiting was over. There had been so much uncertantity as it was known that the lease on the office they were in ran out in May but so many conflicting roumers were circultating about what was going to happen. They other concern amongst those left after the previous rounds of redundecncies was wether there would be enough money left in the pot to pay some people. The good thing was that the company was really supportive even though they were closing the whole office they arranged serveral workshops and lectures on CV writing and claiming benefits and such like. My partner grew very despondant at times about finding another job, especially after hearing that for one of the jobs that he had applied for they had recieved 800 applicants for one position. Yet a scant week after his finishing date he has started at another job, 3 months contracting with the option of a permenant job. The only problem is it is in Watford and we are in Cambridge so he is currently only coming home for weekends which is a bit off a strain on us but we hope to sort that out soon.

I was made redundant nearly a year ago. Electronics just doesnt favor long careers.

I went back to University and will graduate with an entirely useless degree in history. At least it was fun and the time has gone fast.

The job search does seem better after the brief time off.

After serving 16 odd years in the RAF, I, along with the rest of my trade - some 500 guys (and one girlie) were made redundant. So much against what was said in the article - I did lose my home as well.

The firm that took on the role that I had filled were offering a genuinely pitiful wage - their excuse for this was that we were all getting RAF pensions, so that would make our income up.

Trying to find a job living in the far North of Scotland was virtually impossible - if you wanted to earn a living wage. Eventually I got myself a job offer, working on the machines used in the wafer fabrication business, doing field service. I was going to be getting about £5K more than my RAF wage plus £15K's worth of car. My boss decided that he would rather let other guys go off on resettlement courses and denied my application to leave at that point, saying that he wouldn't be able to let me know until after the last day that I could confirm my intentions with my prospective new employer.

He seemed so chuffed the next Monday when he said I could go. I politely informed him that I had lost the job due to his indecision. Unsurprisingly enough I was invited into his office for what we called an interview "Without coffee".... Don't take your hat off Corporal!

There were a dozen or so of us left at my station, that hadn't gone to work for the new contractors. We were instructed to go out and find something else to do with our time, once their contract started. As it happens I was the only one left working after a month or so - the rest of them all skived off - and never bothered to tell me. At least keeping busy kept me from going totally mad.

I did get very angry and would fly off the handle at the smallest thing. I think doing my Karate training at the time helped me pour out any aggression I had. I've never considered myself as a violent person, but I had become a monster. It's one of those things you don't realise is happening until you look back some time later.

I think the final nail in the coffin for me leaving the RAF, was when I had got an offer, which I could accept, waiting outside some officer's office for him to sign my release documents. He sat and explained, at some length, to his clerk, why he couldn't sign it right then and that I would have to come back later. He could have easily done it there and then and saved himself some time!

It doesn't end there, but I've bored you all long enough....



Bassman