Redundancy guides and advice

Your local Business Link offers a range self employment and funding options

The Governments Direct gov website provides useful advice on job seeking, redundancy and leaving your job.

It also includes useful information on job fairs, your rights in redundancy law and possible benefits.

A free redundancy handbook is available for download on the Financial Services Authority website

Order by completing the online form or you can ring Money made clear Helpline on 0300 500 5000

The Redundancy Advice Network is based in Norwich – has a forum for both employers and employees providing a wealth of advice.

The Careers Advice website has a whole section on what to do if you are made redundant

Support programmes

Response to redundancy is a learning and skills council and ESF programme designed to support employers and employees in the process of redundancy.

Next Step is government programme offering careers and skills advice to fit your individual needs.

The Norfolk Guidance Service is one of the Next Step providers in Norfolk.

Voluntary Work

do-it.org is a useful website to go to for information about voluntary work

Voluntary Norfolk will also be able to help you find voluntary work

Useful Goal setting tools

Goal setting with SMART

When setting yourself goals use the SMART system.  Ask yourself if the Goal you’ve set yourself is:

• Specific
• Measurable
• Accurate
• Realistic
• Timebound (i.e. give yourself a deadline)

Improving Interviews with STAR

When being interviewed and asked to explain or give examples of your strengths, use the STAR system.

Describe each of the following to the interviewer:

• Situation or Task
• Action you took
• Results of that action

Finding the right job

Research

Research companies in the same area or subcontractors who may be taking people on.

Contact the job centre locally to see if this is happening.

Networking

Use people you know not to give you a job but keep you informed and meet some contacts so they think of you.

Use LinkedIn, Facebook and other social media to keep in contact with people professionally.

Applying for the job

CV formatting tips

• Keep your CV to 2 sides of A4
• Keep it clean, simple and nicely presented
• Proper tabulation and no errors on it
• Target it to the job and utilise previous experience.

Think about your skills

• Think what skills you have not just in your current job but a previous job or from voluntary work.
• Make a mind map of previous jobs and then the skills you may have from these jobs.
  Download our example mind map to see how it’s done.

A few final job application tips

• Read and follow the instructions on application forms carefully, and don’t forget to sign it!
• Think creatively – see this as an opportunity and really make every application and interview count.
• Make sure you know your strengths and what you can offer that sets you a little bit above.
• Show enthusiasm and willingness to adapt and learn

• Take time to consider what you actually want to do

  Sometimes redundancy is an opportunity to rethink your career path.

• Update your CV or if you haven’t got one write one

  This will allow you time to reflect on your past skills and experience and remember things you may well have forgotten. If you don’t know how to write a CV there are many books available from libraries or seek advice from an agency or careers adviser.

• Make a list of skills, abilities, experience and qualities you have to offer a future employer.

  Think how best you could sell these. Have you a past-time or something in your interests that stands out you could utilise in future employment.

• Use your CV to look at gaps in your experience

  Do you need to update certain skills or gain experience in another area to make you more desirable to future employers? Think about using your time positively by gaining further education or seeking out temporary work or placements.

• Make a list of everyone you know professionally

  Include contacts from up to 5 years ago who are currently working. This is how to start networking by building outwards from contacts you already have.  They may not be able to offer you work directly but may have knowledge of firms that can or suggest other avenues for you to try.

• Write a letter to your network contacts

  Not asking them for jobs but for advice they may have or where they see possible opportunities in the future. If you ask for information and not jobs then it is less embarrassing for the recipient and you are much more likely to get a response. For advice on these type of covering letters contact local advice agencies, careers advisers or the business section of your main library.

• Gain as many contacts in your area of work

  Or agency contacts that can help. Listen to the radio for help being offered and consider websites that update you locally. This would include local paper websites with vacancies, agency websites and listings, specific job search engines relating to your industry or an area of work you are looking for.

• Nurture yourself

  Focus on the positive action you can take not on why it happened, how it happened or anything in the past.  If you find this difficult try to establish a routine and a target for example planning visiting recruitment agencies, or responding to certain vacancies by the end of the week. Keep focused and remember less is more so concentrate on quality of applications rather than quantity.