Last week, we covered some delicate moments that often come with being made redundant from a job. This week, you will be asked to carry out some self-reflective activities which will hopefully bring to light some new opportunities.
As previously mentioned, you are encouraged to bring in moments of joy, however small, which may have a positive influence over the next steps you want to take in your career or job-hunting journey.
Side note: if in doubt about your redundancy process please check any benefits and legal rights which may apply to you, as you could be eligible to obtain outplacement support on your next steps.
Now you’ve accepted that the job with your former employer is a thing of the past, it’s time to review your previous work, and current interests and consider where you want to go. This can be difficult when all you want to do is start a new job again, but please make some time to review your career/job history and use this to inform if starting a new job is definitely what you need.
If affordable, consider if retraining is something you would like to explore. Particularly if you have worked in one industry or job for a long time and have an interest in another.
If you’re not sure where to start have a look at the Government-funded Lifetime Skills Guarantee list. If any training listed looks interesting, follow the application instructions and start learning something new asap.
An alternative is to consider taking a university course on a topic you’re obsessive about. Explore this with UCAS and consider the timeline it will take for you to learn and get a role you enjoy afterwards.
· Think about the kind of jobs or tasks people ask for your help on? Are any of these regular requests or do any of them make you consider working on them a bit more?
If the answer is yes, it may be worth looking into if you can do these requests on a Freelance basis. If the work is financially viable in the short-medium term, consider what you will need to do immediately to get this up and running.
It’s also worth considering freelancing or new business opportunities ideas that you’ve repeatedly thought about over the years or months. If you have access to or have saved for 6–12 months emergency fund already, consider using your additional redundancy payment to see if you can set this up. Visit Money Saving Expert for more information. My golden financial rule (especially in an economic down turn) is don’t invest what you can’t afford to lose, so think about this wisely!
The goal is to make a sustainable income which covers your expenses and lifestyle habits while doing what you most enjoy. Going broke in the process should not be your collateral damage. Please carry out your due diligence in business planning and don’t go into this with rose-tinted glasses.
If you have an attention disorder, I strongly recommend putting more of your efforts into reviewing activities and tasks that interest you consistently, however difficult this may seem to do. The reason is that people with attention disorders tend to excel (both in business and employment) in areas that play to their strengths, work they’re passionate about and paid activities which utilise their various gifts and talent.
If you’ve considered freelancing/starting a business and thought, yes, this is great but would prefer to get a job before the redundancy money starts to look like the spare change from your old piggy bank, then let’s all dig a little deeper before we start the job-hunting process.
Set aside some time, and grab a pen and paper. No, not a laptop or your phone because it’s time to carry out your personal Skills Audit the good old-fashioned way. Sounds a bit strange, I know but even in employment, you’re encouraged to work on your skills audit before the dreaded yearly appraisal takes place.
By examining the skills learned and developed in your career so far, a skills audit forces you to think about what you really like doing in your job and what you would like to develop within this career. A crucial element of this blog post is to highlight that regardless of where you are with your next job, you must have an immediate vision and plan realistic goals allowing you to take the next steps to meet them.
Ideally, a skills audit will also help you to reflect on what tasks or areas you would like to do more of, both in the short and long term. If possible, speak to a friend about this and see if you’ve missed anything or if they agree with what you have written so far.
Get Ready to Thrive
This week, we challenge you to complete your skills audit. See what hidden strengths and opportunities it unveils. Remember, finding the perfect role takes time, so allow yourself space to explore and breathe.
As a Career Coach and Career Counsellor, I'm is here to support you every step of the way. Feel free to reach out if you need guidance or assistance.
Next week, we'll delve into actionable steps based on your audit findings. Stay tuned, and remember, there's immense potential waiting to be unlocked!
See you next week!
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