Have you been made redundant? Its a shock, Dont Panic! step back and consider your options instead. Is a ‘job’ what you really want, or could you take the opportunity to craft a new career? The choice is yours.

1. THE 10 POINT PLAN
To Take Control After You Have Been Made Redundant
Losing your job can be one of the most traumatic experiences of your work life. The good news
is that, even though redundancy can be traumatic, it’s also a great opportunity for a new start.
Here’s my 10 point plan to help you to take
control after you have been made redundant.

2. #1 Run the numbers
& take stock
The first thing I always encourage my clients to do is to look
at their entitlements and run the numbers.
My tip: Whether your payout is for a month or almost a
year, sit down and do two things:
1. Check to make sure your payout is correct and that you
were taxed correctly. Not sure how? How much Redundancy
Pay (Fair Work Ombudsman) and Redundancy Payments
(ATO) will give you the info you need.
2. Work out how long your payout will last you. The easiest
way is probably to work out how much you need each month
to live on, based on your normal monthly spend over the last
several months. https://www.moneysmart.gov.au/life-events-
and-you/life-events/redundancy

3. #2
Accept
out-placement
services
If your workplace is offering out-placement
services, take advantage of them. These
can include help with your resume and
giving you access to resources and
information you’d otherwise have to find
on your own from places like Centrelink or
Job Services Australia.
My tip: Check out what we offer
www.thejobsearchcoach.net and speak to
your former employer about outplacement
services as part of your redundancy
package.

4. #3 Be realistic & write a
redundancy action plan
Most job hunters overestimate how easy it will be to get another job.
If your employer offers an outplacement service, make the most of
what’s available. Surviving redundancy is all about tapping into
every possible resource.
Drawing up a plan of action will not only help bolster your spirits,
it can also provide a road map to get your career back on track.
My Tip: Don’t limit your career options to a role similar to the
one you just left.
If you believe your skillset is outdated or your skills lie in an area
of work with poor long-term prospects, consider undertaking
retraining.
If you’re confident you have the skills to rebuild your career, be
sure your redundancy plan lists all the ways you will look for a
new job.

5. #4
Prepare your
job hunting
toolkit
Be smart, don’t rush and take stock of where you
are at, where your industry is at and where you
might go next. We call this a career health check
My tip: Invest some of your redundancy payout
into your future. Hire a professional career
coach to help you with your career toolkit,
resume, cover letter, LinkedIn profile, job search,
interview preparation and so on. This will help
you secure a new job in a shorter period of time
and let you focus on the job search itself.

6. #5 Take a
break
Once you’ve worked out how long
your payout will last, take some time
off – whatever you can reasonably
afford.
My Tip: Even if it’s only a week or
two, you need to take some time
to process what’s happened.
Unless you took a voluntary
redundancy, chances are it has all
come as a bit of a shock. Now is
not the time to rush into anything.

7. #6
Make a
choice
How often in adult life do you get to sit back and
think about what you want to be? Many of us end up
on a career path by chance rather than pure design.
This is the silver lining of redundancy – you now
choose what is next.
My Tip: Before you go out and start applying for the
same job you were doing, think about what it is you
really want to do. I don’t mean pie in the sky
fantasies but look at what you want to do in the next
chapter of your life. Consider what other jobs and
roles could be open to you based on your experience
and skill set. If you need help deciding or figuring
this out, hire a career coach.

8. #7 Stay flexible &
motivated
Flexibility is critical when it comes to coping
with change.
Being prepared to look outside your current
industry, or to take on interim or project work
while looking for a permanent role can help you
seize opportunities you may not have previously
considered.
Without the routine of working life, it can be easy to
fall into a slump.
My Tip: Try to maintain some sort of daily routine to
stay focused and proactive. Factor regular time for job
hunting, networking and self-improvement, but also
remember to socialise and maintain a healthy lifestyle
through exercise and good diet.

9. #8
Leverage your
network(s) +
family &
friends
Being made redundant is not the time to sit in
silence, especially in this current market. It is not
like you are alone in searching for a job.
My Tip: As well as recruiters and job applications,
social media such as LinkedIn, Twitter and
Facebook provide important tools to connect to
professionals that could be your next employer or
provide the lead you need to find that next role.
This is where sporting clubs, community
organisations and friends are important. You may
know someone who knows someone who needs
someone.
It is also important to maintain contact with
professional networks and keep yourself a visible
part of your industry.

10. #9 Your most valuable
asset is your time
If you haven’t changed employers in
recent years, you might find that job-
hunting takes longer than in the past.
After you are made redundant, manage
your time and resources wisely from
day-one. Get to work on your career plan
right away, or maybe after that much
needed break we spoke about above.

11. #10
Don’t job
hunt alone
Don’t try to do it all yourself and don’t
isolate yourself during your job search.
This is important in order to be more
effective and also to avoid those
downward spirals that can happen during
any prolonged job search.
My tip: Get help from professionals who
know where to job hunt, how to apply and
more click here

12. What we do often defines a big part of who we are. However, a redundancy can change your
life and turn out to be a blessing if you tackle the challenge in the right way.
Just remember to hunt wisely!
Uli