About to be made redundant (probably)

[Rainbowtiger]

I recently left my job of many, many years to take a job in a slightly different sector. Great team, wonderful salary (almost double) and very little stress. BUT, the company has been making people redundant and sales are still not hitting targets. There are a lot of people speculating that there will be more cuts. I’m putting my life on hold because I’m so worried about what will come (not spending, cancelled holiday plans, put all money in savings). It’s quite a niche job and I’m unlikely to find similar.

What would you do?

Stick it out til pushed out (which I reckon there’s a high chance… it’s been done in quite a brutal way previously and I definitely won’t qualify for redundancy pay)

Or

Ditch the job now? Go “back” to a safer industry. The pay might not be as good. The job might be more stressful.

If you stick it out then surely you'd end up with the second choice anyway? Only with a bit more money and some different work experience?

I'd start applying for jobs in the same vain then if you get pushed go back to the cushty job

It all depends on how long it's likely to take to get a job in your old industry, plus whether you have any savings to tide you over if there's a gap.

Would it be damaging to your reputation to start applying to the old industry now, but not necessarily taking up an offer if you get one?

You should already be looking for a new job. Even if they don't make you redundant in near future, if sales aren't hitting targets then it's just a death spiral. Get out!

It won't do any harm to look for another job. You can make that decision if you get offered something (and by that time you may know more).

Do you know what the redundancy process is? Where I work, if you're being considered you have to show examples of what you do under four different sections, and you can get up to ten points for each section. Your manager has already completed the form and awarded points. A separate manager interviews you and if you can clearly show you tick more boxes than thought on your form, the points your manager has given go up. It doesn't matter how long you've been with the company, but anyone who has been there a while and has had a warning in the previous three years loses a lot of points!