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Original poster

Just been made redundant

38 replies

Cherryblossom200 · 19/09/2024 13:53

Hi all,

We the title just about says it all. I've just been made redundant.

I was unhappy in my job and had a terrible boss. Reason for redundancy is my client will no longer be working with my company, they are phasing things out slowly.

My boss was being highly critical over a few months, so I think she was hoping I'd leave off my own accord which I didn't.

I've been offered a settlement package which isn't too bad, almost 6 months pay.

But understandable I'm worried. I'm a full time single parent, my job was fully remote so I could collect me DD from school. And I was paid well for what I do. Being a parent has never stopped me from doing a good job. But I'm concerned I won't find a job which pays so well and is flexible. Plus I turn 49 in a few weeks time. I feel I'm up against it.

I have a good CV, but I'll be up against much younger people 😟

At the moment I'm feeling really anxious and worried about the future.

OP posts:
DejaTu · 19/09/2024 13:54

Really sorry to hear.

Stay strong!

ivegotthisyeah · 19/09/2024 13:56

Get on LinkedIn and start talking to recruiters
Good luck

Original poster
Cherryblossom200 · 19/09/2024 13:58

Do you think I should be worried about finding a job at my age? Anyone have any experience of this?

OP posts:
AderynBach · 19/09/2024 13:59

Oh no, how stressful. Thank goodness you stayed strong and didn't just leave so at least you've got a 6 month cushion but I'm sure you're feeling really worried. It sounds like you've got good skills and a solid work history though so don't be too discouraged, hopefully you will find something equally good or better very soon.

Rebootnecessary · 19/09/2024 14:04

I understand how you're feeling. DH and I have both been made redundant several times during our careers.

Is the redundancy effective immediately? Can you give yourself a few days off to just BE and think?

Original poster
Cherryblossom200 · 19/09/2024 14:09

It's effective from the end of the month. I'm shattered so I'm not doing any job searching yet until I'm in a better frame of mind.

It's horrible though..

OP posts:
loropianalover · 19/09/2024 14:10

Sorry to hear Cherryblossom - what a shock! My advice is for today.. do nothing! Just let it sink in, don’t worry about tomorrow or start making decisions.

6 months severance is not bad, and gives you a buffer. I’d make a mental note to keep strictly to the usual budget (or a little less, tighten the strings a bit) over the next couple of months.

Over the next few days, read over your CV once more and just email it to local recruiters. Say you are open to permanent and temp (mat leave etc) contracts for now. It is scary to be looking for a new job coming into 50, but jobs are out there. Try civil service and local government too, it can be a long process to interview and get placed so best to start now and see if you can get on a panel.

On Monday, start applying for things. Update your LinkedIn if you use it. Set a limit for the job hunting/applying, e.g. 10am-lunch (whatever works for you), after that close the laptop and just have your phone ready to receive any calls that come in. Try and enjoy the redundancy at least a little bit - afternoon bath or a coffee and cake out. Take advantage of this slower pace to calm your mind, you’ll be in a better position come interview time.

The first interview will probably be crap (sorry). You’ll be sick with nerves, you’ll feel like an idiot… it does get better with practice. You are there to see if you would like to work there. You can interview them too - ask about team culture, why the position is available, development opportunities. If it’s a place you would like to work, it will probably fall into place.

Original poster
Cherryblossom200 · 19/09/2024 14:16

Thanks for your advice ❤️

OP posts:
RRBB1920 · 19/09/2024 14:22

The civil service is good for employing 'older' job seekers.

StormingNorman · 19/09/2024 14:26

49 isn’t old! I know you’re shattered but updating your LinkedIn profile to seeking work and reaching out to one or two recruiters will help you get going.

Horrible situation to be in but your CV will speak for itself x

snowgirl1 · 19/09/2024 14:29

Cherryblossom200 · 19/09/2024 13:58

Do you think I should be worried about finding a job at my age? Anyone have any experience of this?

I wouldn't say 49 is old to get a new job - unless you're in an industry which is very youth orientated, e.g. some start-ups or some creative industries?

boulevardofbrokendreamss · 19/09/2024 14:48

I was made redundant at the end of June, I'm 47 and start my new role on Monday. Things were slow over summer because a lot of people were away.

Get your LinkedIn up to date and start talking to people.

Good luck!

JoyousPinkPeer · 19/09/2024 16:13

Don't forget to ask for an agreed reference ce as part of your settlement.

thesandwich · 19/09/2024 16:16

Start making a list of your contacts to catch up with after you finish- networking is a v successful way to job hunt. Have a look at what color is your parachute book/ website.
Use chatgpt to help you customise your cv for every role.

Rollercoaster1920 · 19/09/2024 16:22

Sorry to hear this. Some practical things you can do:

Don't forget that the first £30k is tax free - so 6 months salary should last longer than 6 months. Work to the end rather than leave early (because you'd get taxed on that time!)
Apply for JSA immediately - every little can help and they do not back date payments.
If you are out of work until next April you might be able to claim back some tax.

It can be tough, but perhaps an opportunity for a bright future?

Did that client like you? Would they have any jobs? Work the network!

RainbowWife · 19/09/2024 16:22

@loropianalover gave you some great advice. I'm sorry this has happened but very pleased you stuck it out and got your 6 months.

When you're ready, come and join us on the support thread for job hunters as we're all in that horrible job hunting stage.

ooooohnoooooo · 19/09/2024 16:31

I'm sorry to hear that. Networking is your friend here. And LinkedIn. I've seen a few posts recently from my contacts saying openly that they have been made redundant and asking for help finding something new. It's generally worked well with people liking the openness and plenty of shares and offers of help.

At 49 you have bags of wisdom and experience so play on that. You can be immediately effective, a trusted pair of hands. Little supervision required so an easy hire.

I work in sales and always encourage people to think of what the hiring company /manager wants and needs. How can you make their life easier?

I'm recruiting at the moment and can tell you that a CV in your own words is far more compelling than one with trite, predictable sound bites. Focus on what you delivered, achieved. Use measurements and stats. Get your outgoing customer to give you a quote to use in your CV
' OP was such an attentive account manager (or whatever role) and she was very effective in getting the job done. ". Etc.

Get Linkedin contacts to endorse your skills as well.

And fir what it's worth im very happy to hire older experienced people and there are plenty like me out there.

Good luck. Let us know how you get on.

EdgeOfSixty · 19/09/2024 16:41

Sorry to hear this @Cherryblossom200 . Wishing you all the best in finding a new job.

SupportiveMumSquad · 19/09/2024 17:27

I had this problem too and I ended up buying an e-commerce dropshipping company that wasn't doing amazingly so it was cheap. I've had it a year and it's making me £2k a month after I basically watched youtube how-to videos on how to grow a dropship account and made some small changes here and there and it's doing well plus it'll only continue to grow. So I would recommend you doing something similar. At least that way you can work from home and have more time with the kids and be your own boss.

Original poster
Cherryblossom200 · 19/09/2024 17:37

What is a drop shipping company?! Sounds interesting!

My company is giving me money to use an outplacement company, they are going to sort out my CV, Linkedin account and give me tips on interviewing. I'll have this on hand for 6 months. Both companies have said my age won't be a barrier so I feel better about that!

I've also got a kick ar*e friend who is a HR director who has put together a really good counter offer for my compensation offer. I'm hopeful I'll get more out of them as I have an unresolved grievance which I filed against my manager. She was trying her best to push me out to avoid having to going down the redundancy route. So bad.

OP posts:
akkakk · 19/09/2024 17:39

If you are no longer needed because your main client is not planning to continue to use the company you work for - could you go and work directly for the client? May be worth having a chat...

Lookingforajob123 · 19/09/2024 17:41

Hi @Cherryblossom200 - I have NC for this as I post a lot and don't want to be identified. I interviewed a 58 year old woman last year, who had 35 years of relevant experience in my industry and on paper was the perfect fit. I interviewed a wide range of candidates but she definitely stuck out as her experience was so good (and she'd recently been made redundant).

She was so unenthusiastic and negative in the interview that she didn't get the job. I was really disappointed but my point is that her age most certainly didn't put me off; rather, I thought she'd be great for the team.

Wishing you all the very best in your search.

Original poster
Cherryblossom200 · 19/09/2024 17:41

I'm not allowed to work for my client, it's written in my settlement 😛

OP posts:
SupportiveMumSquad · 19/09/2024 18:01

It's a website which sells items for another company. So what you do is, you market the products, they then buy them, you send an email to the dropshipping agent and they send it out for you. You pay for the product at a discounted rate, and the customer pays you and whatever the difference is, is yours to keep or invest in marketing etc. It saves you from having warehouses and it means you can work from anywhere because you're not tied down to an office or a particular location. Hope that makes sense!

CC222 · 19/09/2024 19:23

So sorry, I completely understand how much of a worry this is.
I got made redundant a few months back (3rd time it's happened).
I'm a single parent to a toddler but I'm almost 40. I worked fully remotely and was part time.
I started a new job a few weeks later which was full time. I increased my child's time in nursery from part time to full time and my employer changed my hours so I could start/finish earlier than office hours to accommodate picking up time, which was helpful. All in all, it's worked out amazingly and I'm very grateful for how things have turned out. However, that period of time between redundancy and starting the new job, I was so stressed and anxious I was making myself ill. I felt so much pressure on myself to get it right because all the family responsibility was on me and me alone.
What I'm saying is, you may not get exactly the same set up, but that doesn't mean it won't still work out really well for you and your family. Give the application process all you've got & interest will start rolling in, then it's only a matter of time before you get something new and wonderful.
Good luck 🤞🏻