Here I go again :-(

[BringBackCatsEyes]

Was made redundant in Sept last year. Found work in Jan of this year after months of dehumanising, depressing searching.
It's a 12 month fixed term contract. I am doing very well. The company is doing well.
Was told today it won't be renewed. Now I have to remain professional while looking for work.

I am a lone parent, age 55.
I don't know if I can go through it all again.

I am in academic science. There are few jobs in my field.

Oh hi, can I join you?

This is my first redundancy. Mid 40s. Still mid “consultation” (it’s a farce). Less than 2 years service so they can do what they want.

I’m just quite sad now.

Congrats @Travelban !

It’s weird a post got deleted I saw it and nothing contentious that I saw ! 🤔

I did sort of want to keep this thread for people in my position - single income lone parent households. The pressure is different.
So I’m watching just not contributing much as I know I don’t come across well when I’m low and snippy.

There were a few in the pipeline in your previous posts…. Are they still rumbling away?

I think many of us are in your position @BringBackCatsEyes and I've found your thread very helpful, and I also want to hear how things are for you. Even if they are exactly the same or even worse. I am a single parent with a dependent adult child, and I don't own a house, I've got rent to pay and I am 3 years from state pension - but will be unable to retire as I won't be able to cover my rent. So I feel I am in a horrible sort of long term limbo.

Although its been a boost to be offered it, the freelance job I am thinking of taking might still leave me without enough money for the bills at the end of the month if I don't get the hours in, and its only a 1 year contract so I might end up in exactly the same position this time next year, but I'll be 65. So I do feel I am in the same boat (isn't that what happened to you @BringBackCatsEyes - you lost one contract, got another, now about to lose that?). I hope you don't feel anyone here has hijacked your thread, and please do come on and moan because this isn't a place where people are obliged to be positive and you have a lot of experience to contribute. It just goes to show that a thread for women out of work in later life/being made redundant whilst still having a house to support was really timely.

That aside I've got another interview this week for an even lower paid job but it's salaried, not freelance. Can I ask OP or anyone still around/coming into the thread your opinion of maybe taking a salaried role, if offered, even if its lower pay because its guaranteed hours every week? Is it really a safer option when employers can still just sack you up to 2 years? I've not even had a draft contract for the freelance so I still feel it's fine to attend other interviews.

@DecisionTime123could you do both?
I haven’t been cut loose yet, I think it’ll be next week. But current plan A is to find something part time employed and make up the rest with some freelance work.

And yes, @BringBackCatsEyes, come and share your highs and lows. It’s a rollercoaster, and I’m just starting out. But if you can’t share everything here, where can you?

I am not ok. I’ve spent 7 months of the last 14 looking for work. There is only so much effort I can keep putting in only to be met with nothing or rejections. My self worth is shot.

That is hard. It’s a horrible system we have where our self worth and identity is so tied up in our employment/profession.

You know, on a cognitive level, that you are a worthy and important person. That there’s more important things than your ability to serve someone else’s capitalism.

Is there another way to build that feeling of purpose? Can you volunteer?

What’s your business sector/field?

@DecisionTime123 I don't think there is a safe option these days sadly. I'd be tempted to go with whatever you think is best for you in the here and now. It's very hard though as you feel like if you take something low paid you might be missing out on other opportunities.

@BringBackCatsEyes I recently used a work coach so basically life coaching but the coach was a consultant in my field, so she could understand all the jargon, all my specific concerns. Cost £60 an hour and it was a good investment. Would that sort of thing interest you? Because before I spoke to the coach my confidence was at rock bottom and I thought it was likely I would never work again.

Fuck op, that was a tough read.

You sound at the end of your tether.

What would be your dream job?

People are telling me I’m snippy. To protect myself I’m going to duck out of this thread.
Thank you to those who have been supportive.

I wish you good luck @BringBackCatsEyes

Yes and sending you the very best of good luck from me too!

Hi there. I was made redundant at the beginning of August. First time for me. I'm almost 50 and work in customer services. I was a manager at my last job and was in charge of a team of 3 people and I hated every second of it. I wasn't a good manager as I'm the kind of person who just wants to get their head down and get the work done but I was constantly being drawn into complaints, drama and accusations made about each other (so and so not doing the work, so and so was rude to the agents). I don't want to do this again but I don't know what to do. Following this thread with interest.
@BringBackCatsEyes Please don't leave the thread. I've found it so useful so far and I am sorry you are having a tough time. It's so so difficult out there and every job I see advertised they seem to expect the world for not much money! I have only had rejections so far. I received one rejection two hours after I submitted it!

@BringBackCatsEyes I've only just read this thread, I don't think your snippy! I truly hope you get some work soon.

Good luck OP. Academia is absolutely brutal—I’m in the humanities and facing redundancy.

Morning all,

I have my ‘decision meeting’ this morning, where I presumably win the ‘my first redundancy’ badge and am sent on my way.

I’ve made my peace with it. Maybe naïvely…

Good luck @WellThatWasntVeryNiceWasIt , if you're anything like me you'll just want the whole thing over with. Hoping it goes okay for you.

@WellThatWasntVeryNiceWasIt I’m in
a similar position, but we’ve not got to the interview stage. It’s grim.

Morning, yep, got the chop yesterday. Which is what I was expecting. So today I continue setting myself up freelance. And tomorrow I have an interview for some part time (possibly top part time) employed work.

I have a few proper job adverts saved on LinkedIn I should go back and look at too

How are you doing @BringBackCatsEyes ? Any developments? Hoping so…