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.

Savings and my partner works but it’s not ideal at all. Scrimping 😟

I get that - it was more intended for people that have posted since, in case it’s helpful.

This makes such grim reading. Huge sympathies. On the basis that it’s always easier to find a job when you’re in a job - albeit I know the energy and time it takes actually to fill in bloody forms - are you looking around already for the next opportunity? Sorry if that’s stating the bleeding obvious.

But before summer doldrums really kick in - and given that the company has already delivered a kick in the teeth so you owe them precisely nothing - in your position I’d be looking to move on asap. You can say to the new company - ‘Project coming to an end and not sure the new ones would suit me as well etc’. No need to state absolutely that you knew they weren’t going to keep you on with months left on your contract (unless of course you have a six month notice period which would be unusual in which ignore this entire post!)

Dh & I, both over 50, both in similar boats (what are the chances😭). What people don’t seem to understand when they say ‘apply for everything and anything’ is that businesses are really not keen to hire people who are massively overqualified for a job…. They assume (prob correctly) that you’ll keep looking and they’ll be left high & dry having invested in you…. It’s just not that f-ing simple. Good luck op - hopefully the economy will turn the corner soon and employers will have more confidence. You’re not alone.

Ok. Sorry if I was snippy.

It’s all good - having been there, I get that it’s tough. Good that you started this thread for support for you and others going through it.
Good luck with your search.

27 - doesn’t live here
17 - part time job in the Chinese takeaway. It’s good he’s got his own fun money.

This role is already a lot less than what I was on. I already cut back on what I could when I was made redundant. We are ok, not on the bones of our arses, but it’s all rather miserable at this stage in my career and life to be in this position.

Would you consider a Cover Supervisor in a school? You could find out what supply agency local schools use. You could ask for longer term postungs- might be ok until something comes up, although it's often on an ad hoc basis.