Redundancy Support: Your Australian Guide To Moving Forward

what to do when made redundant australia

Being made redundant can be scary and overwhelming, but it's important to remember that it's not a reflection of your performance or skills. It's natural to feel a range of emotions, but try to focus on the future and view this as an opportunity to re-evaluate your career goals and explore new paths. To make the most of this transition period, it's crucial to take care of yourself, both physically and emotionally, and seek support from professionals and your network. You should also consider your finances and any payouts or support you may be entitled to. Maintaining a positive mindset and staying proactive by updating your CV and networking can help you stay motivated during your job search.

Characteristics Values
Initial reaction Shock, anxiety, fear, numbness, disappointment, anger, and betrayal
Actions Focus on the future, not the past, and don't doubt yourself
Survival plan Start job hunting as soon as possible, treat it as a full-time job
Review your industry Explore new fields, follow career advice, launch a business idea, or make a sideways shift
Finances Deposit any payout into a savings account and seek advice from finance professionals
Government support Check eligibility for Centrelink benefits and support payments
Job search Update your CV, be honest about redundancy, and highlight your successes
Professional relationships Leave the company on good terms and maintain relationships

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Take time to process your emotions and look after yourself

Being made redundant can be a challenging and emotional experience. It is completely normal to feel a range of emotions, such as shock, anxiety, fear, disappointment, anger, and even betrayal. It is important to give yourself time to process these emotions and take care of your wellbeing.

  • Take time for yourself: Allow yourself to feel and process your emotions. It is normal to experience a range of emotions after being made redundant. Give yourself time to adjust and process the news. It is okay to take a few days to focus on your wellbeing and get yourself into a good headspace.
  • Surround yourself with support: Seek support from family and friends, or a support group. Surround yourself with positive people who can provide emotional support and help you through this transition.
  • Practice self-care: Look after your physical and emotional wellbeing. Engage in activities that contribute to your overall wellbeing, such as exercising, meditating, or spending time in nature. Eat healthily, get enough sleep, and practice self-compassion.
  • Seek professional help: If you are struggling to cope, consider seeking professional help from a career coach, counsellor, or therapist. They can provide guidance, support, and tools to help you manage your emotions and navigate your career path.
  • Reframe your perspective: While redundancy can be challenging, try to view it as an opportunity for growth and change. Remind yourself that redundancy is not a reflection of your performance or skills. It is common in today's ever-changing markets, and many talented professionals experience it at some point in their careers.
  • Focus on the future: Instead of dwelling on the past, channel your energy into planning your next steps. Re-evaluate your career goals, explore new career paths, and consider what you truly want from your career. Update your CV, develop new skills, and start networking to create new professional opportunities.

Remember, it is important to take care of yourself during this time. By processing your emotions and focusing on your wellbeing, you can navigate the challenges of redundancy and work towards a positive future.

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Redundancy isn't a reflection of your performance or value

Being made redundant can be a challenging and uncertain time, often causing a wave of emotions such as shock, anxiety, and fear. It is important to remember that redundancy is not a reflection of your performance or value. It is about an organisation's changing needs and the commercial grounds it is operating on.

Redundancy dismissals are often carried out quickly, and an employer might find it easier than a performance-based dismissal. However, this does not mean that your skills are not valuable. It is essential to maintain a positive relationship with your former manager or employer, as they can be instrumental in helping you find a new job.

Following redundancy, it is crucial to put a survival plan in place. While it is understandable to want to take some time off to process, you should start looking for new opportunities as soon as possible. You can also use this time to reassess your career goals and explore new fields or roles. Meeting with a career coach can help you understand your options and figure out if there are any training opportunities to strengthen your skill set.

Remember, redundancy can be an opportunity for a fresh start and a chance to pursue something you are passionate about. Many people who have been made redundant have gone on to have successful professional lives after resetting their goals.

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Maintain professional relationships and leave on good terms

Being made redundant can be a challenging and uncertain time, and it is completely normal to experience a range of emotions. However, it is important to remember that redundancy is not a reflection of your performance or skills, but rather a result of commercial or organisational changes. With that in mind, here are some tips to help you maintain professional relationships and leave on good terms:

  • Try to stay professional throughout the process, even if you feel frustrated or distressed. Avoid displaying strong negative emotions or criticising your boss, as this could sever working relationships that may be valuable in the future.
  • Remember that your manager and colleagues could be valuable contacts when it comes to finding a new job. They may have connections or be able to offer helpful career advice, so it is in your best interest to maintain a positive relationship with them.
  • When the time comes, be sure to thank your employer for the opportunity to work with the company and leave on good terms. This will reflect well on you and could even lead to future opportunities.
  • Take the time to gather all the paperwork and information provided by your employer. This will ensure you have a clear understanding of the redundancy process and your entitlements.
  • Reassess your career goals and consider exploring new fields or industries. Redundancy can be an opportunity to pursue new paths and make positive changes.
  • Update your CV and be honest about your redundancy when applying for new jobs. Frame your redundancy in the context of organisational or economic changes, and highlight your successes in your previous role.
  • Stay motivated and proactive in your job search. Treat your job search as a full-time job and maintain a positive mindset to help you navigate the transition.

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Create a survival plan and start job hunting

Being made redundant can be a huge shock and one of the scariest challenges in one's professional life. However, it can also be a chance to re-evaluate your career goals, put an effective plan in place, and look for a suitable new challenge.

Firstly, it is important to set a precedent for how you will spend your time between jobs. While you may want to take a few days to get yourself into a good headspace, do not let days of idleness stretch into weeks. Remember, job seeking is a full-time job. Maintaining your motivation can be helped by approaching your job search as you would a job.

Secondly, update your CV and online professional profiles. When discussing your redundancy in a job interview, explain the circumstances, such as the financial performance of the business. Talk positively about your time and achievements with the organisation and explain how you want to continue to build on your successes in your new role.

Thirdly, consider whether you want to take your career in an entirely new direction. Take the chance to review your industry and role. This could be an opportunity to explore a new field, follow career advice you haven't previously been able to pursue, or launch that great business idea you've been sitting on. Meeting with a career coach can help you understand what a new industry or role may involve and ensure your expectations are realistic.

Finally, network and meet with a recruiter. Consider temporary assignments, research organisations before applying, and use the time between jobs to upskill.

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Explore new career paths and seek career advice; financial support is also available

Redundancy can be a scary and challenging period, but it can also be an opportunity to explore new career paths. It is important to remember that redundancy is not a reflection of your performance or skills. It is a commercial decision made by the organisation.

Exploring New Career Paths

Being made redundant can be an opportunity to reset your career goals and explore new fields or industries. It is a chance to pursue career advice you may not have considered before or to launch that business idea you've been sitting on. Meeting with a career coach can help you understand the expectations and realities of a new industry or role, as well as identify any potential options or training opportunities to strengthen your skill set.

Seeking Career Advice

It is important to seek career advice and support during this transition. The Australian Government provides support for retrenched workers through Workforce Australia, which offers pathways to consider new careers through tools like Job Switch. This tool helps identify jobs based on your existing skills and experience. You can find your local Workforce Australia provider online or by calling the Digital Services Contact Centre at 1800 314 677.

Financial Support

Financial assistance is also available to retrenched workers under certain circumstances. Services Australia provides access to Centrelink benefits, and you can check your eligibility through the Centrelink Payment Finder. If you receive a redundancy payout, you may be subject to an Income Maintenance Period that will affect when you can start receiving certain payments. The Fair Entitlements Guarantee is a legislative safety net scheme that ensures retrenched employees receive their fair entitlements if the employer is unable to meet their obligations.

Frequently asked questions

It is important to remember that redundancy is not a reflection of your performance or skills. You should try to leave the company on good terms and maintain professional relationships, as these connections may help you find a new job.

It is natural to feel overwhelmed with emotions such as shock, anxiety, fear, disappointment, anger, and betrayal. However, it is important to not let these emotions lead you to do or say things you may later regret.

You should put a survival plan in place and start looking for a new job as soon as possible. You can also check if you are eligible for any Centrelink benefits or support payments from Services Australia.

You should update your CV and be honest about your redundancy when applying for new jobs. You can also use online tools such as Job Switch to identify jobs based on your existing skills and experience.

Redundancy can be an opportunity to explore a new field or launch a business idea. You can meet with a career coach to understand your options and seek out training opportunities to strengthen your skill set.

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