Two Years Two Redundancies

[Tank]

Well today its official my role has been made redundant, just under 2 years ago i was made redundant from another role in the same company and again it has happened to cut cost.

This time there was nowhere else to move in the company so I am out the door. But thankfully the company has been kind enough to let me keep my laptop and extend my redundancy package and allowed me to not work my notice period.

So time to decided if to stick to IT and go for another job doing the same thing (which i am a bit bored of, but i would get a higher wage) or look for at other fields (but start at the bottom of the ladder again)

9 years IT experience, almost 7 of which are in the retailing industry, 3 years at uni and 2 at college doing IT. How hard is it to change and start again with a wife and a 2 year old to support?

 

[MartinK9]

Sorry to hear that Tank. Hope you find something quick.

As for me, if I was in your situation, I'd stick with IT -family and food on the table comes first.

Once employed, start looking for something to move into later on.

 

[RonW]

That's tough, Tank.
Personally I'd say follow your heart, if possible.
But whatever you're going to do next, good luck doing it!

 

[dwardo]

Maybe try contracting, work less hours and earn a little more. Be your own boss.
Has its down sides too but less chance of getting made redundant.

 

[John Fenna]

Bummer!
Still - there is work out there for those willing to work.
Good luck anyway!

 

[Teepee]

I feel your pain.

I was made redundant 4 times before I was 25 with companies that closed, relocated or lost contracts. Then, I retrained and had to give that up for medical reasons.

I found some site labouring work that allowed me to retrain once again at college as a tradesman and have been self emplyed since then for 10 years as a Decorator.

It wasn't easy but I'm a lot happier now and no-one can wield the axe.

 

[Tank]

Cheers guys, i am going to do any job i can to get money in for now. I know there is work out there, just hope i can find it as local as i can.

Ijust have to say I love being a member of this community, with in 5 mins of posting this thread I had a PM from Red giving me some contact details for people to send my CV too.

 

[Shewie]

I've done 14 years in IT in the retail industry too Tank, if I was forced to look at another job I think I'd like to try something different.

 

[Essexman]

Sorry to hear about your bad luck. Let's face it, that's all it comes down to sometimes, luck of the draw.

I would agree with others, as you have a family, find work in what you know and then have a sit down with you wife, friends and family and have a long hard think about what you would like to do to earn a living.

Being in engineering I've seen many people forced to leave jobs they have been in for many years and done nothing else but that job. It can be inspiring to see them months later telling of how it was the push they needed and now they are very happy doing something they never thought they would or could do for a job. I've seen toolmaker turn to childcare , IT chap turn to making custom handmade kites, engineer turn to teaching, the list goes on.

Best of luck to you, let us know how you get on.

 

[Hugo]

I feel your pain Tank mate.
After 30 years in the same job I had to give it up because of ill health, after a couple of years it turned out I have a treatable tumour beneath the brain, I'm a happy bunny now but at just over 60 me thinks it is hard to get back into work.
Thumbs up to you guys giving Tank some support.

 

[Scots_Charles_River]

Maybe IT teaching or lecturing ?

I was on the dole in winter 92 as I could not continue Outdoor Instructing through the winter, got a teaching degree by 97 and be teaching since. No weekbd work, 5 nights parents nights a year, work 195 days, 13 weeks holiday a year, pensions being squeezed.

Sounds like you have a degree so you may be able to fast track ?

 

[demographic]

Labour only subcontractor here, I finish work on sites all the time.
With luck there's somewhere else to go but the last few years there's been a few tight periods.

 

[cbr6fs]

Might sound odd, but often these things are really a blessing in disguise as they often give us the push to go on to bigger and better things.

 

[Karl82]

As others have said Tim get the work you can now and then look into doing something else later. Good luck mate hope you get more work soon.

 

[SimonD]

really sorry to hear about your situation tim. i would definitely try to get money coming in regardless. once the pressure is off a bit financially then it might be time to a have real think and look around at what you might want to do ideally. it always seems a waste to me when someone is doing a job they dislike. more of our life is spent working than doing anything so i would always encourage people to find work they enjoy. whilst money is a neccesary evil, required to look after your family, i would rather earn less, and be happy in my work than to be highly paid for a job i find soul destroying. sit down with your wife and figure out how much you actually need to bring home to cover your outgoings, that gives you an idea of where you need to be aiming. good luck buddy, i hope you get what you need.

 

[zed4130]

Sorry to hear that mate, ive been in this situation a few times , ive now tried so many different jobs than what i was trained to do, i was a floor layer for 20 years,then a doorman,i worked for the daily mirror on the machines, forklift driver,worked in a few factories but very boring ,now oddly ive worked with elderly with dementia for the last 12 years, although again i would love to try something different like a outdoors job, why not try freelance and train for another job in the future, or have a look what is around, as said there is work for those who want to work,

All the best
paul

 

[Tony]

Sorry to hear about the redundancy...

I'd say you've got to measure it by what you need now. If you need money now to survive then get on with what you know and then look for alternatives, if however you can get by for a little while then look hard now at an alternative and get stuck in so you can get on the ladder before going under. I did that with teaching, got laid off in Manchester from an IT company where I was managing IT support and delivery quality etc. I could have jumped back into things, there was a job offer from Microsoft but I jumped into teacher training, moved to Wales and got on with a different life... that was with 3 kids.

 

[Scots_Charles_River]

Never realisied you were a teacher too Tony.

Great holidays !

 

[lucan]

Sorry to hear of you situation Tank.

I was made redundant a couple of years ago after nearly 30 years in the same industry, 10 with the same Company It's an awful feeling,

I went down the re-training route because of the job prospects in my area, But didn't take to it,
Fortunately worked picked up and i'm back doing the same as before. Don't be too disheartened and Good luck in what you decide.

 

[Buckshot]

Sorry to hear that Tank
My wife is in the same boat at the moment too
Best of luck with whatever you decide to do

Mark