Advice for Individuals

• What is your situation?
• Advice for jobseekers
• Considering retirement
• Starting up a new business
• Useful links

 

What is your situation?

I'm being made redundant. What should I do?

• Talk to friends and family - redundancy doesn't have the stigma it carried a decade ago and people who know you well might be able to offer the best support for free
• Speak to your managers or HR department at work to find out what you need to do and what the organisation is doing in terms of communication and consulting with you
• Contact your Union representative if your organisation is unionised and you are a member
• Think about what you would like to do next: A new job? A new business? Move house? Retire?
• Once you've made up your mind - get on with it - talk to people, research on the web, put a CV together, ring companies you want to work for. Being proactive pays off.

My Employer has gone into administration. What should I do?

• Speak to your managers or HR department and make sure you have contact details for the administrators
• Keep in touch with at least one other employee
• Contact the Insolvency Service and JobCentrePlus to find out what your rights and entitlements are
• Useful links:
  • Know your rights from Direct Gov
  • The Insolvency Service
  • Citizens' Advice Bureau (CAB)

Advice for jobseekers

Looking for another job?

If you are facing redundancy and looking for support and information, here are a few tips to get you started:

Need a CV?

• Update your CV with your latest job, your skills and achievements
• Make sure your contact details are correct
• Keep your CV short. No more than 2 pages, but a decent font size is important.
• Remove skills that are not relevant to the job you are applying for

Looking for jobs?

• Covering letters help you link your experience to a job - make good use of them even if the job vacancy just asks you to send a CV, you always need a covering letter
• Copy application forms and practice writing your answers before creating the final version you will post your prospective employer
• Create a folder and always keep a copy of all your applications, the advert you applied to, coveringletters and any correspondence you get from a company
• Networking will do the trick. Talk to friends and family - they might know people who work in companies or industries you are interested in. Their help could be priceless
• Choose 2 or 3 employment agencies which you think suit your industry and job title. Any more and you risk flooding the market with your CV. Ring them at least once a week for an update on jobs and to remind them who you are.
• Job sites are great, but don't expect that simply by posting you CV online you will be inundated with employers' calls - you have to take the initiative here.

Going for Interviews?

• Know where you are going and how long it will take you to get there. On the day, add 30 minutes to the journey to make sure you arrive on time
• Ask in advance if you need to bring any documents that prove your identity or address
• If you were not told to dress casually - always dress smartly even if you know the organisation's dress code is casual. Suits and good shoes always make a great first impression
• Practice, practice, practice! Think of the questions you might be asked and practice the answer you would give. This is a great way to soothe some of the nerves during an interview.

 

Considering Retirement

• Contact the Pension Service to find out more about your options
• Think about planning your financial future - speak to your bank and a number of independent financial advisors to get a good picture of the market
• If you are considering downsizing, consider the size and layout of the house. Details such as stairs, location bedrooms and width of doorframes can be crucial in later years
• If you plan on moving, consider public transport and the proximity of the house to amenities
• Look into voluntary work, courses or classes to do a bit more with your time

 

Starting up a new business

• Clearly define your idea - how much money will you need to invest and how the will business make money
• Try to talk to people who have taken a similar route
• Speak to Business Link - they offer free courses that could make or break your business.

 

Useful links

Here are some useful links to websites which could help you with your future choices:

Careers Advice
What can I find here? This website has information about different jobs and how to make sure you get them. It also helps you find out more about your career possibilities. If you would like to upgrade your skills in your current job or in a completely different job, this website will help you learn about the new skills you will need and help you find a course to obtain them.

• Careers Advice's guide to CVs
• Careers Advice's guide to Interviews
• Careers Advice's course search

JobCentre Plus
What can I find here? This is your first port of call if you lose your job: this is the UK’s largest job bank and you can also get help with any benefits that you may be entitled to.
You need to book an appointment with JobCentrePlus the first day you are out of a job, even if you know you have another job to go to the week after - this will help you guarantee you are not missing out on National Insurance payments that will determine your eligibility for state pension.
You can book an appointment by calling their central phone line on 0800 0 55 66 88

• JobCentrePlus branch locator
• JobCentrePlus job search site

The Pension Service
What can I find here? This site has anything and everything to do with pensions and planning your retirement - if you are just about to retire, or are planning your retirement in advance. Also, once you’ve reached retirement age, it will tell you what support you are entitled to from the Fovernment and how to claim it:

• Pension Service’s Guides for planning pensions and planning retirement
• Pension Service’s Guide to pensioners
• Get a State Pension forecast
• Winter Fuel allowance
• Cold Weather Payment

DirectGov
What can I find here? This website is the complete guide to knowing your rights and who you should be contacting to get help. It is a good place to start if you are seeking support after being made redundant.

• DirectGov’s guide to Redundancy
• DirectGov’s guide to job applications and interviews

Citizens' Advice Bureau (CAB)
What can I find there? This site offers impartial legal and practical advice about most subjects, from mortgages and finances to employment and health. It is important to book a meeting in advance.
You can also try adviceguide.org.uk - that’s the CAB online advice resource.

learndirect
What can I find here? Focused on learning and qualifications, this website will help you point you in the right direction regarding different courses and qualifications you might be interested in.

Business Link
What can I find here? This site offers practical information for new businesses, 1:1 advice and support and access to free courses that teach the basics of all aspects of running businesses.

Unbiased.co.uk
What can I find there? This is a registry of independent financial advisors across the UK that you can search by postcode and by the type of advice you are seeking. There is also a voucher that you can download for a free consultation.

Voluntary Work Sites
- Volunteering England
- Time Bank
- Do it!