Officially unemployed...

Robert

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... is what I will be, for the first time in my life, come the end of March. (Assuming I haven't secured work by then.)

I took a voluntary redundancy package from my workplace of 10 years and now find myself wondering what I should do.

I've been in IT/telecoms sales for the last decade but could really do with a complete change.

Any suggestions?
 
Robert said:
Any suggestions?
Not fearing to move to foreign countries. It is a luxury to be able to stay in the place you live and being able to find work.
 
Speelgoedmannetje said:
Robert said:
Any suggestions?
Not fearing to move to foreign countries. It is a luxury to be able to stay in the place you live and being able to find work.

True. I'd happily move abroad but I'm not too sure my girlfriend would be as keen. :-D
 
Robert,

Having recently been there myself -- and perhaps returning to it in the future depending on the current position -- you have my utmost empathies.

The big thing is to minimize expenses immediately, then just start budgeting everything and eating a lot of Ramen. Well that last bit's optional, but as far as making a change goes, that may be easy, it may be difficult depending on your background.

I -- for example -- would rather be a writer than have anything to do with computers, but at this point in my life, if dealing with Microsoft SharePoint keeps food on the table, then I'm SharePoint's biggest advocate..

In essence, this is one of those times where you will just have to do whatever you can to get back to work, almost regardless of what that work may be. If I were you, and you were able, I might consider taking a ***short*** break to clear my head then hit the circuit full force trying to find work. Let what's happening sink in so you can get past the first stages of denial then anger and move on to acceptance.

Hopefully though, you will have found something, either with the same company or elsewhere, before it comes to it.

Wayne
 
Buy two turn tables and move to Ibiza!
 
Glaucus said:
Sound engineer.

Hehehe... probably my dream job.

Not a lot of call for it around here but it is something I will be looking into, more in hope than anything else.
 
Wayne said:
The big thing is to minimize expenses immediately, then just start budgeting everything and eating a lot of Ramen. Well that last bit's optional, but as far as making a change goes, that may be easy, it may be difficult depending on your background.

I -- for example -- would rather be a writer than have anything to do with computers, but at this point in my life, if dealing with Microsoft SharePoint keeps food on the table, then I'm SharePoint's biggest advocate..

In essence, this is one of those times where you will just have to do whatever you can to get back to work, almost regardless of what that work may be. If I were you, and you were able, I might consider taking a ***short*** break to clear my head then hit the circuit full force trying to find work.

Thanks for the advice.
I'd already booked a snowboarding week in Austria, which is from Saturday coming. After that I fully intend to get something - even a minimum wage job stacking shelves - to stop me from getting into a habit of non-work.
 
I'm sorry to hear. I am not familiar with "voluntary redundancy package", is that like a forced "early retirement"?

Good luck with your search...
 
Glaucus said:
Buy two turn tables and move to Ibiza!

Ten years ago I may well have tried that.
I still own a pair of Technics but I haven't turned them on for about a year.
Haven't DJ'ed in a club for almost as long.

I'm an ex-DJ! "DJ Nordic Blue!"
:python:
 
redrumloa said:
I'm sorry to hear. I am not familiar with "voluntary redundancy package", is that like a forced "early retirement"?

Not forced but my role was gone. I could've remained with the company but doing a job I wasn't good at. They basically said I could stay and do that job or take ten months wages and leave.
I got the impression I could get the sack within the year so decided to take the offer.
It's a decent amount of cash but I know it won't last too long.

Good luck with your search...

Thanks Jim. :pint:
 
Robert said:
... is what I will be, for the first time in my life, come the end of March. (Assuming I haven't secured work by then.)

I took a voluntary redundancy package from my workplace of 10 years and now find myself wondering what I should do.

I've been in IT/telecoms sales for the last decade but could really do with a complete change.

I was in a similar position myself last year, but I wasn't brave enough to volunteer. If it were me, I'd become a contractor and work for 6 months of the year for 3x as much pay.

In some ways I'd like to have taken it too, but I'd be gambling with my mortagage, and the job market in IT here in Newcastle is dead. It could have been quite exciting. Good luck though!
 
Robert said:
Glaucus said:
Sound engineer.

Hehehe... probably my dream job.

Not a lot of call for it around here but it is something I will be looking into, more in hope than anything else.

@Mike:

I found this on UK Music jobs forum:
I'm not gonna try and put you on a downer mate but I have been seaching for a job in a studio for almost a year in Scotland now and the closest I got to it was some work experience with 2 studios and then a Job doing sales for Sound Control which I just lost because the company has just gone into administration. I have written to and called over 60 Studio's in Scotland plus about 10 post-production ones as well. If they reply to your emails your lucky, I got between 5 & 10 replies from 60-70 places I wrote to, all said no and I was only asking for work experience, not a job. I did find out alot of useful information from some studio owners when I called the studios to talk to them. They basically said that unless you get the luckiest break or know someone in the industry there is not a hope in hell of getting a job in a studio in Scotland, the industry up here is far to small, that was the words of 90% of the studio owners. You either have to be prepared to move away or set up your own studio, which, in Scotland is more than likely going to fold if you try to do it full time. I would advise doing little recordings of bands you know locally to try and get a portfolio together to show to studio's when you send a CV or go in etc. However having the eqiupment to actually record them is the catch 22, how many young people can afford to buy say 10-15 mics so they can record a band, then you need a soundcard with mulit i/o's and lets not forget the mic stands and cables your gonna need, oh and of course a decent computer. In the end you need money to build a studio, you need a portfolio to get work, which you cant create without studio equipment etc. It's a vicious circle and everyone in the industry knows it. I am now actively seeking work outside of Scotland but even then it's still impossible to find a job without the right contacts or experience. It boils down to no experience = no job & no work experience. Keep persevering though mate you might get lucky...

Not particularly encouraging. :-)
 
10 months of wages?

that's nice. That sort of gives you a good chunk of time to find something interesting. maybe even fun.

do you have a dream career?

maybe you could try something in that field
 
Robert said:
Not forced but my role was gone. I could've remained with the company but doing a job I wasn't good at. They basically said I could stay and do that job or take ten months wages and leave.
I got the impression I could get the sack within the year so decided to take the offer.

Yeah that sounds similar to some early retirement packages over here. From what I have seen they are not forced, but force your hand a bit. Most meat and potato Joe Six Pack just get the axe, but industries with unions and executives etc get offered early retirement.

I hope the economy over there is better than over here.
 
Robert said:
Speelgoedmannetje said:
Robert said:
Any suggestions?
Not fearing to move to foreign countries. It is a luxury to be able to stay in the place you live and being able to find work.

True. I'd happily move abroad but I'm not too sure my girlfriend would be as keen. :-D
oh dear, (btw I didn't know you have girlfriend, :pint: )
No such things should indeed not be taken lightly when in a relationship. But you can as well firstly move to another city if you can agree with her on that.
 
Robert said:
Glaucus said:
Sound engineer.

Hehehe... probably my dream job.

Not a lot of call for it around here but it is something I will be looking into, more in hope than anything else.
Ya, it can be tough. A buddy of mine in Vancouver took a course in sound engineering at Columbia Studies. He works as programmer somewhere now, but he did get a few gigs doing live concert sound board stuff. Probably a great way to meet chicks, but something tells me that's not what you're looking for right now. :-)
 
Hey, a wee update:

I've been working for a little comms company since May.

So, I applied for a place on a HND (one notch below a degree) Audio Engineering course.
They gave me an unconditional offer and I was looking forward to it but then found out I'd have to pay my own fees which, along with the mortgage payments, etc, made it unfeasible. In order to get some of my fees paid, I have to do a course which is to a higher level than my highest existing qualification (BSc).

With this is mind I applied to do an MSc in IT at Glasgow Uni and signed up for reasonably cheap, distance-learning, Audio Engineering course.

Anyway, I handed in my notice today and, as of a week on Monday I will officially be a student again.

And, at long last, I might actually learn some programming!

:pint:
 
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