Take it from someone who’s been in your shoes

Getting another job can take a while (took me a 6 months to start working again), hope this helps someone.

My mistakes:

Looking for a job only in a same industry and with the same wage.
Relying only on job applications via web (sending a bunch of them and then waiting for whatever happens).
Looking only for a permanent full-time job.
Skipping jobs in different areas (it was tough for my family as it was, didn’t wanna put them through that as well)
Burning cash. From day 1, I should have started acting like I had nothing on my bank account. Regardless of how big your package and your savings are, you cannot now when will your job search agony end, so you need that money for essentials and in case of an emergency.

This is what worked for me:

A temporary job (just few months, but it helped paying the bills, and it was a big morale boost)
Headhunters and job agencies (I selected a few, talked in person and over the phone).
I finally found a job in a smaller town. By that time my savings were almost gone, so if I wasn’t so desperate I probably wouldn’t even considered this. The job was similar to my previous but in a different industry. Starting salary wasn’t even near to what I was getting before, but after a while I got an increase. That put me a just a little below what I was earning, but more than enough to get by, given the costs of living in this area.

Found this text somewhere on the web. Whoever wrote it probably didn’t work for TR, but it could be useful

Comment! It's anonymous!

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Send in your CV's, we're hiring.

SIX Financial Information UK Ltd

6 Devonshire Square

EC2M 4YE London

Thanks, Lance, some good advice too. I’m bumping your post to a new thread for everyone to see.

Nice post - happened once - waiting for next time.

Part time work can't be worse that dealing with some fo the mo--ns at this place..

Additional advice, from someone else who has been through a mass layoff: Come out the gate swinging - your first 7-10 days are critical, though it may take three to six months to line something up.

But within the first 36 hours it may behoove you to begin informally tapping your network of people at potential employers to get yourself on their radar.

For a few reasons:

1) If you intend to stay in the same career, you will very likely be competing with other displaced F&R folk with similar skills. You want to get out front of them, as cut-throat as that sounds.

2) People within your industry will also be eager to hear what's going on at F&R and will also be sympathetic to your plight. Take advantage of this dynamic while it lasts.

3) These conversations can also be an opportunity to exhibit your grit, drive and good character : traits desirable employers value. Be genuine, but optimistic I.E. Don't over-mourn and DO NOT SLAG OFF on your former company I.E.: "I'm devastated, obviously. TR is a great company and I loved working there. Hopefully, this restructuring will make it even stronger. But I've also always been a fan of your shop - I'd be very interested in coming over there. Could you keep me in mind if you hear about anything opening up?"

After this initial blitz: Be prepared for a potentially long, slow, psychologically difficult job search. Finding a new job - when you don't have a job - entails a lot of hurry-up-and-waiting. You put out your calls, you send out your emails and resumes. Then you wait. You follow up. Then wait some more. Your new job is finding a job. And a big part of that job is staying positive and not psyching yourself out.

Good luck!

Excellent advice!

I've been through it (and came back! glutton for punishment, me).

It's definitely a blow to the ego when you're going through it, but it really is just a job. Take time to digest, understand that it really doesn't have anything to do with you as a person or your performance (in most cases) and then move on. We'll all be fine. Honest.

I've been made redundant twice before and your post is spot on! Great advice.

Work out the least you can spend to live, and give yourself that as a "wage" every month.

if you're in the same company for years, risk of losing your job is huge. It is not the end of the world! It may sounds like it, but it is not. It is just a job. BTW your comment rocks!

I really appreciated your post.

Thread regarding Thomson Reuters layoffs

Take it from someone who’s been in your shoes

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