Sway
Posts: 8879
Joined: 30/9/2005
From: Albuquerque
|
quote:
ORIGINAL: moontheloon
So the news has hit tonight that the company I work for is going to go into administration in the next few days, possibly even tomorrow. It's been a long time coming, but somehow It's still a but of a shock. I've worked in retail all my life, Just over 7 years now and this will be the first time I have been made redundant (I assume this will happen, it's unlikely that if they do manage to sort a deal out my store will be kept open). I don't really know what to expect.
I don't quite know what to do. I feel like I've been in retail as I've not really known what to do with my life, and I still don't have a clue. So Do I go out and find another job as soon as possible. I imagine I could pick some part time work up fairly easily, in a bar or something else with a high turnover of staff, or do I spend a month or two actually working out what I want to do with myself and make a proper go of finding a career whilst using my jobseekers to survive.
Anyone been in a similar situation, offer advice or whatever. I feel like utter crap right now, really don't know what to do.
You'll probably remember my posts to you after a couple of your recent ones about customers. I'm really sorry to hear you're in this position, I have another friend who works for HMV and he's facing it too, and it's not something I'd wish on anyone.
I went through the exact same thing. I was made redundant from the book shop Borders when it went into administration in 2009. I have to admit the final month working there was horrible due to the customers who seemed to lose all tact and sensitivity about staff losing their jobs, when faced with massive sales and their own sense of entitlement. I say this only to warn you that it's not going to be an easy ride - however, you and your workmates are all going through this together and you'll find the support amongst your team will be what gets you through the day. You'll also find there are some lovely compassionate people out there who do care and will make a point of telling you they're sorry to hear about your situation infront of another customer who's just been a dick to you.
My point here is that it's going to be a rough time, but you'll also get through it because there'll be support from all sorts of people.
As for what to do next, obviously, ultimately that decision is down to you. I was fortunate that I already had a holiday to Singapore planned for the following month (had been booked for months before we went into administration), so it gave me time to relax after a stressful period. I was the same as you though, in that I'd only worked in retail and didn't know what else I wanted to do, so when I returned to the UK, I applied for everything and anything. But this was because I had a flat I needed to pay rent and bills for, so I didn't really have the time to not just apply for jobs asap.
However, and I'm sorry that this isn't happier news, I had to go on the dole and get housing benefit to tide me over until I got a new job. And it took me 10 months to get one. This is due to several reasons - 1) the city I lived in was particularly bad for unemployment, 2) I avoided bar/restaurant work because I wouldn't have been able to handle it, and 3) I applied for everything and anything, which perhaps meant I wasn't focusing enough on pushing for one particular job or acquiring the skills for it.
Your experience may be entirely different from mine - especially since you would be happy enough doing bar work in the meantime. I'm sure you'd be able to pick something up fairly quickly there.
It depends on how much financial responsibilities you currently have. Do you have the money/time to take maybe a month aside to have a long think about what you want to do, and do the research as to how to go about pushing in that direction? Or depending on how the remainder of your time at HMV goes, maybe take a couple of weeks after just to relax a little, then apply for anything to tide you over until you decide what it is you really want to do.
You'll probably find that you'll get access to some careers related organisation within your last month there. I can't recall if it was the manager of my work, the administrators, or the organisation itself, but we were put into contact with Careers Scotland (or whatever it was) and they set up a workshop meeting for any of us who wanted to attend, once we'd been made redundant. So a large group of us went along - it basically gave us information, chat on c.vs, suggestions about how to proceed next, and we could set up individual appointments from there. If this would be of interest to you, and it doesn't get implemented, perhaps suggest it to a manager who could set something like this up? I'm sure there will be other colleagues who would be interested in the service too.
Anyway, my post is a bit rambley, and I'm not sure if it will be of any help, or just confuse you further. I just want you to know that I've been where you are now, I know it is daunting, but you'll get through it. Try to look at it in a positive way if possible - this could be what you need to make the change you want to make?
Hope it all goes well for you Moon, best wishes.
_____________________________
"I am not in danger, Skyler. I AM the danger! A guy opens his door and gets shot and you think that of me? No. I am the one who knocks!"
|
Printable Version
RE: The Unemployed / Made Redundent / Help each other t... - 
Congratulations on the new job :) 
New Messages
No New Messages
Hot Topic w/ New Messages
Hot Topic w/o New Messages
Locked w/ New Messages
Locked w/o New Messages
Post New Thread