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Career Decisions

Deborah

Veteran

Hi All,

Well today we were all summoned to a teleconference (I work in a regional office) with our Executive Director to advise that our organisation has a rather significant budget deficit and the powers that be will be working over the next month to work out the best way to deal with it. It was very clear that redundancies are a head.

Now I have been unsatisfied in my job for quite some time and have been keeping an eye out for other opportunities. There are strong reasons (which I won't go into) for thinking my job should be safe, but you never really know. I am not concerned as it's time I moved on but I wonder if I should start seeking another position in ernest or should I wait and see if a redunancy is offered?

xxx Deborah

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17 replies

Latest reply was from Karie

anne

Veteran

Deborah,
No experience or wisdom to offer here, but I'll send you some hugs!

Hil

(website)

Veteran

Sometimes, when things like that happen, it may be life signalling that it's time for a change - good luck with whatever you decide!

Raisin

Veteran

Gosh I'm not sure I'm qualified to offer advice here. All I can say is, if you are indeed unhappy and can "afford", so to speak, to go to a new job, then take it as a sign! Life is too short to do work that makes you unhappy. It is about 30% of your life energy, after all. Use it up wisely!

Good luck with your decision, I'm excited to hear what you do.

Anonymous

You know Deborah you could seek a new job just to see whats out there; it doesn't mean that you have to take it if your own job becomes safe. Just having a bit of experience testing the waters may prompt a decision. You may even decide on a whole other carreer. I have a friend who changed tack totally and she loves her new job.
It sounds like you have a deal of thinking to do. I know from our interactions on here that you have a good sensible head on those shoulders and what you decide will be right. Good luck.

Inge

(website)

I was going to say exactly what Diane just wrote, Deborah. Why not have a look around while you wait for the "final decision" at your current company (and after that too if you stay on but you still feel you are ready for something else).

Good luck with any decisions that may be ahead, and do keep us posted please?

Kalli

Career decisions are hard. It depends on how you are financially, because sometimes a "safe" job just ends up costing you in the long run, in mentality, personal growth to obtain more skills etc. Every jump you make is a learning decision, searching does not mean you have to take the next job. Only take the job if there is a right fit. It never hurts to "try", it's very much like finding a style.

Isabel

Veteran

Deborah, will you get some sort of compensation if you wait ? Or would they give you compensation ( negotiated ) if you volunteered to leave ?

Glory

Veteran

I have been in this position 5 times. Here is my two cents worth. I would have a look around to see what is out there while you perform your current role. I would not offer to leave as that is very complicated and can work against you. If the company formally asks for early leavers than you can consider it but this usually comes with a very formal package for severance or early retirement and that enables you to consider leaving as a very real option. See how things evolve over the next month or so. If you find a great job then you can start with some planning around it.

velvetychocolate

Veteran

I agree with Glory - get ready to leave if you think that might be coming up, but don't offer. I just think this could cause a 'perception' problem. If they were to offer layoffs/severance packages and you weren't one of the people they were planning on laying off - then there's the perception that you don't want to be there. Wait and see what they end up doing, but in the meantime...

Start looking around, preparing your resume/CV, updating your linkedin if you're on there and so on. Do some real searching and even practice tailoring your main resume for specific jobs when you see something that seems like a possibility.

I think it's wise to hang in there for just a little while and see what develops, while preparing yourself for a new career. A friend of my parents got laid off out of the blue and got a severance that was at least 18 months' salary, plus other stuff too (benefits etc.) This allowed him to search for a really *good* job because he wasn't feeling pressured in terms of income. He now has a much better position than the one he got laid off from, but I *do* think the hefty severance helped him find just the right thing.

One last thing - even if you didn't get a layoff/redundancy and compensation package - sometimes they lay off the wrong people! Sometimes the people you rely on to do your own job get laid off, and the people left behind end up doing way more work, making it stressful. Morale goes down too. So, in this respect, it's wise to prepare for a new career/position anyway. If you're not one of the people potentially being made 'redundant' - you might not like the after-effects of a round of layoffs, and end up leaving anyway.

Hang in there and have fun looking, getting ready and seeing what develops.

bj1111

Veteran

what an interesting opportunity! first off, congrats on recognizing that you may have reached your growth limit in this position and are in a position to look for a new job.

second, i'm with chocolate...i would send out some feelers to understand what the current market is like, but try to hold out for the package.

are you close to your boss? quite senior in rank and salary where cutting here would save two jobs or jobs for younger people who may "need" the job more? is there any way to "volunteer" for the redundancy package? sensitive route, but has worked before.

i'm am so excited for you!

Susie

Veteran

I'm in the US so things may be different but I believe it is wise to see what's out there. Generally speaking, it is easier to get a job while you are still employed. You don't have to make a decision to leave until you are offered a position so it can't hurt to start looking.

Best of luck to you...please keep us posted.

Katiepea

(website)

Veteran

Hi There. Sorry to hear that this is happening to you. My husband and I are currently have faced this situation recently. It's scary, but it is also an opportunity. One thing that may be worth considering is whether you would be entitled to a generous redundancy payout and how much time this would afford you out of work before things would start to get tight financially. Also consider whether you could afford to live only on one income for a while if required?

My husband and I have ended up taking the big gamble and have gone the redundancy route - ie, take the money and hedge our bets that other work will come our way within the next year. It IS scary, but he did remind me the other day that sometimes the things that are worth doing can be scary and this is how you know you are extending yourself. Food for thought anyway. Good luck!
Kx

Lyn D.

Veteran

Well Deborah,
you could always become a Personal Stylist, and earn whilst you do what you enjoy doing!
There are courses out there you can even do on-line, and if you stay where you are you have lost nothing, but gained experience and a new 'qualification' for the future.

Deborah

Veteran

Thanks all. Lyn don't think I haven't thought about it...maybe now is the time:)

I had a good chat with my boss today and it looks like our Department is pretty safe. My position is an externally funded position (government funding) so it doesn't look like I need to be concerned. Having said that, I am still not happy there and am not sure how much longer I can tolerate the way people communicate with each other - there is a real lack of respect for the individual and we are overstaffed at our highest levels with micro managing being the order of the day:(

As my lovely DH says, I really need to stop complaining to him and do something about it

Anonymous

I always like to be proactive, not reactive. I think this would be a good time to start assessing how competitive you are in the job market, to go updating your resume and looking to see what's out there. I find it much easier to find new employment ( plus you are more desirable) when you are already working.

Kristin L

Veteran

I've never been in your position but I think what almost everyone is saying is good advice. Go ahead and get your resume/CV up to date and start looking around. I'm sending you big hugs as well because I'm sure it's stressful. Good luck!

Karie

(website)

Veteran

I agree with the others, take a look around and see what's out there, but keep it quiet. If you are offered a position elsewhere, you can always turn it down if you decide (and are able to) stay where you're at.
It's always risky going to a new work place because then you're low on the seniority list, but it's not good to stay at a job you're not happy with, either.