Career

The current wave of retrenchments announced from big business are expected to pick up pace and spread. To be retrenched is one of those traumatic events on an emotional par with a marriage break-up or death of a family.

It’s just horrible but unfortunately it is a fact of life in an economic downturn.

It’s easy for others to say, but you just have to pull yourself together quickly, not take it personally and get on with the job of finding another job. Australian industry is going through massive restructuring at the moment with some parts shedding staff and others aggressively recruiting.

First up, check your industrial award to make sure you receive the correct amount of retrenchment pay for the years of service and all your entitlements.

Then start talking about your situation. Many people are ashamed it they’re retrenched and don’t tell friends or relatives. Nothing could be further from the truth and generally friends want to help. So be open about it and pick their brains to see if the know of any opportunities.

We can’t stress how much you need to make finding a job like a job.

We’ve had a few mates retrenched and they would get up each day, get dressed properly, shave, shower, have breakfast and hit the phones at exactly 9am and work through to 5pm. They said the discipline and routine kept them motivated.