Thread: Job woes. How to cope with redundancy at 37.

Welcome to the club (of re-trenchees), I used to work for Telstra, Australias biggest retrencher !
At first you feel like your whole world's collapsed, your employer hates you and hasn't appreciated you. This isn't the case, they just don't have work for you any more. As you say, it's a bit tough without quals. The end of this job will mean a fresh start at the next.
As someone said, it's an opportunity to look at mature age apprentiships. Some companys actually prefer to take mature age apprentices as older people are more 'mature', don't have to learn how to work and actually show up the day after payday !.
I'd go and visit the Centrelink people before you finish up to ensure that you get all the right paperwork from your soon to be ex-employer to smooth the transition to whatever you do next. Also so that you can find out what is on offer.
Don't crack the ****s and make a ***** of yourself, it's not fair on your work mates and remember you may just need a good reference. Blowing a good work history only hurts you.

Best wishes for whatever you do next.

Deano

you need a doctors cert to take a sickie when in a notice period.

be nice, play the game, smile and bite your tongue.

upgrade your skills or go out on your own.

you drive?

big call for escort drivers for all this stuff being moved for the mining gear...

good money ....

worth looking into...

You are only 37 so have not yet hit the invisible, unspoken, illegal and discriminatory age barrier. Unless you live in an area of high unemployment or poor employment prospects, you should not have a problem.

Centrelink these days is self-service or by appointment only. If you go to a regional office without an appointment you will be directed to a 'phone to call a teleservice centre and lodge your initial claim by 'phone and be given an appointment to come to the office. They are trying to get to a situation where nobody comes to an office without an appointment.

Qld Govt has a department that can formalize skills that you have. I imagine it will be part of the Dept Industrial Relation, Social Security should be able to steer you in the right direction.

Mate, keep your chin up, life goes on, you will get through it. Tough times at the moment and I can empathise with you... put it behind you, try not to bear a grudge... when you go for a job interview, they will sense it, and nobody wants to employ a grumble. Your better than that.


"Don't burn any bridges, you never know when you may need to cross them again"

Hey pfillery

I know it feels bad but you have to keep your chin up and push on. You need to remain positive and get yourself out there in the job market. You don't want to be cranky when your in job inter views !! Being stressed out wont help you much so go to your doctor and have a chat with him.

I was made redundant from 2 jobs and its a horrible feeling but it has lead to some interesting work . Perhaps you can use it to make a change in careers ?

You have right to feel angry, mate, but don't burn your bridges. Look on this as a new start for something better, hit your Boss up for a good reference, then sit down in a calm moment and reflect on where you want to be in the future, then do your best to work towards that. Never know, this could be the best thing to happen for you, just don't turn into an angry young man . [ you are young, with a lifetime of work ahead of you, don't despair] Bob

Originally Posted by DeanoH

Welcome to the club (of re-trenchees), I used to work for Telstra, Australias biggest retrencher !
...

As someone said, it's an opportunity to look at mature age apprentiships. Some companys actually prefer to take mature age apprentices as older people are more 'mature', don't have to learn how to work and actually show up the day after payday !.

When my job with Telstra was moved to a new JV company in 2001, I decided not to go with it despite the higher pay. I took a redundancy and looked for another job in a totally different field. I was 55 and had no experience but they trained me. Going into the interview with a positive manner and knowing a bit about the company helped. I did some psychometric tests on-line to prepare myself (the new company used that sort of testing).

I finished with Telstra on the Friday and started with the new employer on the following Monday. It was just like moving to another division in Telstra and doing another course on some new equipment.

One thing the new mob liked was that us older employees would turn up for work on night or evening shifts Friday - Sunday as we weren't out boozing or partying. I got a lot of overtime that way.

For me, I've been lucky. Only those two days (Sat-Sun) unemployment in 45+ years of working.

I sometime wonder if those who cannot find jobs are limiting their view to what they know (and, often, the big bucks they were earning before). To start, my new job paid about 1/3rd what I was offered to stay in the JV company - but I was much happier and I worked much closer to home.

Leaving on a sour note may be counter-productive. I was a low-level manager in Telstra and was called for references even though we weren't allowed to give them. Careful wording of my replies gave the caller my view on a couple of blokes. I had another ask if he could give my name as a referee. I told him "You wouldn't like what I'd have to say, Joe!"