subject: How To Avoid The Major Self Deception Traps Post-redundancy [print this page] Redundancy is an issue that has been plaguing employers and employees across the UK as the recession continues to bite. The topic has been widely discussed, but despite this the latest evidence points to a 'head in the sand' attitude when it comes to looking for work. Jobseekers are taking too long to act on their redundancy and according to the experts this is very likely to be affecting their chances of being re-employed.
A recent poll of jobseekers showed that 32% are taking over a month to register at their local Jobcentre Plus, while 21% are waiting eight weeks. This apparent lack of urgency could very well be due to some of the self deception traps that have been snaring jobseekers lately. Fortunately, though, there are ways to avoid them for those who know how.
The self deception pitfalls
One major trap that jobseekers are frequently falling victim to is underestimating how long it might take to find a new role in the current job market. Quite often, those who have gone through the stress of redundancy and received a redundancy package offering perhaps 6 months salary, will decide to have some time off to recover and relax. They might while away their days enjoying leisure activities and spending time with family and friends. But the time will soon add up and the problem comes after a few months, when the person is no longer the IT, Sales or Finance Director of a large well-known organisation: they are now unemployed and have been for a number of months. The gap left on their CV as a result can speak volumes and can be hard to overcome.
Assuming that a role will appear which is similar to their previous one is another trap that jobseekers are being caught by. It can take a while for a jobseeker to realise that theyre not just looking for a new job, but in some cases a new career. Quite often they dont understand the transferable skills that they possess, which will make their career change possible.
Other jobseekers, meanwhile, have been deceiving themselves into thinking that recruitment agency interviews are the equivalent of actual jobs interviews a misleading assumption to make. But many people just fall into the routine of being out of work. They fill their time with other - often trivial - things and this takes their focus away from reigniting their career.
Overcoming the challenges
A key to avoiding many of these traps in the first place is to start the career planning phase as quickly as possible. An honest evaluation of your own skills and the market is important. This will, if necessary, stop the delusion that another job is out there waiting, and will highlight where changes need to be made to the job hunting process.
The wonders of technology and the World Wide Web are giving jobseekers far more control over their situation that they used to have, thanks to the ready availability of advice and job hunting tools. People are no longer so reliant on recruitment agencies, so to take some of that control for yourself, learn how to be your own recruitment consultant. Understand the system, and work it where you can. When you do visit a recruitment specialist, be open to any opportunities, but dont expect the earth. This is just one route of many to get going with your new career.
While this is all going on, it's important not to let things that you used to do in your spare time take up whole days. Get involved in voluntary work. This looks good on a CV as well as helps with motivation. Joining a local networking club, meanwhile, will provide much needed support as well as a platform for sharing contacts and opportunities.
By staying motivated and focused, you will have a far better chance of success. This positive mindset will shine through in an interview and can help convince prospective employers that you are the right candidate. All of the above is likely to involve some hard work, of course, but the results will be well worth it.
