Really scared about future since redundancy

Bismarck

hi,

From what I've read you're massively under-selling yourself and shouldn't panic.

How big are the CC balances that you're paying off...I'm guessing from the repayments that they are about £9-10K.

Don't think applying for more is the answer...I'd save that for later when you're in a job that's more "you"..don't waste a credit search unless you have to.

Whereabouts are you based? You will have so many transferable skills that it can only be a matter of time before something appropriate comes up. On the other hand, if you live in a tourism area, is there any seasonal work coming up?

Burlesque_Babe

Do you have a hospital near by? If so, phone and ask to apply to join the 'bank' - the name for temporary staff they use. Sometimes it is a couple of days here or there, but they often have longer 'needs' for clerical and admin type staff.

I've been made redundant twice - the first time in 1999 and then 12 months ago. The first time, I was stupid and frittered away my redundancy money and also couldn't think past the job I was doing at the time (public relations management) I panicked I guess and was very blinkered about my future.

I was then made redundant again 12 months ago from the NHS and without boring you with the details, it was my choice (although it wasn't a volutary redundancy). I took the opportunity to think about what I wanted to do and to look for a job doing what I wanted to do, rather than what I, in the past, would have thought I 'had' to do.

I was also on 28k - I miss that salary so much I have to say!!!

Anyway, I started a job - oddly enough with the local authority where I started my career 15 years ago - 4 weeks ago working in adult education. It's admin, 18.5 hours a week and only £7k a year. I could have worked back in PR, but after 15 years, I've vowed not to directly work in the industry again. I'm really enjoying my new start.

I top it up in the afternoons and weekends working from home with AQA - have a look at their website http://www.63336.com to see if they want UK researchers at the moment.

I did AQA as my only income after I was made redundant and it is possible, but it does mean a lot of hours.

I start a course tomorrow which is the first step towards becoming a teacher of adults. It's something I'm excited about and could help me become a teacher - I've wanted to teach for years, but weirdly, being in full time employment I couldn't 'afford' to take a year out to train to be able to teach children, but being made redundant and having a complete makeover of my life, I can now realise this in another way, although it will take longer than a year to achieve. I'm planning to teach media studies in some way - to use my PR experience.

Have you posted your CV on Monster? I would do if you haven't.

Also - here is a national site for jobs, mixture of contract and permanent.

http://www.jobserve.com/Homepage.aspx

and this is the online version of the Job Centre

http://www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/Internet/setLocale.do?country=GB&language=en&page=/initialise.do

I'm rambling, sorry, but what I think I'm trying to say is that something much better will come out of this, but it is about staying focused and determined to use each day positively, something I didn't do when I was made redundant in 1999.

Did you not get a redundancy package because you were constantly a contract worker?