Stay or go - evaluate your job now

Have you lost that “loving” feeling?

You’ve survived the layoffs, cut wages, reorganizations and other company changes. You‘re stressed out, fed up and ready to bolt.

On the other hand, the economy is going nowhere, the analysts aren’t sure if we’re in recovery, recession or something in-between and you’re being told “you have a job, be happy.”

So, should you stay or leave? Before you make that critical career decision, take a deep breath, assess your situation and do a cost benefit analysis.
First, consider the reasons to stay. For example:

1. Relationships matter more than money.
You may think you can find a job that will pay you more, but you will be leaving behind a wealth of relationships. When weighing your options, don’t forget the value of the network, the friends and professional colleagues you have now.

2. You are doing well compared to your peers.
Research shows that many people under estimate their skills and their prospects and over estimate others. Take the time to do a realistic assessment of what you have to offer and its value in today’s marketplace.

3. The grass is not always greener.
People, who are desperate to get out of a job, tend to see potential opportunities only outside their company. They enthusiastically take a new job and then realize they’ve gone from the preverbal frying pan into the fire.
Now, consider the reasons to leave. For example:

1. Your relationship with your boss is damaged beyond repair.
You have tried to mend it but you’re getting stonewalled. Yes, she may be a jerk but she is the boss and in a power struggle, you will probably lose.

2. Your values are at odds with the culture.
For example, your company is hierarchical and you want more influence over your job. It’s very hard for one person to change a culture unless he’s the CEO or has been brought in to change things.

3. Your stress level is way off the charts.
It’s affecting your physical or mental health and your relationships with family and friends. You’re burnt out, burnt up and dread going to work.
So what will it be – stay or leave?

In looking at the reasons to stay and the reasons to leave, which will have the best impact on your personal and career satisfaction? What will provide you with the most benefit today? What about tomorrow?

Top 10 tips of facing redundancy

1) Come down, Stay positive. I have faced with redundancy myself couple years ago. It was very hard period of time for me. I didn’t know what to do, I could not find job, I was not sure weather I should change industry or keep on trying to see weather some job will come up…. Basically I was lost and depressed. However, I was trying to stay positive for most of time. As it helped me to come up with different ideas and approaches to find job. Finally I have found job! Besides employers may feel that you are desperate and may think you want job because you need it but not want it…

2) Turn to the government for help. Today there are lots of different programs that are offered by government to support those who are not employed and have been made redundant. Check what your government is offering and claim all possible benefits. That will help you to stay on the ground for the time being and will help to keep attitude positive.

3) Sort out your financial situation. Some people like me, can have mortgage or debt to pay off when been redundant. This situation in today economic crisis can be really scary. However, come down and don’t worry. Talk to your bank they definitely have experience dealing with things like this. Some of the options they can offer you are: restructure of your loan, give you loan free year, or decrease your down payment… More tips are you can find at label personal finance.

4) Talk to your legal advisor- not everyone may need it, however you want to make sure that all your rights are reserved, especially if you feel that there is something dodgy is going on.

5) Start looking for a job – there are many online websites right now that offer job search service,. Visit professional meetings, go for trainings, talk to Hr in companies you are interested in... Just start doing things you like to do or think you want to do. There are lots of people out there who put their passion into everyday work. Who knows you can be one of them…….

6) Consider starting education. If you cant find job straight away, probably education is your choice. There are many great options of education out there – online, courses, universities, master programs and other. Whether you want to receive it from government or from other sources check on continuing education tips

7) Take your time for yourself. Lots of people out there suggest traveling as much as you can. Enjoy your freedom. Personally I think it does not meter whether you go travel somewhere or simply stay home just take a time off to think about your life what is important and what you like/what to do in future

8) Develop social channels. While employed sometimes it is a choice between going for a beer with fiends or be able to start work in the morning next day. However, when you are redundant you have plenty of time for socializing. Communicate with your friends. Even more make new friends. Use redundancy as opportunity to broader your connection and maybe someone will recommend you for a job

9) Focus on result. Remember looking for a job it is full time job. Sometimes numbers (quantity of cv send) are important. All you need is to be in right place at right time. Don’t get upset if you receive no after no. You don’t know their motives for saying no and it is certainly should not stop you.

10) Take any job. If you are in real trouble you can take any job at the beginning just to keep you sound on the ground. However, don’t stop there, continue to look for something you will really enjoy.

Hope u will find job soon!

Types of unemployment/redundancy condition

What condition are you....

Getting creative?


Trying to calm down?


Hoping for the better?


Not worried, relaxed?


Freedom finally?


Cant get sober?


Crying for help?


You are really straggling, have problem with money and desperate for job?

Hard truth about employment

Some of the guru of HR may give you the below advise when you have faced redundancy:

"Find a job that makes you happy"; "Follow your dreams and the money will follow"; Discover your passion and that will lead you to success"; "Go to college, discover what you love and a career will follow."

However, how Joyce Lain Kennedy (syndicated columnist focusing on business and career issues) said”-

Not wrong, but not necessarily so. Even when the job market was happily employee-driven, there were holes in that advice -- as I remind people: "If you can't hit high C, you can't sing opera."

In the times of economic crisis EPLOYERS become more and more PICKY. For example, I currently work in the bank. There were several positions opened in my company, so I decided to recommend some people. In spite of the fact that there are currently few employees in the bank that don’t have collage education requirements to the possible newcomers were very high. They were meant to have specific industry qualification! Some of newcomers have even PHD…. People that had accounting background but not in the bank were not considered….Total amount of people my company was looking for was about 30 people… As to me this is a sign that there are lots of well qualified people out there that competing with you for a job… These days if you don’t have specific qualification within certain business area or you are looking to change industry things may be harder then you thing. There is something to think about and to consider….

This is how it starts

Losing a job is not easy. Of course it is not true for the first day, week, month, or two. Oh, it feels more like a blessing. You can spend in bad as much time in the morning as you want to, watch all your favorite TV soaps (or start to watch one), eat, walk, bath, talk with friends when you want to and as many as you want to, and simply do nothing for the whole day. It seems like you deserve a rest, after so many sleepless nights, stress and constant fight for survival at work. There is no greater pleasure then feeling of calm happiness and peace when you open your eyes in the shinny lights of the warm sun, still in the charm of a wonderful dream. At the beginning this sudden freedom gives you wings of new opportunities, forgotten dreams, and hobbies. There are so many things in this life that you can do, want to do but never had a time for that. I remember how it was for me at the beginning… I had to buy a diary in order to put into schedule all things that were in my mind and I wanted to do. All my forgotten passions came to live – I wanted to dance, play piano, ride a horse, read books, and watch TV. I thought that would be not enough time for me to do all of that…
Unfortunately those feelings didn’t stay for long. At the first evening night when all members of my family was gathered and started to talk about their day accomplishments, success, problems, people they met at work…. Strong feeling that something missing in my life came along. I could clearly see difference between me and the rest of the world. Not much to share… (unless of course about this very tasty dish I cooked and how I managed to do that). First thoughts of misery came into my mind. It got worse. Due to this crisis I could not find a job. Potential employers seem to hide somewhere away from the eyes of people. And then again, most of my things in the “to do list” required money… now I could see problem and constant worries filled in my heart. Obsessed with the necessity of getting job and money I was knocking into doors of potential employers. Probably because of my eagerness that was written in the eyes, or just because of great competition, they all refused me. Which made me worried more….
Worries are not gone… But it got better, since I decided to take advantage of my new life. I was looking at my life from the perspective of stranger that would want the same life as I have for him/her self. And new opportunities started to arise. I came down and now I continue to do things I want to do, just looking with the hope to the future.

What can you do

Being redundant means being left with your own thoughts, desires, dreams, and … It’s a good time to think about priorities in your life, what is important and what is the most important. Friends, family, hobbies, health, travel, and etc now can be paid attention.
Where to start and what to do, if you had never been at home for more than two weeks last year, during illness? There are several things that could be done:

1) Continue search for work
2) Family
3) Health
4) Hobbies
5) Friends
6) Education
7) Learning new stuff about home
8) Reading books

It is up to you to settle priorities in this list. Although there is one great thing about being redundant – there is no need in putting priorities to the list, you just can do a little bit of everything every day. J

List of all benefits

Here is the list of all benefits that you can apply for:

Illness Benefit
Disablement Pension (when paid with Illness Benefit or Incapacity Supplement)
Injury Benefit
Invalidity Pension
State Pension (Non-Contributory)
State Pension (Contributory)
State Pension (Transition)
Jobseeker's Benefit
Jobseeker's Allowance
Pre-Retirement Allowance (PRETA)
Farm Assist (FA).
Farm Assist (FA).

Remember for most of the benefits you have to be working legally for more than 2 years at full time job and paying PRSI. You can be EU or non EU citizen to apply for the benefits. Please check all procedures at citizeninformation.ie

Other benifits

If you lost job, but due to the other reason than redundancy you are may be eligible to other social benefits that are proposed by Ireland government, such as:

Jobseeker's Benefit http://www.citizensinformation.ie/categories/social-welfare/social-welfare-payments/unemployed-people/unemployment_benefit

To qualify for Jobseeker's Benefit you must:
Be unemployed (you must be fully unemployed or unemployed for at least 3 days in 6)
Be under 66 years of age
Have enough social insurance (PRSI) contributions
Be capable of work
Be available for and genuinely seeking work
Have a substantial loss of employment and as a result be unemployed for at least 3 days in 6.

Jobseeker's Allowance http://www.citizensinformation.ie/categories/social-welfare/social-welfare-payments/unemployed-people/jobseekers-allowance

To get Jobseeker's Allowance you must:
Be unemployed
Be over 18 and under 66 years of age
Be capable of work
Be available for and genuinely seeking work
Satisfy the means test
Meet the Habitual Residence Condition.

Illness Benefit http://www.citizensinformation.ie/categories/social-welfare/social-welfare-payments/disability-and-illness/disability_benefit

To get Illness Benefit you must have:
At least 104 weeks PRSI paid since you first started work
Have 39 weeks PRSI paid or credited in the relevant tax year (a minimum of 13 weeks must be paid contributions*)

Documents to apply

You will need the following information to complete a calculations and apply online for Redundancy Payments, this information can be found on your P60/P45 form.

Employer/Liquidator Information
· PAYE Number
· Registered Name/Address
· Trading Name (if appropriate)
Employee Information
· PPSN
· First Name / Surname
· Address
· Date of Birth
· Date of Notice
· Date of Commencement of employment
· Date of Termination of employment
· Weekly Hours
· Weekly Wage

Please also see different Redundancy Application forms depending on:

• if you feel that there is a problem with your redundancy payment
• Employer agreed with the employee
• The Employer fills out section A to notify an employee of temporary short-time or lay-off

http://www.redundancy.ie/employee/redundancyforms.html

Redundancy Payments and Recoveries

If you were officially employed for more than two year and then lost your job due to circumstances such as the closure of the business or a reduction in the number of staff. You have a right to apply for Redundancy Payments and Recoveries.

Check if you under following list of requirements to get it:

1) Be aged over 16 years of age
2) Be in employment and paying PRSI contributions, which are insurable for all social welfare benefits. Currently this is only a PRSI Class A contribution
3) Have worked continuously for the employer for at least 2 years (104 weeks)
4) Have been working continuously for the employer for more than 2 years if working part-time.

You can apply online for Redundancy Payments and Recoveries or calculate your payment:
http://www.gov.ie/en/services/redundancy/

Review

In addition to rising unemployment, a number of other recent indicators show the impact of the economic crisis on working people.
Car sales registered in March fell by 64 percent compared to the same month in 2008. Total car sales are expected to be just 60,000, the lowest since 1993. New goods vehicles issued with licences fell from 3,858 in March 2008 to just 915 in March 2009.
Over all areas of retail activity, sales fell 21 percent in the year to February, although this was a marginal improvement on January, when sales fell 27 percent. Even food sales have fallen by 5.5 percent. Some 25,000 retail workers are expected to be laid off this year alone.
The near collapse of the financial system has not stopped personal debt levels from continuing to spiral. The Money and Advice Budgeting Service (MABS) reported to an Oireachtas (parliament) committee that the proportion of their clients with mortgage problems has risen from 18 percent to 27 percent this year, while the average debt on clients' credit card has gone from €3,833 in 2006 to €8,009 in 2009.

Fear to start everything from the very beginning

Sister Carrie is a book by Theodor Dreiser. Story talks about girl from village coming to Chicago to look for work. Interesting was to know: her first work was paid by 4.5$ per week out of this money she would have to pay for table and bad to her sister 4$ per week. Short summery of the book you can find at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sister_Carrie
I was very impressed with the story line of George W. Hurstwood. In the book we see him first being very reach. He was a manager in one of the most famous places in Chicago. Theaters, everyday spending of hundreds of dollars, recognition among famous and reach people of that time – this was his regular life. Then all breaks apart…. He needs to start life all over again. Difference between his previous lifestyle and the one he was about to start was dramatic. Everything that used to bring him so much happiness in his life: money, reach friends, social position, big house, and etc. was now beyond the line he could reach. Eventually he could not cope with new status and commit suicide.
A lot of people who being redundant today would need to start from the beginning (to some extent)… Some of them will agree to work with less salary, some for no salary, and some will choose new education and then start everything from the very beginning. Changes in life are never very easy, especially if those changes for less prosperity in life. It is all comes down to the person’s pride “I used to be… I used to do… I would not do it… because it’s for people from lover class.” Comparison of past and future may hurt a lot. “I am too educated to do this job or to receive such salary, or to work like this….” And realization that you have to do thet hurts even more.
I went through the same feelings when I was reading a book. My previous job was well paid; I had a lot of friends from “higher class”, every night diner in restaurants, expensive dresses, etc. I moved to the other country and now need to start everything from the beginning. My previous successes are not recognized here but ambitions are as high as they were. Being very convinced in myself I did not want to compromise. I thought “I don’t believe in recession, I know I can do it”. But this book opened my eyes. I was so scared that I will end up like Mr. Hurstwood could not help myself stop crying when I read about his death. I thought a lot about it, and decided:
1) It will not happen to me unless I want it
2) I thought about future me. Who do I want to be in future, what to have, what to do…?
3) I decided to start even from very low, because I know where I want to be, so I can go all the way there.
Don’t give up, there is always something you are the best at. And there is something only you can do, so let your dream come true. Even if it means cleaning the floor at the beginning your dream will lead you through, because you worth it!

Please comment:
Do you find it difficult to start everything from the beginning?

Why it is important not to give up

As it was mentioned before, first desire to do nothing ends up very fast. I believe every person should be fulfilled in some or other way. It is up to you what to do with your life… Just remember:

No bees, no honey; no work, no money. (Proverb)

Work is life, you know, and without it, there's nothing but fear and insecurity.(John Lennon)

Hard work brings prosperity; playing around brings poverty. (Bible)

Remember that you are needed. There is at least one important work to be done that will not be done unless you do it. (Charles L. Allen)

Hard work doesn't guarantee success, but improves its chances. (B.J.Gupta)

I am a great believer in luck. The harder I work the more of it I seem to have. (Coleman Cox)

Thanks http://www.great-quotes.com for quotes