Education & Employment

with Rosie Plimmer, Careers Consultant

Downbeat economic forecasts are raising the spectre of redundancies again, creating understandable concern for many.

Yet, one could argue it’s pointless worrying about something that is not only unlikely, but out of your control. Government data suggests that we face less than one redundancy event for every 60-year working lifespan.

Even during the financial crash in 2008/9, ‘only’ 1 in 100 were made redundant each month and the rate of redundancy is now one-fifth of that. If it happens, it is also likely to be for reasons we probably can’t control, such as an organisation closing, outsourcing, or automating processes.

However, as with much of our career, we can’t avoid all setbacks, but we can mitigate their impact. More likely than redundancy, people change jobs because they are faced with either no opportunities for development, poor workplace culture or uninspiring leadership.

Our ability to bounce back after setbacks or take opportunities to improve our work lives could be considered a kind of ‘career fitness’.

And just as we improve our general fitness with diet and exercise, we can improve our career fitness with ‘disciplines’ and ‘workouts’ – learning, experience-building and networking. It need not be costly or time-consuming either.

Learning gives tangible skills but also demonstrates commitment. To help, the Workers’ Educational Association (WEA) provides courses across Gloucestershire and nationwide, online or at centres. Open Learn from the Open University also offers over a thousand free courses.

Both offer business, creative and computing courses, as well as life skills such as decisionmaking and communication. There are countless online providers and local sources.

Making and taking chances to gain new valuable, transferable experiences at work demonstrates dynamism and will add strings to your bow. If opportunities are not available, explore voluntary work to get them. Reachvolunteering.org.uk placed 4,000 people in 2021. Contributions need only be for a few hours a week.

Networking starts by creating or updating a LinkedIn profile and (re)connecting with valued contacts. LinkedIn is not the preserve of senior managers, but the self-employed, traders and carers too (amongst others). Participating in some of the two million groups, with shared professional interests, can grow contacts. These investments give you an edge in the job market and build contacts you can then call on for help if ever needed. They also fuel a virtuous cycle of confidence and capability. No bad thing to lift the gloom. The Local Answer To advertise call 01242 510500 Page 15