Gwen Shlam's Blog: Getting over redundancy

Monday, January 31, 2011

Getting over redundancy

? Is my voluntary sector experience valid in the private sector?
? How can I sell myself with such narrow experience?

Every Monday we publish the problems that will feature in this Saturday's Dear Jeremy advice column in the Guardian Work supplement, so readers can offer their own advice and suggestions. We then print the best of your comments alongside Jeremy's own insights.

Here are this week's dilemmas ? what are your thoughts?

Problem one: Is my voluntary sector experience valid in the private sector?

I've worked in the voluntary sector for 16 years and am CEO of a small charity that, for a combination of reasons, will not survive the cuts. It will close within the next 12 months.

As the potential opportunities within the voluntary and public sectors are decreasing, many people will be looking to move into the private sector. I have read a few Dear Jeremy letters that have addressed a wish to move from the private into the voluntary sector but not the other way around. How is this viewed within the private sector?

I spoke to someone within the private sector about this recently and he told me that the skills weren't at all transferable, which didn't fill me with optimism. How can I make a CV that is totally focused within the voluntary sector attractive to the private sector, and where would a voluntary sector CEO fit within a private company? I hope you and your readers can help.

Problem two: How can I sell myself with such narrow experience?

I was made redundant without any prior inclination that such a devastating event would occur. Having joined my employer immediately after school, I have just completed 27 years' monogamous service. Currently I am experiencing feelings akin to bereavement, and thus far have only just reached the grief stage after shock and denial.

My specific problem ? other than having just bought a house ? is that loyalty is now a devalued workplace currency, and since I have no accompanying professional or academic qualifications (no degree or A-levels), and only one employer on my CV at the age of 47, how can I obtain another job?

My previous role entailed organising financial services professional exams, courses, book sales and library work. Admittedly the work never truly engaged me, and subsequent promotions were not forthcoming ? although I always scored well in appraisals and diligently strove to succeed.

Although the pay was dispiritingly low, I have recently written material for Radio 4 comedy shows, I write a monthly humorous column for the Oxford Times, I've had a book on Oxford Student Pranks published in the autumn and occasionally present the Eccentric Oxford Walking Tour, but I couldn't ever foresee this earning me enough even just to pay my council tax. So how do I go about persuading prospective employers that they should interview me?

What are your thoughts?

? For Jeremy's and readers' advice on a work issue, send a brief email to dear.jeremy@guardian.co.uk. Please note that he is unable to answer questions of a legal nature or reply personally

Graham Snowdon

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