Redundancy at 21 is a strange experience

Redundancy is not something you give a lot of thought to when you are a young student working part-time but in this harder economic climate, redundancy is something everybody is having to get used to.

I experienced the feeling myself when I was let go this week. In November, Ladbrokes announced that they would be closing down the call centre I worked at this year, due to a considerable drop in profits during the recession.

This led to months of uncertainty and unease at work, with regular gossip and whispers about how and when staff would lose their jobs. Clearly it was a difficult atmosphere to work in.

Compulsory redundancies were given this month to a significant number of staff, including myself, before the centre is closed in the near future.

I had thoroughly enjoyed working at Ladbrokes because
the job was largely based in sport, which is my passion.
But suddenly it was difficult to motivate yourself for work,
knowing that you would no longer be there in a few months.

Although the worst of the recession is said to be over, all of
those hundreds out of work are going to struggle to find
new employment.

Hearing that I was to be made redundant was a strange
feeling - you worry about money, about finding another job,
about how other people will cope.

Other members of the staff will be in a more difficult
position than myself, particularly those with families,
whereas it was just a job for extra money to me.

I do not feel bitter towards Ladbrokes, because I understand
the situation the company is in, and the management were open, honest and helpful towards staff.

In fact, it may prove to be a blessing in disguise as I come to the crunch of my university career. As essays and dissertation work builds up, the extra hours I will have available could prove very useful.

For now I am keeping my options open. I am not actively looking for a new job, at least until I finish my university course and earn my degree in the summer.

In an ideal world, I will go into a full-time job once my days as a student are over so I may not need alternative part-time employment in the meantime.

Being one of the Website Editors of this site is the only job I've got at the moment. I might not be getting paid but I am loving it, and there's no chance of being made redundant... I think.