Back On The Payroll - But Not Going To Hang Up My Guitar
last updated: 14 May 2009
Here's the latest contribution from a reader who wants to share his recent redundancy experience.
'Sorry', said my boss, 'but the purpose of this meeting is to let you know that your role is at risk'. And although this means that the bank will look out internally for you, in reality you know that you are going to get the chop.
And, as expected, just two weeks later that jolly nice chap from HR told me that because I hadn't secured anything internally the firm was proceeding to a 'full redundancy situation'. Arm the torpedoes, Number 1, this is a Full Redundancy Situation. I was to come off the payroll in just a few weeks.
My boss was appreciative of what I'd done over two and a half years, which was nice of her, and said that if I wanted to reduce my hours or cut out days during my remaining time I could do so without consequence. I went straight home. After two more days in The Factory and a week's pre-booked holiday I decided I wasn't going back any more.
'Restrict yourself to no more than three or four agencies', said a very nice lady from one of the three or four recruitment agencies who unfortunately came up with nothing for me. In the end, I threw caution to the wind, and registered with about 40 recruitment firms, and I got one interview with one of the bailed-out banks, which came to nothing.
Those who know me well will tell you I'm a keen musician. (I have a Distinction at Classical Guitar Grade 8, play for two guitar orchestras, and I teach). At the local pub one evening, a friend suggested: 'Why not ask the guv'nor if you can play in here ?' So, I chatted up the boss and she was keen on the tyring me out at lunchtime three days each week. So I pitched up, set up a music stand and a chair (and on some days a small amp), and I played seventeen lunchtime 'concerts'. I got paid 'lunch'.
The first few gigs were a bit quiet. I sat there playing one day listening to two women moaning to each other about the Government's plans to fast-track redundant investment bankers into teaching and sneering at the 'calibre' of 'people they'd get'. Anyway, things started to improve (slowly). More punters came into the pub, and I even got the odd round of applause. I got a guitar 'student' out of it too.
After Easter, agencies started calling. The world and his wife all had the same vacancies on their books, but one got me an interview. I started in a temp role last Tuesday, after being off payroll for a mere four weeks. I'm now back in the saddle, but I'm still going to try to get some private clients who want to learn to play the guitar. I've renewed the postcard in the newsagent's window, and plan to go to the local guitar shop to give them some more cards - there's no way I'm going to allow myself to be totally dependent on Investment Banking for my survival ever again.
And, as expected, just two weeks later that jolly nice chap from HR told me that because I hadn't secured anything internally the firm was proceeding to a 'full redundancy situation'. Arm the torpedoes, Number 1, this is a Full Redundancy Situation. I was to come off the payroll in just a few weeks.
My boss was appreciative of what I'd done over two and a half years, which was nice of her, and said that if I wanted to reduce my hours or cut out days during my remaining time I could do so without consequence. I went straight home. After two more days in The Factory and a week's pre-booked holiday I decided I wasn't going back any more.
'Restrict yourself to no more than three or four agencies', said a very nice lady from one of the three or four recruitment agencies who unfortunately came up with nothing for me. In the end, I threw caution to the wind, and registered with about 40 recruitment firms, and I got one interview with one of the bailed-out banks, which came to nothing.
Those who know me well will tell you I'm a keen musician. (I have a Distinction at Classical Guitar Grade 8, play for two guitar orchestras, and I teach). At the local pub one evening, a friend suggested: 'Why not ask the guv'nor if you can play in here ?' So, I chatted up the boss and she was keen on the tyring me out at lunchtime three days each week. So I pitched up, set up a music stand and a chair (and on some days a small amp), and I played seventeen lunchtime 'concerts'. I got paid 'lunch'.
The first few gigs were a bit quiet. I sat there playing one day listening to two women moaning to each other about the Government's plans to fast-track redundant investment bankers into teaching and sneering at the 'calibre' of 'people they'd get'. Anyway, things started to improve (slowly). More punters came into the pub, and I even got the odd round of applause. I got a guitar 'student' out of it too.
After Easter, agencies started calling. The world and his wife all had the same vacancies on their books, but one got me an interview. I started in a temp role last Tuesday, after being off payroll for a mere four weeks. I'm now back in the saddle, but I'm still going to try to get some private clients who want to learn to play the guitar. I've renewed the postcard in the newsagent's window, and plan to go to the local guitar shop to give them some more cards - there's no way I'm going to allow myself to be totally dependent on Investment Banking for my survival ever again.