Have you received the dreaded brown envelope informing you that you’ve been made redundant? Whether you are now ‘surplus to the current business plan’ or ‘an inevitable part of the economic downturn’, it is unwelcome news.

If you're feeling down, don’t get too discouraged - there’s light at the end of the tunnel. Go through the Information sheet  Redundancy-making the best of it, where there's information about what you're entitled to, doing a skills health check and how to recession-proof your CV together with links to free courses on the Open University's Outsmart the recession  website. Their Career's Advisory Service  also includes advice about applying for jobs.   In addition, the National Careers Service provides extensive advice for people working at all levels.

Read about how Roger is dealing with the process in "My firm is laying staff off and I am thinking of a career change, but feel too old at 45".

If you'd like free one-to-one advice from a local, experienced careers adviser, email us .

Get your facts and figures right

If you’ve worked for an employer for at least 2 years you have the right to receive redundancy pay. Up to £30,000 will be tax free. Exactly how much redundancy pay you are due can be calculated using the benefits adviser.

What regular financial commitments do you have?  Could any be reduced or could the terms be changed?  For example: mortgages, direct debits, credit cards, loans, hire purchase, life and/or health insurance, subscriptions and memberships.

• Check any pension schemes you are contributing to - do you need to do anything?
• Do you qualify for benefits?  This might either be "The Contribution-based Jobseeker’s Allowance" for those who have been credited with Class 1 National Insurance (NI) contributions, or the "Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance". The current rate for someone aged 16-24 is £47.95 and aged 25 and over is £60.50.  For couples or those with children see the  Directgov information. You may also qualify for Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI) or Child Tax Credit 

You can claim online, or ring 0800 055 6688 (8.00am-6.00pm Monday-Friday.)

Upskill 

Higher education could boost your career prospects and earning potential, whilst giving you the chance to learn something that really interests you.  Many employers target graduates in their recruitment campaigns and on average, graduates tend to earn substantially more than people with A levels who didn't go to university. Projected over a working lifetime, the difference is something like £100,000 before tax at today’s valuation.

A higher education qualification will also build your skills and confidence whilst opening up new opportunities - whatever stage of life you're at. 

For work-related degree options search Foundation degrees in the South East - the tool that enables you to search everything on offer in the South East, see what's available nearest to you and view the individual course descriptions.  

Studying part-time at the college or university near you may be an option but you will still need to check that your benefits aren't affected.  Or try the Open University where all courses are part-time and studied at home in your own time.  For more detailed advice about choosing a course go to the study choices pages.  

Already a graduate?

Look at the information on internships in finding employment - they may be appropriate if you graduated recently.  Or consider doing a short course to improve your employability - look at the business facing pages of your local university and college websites to see what's on offer.  If you get stuck email us .

Postgraduate choices

See the Guardian's guide to what it would cost to do postgraduate study. Also have a look at the information and advice for postgraduates at Prospects and Postgraduate Study: Getting Started .

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