The first thing to come to terms with when made redundant is that it isn't your fault. Many people every year are made redundant. Some take voluntary redundancy but others, unfortunately, have no choice. Get rid of the blame and anger or else it will eat you up.

You must get to grips with the financial aspects of having no regular income. Make sure that you have got all your redundancy entitlement from your former employer. If you are a trade union member, they will help to ensure that you have what you are due. If you are unsure, contact a Citizens Advice Bureau or a solicitor and they will advise you accordingly. A solicitor may give you the first consultation free, but be prepared to pay something.

Now you have what you are owed, make an assessment of what resources and commitments you have. You need to have at least three months of expenditure covered - if you do not have enough then you will need to start economising. At this point, consider talking to loan and mortgage companies to ask for a payment reduction or holiday to give you more breathing space. Finance companies are far more willing to help before you get into payment arrears than after so tackle them early. You may be entitled to various benefits or rebates. Signing on at your local Jobcentre Plus Office will be a start to getting this information together as well as registering for Jobseekers' Allowance.

Now your finances are secured and you have some breathing space to think about you and your family situation. If the economy is strong then jobs may be plentiful. If things are tight, good jobs may be few and far between and you may need to consider either a career change or retraining. Being made redundant is like grieving; it takes time to come to terms with especially if you have been with one employer for a number of years. The normal reactions include anger, confusion, sadness and a sense of hopelessness. Professional counselling is available from many private companies should you need it, including the Samaritans.

Redundancy is not just a problem for you. Your family will experience many of the same feelings and sentiments that you do. They can be a source of strength and support and may have good networking connections to help you find work. Whatever you do, do not exclude your family from your thoughts, feelings or hopes. A trouble shared is a trouble halved.

Not everyone sees redundancies as a negative act. If there is a reasonable payoff, this can be channelled into new careers or opportunities. Positive thought about what you can do is much better than negative thought about what you cannot!

Finally, you must get yourself physically and mentally ready for the next opportunity. Get your CV up to date, look at all the retraining or other options open to you and practice those interview skills. Make sure that you are in tip top shape and ready to go when that opportunity comes knocking at your door for the next job.