1. Check your legal position. It’s not the first thing you’ll want to do after that talk with the boss (or the consultant hired to do his dirty work), but it’s important (see box). Redundancy is not the same as being sacked and it comes with a number of statutory rights, plus whatever is specified in your contract. If you disagree with what you’re offered, you have only six months to do something about it.

2. Check your financial situation. Know your costs. Find out what your payout will be and whether you will have to pay tax on any of it (generally you will if it’s more than £30,000).

3.What else can you get? Check your contract. Your redundancy might be negotiable. Perhaps your former employer will let you keep your laptop, or throw in a career-coaching session.

4. Be open minded. Redundancy gives some people the impetus to make the career change they’ve always dreamed about. Now’s the chance to finally get your consultancy business off the ground. Maybe you really could train to be a nurse. Alternatively, get a kick-a*** MBA from a top school, start your own company, and buy out the b******s who got rid of you.

5. Be realistic. If you haven’t started a property development company/upmarket burger chain before now, what makes you think a redundancy payout will make a difference? There is no rule that says people who plough redundancy cash into their own business can’t go bankrupt.

6. Don’t start the day with a drink. You can write off the first weekend if you need to, but after that treat your job hunt professionally. John Lees, the author of How to Get a Job You’ll Love, recommends a career review with a friend or colleague to help you bounce back. “Remind yourself of all the things you have done well, your skills and your achievements,” he says.

7. Kick the cat. Oh calm down, it’s a metaphor. Lees says that people who feel angry about being made redundant need to get it out of their system before they start job hunting. No one wants to hire the red-eyed freak who is muttering to herself about revenge. “Be prepared to put some work into reviving your self-esteem.”

8. Update everything. Clearly your CV will need refreshing, but so might your attitude. People who’ve been wrapped in the velvety warmth of a comfortable position might not have kept much of an eye on the job market. Take a look. You might be worth more than you realise.

9. Get out of the house. Talk to everyone you know in your field. Then talk to people you don’t know but who might be interesting. Most jobs come through networking. Don’t be ashamed of being made redundant — it doesn’t have to look bad on your CV, Lees says. “Plan a way to talk about your redundancy in neutral terms, such as ‘It happened to the whole team’.”

10. Prepare for rejection. Most of the jobs you apply for will go to someone else, Lees says. “Don’t let initial knock-backs throw you off your goals.” It’s not you. It’s just one of those things that all job seekers have to put up with.

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