CV writing & career development

If you’re told you’re at risk of redundancy, do you know where to go to find out your rights, check what notice and pay you’re entitled to and what you can do if you want to appeal the decision?

We've got a specific guide available that covers everything to do with redundancy and your rights at work. If you're looking for support finding another job, or updating your CV, check out the support throughout the rest of this page.

• Check out what your employer has available already. There are many online courses and tools available which you may already have access to.
  
• The Bank Workers Charity have partnered with Renovo (an 'outplacement' service that some employers use) to provide 6 months' free access to Workfriend. Workfriend is a portal that includes a CV builder, job search engine, interview simulator and much more - watch this video for more info.
  
• If you're using Microsoft 365, Word has a built in CV assistant which uses LinkedIn to find data, jobs and helps you to tailor your CV for the job role you're applying for. Find out how to use this facility.
• There are many free online learning and writing tools available. These are just a couple you might want to try: Future Learn, LinkedIn learning, Reed CV builder, and My world of work.
  

• The Bank Workers Charity have partnered with Renovo (an 'outplacement' service that some employers use) to provide 6 months' free access to Workfriend. Workfriend is a portal that includes a CV builder, job search engine, interview simulator and much more - watch this video for more info.
  
• The TUC's Unionlearn have made a tool called Create your own future which helps you consider your career path and options that fit in with your interests. There's a separate and shorter version called Value my skills if you just want to think about your skills and capabilities.
  
• Check out the Lloyds Bank Academy - you don't have to work for them to use this resource.
• There are many other services out there that might be helpful, including Learn my way or using LinkedIn to help you.
  

We understand sometimes it's easier to stick with the security of the job you know than take a risk and change your career entirely - we've all got bills to pay and our situations are all different. Bumping can sometimes be helpful in these sorts of situations. 

• Bumping is a process that some employers use to try and match people who have been selected for redundancy and wish to remain in employment, with others that would like to voluntarily leave.
  
• You don't have to be doing the same role as the 'bumper' in order to be considered for bumping. But there must be a significant job match along with some other criteria.
• Register with us your bumping preference, or if you've already been told you're being made redundant contact your local Accord officer.
• Once you've registered with us, we'll keep you in mind when supporting other members to remain in the business. Registering with us is not a guarantee that you'll be contacted, but please do let us know if any of your information changes such as a new role or a significant increase in salary or your grade.

• The Bank Workers Charity have partnered with Renovo (an 'outplacement' service that some employers use) to provide 6 months' free access to Workfriend. Although Workfriend is mainly a portal that includes a CV builder, job search engine, interview simulator, it also includes much more - including some resources to help you start planning your retirement and guidance to help you think about the practical and mental wellbeing impacts of retirement.
• Age UK have guidance available on all aspects of retirement including information on claiming your state pension or tracking down old pensions you may have lost touch with over the years.
• Use websites such as The Pensions Advisory Service or The Money Advice Service to find the support you need, including finding regulated Independent Financial Advisors - we would not recommend taking advice from someone who approaches you directly as this may be a scam seeking to defraud you of your retirement income. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is!
• Flexible retirement can be a way to help you ease into retirement. Flexible retirement means drawing all, or part of your pension while continuing to work. This gives people the freedom to reduce their hours and wind-down rather than taking a larger step and leaving employment altogether. The terms of flexible retirement will depend on the pension scheme you're in, and the rules attached to this. You can't take flexible retirement before the age of 55, even if you have a right to take your pension on early retirement earlier than this.

Still got questions? Here are some resources that could help you:

• Find and contact your local Accord rep or Officer.
  
• The National Careers Service can help you find alternative work.