I can sympathise with the contributors to Verulam, 17 March. I am sure that many readers employed in structural engineering since the 1970s will have experienced either redundancy or at least job insecurity. Perhaps I can offer some suggestions to anyone in such a situation. My most unsettling experience was to lose my job in London in the late 1980s, having just taken on a mortgage. My mum's advice was good: 'Be bold!' Although one's confidence may be low, the bungee jump into the unknown that is redundancy has to be treated as an opportunity, even a freedom to explore new career options. At least one has time to stand back from the rat race and consider different ways to make oneself useful. Some ideas, then:rn1. Further and higher education establishments may welcome input from engineers with recent practical experience. This could be in the form of lectures, tutorials, or even site visits. A part-time post may become full-time, so be patient if you enjoy the work.
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