By Waller Jamison

Making a career change is something most people put off, but if you have been made redundant this can be a great opportunity to make a change.

If people in your profession are being laid off, chances are, you won't be able to get a new job in the same career. But once you get over the initial shock, it's time to look at your future in a new way.

Is there something you always wanted to do, but never quite worked up the courage to tackle? Perhaps a dream from your younger days which you haven't had the time to fulfill?

Or it might be that you have developed a lot of skills in your career to date and you would like to use those skills in a different setting.

Of course, there are a lot of factors to consider before you jump into a completely new career, but you don't need to do everything at once.

Finances will be a primary concern at this stage. If you have been given a redundancy package, you will need to look at how long it is going to last and whether or not there is enough money to fund some career-related training.

Redundancy for many comes at a time when the mortgage has been paid off and the kids have left home and so it may just be a case of being careful.

If you aren't so fortunate and still have major expenses, you should be sure to find out about any benefits or financial aid you can claim.

Once you have worked out the finances, take the time to assess what you really want and then take a look at how you can get it. You'll need to do plenty of research into careers and perhaps find out about starting a small business, if that interests you. You might also consider becoming a consultant in some aspect of your existing career and then offering your services on a freelance basis.