Is there life after redundancy?
Page 35
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
Experienced sales executives and managers are being pushed out as volumes in the used truck trade diminish An old friend is about to bring his career to a close after more than 40 years dedicated to selling second-hand products in the used truck trade. A lot of money has passed through the tills, there have been a lot of happy customers, a few less so, but all done by a loyal employee in the name of capitalism.
The end is not through choice, but redundancy. A shrinking used truck market has seen its workforce diminish exponentially. This is not the time or place to get into the whys or the wherefores of the decision, now is the time to assess his options.
With retirement on the horizon, this person, rich in remarketing experience, with more contacts than an optician, is painfully aware he is at an age when a new career in an unknown sector — short of stacking shelves — is unlikely.
Some who have fallen by the wayside with a P45 and a settlement have resurfaced under their own steam, by buying and selling either as an agent or in their own right, but that is a long-term project.
You need time and money to build a used truck business: persuading people to spend their money with you. Phoning, travelling, and so on is all very stressful when you don't have an established name behind you. Even joining a progressive company often means relocation.
Life, sadly, is a little harsher. Selling used trucks, trailers and vans is a commodity-based industry and a more senior employee takes a bigger chunk out of the bottom line than a junior who could do the same job. What you don't see is the experience, guile, and ability to turnaround a pile of crap with a decent margin — something you just can't buy.