I was out of work for a few months after being made redundant (the time I broke my escort), then applied for another job. The job I went for, they said I was too technical for (team leader for a 1st line IT support role).

I was shortlisted for the TL role, had to do 2 tests and they had over 80 applications. The agency called me back after all the tests and 1-1 interview and said my technical ability would have been wasted in the 1st line TL role, but would I consider 2nd/3rd line support techie.

After accepting and contracting for 11 months, I was made permanent in June this year. Quite a bit more money as well, and only 50/50 in the office

We are government funded so not threatened with redundancy AT THE MOMENT (touch wood), but I really do feel for the people that are out of work at the moment and cant find anything above NMW.

You take on mortgages etc that you can afford comfortably at the time, and if you are in a well paid job then made redundant, it can be very hard to find that level of pay again