My work friends have abandoned me since I lost my job

DEAR DEIDRE: HAVING left my job, I am sad my ex-colleagues must look at my empty chair yet never contact me to ask how I am.

I was made redundant after a year from the best job in the world – working for a start-up selling software to schools.

I am a man of 30 and became very close to a colleague who joined just before me.

She was a woman of 35. I used to help her with tricky clients so she would hit her targets, and we had great fun together.

The manager called me to a meeting two months ago to tell me that I was being let go due to a downturn in sales.

I was devastated. I texted my colleague and her response? She simply said: “I don’t know what to say.”

DEIDRE SAYS: It’s sad that you’ve lost a job that you loved but a redundancy shouldn’t be taken as a personal criticism.

Your colleagues feel awkward and embarrassed and they probably don’t know what to say, as your friend actually said.

You’re a good, friendly and conscientious employee so you’re capable of finding something equally as fulfilling. My support pack for Job Hunters will help.

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