We Got Dismissed, and We're Owning It – Here's How to Secure a New Role That Suits Your Needs
The start of a new year can be a period for contemplation, and for numerous people, that involves considering our career trajectories.
Two publishing professionals who were made redundant from their jobs after corporate restructures at first believed it was a disaster.
"I dedicated all my energy into that role... I believed in the values we championed. But in my case, that ethos were absent," a former editor says.
They both opted to employ the word "fired" and suggest that being open about what happened can help you handle the experience.
"There are so many alternative phrases for job loss. Yet, the sooner you acknowledge it, the faster you're honest regarding it, the faster you can progress.
"That's the fast track to whatever you desire to do next," she notes.
Now, they are excelling in new positions, where one owning a media business and another holding the position of top editor for a luxury magazine.
If you've been laid off or are simply contemplating a change, here are four strategies that can help.
1. Consider Last Year
It's typical to feel some apprehension regarding your job post-festive period.
A career expert emphasizes the necessity of reflection before starting the search for a new role.
She advises individuals to think about what they wish to do more of, what to reduce, and which factors inspires or drains their energy.
Reviewing your achievements to find underlying threads can also help. "Try not to focusing solely on the last month, as people often have a tendency to focus on the recent that can impede your judgment," she notes.
A former editor notes it is crucial to establish where your work occupies in your life.
This requires being truthful about how much time you're working and its effect on your personal and family life.
After being let go, she suggests against letting your life be defined by your career.
2. Take Gradual Moves
She notes that professionals can implement gradual progress towards a career shift without a complete leap.
She herself took several years to move from a corporate role to managing a company entirely, working on her idea alongside her job, which meant she could pay herself.
"It required a bit longer, but that was how I did it sustainably," she says.
She suggests an experimental strategy.
This could be volunteering, joining a work project you find appealing, or saying yes to a new challenge within your current team.
"The worst outcome, you discover that area isn't for you, but it's better to find out now than after you've committed fully," she states.
She also encourages exploring temporary "stepping-stone" positions. These might not be the ideal job, but they serve as a move towards your goal, for example a position with parallels to your target field, though not in the exact field.
"It's about granting yourself the space to acknowledge this is good for now, but that isn't the same as forever.
"That represents a very smart strategy to get much closer to that new career."
3. Acknowledge Your Successes
If you've just left your job, you are not the only one – job cuts have surged significantly in recent times.
A former editor was the top editor for a fashion publication, but a few years ago her entire team were made redundant following a decision to closed the print version.
Realizing that this did not reflect of her performance allowed her to handle the transition.
"What you've learned remains with you simply due to were dismissed.
"Don't give up your self-worth, it's crucial for everybody to recognize their own worth."
Her colleague lost her job following a long tenure at a financial magazine after a change in senior ranks and the arrival of new leadership.
She notes that a lot of the stigma of job loss is self-imposed.
"Considering the vast numbers of people being laid off, it's not personal. Chances are not your fault, so don't carry that burden of shame forward."
4. Build a Career Checklist
If you're urgently looking for work or are profoundly unhappy in your current role, you might be tempted to apply hastily at any opportunity – ignoring your own happiness.
But this is a major error.
Rather, she recommends an exercise called "browsing" – filtering opportunities to only job descriptions that sound interesting.
She advises browsing sites like LinkedIn and gathering around 10 to 15 that you like.
"Identify {the words|the
