We Were Dismissed, and We Accept It – Here's How to Secure a New Role That Fits You Personally
A new year's onset is frequently a moment for introspection, and for a lot of us, that includes thinking about our work lives.
Two editors who lost their jobs following company reorganizations at first believed it was catastrophic.
"I invested all my energy into the job... I trusted in the values we championed. However, regarding my situation, that ethos were absent," one of them remarks.
They both opted to employ the word "fired" and argue that being transparent about what happened can help you deal with the experience.
"People rely on numerous soft terms for job loss. However, the quicker you own it, the faster you're honest about it, the sooner you can move on.
"That's the direct path to whatever you wish next," she adds.
Currently, they are excelling in new ventures, where one owning her own media company and another working as editor-in-chief for a high-end journal.
For those who have been made redundant or are simply considering a shift, here are four approaches to assist you.
1. Reflect On The Past Year
It's natural to feel some apprehension about work following time off.
A careers coach stresses the necessity of introspection prior to launching the search for a new role.
She suggests individuals to think about what they desire to do more of, what they want less of, and which factors energizes or exhausts them.
Reviewing your achievements to find common themes can also help. "Avoid just looking at the most recent period, since everyone suffer from for recency bias that can impede the process," she states.
She also says it is vital to establish where your work plays in your life.
This means being candid regarding the hours you spend working and the influence on your social and social life.
After being let go, she recommends preventing your identity be defined by your work.
2. Make Incremental Actions
The expert states that individuals can take incremental moves towards changing careers without a complete leap.
Her own journey required a long period to transition from her corporate career to running a company completely, developing her idea concurrently with her role, which enabled self-funding from the start.
"It required more time, however, that was the method I used in a sustainable way," she comments.
She advocates for a "try before you buy" strategy.
This could be volunteering, participating in a work project that interests you, or accepting something different within your current team.
"The worst outcome, you learn it's not a fit, however, it's wiser to learn now instead of after you've made the move," she adds.
She also advises looking into short-term "bridging roles". These may not be the dream position, but they act as progress towards your goal, for example a position with parallels to your desired career, but in a different area.
"It's about granting yourself the leeway to say this is suitable temporarily, but that does not mean for all time.
"That can be a clever tactic to get closer to your new career."
3. Acknowledge Your Achievements
Should you have recently lost your role, you are not the only one – job cuts have surged significantly recently.
A former editor was the top editor for a fashion publication, but in 2022 her entire team were made redundant after the company discontinued the physical magazine.
Recognizing that this was not a reflection of her skills helped her cope with the situation.
"Your experience remains with you just because you lost your job.
"Do not surrender your self-worth, it's vital for everybody to recall their intrinsic value."
The other editor lost her job after a decade in a business journal due to leadership changes at the top and the appointment of new leadership.
She stresses that much of the shame of dismissal is self-imposed.
"With many people being laid off, it's usually not about you. It's likely not your fault, so avoid carrying that burden of shame forward."
4. Create a Career Checklist
For those who are urgently looking for employment or are utterly miserable in your current role, it can be tempting to dive straight into applying for any vacancy – overlooking your own happiness.
Yet, this can be a significant mistake.
Instead, she suggests a method called "browsing" – focusing your search to only role profiles that seem appealing.
She suggests exploring job platforms and gathering a selection of that seem promising.
"What are {the words|the
