We Were Let Go, and We Accept It – Here's How to Secure a Fresh Position That Suits Your Needs
The beginning of a new year is frequently a period for contemplation, and for a lot of us, that involves evaluating our career trajectories.
Two publishing professionals who left their jobs following company reorganizations at first believed it was a disaster.
"I poured my heart into the position... I had faith in the principles we stood for. But in my case, those values were absent," one of them states.
The two decided to employ the word "fired" and suggest that being transparent about the situation can assist you process the experience.
"There are numerous alternative phrases for job loss. Yet, the sooner you own it, the faster you're candid about it, the quicker you can move on.
"It's the direct path to whatever you desire to do next," she adds.
Today, they are thriving in different roles, where one leading her own firm and another working as editor-in-chief at a prestigious publication.
If you've lost your job or are considering a shift, here are four strategies to assist you.
1. Contemplate Last Year
It's natural to experience some apprehension regarding your job after a holiday break.
A careers coach emphasizes the value of reflection before embarking on a fresh job hunt.
She encourages people to consider what they desire to pursue more, what to decrease, and which factors motivates or depletes their energy.
Examining your past successes to find common themes is also beneficial. "Try not to focusing solely on the last month, since everyone suffer from for recent-event bias that can hinder your judgment," she states.
A former editor says it is important to determine the role of work plays in your life.
This involves being truthful about the amount of time you devote to work and its impact on your personal and social life.
Following her job loss, she suggests against letting yourself be defined by your work.
2. Take Gradual Moves
She states that individuals can implement incremental moves towards a career shift without a complete leap.
She took several years to make the jump from her corporate career to managing her own company full-time, building her project alongside her job, which allowed self-funding from the start.
"It required more time, but that represented my approach without risk," she explains.
She recommends a test-run approach.
This can include volunteer work, getting involved in an initiative that captures your interest, or saying yes to a different task in your existing role.
"The worst outcome, you learn you don't like, but it's better to learn now instead of after you've made the move," she states.
She also encourages looking into temporary "stepping-stone" positions. These may not be the dream position, but they serve as progress in the right direction, like a job that shares traits to your target field, yet not in the same industry or sector.
"It involves giving yourself the permission to accept this works for now, however, that is not the same as forever.
"That can be a very smart approach for getting nearer to your desired transition."
3. Remember Your Accomplishments
For anyone who has recently lost your job, many are in the same boat – redundancy rates have increased significantly in recent times.
A former editor was the top editor in a magazine, but in 2022 her entire team were laid off following a decision to ceased print operations.
Realizing that this was not a reflection of her skills helped her handle the transition.
"Your experience doesn't disappear just because you were dismissed.
"Do not surrender your power, it's vital for all individuals to remember their own worth."
Her colleague lost her job after ten years with a finance publication following a regime change at the top and the arrival of a new editor.
She notes that a lot of the embarrassment associated with being fired is self-imposed.
"With many people being laid off, it's usually not about you. Chances are not your fault, so refrain from bearing that feeling unnecessarily."
4. Develop a Professional Checklist
For those who are urgently looking for work or are utterly miserable in your current role, it can be tempting to apply hastily for any job – overlooking what suits you.
But this is a major error.
Rather, she recommends an exercise called "browsing" – filtering opportunities on job descriptions that seem appealing.
She recommends exploring sites like LinkedIn and gathering around 10 to 15 that appeal to you.
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