We Were Dismissed, and We Accept It – Here's How to Find a New Role That Works for You
The start of a new year is often a period for contemplation, and for many, that involves considering our career trajectories.
Two editors who lost their jobs following company reorganizations at first believed it was catastrophic.
"I dedicated my heart into the job... I trusted in the ethos we stood for. Yet, when it came to me, those values weren't there," she remarks.
The two decided to use the term "let go" and believe that being transparent about what happened can assist you handle it.
"We use numerous soft terms for being dismissed. Yet, the sooner you own it, the faster you're truthful about it, the quicker you can progress.
"That is the quickest route to anything you wish to pursue next," she adds.
Currently, they are excelling in different roles, with one running her own media company and another serving as lead editor at a prestigious publication.
Whether you've been made redundant or are just looking for a new career, consider these four methods for guidance.
1. Reflect On The Previous Year
It's natural to have some apprehension regarding your job following time off.
A careers coach emphasizes the importance of looking back prior to launching a fresh job hunt.
She encourages people to consider what they wish to increase, what to decrease, and the things that energizes or exhausts them.
Reviewing your achievements to find underlying threads is useful too. "Try to avoid focusing solely on the last month, as people often suffer from for recent-event bias that can obstruct the process," she notes.
Another professional states it is vital to decide where your work fits in your life.
This requires being honest regarding the hours you devote to work and its effect on your social and family life.
Following her job loss, she advises not allowing your identity be defined by your job.
2. Take Small Steps
The expert says people can implement small steps towards changing careers without a complete leap.
She herself took seven years to move from a traditional job to operating her own company entirely, working on her project concurrently with her role, which meant self-funding from the start.
"It required more time, however, that was my approach in a sustainable way," she explains.
She recommends an experimental strategy.
This might involve volunteering, joining an initiative you find appealing, or accepting something different in your existing role.
"The worst outcome, you learn it's not a fit, but it's preferable to know now than after you've committed fully," she remarks.
She also advises looking into short-term "bridging roles". These might not be the dream position, but they serve as a step forward, such as a role with parallels to your desired career, yet not in the same industry or sector.
"It involves allowing yourself the leeway to say this is good for now, but that isn't permanent.
"That can be a clever strategy to get much closer to a desired transition."
3. Acknowledge Your Successes
Should you have just left your position, you are not the only one – layoff figures have risen significantly lately.
A former editor held a senior role at a style magazine, but in 2022 she and her team were made redundant following a decision to discontinued the physical magazine.
Understanding that this was not indicative of her skills assisted her handle the transition.
"What you've learned doesn't go away simply due to were let go.
"Do not surrender your power, it's crucial for all individuals to recall their own value."
Her colleague was fired after a decade at a financial magazine after a change at the top and the hiring of new leadership.
She notes that a lot of the stigma of dismissal is internal.
"Given that hundreds of thousands of people being laid off, it's rarely personal. Chances are very much not you, so refrain from bearing that burden of shame forward."
4. Develop a Professional Checklist
If you're urgently looking for work or are deeply dissatisfied at work, the temptation is to apply hastily for any vacancy – ignoring your own happiness.
However, this represents a significant mistake.
Instead, she suggests a method called "browsing" – focusing your search down to job descriptions that capture your interest.
She advises searching professional networks and saving several that seem promising.
"Look for {the words|the
