We Were Fired, and We Accept It – Learn How to Land a New Job That Works You Personally
The start of a new year can be a period for contemplation, and for many, that includes evaluating our career trajectories.
A pair of editors who left their roles after corporate restructures at first believed their world had ended.
"I invested my heart into the position... I had faith in the values we stood for. Yet, when it came to me, that ethos weren't there," a former editor remarks.
The two decided to use the term "fired" and believe that being open about it can aid you handle the event.
"We use numerous euphemisms for being dismissed. However, the quicker you acknowledge it, the faster you're honest regarding it, the sooner you can progress.
"That's the direct path to anything you wish to pursue next," she adds.
Currently, they are succeeding in new positions, where one running her own firm and another serving as lead editor at a prestigious publication.
Whether you've lost your job or are just looking for a new career, these are four methods that can help.
1. Consider The Previous Year
It's typical to feel some apprehension regarding your job post-festive period.
A professional advisor emphasizes the necessity of reflection before embarking on a fresh job hunt.
She encourages people to consider what they wish to do more of, what they want less of, and which factors energizes or exhausts them.
Reviewing your accomplishments to identify recurring patterns is useful too. "Avoid considering only the recent past, as people often exhibit for recency bias that can obstruct the process," she notes.
A former editor says it is crucial to decide the role of work plays in your life.
This involves being candid regarding the hours you're working and its effect on your family and social life.
After being let go, she recommends against letting yourself be shaped solely by your job.
2. Take Gradual Moves
She says people can implement gradual progress towards a career shift without committing fully.
She took seven years to move from a traditional job to operating a company full-time, building her idea while still employed, which enabled financial stability.
"It took a bit longer, but that was my approach in a sustainable way," she says.
She suggests an experimental strategy.
This can include volunteering, joining a work project you find appealing, or accepting a different task in your existing role.
"If it fails, you learn it's not a fit, however, it's wiser to find out now instead of after you've switched careers," she adds.
She also advises looking into interim roles. These might not be the ideal job, yet they function as progress in the right direction, for example a position with parallels to the career you want, but in a different industry or sector.
"It involves granting yourself the leeway to say this is good for now, but that does not mean the same as forever.
"That represents a very smart tactic for getting much closer to your new career."
3. Remember Your Successes
For anyone who has recently lost your role, you are not the only one – layoff figures have risen markedly lately.
A former editor held a senior role at a style magazine, but in 2022 her entire team were laid off after the company ceased print operations.
Realizing that this situation was not indicative of her performance assisted her handle the transition.
"The skills you've gained remains with you simply due to were let go.
"Don't relinquish your power, it's crucial for everybody to recall their own value."
Her colleague lost her job after ten years with a finance publication due to leadership changes in management and the hiring of new leadership.
She notes that a lot of the embarrassment of dismissal is self-imposed.
"With many individuals facing redundancy, it's not personal. It's probably very much not you, so don't carry that burden of shame forward."
4. Create a Job Search List
For those who are actively hunting for work or are utterly miserable in your current role, it can be tempting to apply hastily for any vacancy – disregarding what suits you.
However, this represents a significant mistake.
Alternatively, she proposes a technique known as "reviewing" – filtering opportunities on job descriptions that seem appealing.
She recommends browsing professional networks and collecting around 10 to 15 that you like.
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