We Were Let Go, and We're Owning It – This Is How to Find a Fresh Position That Fits You Personally
The beginning of a new year is frequently a time for reflection, and for numerous people, that includes thinking about our career trajectories.
Two editors who lost their roles due to organizational changes at first believed their world had ended.
"I invested everything into the position... I believed in the values we stood for. But in my case, that ethos were absent," she remarks.
The two opted to employ the word "dismissed" and argue that being honest about what happened can assist you deal with it.
"We use numerous alternative phrases for losing a job. But the faster you accept it, the faster you're truthful about it, the quicker you can advance.
"That's the direct path to what you wish next," she notes.
Now, they are succeeding in different roles, where one running her own media company and the other working as editor-in-chief for a luxury magazine.
For those who have been laid off or are considering a shift, these are four methods for guidance.
1. Contemplate The Previous Year
It's natural to experience some unease concerning your career post-festive period.
A career expert emphasizes the value of reflection prior to launching the search for a new role.
She suggests professionals to evaluate what they desire to pursue more, what to decrease, and what energizes or exhausts their drive.
Examining your achievements to find underlying threads is also beneficial. "Avoid just looking at the recent past, as people often have a tendency to focus on the recent that can hinder the process," she notes.
A former editor notes it is crucial to determine what place your job occupies in your life.
This involves being candid about the amount of time you're working and the influence on your personal and family life.
After her own experience, she suggests against letting your life be dictated by your career.
2. Take Small Steps
The expert notes that professionals can take small steps for a career transition without committing fully.
She herself took seven years to make the jump from a corporate role to running her own company full-time, building the venture alongside her job, which enabled financial stability.
"It needed a bit longer, however, that was the method I used in a sustainable way," she says.
She advocates for a test-run method.
This might involve pro bono work, participating in a professional project you find appealing, or saying yes to something different in your existing role.
"If it fails, you discover that area isn't for you, but it's better to learn now rather than after you've committed fully," she states.
Additionally, she suggests exploring interim roles. These may not be the ideal job, yet they function as progress in the right direction, such as a role with similarities to the career you want, but in a different area.
"It means allowing yourself the leeway to accept this is good for now, however, that is not permanent.
"This is a very smart strategy to get nearer to your new career."
3. Acknowledge Your Accomplishments
If you've recently lost your position, you are not the only one – job cuts have increased to high levels recently.
A former editor held a senior role in a magazine, but a few years ago she were laid off when the firm closed the print version.
Realizing that this situation was not a reflection of her ability helped her cope with the situation.
"What you've learned doesn't disappear simply due to were dismissed.
"Don't relinquish your confidence, it's crucial for everyone to remember their own value."
Her colleague was let go after a decade at a financial magazine after a change in management and the arrival of a new editor.
She stresses that so much of the stigma of job loss is internal.
"Given that hundreds of thousands of professionals losing jobs, it's not personal. It's probably very much not you, so avoid carrying that feeling around with you."
4. Create a Job Search List
If you're desperately seeking work or are utterly miserable in your current role, it can be tempting to dive straight into applying for any vacancy – disregarding what suits you.
However, this represents a major error.
Alternatively, she proposes a method called "reviewing" – focusing your search on role profiles that capture your interest.
She advises browsing job platforms and gathering around 10 to 15 that seem promising.
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