We Were Let Go, and We're Embracing It – Here's How to Secure a New Role That Suits Your Needs
A new year's onset is frequently a time for reflection, and for numerous people, that involves considering our work lives.
A pair of editors who were made redundant from their roles after corporate restructures at first believed it was catastrophic.
"I dedicated all my energy into that role... I had faith in the ethos we promoted. But in my case, those principles weren't there," a former editor states.
Both individuals chose to say "fired" and suggest that being open about what happened can assist you handle the experience.
"We use so many soft terms for being dismissed. However, the quicker you acknowledge it, the quicker you're truthful regarding it, the faster you can advance.
"It's the direct path to whatever you desire to pursue next," she continues.
Currently, they are succeeding in different roles, with one leading a media business and the other working as top editor for a high-end journal.
For those who have been laid off or are considering a shift, these are four approaches that can help.
1. Contemplate The Previous Year
It's typical to experience some apprehension concerning your career post-festive period.
A careers coach emphasizes the importance of looking back before embarking on a fresh job hunt.
She suggests professionals to evaluate what they desire to increase, what to reduce, and the things that inspires or drains them.
Examining your achievements to spot underlying threads can also help. "Try not to focusing solely on the last month, as people often have a tendency to focus on the recent that can hinder your judgment," she states.
A former editor notes it is important to determine where your work plays in your life.
This requires being candid regarding the hours you're working and the influence on your social life.
Following her job loss, she advises preventing your life be shaped solely by your job.
2. Take Incremental Actions
The expert states that individuals can make small steps towards a career shift without committing fully.
Her own journey required a long period to move from a corporate role to running her own company entirely, working on her project alongside her job, which enabled she could pay herself.
"It needed more time, however, that was my approach without risk," she says.
She suggests an experimental method.
This could be volunteering, joining an initiative you find appealing, or saying yes to something different within your current team.
"Worst case scenario, you discover you don't like, but it's preferable to find out now rather than after you've made the move," she remarks.
Additionally, she suggests considering interim roles. They are perhaps not the dream position, yet they function as a move forward, such as a role that shares traits to your target field, though not in the exact area.
"It means granting yourself the leeway to accept this works for now, however, that is not the same as forever.
"This is a clever approach for moving nearer to a new career."
3. Recall Your Achievements
Should you have just left your position, many are in the same boat – redundancy rates have risen significantly in recent times.
One professional was the top editor for a fashion publication, but in 2022 she and her team were laid off following a decision to closed the print version.
Understanding that this event was not indicative of her skills assisted her process the change.
"The skills you've gained doesn't go away because you were let go.
"Don't relinquish your confidence, it's important for all individuals to remember their intrinsic value."
Her colleague was fired after ten years in a business journal following a regime change in management and the appointment of a new editor.
She stresses that a lot of the shame of dismissal is internal.
"Considering the vast numbers of professionals losing jobs, it's not personal. It's likely not about you, so don't carry that feeling unnecessarily."
4. Build a Job Search List
When you're urgently looking for employment or are profoundly unhappy in your current role, you might be tempted to dive straight into applying at any opportunity – ignoring personal fulfillment.
Yet, this can be a significant mistake.
Instead, she suggests a technique known as "browsing" – narrowing your search down to position summaries that capture your interest.
She suggests browsing sites like LinkedIn and saving around 10 to 15 that seem promising.
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