We Were Dismissed, and We Accept It – Here's How to Find a Fresh Position That Suits You Personally
The start of a new year is often a moment for introspection, and for a lot of us, that encompasses considering our professional paths.
Two publishing professionals who left their positions following company reorganizations at first believed their world had ended.
"I invested all my energy into the job... I believed in the values we stood for. Yet, when it came to me, those principles didn't apply," a former editor states.
The two opted to say "fired" and argue that being honest about it can aid you deal with it.
"We use so many euphemisms for job loss. However, the quicker you own it, the quicker you're candid regarding it, the faster you can move on.
"That's the fast track to whatever you desire next," she notes.
Now, they are succeeding in new ventures, with one leading a media business and another serving as top editor at a prestigious publication.
For those who have been laid off or are simply contemplating a change, these are four strategies for guidance.
1. Contemplate The Past Year
It's common to have some apprehension regarding your job post-festive period.
A careers coach emphasizes the importance of reflection prior to launching a new job search.
She suggests people to consider what they want to do more of, what they want less of, and what inspires or drains their energy.
Looking back at your achievements to find underlying threads is also beneficial. "Avoid considering only the most recent period, as people often suffer from for recent-event bias that can obstruct the process," she notes.
A former editor says it is crucial to determine the role of work occupies in your life.
This requires being candid about the amount of time you spend working and the influence on your social and social life.
After being let go, she recommends preventing your identity be defined by your work.
2. Implement Incremental Actions
She states that individuals can take small steps towards a career shift without committing fully.
She herself required a long period to transition from her corporate career to running her own business full-time, working on her idea concurrently with her role, which meant self-funding from the start.
"It took more time, but that represented the method I used in a sustainable way," she comments.
She advocates for a test-run method.
This can include volunteering, joining an initiative you find appealing, or agreeing to something different at your present job.
"If it fails, you discover you don't like, but it's better to find out now rather than after you've switched careers," she remarks.
She also advises considering short-term "bridging roles". These might not be the ideal job, but they act as a step forward, for example a position with similarities to your target field, but in a different area.
"It involves allowing yourself the permission to acknowledge this is good for now, but that does not mean for all time.
"This is a very smart tactic for getting nearer to that career change."
3. Acknowledge Your Successes
If you've recently lost your role, many are in the same boat – layoff figures have surged to high levels in recent times.
One professional was the top editor in a magazine, previously her entire team were laid off after the company discontinued the physical magazine.
Recognizing that this situation was not a reflection of her skills allowed her to handle the transition.
"Your experience doesn't disappear just because you lost your job.
"Do not surrender your confidence, it's crucial for everybody to recall their own value."
The other editor was let go after ten years in a business journal after a change in management and the hiring of a new editor.
She emphasizes that so much of the shame of job loss is internal.
"Given that hundreds of thousands of people being laid off, it's rarely personal. It's probably not about you, so refrain from bearing that feeling forward."
4. Create a Career Checklist
If you're desperately seeking work or are deeply dissatisfied at work, you might be tempted to dive straight into applying for any vacancy – ignoring your own happiness.
However, this represents a big misstep.
Rather, she recommends an exercise called "browsing" – filtering opportunities down to position summaries that sound interesting.
She suggests searching professional networks and gathering several that appeal to you.
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