We Got Let Go, and We're Owning It – Here's How to Secure a New Role That Works You Personally
A new year's onset is often a moment for introspection, and for numerous people, that involves thinking about our professional paths.
Two editors who were made redundant from their positions following company reorganizations initially felt it was a disaster.
"I dedicated all my energy into the job... I believed in the principles we championed. But in my case, that ethos weren't there," one of them remarks.
Both individuals decided to use the term "fired" and suggest that being open about it can aid you process it.
"We use numerous alternative phrases for being dismissed. Yet, the sooner you acknowledge it, the faster you're candid regarding it, the faster you can move on.
"It's the quickest route to whatever you want next," she notes.
Today, they are excelling in different roles, where one owning a media business and the other holding the position of editor-in-chief for a luxury magazine.
Whether you've been laid off or are just looking for a new career, these are four methods to assist you.
1. Contemplate Last Year
It's common to experience some apprehension regarding your job post-festive period.
A professional advisor emphasizes the value of looking back prior to launching a fresh job hunt.
She encourages individuals to think about what they desire to increase, what to decrease, and the things that motivates or depletes their drive.
Reviewing your achievements to spot underlying threads is useful too. "Try to avoid focusing solely on the last month, as people often exhibit for recency bias that can obstruct clear thinking," she notes.
Another professional states it is crucial to determine the role of work plays in your life.
This means being honest about how much time you devote to work and its effect on your personal and social life.
Following her job loss, she advises not allowing your life be dictated by your work.
2. Take Gradual Moves
The advisor states that individuals can make gradual progress for a career transition without a complete leap.
She herself required a long period to make the jump from a traditional job to running her own business completely, developing her idea while still employed, which enabled she could pay herself.
"It needed additional time, but that represented how I did it sustainably," she explains.
She recommends a test-run approach.
This can include volunteering, getting involved in a professional project that interests you, or accepting a different task in your existing role.
"If it fails, you discover you don't like, however, it's wiser to learn now than after you've made the move," she remarks.
She also advises considering interim roles. These might not be the ideal job, but they serve as a move in the right direction, for example a position with similarities to the career you want, yet not in the same area.
"It means allowing yourself the permission to accept this is suitable temporarily, however, that is not for all time.
"This is a very smart strategy for getting closer to your desired transition."
3. Remember Your Successes
Should you have recently lost your position, you aren't alone – redundancy rates have increased markedly recently.
She held a senior role for a fashion publication, but in 2022 she were made redundant when the firm closed the print version.
Recognizing that this event was not a reflection of her skills assisted her cope with the situation.
"What you've learned remains with you just because you were let go.
"Don't relinquish your power, it's vital for everybody to remember their intrinsic value."
The other editor lost her job after ten years at a financial magazine due to leadership changes at the top and the appointment of a new editor.
She emphasizes that much of the stigma of dismissal is self-imposed.
"Given that hundreds of thousands of people being laid off, it's rarely personal. It's likely very much not you, so avoid carrying that burden of shame around with you."
4. Create a Career Checklist
When you're desperately seeking a new job or feel profoundly unhappy at work, you might be tempted to jump at for any job – overlooking personal fulfillment.
However, this represents a significant mistake.
Instead, she suggests a method called "scanning" – focusing your search on position summaries that seem appealing.
She advises exploring job platforms and collecting several that appeal to you.
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