We Got Let Go, and We're Owning It – This Is How to Find a Fresh Position That Fits You Personally
The start of a new year is frequently a time for reflection, and for numerous people, that involves evaluating our career trajectories.
A pair of editors who lost their roles after corporate restructures at first believed it was a disaster.
"I poured everything into that role... I trusted in the values we promoted. But in my case, those values were absent," one of them remarks.
Both individuals decided to use the term "fired" and believe that being open about it can assist you process the experience.
"There are numerous euphemisms for losing a job. However, the quicker you own it, the quicker you're honest about it, the quicker you can advance.
"It's the direct path to whatever you desire to pursue next," she continues.
Today, they are excelling in new ventures, with one leading a media business and another holding the position of editor-in-chief for a high-end journal.
For those who have lost your job or are just considering a shift, here are four strategies to assist you.
1. Reflect On Last Year
It's natural to have some apprehension concerning your career post-festive period.
A careers coach highlights the necessity of looking back prior to launching a new job search.
She suggests people to consider what they want to pursue more, what they want less of, and what inspires or drains them.
Reviewing your achievements to identify common themes is also beneficial. "Avoid just looking at the most recent period, because we all suffer from for recent-event bias that can hinder the process," she states.
A former editor states it is important to decide the role of work fits in your life.
This means being honest regarding the hours you devote to work and its effect on your personal and family life.
After being let go, she advises not allowing your identity be defined by your work.
2. Take Incremental Actions
The expert states that individuals can make incremental moves towards a career shift without committing fully.
She took seven years to transition from a corporate role to managing her own business full-time, working on her idea alongside her job, which allowed she could pay herself.
"It needed additional time, but that represented my approach in a sustainable way," she says.
She suggests a "try before you buy" method.
This could be pro bono work, joining a professional project that interests you, or accepting a different task in your existing role.
"Worst case scenario, you learn it's not a fit, but it's better to learn now than after you've made the move," she states.
She also encourages exploring short-term "bridging roles". These might not be the dream position, but they serve as progress in the right direction, like a job with similarities to the career you want, though not in the exact area.
"It means allowing yourself the space to acknowledge this works for now, but that isn't permanent.
"That represents an intelligent strategy to get much closer to that desired transition."
3. Acknowledge Your Successes
For anyone who has just left your position, you are not the only one – layoff figures have surged markedly recently.
One professional was editor-in-chief in a magazine, but in 2022 she were laid off when the firm discontinued the physical magazine.
Understanding that this event was not a reflection of her performance allowed her to handle the transition.
"What you've learned doesn't disappear simply due to lost your job.
"Don't relinquish your self-worth, it's crucial for everybody to remember their own worth."
Another professional was fired after a decade with a finance publication due to leadership changes in management and the hiring of a different editor.
She stresses that much of the stigma of job loss is internal.
"Considering the vast numbers of professionals losing jobs, it's usually not about you. Chances are very much not you, so avoid carrying that feeling forward."
4. Build a Job Search List
If you're actively hunting for a new job or feel utterly miserable in your current role, you might be tempted to apply hastily at any opportunity – ignoring personal fulfillment.
But this is a big misstep.
Alternatively, she proposes a method called "scanning" – focusing your search to only job descriptions that seem appealing.
She recommends exploring professional networks and saving a selection of that appeal to you.
"What are {the words|the