We Were Let Go, and We're Embracing It – Learn How to Land a Fresh Position That Fits You Personally
The start of a new year is often a time for reflection, and for numerous people, that involves thinking about our work lives.
A pair of editors who lost their positions due to organizational changes at first believed it was catastrophic.
"I invested all my energy into that role... I believed in the values we championed. But in my case, those values didn't apply," a former editor says.
They both opted to say "fired" and suggest that being transparent about it can aid you deal with the experience.
"People rely on countless alternative phrases for being dismissed. However, the quicker you accept it, the quicker you're candid regarding it, the quicker you can advance.
"That's the quickest route to what you wish next," she adds.
Currently, they are thriving in new ventures, where one leading a media business and another serving as lead editor at a prestigious publication.
If you've been made redundant or are contemplating a change, these are four strategies for guidance.
1. Contemplate The Previous Year
It's typical to have some unease regarding your job following time off.
A career expert emphasizes the necessity of looking back prior to launching the search for a new role.
She suggests individuals to think about what they desire to pursue more, what to reduce, and what energizes or exhausts them.
Looking back at your achievements to identify underlying threads is useful too. "Avoid considering only the most recent period, because we all suffer from for recent-event bias that can obstruct clear thinking," she adds.
Another professional notes it is crucial to determine what place your job plays in your life.
This requires being honest about how much time you devote to work and its impact on your family and social life.
After being let go, she advises preventing your life be defined by your career.
2. Take Small Steps
She states that individuals can make gradual progress for a career transition without diving in headfirst.
She took several years to make the jump from a traditional job to running her own business entirely, building her project concurrently with her role, which allowed she could pay herself.
"It took a bit longer, but that represented my approach sustainably," she explains.
She suggests a "try before you buy" method.
This could be pro bono work, participating in an initiative that captures your interest, or accepting a different task within your current team.
"The worst outcome, you learn that area isn't for you, but it's better to learn now instead of after you've committed fully," she remarks.
Additionally, she suggests looking into interim roles. These might not be the ideal job, but they act as a move in the right direction, for example a position that shares traits to your target field, but in a different industry or sector.
"It means granting yourself the space to acknowledge this is good for now, but that does not mean the same as forever.
"That represents an intelligent approach for moving nearer to your new career."
3. Remember Your Accomplishments
Should you have just left your job, you are not the only one – redundancy rates have surged significantly in recent times.
One professional was editor-in-chief at a style magazine, previously she and her team lost their jobs when the firm discontinued the physical magazine.
Understanding that this event was not a reflection of her performance assisted her handle the transition.
"What you've learned doesn't go away simply due to lost your job.
"Don't give up your confidence, it's crucial for all individuals to recognize their intrinsic value."
The other editor was fired following a long tenure at a financial magazine due to leadership changes at the top and the arrival of new leadership.
She notes that a lot of the shame of job loss is self-imposed.
"Given that hundreds of thousands of people being laid off, it's usually not about you. It's likely very much not you, so avoid carrying that burden of shame around with you."
4. Build a Career Checklist
When you're desperately seeking work or are profoundly unhappy with your present job, the temptation is to dive straight into applying for any vacancy – disregarding personal fulfillment.
However, this represents a significant mistake.
Alternatively, she proposes an exercise called "reviewing" – filtering opportunities to only position summaries that seem appealing.
She recommends searching professional networks and saving several that you like.
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