We Got Fired, and We're Owning It – Learn How to Land a New Job That Fits Your Needs
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 left their jobs following company reorganizations initially felt it was a disaster.
"I invested my heart into that role... I believed in the values we promoted. Yet, when it came to me, those principles didn't apply," a former editor states.
They both opted to use the term "let go" and suggest that being open about what happened can help you handle it.
"People rely on so many alternative phrases for being dismissed. But the faster you accept it, the sooner you're candid regarding it, the sooner you can advance.
"That's the fast track to anything you want to do next," she adds.
Today, they are succeeding in new ventures, where one running her own media company and the other serving as lead editor for a high-end journal.
For those who have been laid off or are just considering a shift, consider these four strategies to assist you.
1. Contemplate Last Year
It's natural to experience some apprehension concerning your career following time off.
A career expert highlights the importance of looking back before starting the search for a new role.
She encourages professionals to evaluate what they desire to increase, what to decrease, and the things that energizes or exhausts their energy.
Reviewing your accomplishments to spot underlying threads is also beneficial. "Avoid focusing solely on the most recent period, since everyone suffer from for recent-event bias that can impede clear thinking," she states.
Another professional notes it is crucial to decide where your work plays in your life.
This involves being candid regarding the hours you're working and its impact on your personal and family life.
After being let go, she suggests not allowing yourself be dictated by your career.
2. Take Incremental Actions
She states that individuals can implement small steps towards changing careers without committing fully.
Her own journey took several years to move from a traditional job to managing a company entirely, building her project concurrently with her role, which enabled self-funding from the start.
"It took additional time, but that represented how I did it sustainably," she explains.
She suggests a test-run method.
This could be volunteering, getting involved in a professional project you find appealing, or accepting something different in your existing role.
"If it fails, you discover that area isn't for you, however, it's wiser to find out now instead of after you've switched careers," she states.
Additionally, she suggests considering temporary "stepping-stone" positions. They are perhaps not the dream position, but they act as a move towards your goal, such as a role with similarities to your desired career, though not in the exact area.
"It's about granting yourself the space to say this is suitable temporarily, however, that is not for all time.
"That can be a very smart strategy for getting nearer to your new career."
3. Acknowledge Your Achievements
For anyone who has recently lost your position, many are in the same boat – job cuts have surged to high levels recently.
A former editor was the top editor at a style magazine, but a few years ago she were made redundant after the company discontinued the physical magazine.
Realizing that this was not a reflection of her skills allowed her to process the change.
"The skills you've gained doesn't disappear simply due to lost your job.
"Don't relinquish your power, it's crucial for everyone to remember their own value."
Another professional was fired after a decade in a business journal due to leadership changes in senior ranks and the arrival of a new editor.
She stresses that much of the shame of dismissal is in your head.
"Considering the vast numbers of individuals facing redundancy, it's usually not about you. It's likely not about you, so don't carry that ball of shame forward."
4. Create a Professional Checklist
If you're actively hunting for work or are profoundly unhappy in your current role, you might be tempted to jump at at any opportunity – disregarding personal fulfillment.
However, this represents a big misstep.
Instead, she suggests a method called "browsing" – filtering opportunities on position summaries that seem appealing.
She advises browsing sites like LinkedIn and gathering around 10 to 15 that you like.
"Look for {the words|the