We Got Dismissed, and We're Owning It – This Is How to Find a New Job That Fits Your Needs
The start of a new year can be a moment for introspection, and for a lot of us, that includes evaluating our career trajectories.
A pair of editors who left their roles after corporate restructures at first believed it was a disaster.
"I poured all my energy into the position... I trusted in the ethos we stood for. However, regarding my situation, those principles weren't there," she states.
The two decided to use the term "fired" and argue that being open about it can help you process it.
"People rely on so many soft terms for job loss. However, the quicker you own it, the faster you're truthful regarding it, the sooner you can move on.
"It's the fast track to what you want to do next," she notes.
Currently, they are excelling in new ventures, where one owning her own media company and another working as lead editor for a high-end journal.
For those who have been laid off or are simply contemplating a change, here are four methods for guidance.
1. Reflect On The Past Year
It's natural to experience some unease concerning your career following time off.
A careers coach emphasizes the necessity of reflection prior to launching a fresh job hunt.
She advises individuals to think about what they want to pursue more, what to decrease, and what motivates or depletes their energy.
Examining your accomplishments to spot underlying threads is also beneficial. "Try not to just looking at the most recent period, because we all have a tendency to focus on the recent that can obstruct the process," she states.
She also states it is important to establish what place your job occupies in your life.
This requires being candid about how much time you devote to work and its impact on your social and social life.
After being let go, she suggests against letting yourself be dictated by your work.
2. Make Incremental Actions
The advisor says people can implement incremental moves towards a career shift without a complete leap.
She took seven years to transition from a corporate role to operating her own business full-time, building her project alongside her job, which allowed self-funding from the start.
"It took a bit longer, but that was my approach sustainably," she says.
She suggests a test-run method.
This could be pro bono work, joining a professional project that interests you, or saying yes to a new challenge at your present job.
"The worst outcome, you discover you don't like, but it's preferable to find out now than after you've made the move," she adds.
She also advises looking into temporary "stepping-stone" positions. These might not be the ideal job, yet they function as progress forward, like a job with parallels to the career you want, but in a different area.
"It means giving yourself the leeway to say this is suitable temporarily, but that does not mean for all time.
"That represents a clever approach for moving nearer to a desired transition."
3. Acknowledge Your Accomplishments
For anyone who has recently lost your role, you are not the only one – job cuts have surged markedly lately.
One professional was editor-in-chief at a style magazine, but in 2022 her entire team were made redundant following a decision to ceased print operations.
Realizing that this situation was not indicative of her skills allowed her to handle the transition.
"Your experience doesn't disappear because you were dismissed.
"Don't give up your power, it's important for everyone to remember their own worth."
The other editor was let go following a long tenure at a financial magazine following a regime change at the top and the arrival of a new editor.
She stresses that so much of the shame of job loss is internal.
"Considering the vast numbers of individuals facing redundancy, it's not personal. It's likely not about you, so don't carry that burden of shame unnecessarily."
4. Create a Professional Checklist
If you're urgently looking for employment or are utterly miserable with your present job, you might be tempted to apply hastily at any opportunity – overlooking personal fulfillment.
However, this represents a major error.
Alternatively, she proposes an exercise called "reviewing" – filtering opportunities on job descriptions that sound interesting.
She recommends searching professional networks and gathering around 10 to 15 that you like.
"Look for {the words|the