We Were Fired, and We're Embracing It – This Is How to Secure a New Role That Fits Your Needs
A new year's onset can be a moment for introspection, and for many, that involves evaluating our work lives.
A pair of editors who were made redundant from their roles following company reorganizations at first believed their world had ended.
"I invested everything into the job... I believed in the values we stood for. Yet, when it came to me, those principles were absent," one of them remarks.
The two opted to say "let go" and believe that being open about the situation can help you handle the event.
"There are countless euphemisms for being dismissed. Yet, the sooner you accept it, the quicker you're honest about it, the faster you can advance.
"That's the quickest route to whatever you wish to pursue next," she continues.
Today, they are thriving in different roles, with one leading her own media company and the other working as top editor for a luxury magazine.
Whether you've been laid off or are simply considering a shift, these are four approaches for guidance.
1. Contemplate The Previous Year
It's common to have some unease about work following time off.
A careers coach stresses the importance of introspection before starting a fresh job hunt.
She suggests individuals to think about what they desire to pursue more, what they want less of, and what inspires or drains their drive.
Examining your past successes to identify common themes is also beneficial. "Try to avoid focusing solely on the last month, since everyone have a tendency to focus on the recent that can obstruct clear thinking," she notes.
Another professional notes it is vital to establish where your work occupies in your life.
This means being truthful about the amount of time you devote to work and its impact on your family and family life.
Following her job loss, she recommends against letting your life be dictated by your work.
2. Implement Small Steps
The advisor states that individuals can make incremental moves towards changing careers without committing fully.
She herself required a long period to make the jump from a corporate role to operating her own company entirely, building the venture while still employed, which enabled financial stability.
"It needed a bit longer, but that represented the method I used in a sustainable way," she explains.
She advocates for a "try before you buy" strategy.
This might involve volunteer work, getting involved in an initiative that captures your interest, or saying yes to a new challenge at your present job.
"Worst case scenario, you discover that area isn't for you, but it's better to know now instead of after you've made the move," she states.
Additionally, she suggests considering short-term "bridging roles". These may not be the perfect role, but they serve as progress in the right direction, like a job with similarities to your target field, but in a different field.
"It means granting yourself the leeway to accept this works for now, but that isn't for all time.
"That can be a clever strategy for moving nearer to that career change."
3. Recall Your Accomplishments
Should you have recently lost your position, many are in the same boat – layoff figures have surged markedly lately.
She held a senior role at a style magazine, but a few years ago she were made redundant when the firm ceased print operations.
Recognizing that this was not a reflection of her ability allowed her to handle the transition.
"What you've learned doesn't go away simply due to were let go.
"Do not surrender your power, it's important for everybody to recognize their own worth."
The other editor lost her job following a long tenure with a finance publication after a change in management and the appointment of a new editor.
She stresses that a lot of the stigma of dismissal is self-imposed.
"Given that hundreds of thousands of individuals facing redundancy, it's rarely personal. It's likely not about you, so refrain from bearing that burden of shame unnecessarily."
4. Create a Job Search List
If you're actively hunting for a new job or feel deeply dissatisfied with your present job, it can be tempting to dive straight into applying for any job – ignoring what suits you.
But this is a big misstep.
Alternatively, she proposes a method called "browsing" – filtering opportunities to only role profiles that sound interesting.
She suggests exploring job platforms and collecting around 10 to 15 that appeal to you.
"Identify {the words|the