We Got Let Go, and We're Owning It – This Is How to Secure a New Role That Suits You Personally
The start of a new year is often a moment for introspection, and for many, that includes evaluating our professional paths.
A pair of editors who left their roles after corporate restructures at first believed it was a disaster.
"I invested everything into the job... I believed in the values we championed. However, regarding my situation, those values were absent," a former editor says.
They both decided to employ the word "dismissed" and argue that being open about what happened can aid you deal with it.
"People rely on numerous euphemisms for losing a job. However, the quicker you acknowledge it, the quicker you're truthful regarding it, the sooner you can advance.
"That's the quickest route to whatever you wish to pursue next," she adds.
Now, they are excelling in different roles, where one running her own firm and another working as editor-in-chief for a high-end journal.
If you've been laid off or are just looking for a new career, here are four methods that can help.
1. Consider Last Year
It's typical to feel a bit low about work following time off.
A careers coach emphasizes the value of introspection before embarking on a new job search.
She advises individuals to think about what they wish to pursue more, what they want less of, and which factors inspires or drains their energy.
Examining your past successes to find recurring patterns can also help. "Try to avoid considering only the recent past, because we all suffer from for recent-event bias that can obstruct your judgment," she states.
A former editor states it is important to decide what place your job fits in your life.
This means being truthful about how much time you spend working and its impact on your personal life.
After her own experience, she advises against letting yourself be dictated by your career.
2. Make Small Steps
The expert notes that professionals can implement gradual progress towards a career shift without a complete leap.
She took several years to move from her corporate career to managing her own company entirely, building the venture concurrently with her role, which enabled financial stability.
"It took more time, but that was my approach sustainably," she explains.
She recommends an experimental approach.
This might involve pro bono work, joining an initiative that captures your interest, or agreeing to a new challenge in your existing role.
"If it fails, you find out it's not a fit, but it's better to know now than after you've committed fully," she adds.
She also encourages considering short-term "bridging roles". They are perhaps not the ideal job, but they act as progress in the right direction, such as a role with similarities to the career you want, but in a different industry or sector.
"It involves giving yourself the leeway to say this is suitable temporarily, however, that is not permanent.
"That represents a very smart approach for moving much closer to your career change."
3. Remember Your Accomplishments
For anyone who has just left your position, you are not the only one – redundancy rates have surged markedly recently.
She was the top editor in a magazine, but in 2022 she were laid off following a decision to ceased print operations.
Understanding that this event was not indicative of her performance helped her process the change.
"What you've learned remains with you simply due to were let go.
"Don't relinquish your self-worth, it's vital for all individuals to recognize their own value."
Another professional was let go after a decade at a financial magazine following a regime change at the top and the hiring of a new editor.
She stresses that much of the stigma associated with being fired is self-imposed.
"Given that hundreds of thousands of individuals facing redundancy, it's usually not about you. Chances are not your fault, so avoid carrying that ball of shame around with you."
4. Develop a Job Search List
When you're urgently looking for work or are profoundly unhappy with your present job, it can be tempting to jump at for any vacancy – disregarding your own happiness.
Yet, this can be a significant mistake.
Alternatively, she proposes an exercise called "browsing" – narrowing your search to only job descriptions that seem appealing.
She suggests browsing sites like LinkedIn and saving several that seem promising.
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