We Got Let Go, and We're Owning It – This Is How to Land a Fresh Position That Suits Your Needs
A new year's onset is often a time for reflection, and for numerous people, that involves considering our work lives.
Two publishing professionals who lost their jobs following company reorganizations at first believed it was a disaster.
"I invested my heart into the position... I trusted in the values we stood for. Yet, when it came to me, those values didn't apply," she says.
Both individuals opted to say "fired" and believe that being transparent about what happened can assist you deal with the experience.
"We use numerous euphemisms for losing a job. Yet, the sooner you own it, the quicker you're honest regarding it, the quicker you can advance.
"That's the direct path to anything you wish next," she continues.
Today, they are succeeding in new positions, where one owning her own firm and another holding the position of top editor for a luxury magazine.
For those who have lost your job or are simply considering a shift, these are four approaches that can help.
1. Reflect On The Past Year
It's natural to feel some apprehension about work post-festive period.
A career expert highlights the necessity of reflection before starting a fresh job hunt.
She suggests individuals to think about what they desire to pursue more, what to reduce, and what energizes or exhausts them.
Reviewing your accomplishments to find underlying threads is useful too. "Avoid just looking at the recent past, because we all exhibit for recency bias that can impede your judgment," she adds.
A former editor notes it is crucial to decide what place your job plays in your life.
This requires being honest regarding the hours you're working and the influence on your family life.
After her own experience, she suggests against letting yourself be shaped solely by your career.
2. Implement Small Steps
The advisor says people can make gradual progress towards a career shift without diving in headfirst.
Her own journey required a long period to transition from her corporate career to operating a company completely, developing her idea concurrently with her role, which allowed self-funding from the start.
"It needed additional time, however, that was how I did it without risk," she says.
She advocates for an experimental approach.
This can include volunteering, joining a professional project that captures your interest, or agreeing to a different task in your existing role.
"The worst outcome, you find out it's not a fit, but it's preferable to find out now instead of after you've made the move," she adds.
She also encourages looking into short-term "bridging roles". These may not be the ideal job, but they act as a move forward, such as a role with parallels to your desired career, but in a different industry or sector.
"It means granting yourself the permission to acknowledge this is suitable temporarily, but that does not mean the same as forever.
"That can be a clever tactic for moving closer to a new career."
3. Acknowledge Your Successes
Should you have recently lost your position, you aren't alone – redundancy rates have surged significantly in recent times.
She held a senior role in a magazine, but a few years ago her entire team were laid off when the firm ceased print operations.
Realizing that this event was not indicative of her skills allowed her to process the change.
"The skills you've gained doesn't disappear just because you lost your job.
"Don't give up your power, it's vital for all individuals to remember their own value."
The other editor was let go after ten years with a finance publication due to leadership changes in management and the arrival of new leadership.
She notes that a lot of the embarrassment of job loss is in your head.
"Given that hundreds of thousands of professionals losing jobs, it's usually not about you. It's likely very much not you, so don't carry that ball of shame around with you."
4. Build a Career Checklist
If you're urgently looking for employment or are utterly miserable with your present job, you might be tempted to dive straight into applying for any job – overlooking your own happiness.
Yet, this can be a major error.
Instead, she suggests an exercise called "browsing" – narrowing your search down to position summaries that capture your interest.
She suggests searching professional networks and saving several that seem promising.
"Look for {the words|the
