We Were Fired, and We're Owning It – Here's How to Find a New Role That Suits for You
A new year's onset is frequently a moment for introspection, and for many, that involves evaluating our work lives.
Two editors who left their positions following company reorganizations initially felt their world had ended.
"I poured all my energy into that role... I believed in the ethos we stood for. Yet, when it came to me, that ethos weren't there," one of them says.
Both individuals decided to employ the word "dismissed" and suggest that being open about what happened can aid you handle the experience.
"People rely on countless soft terms for job loss. Yet, the sooner you accept it, the faster you're truthful about it, the sooner you can advance.
"That is the direct path to what you wish to pursue next," she adds.
Now, they are thriving in different roles, where one owning her own firm and another holding the position of editor-in-chief for a luxury magazine.
If you've been made redundant or are just contemplating a change, these are four strategies to assist you.
1. Contemplate The Past Year
It's common to have some unease about work post-festive period.
A career expert highlights the value of reflection before starting a new job search.
She encourages individuals to think about what they wish to do more of, what to reduce, and which factors inspires or drains their drive.
Reviewing your past successes to spot common themes can also help. "Try not to focusing solely on the most recent period, because we all have a tendency for recency bias that can obstruct your judgment," she adds.
She also states it is vital to establish where your work occupies in your life.
This requires being candid about the amount of time you spend working and the influence on your social and social life.
After her own experience, she advises against letting yourself be dictated by your career.
2. Implement Small Steps
She states that individuals can make gradual progress towards changing careers without diving in headfirst.
She took several years to transition from a corporate role to managing a company full-time, building the venture alongside her job, which enabled self-funding from the start.
"It took a bit longer, but that was how I did it without risk," she says.
She suggests an experimental approach.
This might involve volunteering, getting involved in a work project that captures your interest, or accepting a different task within your current team.
"If it fails, you find out it's not a fit, however, it's wiser to find out now than after you've committed fully," she states.
She also advises considering interim roles. They are perhaps not the dream position, yet they function as a move in the right direction, for example a position with similarities to the career you want, yet not in the same field.
"It involves giving yourself the permission to accept this is suitable temporarily, but that isn't the same as forever.
"This is an intelligent strategy for getting closer to your desired transition."
3. Recall Your Achievements
If you've recently been made redundant from your job, you are not the only one – redundancy rates have risen markedly lately.
A former editor was editor-in-chief in a magazine, but in 2022 her entire team were made redundant following a decision to discontinued the physical magazine.
Understanding that this event was not indicative of her performance allowed her to handle the transition.
"Your experience doesn't disappear simply due to lost your job.
"Do not surrender your power, it's crucial for all individuals to recall their own worth."
Another professional was let go after ten years at a financial magazine after a change in senior ranks and the appointment of new leadership.
She emphasizes that so much of the embarrassment of job loss is self-imposed.
"Considering the vast numbers of individuals facing redundancy, it's usually not about you. Chances are not about you, so refrain from bearing that burden of shame forward."
4. Create a Job Search List
When you're actively hunting for employment or are utterly miserable at work, it can be tempting to jump at for any vacancy – ignoring your own happiness.
However, this represents a major error.
Instead, she suggests a method called "reviewing" – filtering opportunities down to position summaries that sound interesting.
She recommends browsing professional networks and collecting several that you like.
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