We Were Let Go, and We Accept It – Here's How to Find a New Job That Suits Your Needs
The start of a new year is often a time for reflection, and for many, that involves considering our career trajectories.
Two publishing professionals who were made redundant from their positions after corporate restructures initially felt their world had ended.
"I dedicated all my energy into the job... I trusted in the principles we stood for. However, regarding my situation, those principles weren't there," one of them says.
Both individuals decided to say "dismissed" and believe that being honest about the situation can aid you process it.
"We use numerous soft terms for job loss. Yet, the sooner you acknowledge it, the faster you're honest about it, the faster you can advance.
"That's the quickest route to whatever you desire next," she notes.
Currently, they are thriving in different roles, with one owning her own firm and another working as lead editor for a high-end journal.
If you've been laid off or are contemplating a change, these are four methods to assist you.
1. Consider Last Year
It's natural to have some apprehension regarding your job post-festive period.
A professional advisor stresses the importance of introspection before starting the search for a new role.
She advises people to consider what they want to do more of, what to reduce, and what motivates or depletes their drive.
Examining your accomplishments to find common themes is useful too. "Try to avoid considering only the most recent period, since everyone suffer from to focus on the recent that can hinder the process," she states.
She also says it is vital to establish the role of work fits in your life.
This requires being honest about the amount of time you devote to work and its effect on your personal and social life.
After her own experience, she advises not allowing yourself be dictated by your job.
2. Make Gradual Moves
The advisor states that individuals can take incremental moves for a career transition without committing fully.
She herself took several years to make the jump from a traditional job to operating her own business full-time, developing her idea concurrently with her role, which allowed she could pay herself.
"It required additional time, but that represented the method I used without risk," she comments.
She advocates for a test-run method.
This can include volunteer work, getting involved in an initiative that interests you, or accepting a new challenge in your existing role.
"Worst case scenario, you discover you don't like, but it's better to learn now rather than after you've switched careers," she adds.
She also encourages exploring interim roles. These might not be the perfect role, but they serve as a move towards your goal, for example a position with parallels to your desired career, but in a different field.
"It's about granting yourself the permission to accept this works for now, but that isn't the same as forever.
"This is a clever approach for getting closer to that career change."
3. Recall Your Accomplishments
For anyone who has just left your position, you are not the only one – layoff figures have risen to high levels lately.
A former editor was editor-in-chief for a fashion publication, but a few years ago her entire team were laid off when the firm discontinued the physical magazine.
Realizing that this situation was not a reflection of her performance allowed her to handle the transition.
"The skills you've gained doesn't go away just because you were let go.
"Don't relinquish your self-worth, it's important for everybody to recall their intrinsic value."
Another professional was fired after ten years with a finance publication after a change in senior ranks and the arrival of a new editor.
She stresses that so much of the stigma of dismissal is in your head.
"Considering the vast numbers of professionals losing jobs, it's usually not about you. Chances are very much not you, so refrain from bearing that burden of shame forward."
4. Build a Job Search List
If you're actively hunting for work or are profoundly unhappy with your present job, you might be tempted to jump at at any opportunity – overlooking personal fulfillment.
But this is a big misstep.
Rather, she recommends an exercise called "scanning" – narrowing your search to only role profiles that seem appealing.
She suggests searching job platforms and saving several that appeal to you.
"Look for {the words|the
