We Were Dismissed, and We're Embracing It – This Is How to Find a New Job That Suits You Personally
A new year's onset can be a time for reflection, and for a lot of us, that involves considering our career trajectories.
Two publishing professionals who lost their positions after corporate restructures initially felt their world had ended.
"I dedicated my heart into the job... I trusted in the ethos we promoted. Yet, when it came to me, those principles didn't apply," a former editor states.
The two chose to employ the word "let go" and believe that being honest about what happened can aid you handle it.
"There are countless euphemisms for being dismissed. However, the quicker you accept it, the quicker you're truthful regarding it, the sooner you can move on.
"It's the fast track to whatever you desire to pursue next," she adds.
Currently, they are thriving in new ventures, with one running a media business and another working as lead editor for a high-end journal.
Whether you've been made redundant or are just considering a shift, here are four strategies that can help.
1. Consider Last Year
It's common to have some unease regarding your job post-festive period.
A career expert stresses the importance of reflection before embarking on a fresh job hunt.
She suggests professionals to evaluate what they wish to increase, what to reduce, and what motivates or depletes their energy.
Looking back at your achievements to identify common themes is useful too. "Try not to considering only the last month, because we all suffer from for recent-event bias that can obstruct clear thinking," she notes.
A former editor says it is crucial to establish the role of work occupies in your life.
This means being candid about how much time you devote to work and its impact on your family and family life.
After her own experience, she advises preventing your identity be dictated by your career.
2. Make Small Steps
She notes that professionals can implement incremental moves for a career transition without a complete leap.
She took seven years to move from a traditional job to operating her own company completely, working on her project while still employed, which allowed she could pay herself.
"It required more time, but that represented how I did it in a sustainable way," she says.
She recommends an experimental strategy.
This can include pro bono work, participating in a professional project that interests you, or accepting something different within your current team.
"If it fails, you learn it's not a fit, however, it's wiser to learn now instead of after you've switched careers," she adds.
Additionally, she suggests looking into temporary "stepping-stone" positions. They are perhaps not the perfect role, but they act as a step towards your goal, such as a role with similarities to your target field, though not in the exact industry or sector.
"It means giving yourself the space to acknowledge this is good for now, but that isn't for all time.
"This is an intelligent approach to get much closer to that desired transition."
3. Remember Your Successes
Should you have recently been made redundant from your role, you are not the only one – redundancy rates have risen to high levels lately.
She was the top editor in a magazine, but in 2022 her entire team lost their jobs when the firm closed the print version.
Recognizing that this event did not reflect of her skills allowed her to process the change.
"What you've learned doesn't disappear just because you were let go.
"Don't give up your self-worth, it's crucial for all individuals to recognize their own value."
Another professional was let go after a decade at a financial magazine following a regime change in senior ranks and the hiring of a different editor.
She notes that a lot of the shame of job loss is internal.
"Given that hundreds of thousands of individuals facing redundancy, it's usually not about you. It's probably not your fault, so avoid carrying that feeling forward."
4. Create a Career Checklist
For those who are actively hunting for employment or are profoundly unhappy at work, it can be tempting to apply hastily at any opportunity – overlooking your own happiness.
But this is a significant mistake.
Instead, she suggests a method called "scanning" – focusing your search on role profiles that seem appealing.
She recommends browsing sites like LinkedIn and saving around 10 to 15 that appeal to you.
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