We Were Dismissed, and We Accept It – This Is How to Land a New Job That Suits You Personally
A new year's onset can be a moment for introspection, and for numerous people, that includes considering our career trajectories.
Two editors who left their jobs due to organizational changes at first believed it was catastrophic.
"I invested all my energy into the job... I had faith in the ethos we promoted. But in my case, those principles didn't apply," one of them remarks.
The two chose to say "fired" and believe that being transparent about it can aid you deal with the event.
"There are so many euphemisms for job loss. Yet, the sooner you acknowledge it, the sooner you're honest about it, the faster you can move on.
"That is the direct path to anything you desire to pursue next," she adds.
Now, they are excelling in different roles, where one leading her own media company and the other serving as top editor for a high-end journal.
Whether you've lost your job or are simply considering a shift, these are four strategies that can help.
1. Reflect On The Previous Year
It's common to feel some apprehension about work post-festive period.
A careers coach highlights the necessity of looking back prior to launching the search for a new role.
She suggests professionals to evaluate what they desire to increase, what to decrease, and which factors energizes or exhausts them.
Reviewing your past successes to identify common themes is useful too. "Try to avoid considering only the recent past, as people often suffer from for recency bias that can obstruct clear thinking," she states.
A former editor says it is crucial to determine what place your job occupies in your life.
This requires being candid about the amount of time you're working and its impact on your social life.
After her own experience, she recommends against letting yourself be shaped solely by your career.
2. Implement Gradual Moves
The expert notes that professionals can take gradual progress towards changing careers without committing fully.
Her own journey required a long period to move from her corporate career to managing her own company full-time, working on the venture alongside her job, which allowed self-funding from the start.
"It needed more time, but that was my approach in a sustainable way," she explains.
She recommends an experimental method.
This can include pro bono work, participating in a professional project that interests you, or saying yes to a different task within your current team.
"If it fails, you find out that area isn't for you, but it's preferable to learn now rather than after you've switched careers," she adds.
Additionally, she suggests exploring temporary "stepping-stone" positions. They are perhaps not the ideal job, but they act as a move in the right direction, like a job with similarities to the career you want, yet not in the same area.
"It involves allowing yourself the leeway to acknowledge this is good for now, however, that is not the same as forever.
"This is a very smart tactic for getting much closer to a desired transition."
3. Remember Your Achievements
Should you have recently lost your position, you are not the only one – job cuts have surged to high levels recently.
She was editor-in-chief in a magazine, but a few years ago she and her team were made redundant when the firm discontinued the physical magazine.
Realizing that this event did not reflect of her performance assisted her cope with the situation.
"What you've learned doesn't go away because you were dismissed.
"Do not surrender your confidence, it's vital for everyone to recognize their intrinsic value."
Another professional was let go following a long tenure at a financial magazine following a regime change in senior ranks and the hiring of a different editor.
She notes that much of the shame of job loss is internal.
"Considering the vast numbers of people being laid off, it's usually not about you. It's likely not about you, so avoid carrying that feeling unnecessarily."
4. Develop a Career Checklist
For those who are actively hunting for a new job or feel profoundly unhappy at work, you might be tempted to jump at for any vacancy – ignoring what suits you.
But this is a major error.
Rather, she recommends an exercise called "browsing" – focusing your search to only position summaries that capture your interest.
She advises searching job platforms and gathering a selection of that you like.
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