We Were Fired, and We're Embracing It – This Is How to Find a New Role That Works for You
The beginning of a new year can be a time for reflection, and for a lot of us, that encompasses considering our work lives.
A pair of editors who lost their positions due to organizational changes at first believed it was catastrophic.
"I poured all my energy into that role... I had faith in the values we promoted. Yet, when it came to me, that ethos weren't there," she states.
The two opted to say "fired" and believe that being honest about the situation can aid you handle it.
"There are so many soft terms for being dismissed. Yet, the sooner you acknowledge it, the quicker you're truthful regarding it, the faster you can advance.
"That is the fast track to what you desire to do next," she notes.
Currently, they are succeeding in new ventures, with one owning her own firm and the other working as lead editor for a luxury magazine.
Whether you've been made redundant or are considering a shift, consider these four strategies for guidance.
1. Consider The Previous Year
It's natural to feel a bit low concerning your career post-festive period.
A careers coach emphasizes the importance of looking back prior to launching a new job search.
She encourages individuals to think about what they wish to do more of, what to reduce, and what energizes or exhausts their drive.
Examining your achievements to identify underlying threads is useful too. "Avoid focusing solely on the recent past, as people often suffer from to focus on the recent that can impede your judgment," she states.
She also notes it is vital to determine what place your job plays in your life.
This involves being truthful regarding the hours you're working and the influence on your personal and social life.
Following her job loss, she suggests against letting your identity be defined by your job.
2. Take Gradual Moves
The expert says people can make small steps towards a career shift without a complete leap.
She took seven years to move from a traditional job to operating her own company completely, working on her idea while still employed, which allowed self-funding from the start.
"It required more time, but that represented the method I used without risk," she comments.
She advocates for a test-run approach.
This might involve volunteer work, getting involved in an initiative that interests you, or saying yes to something different in your existing role.
"If it fails, you learn you don't like, however, it's wiser to find out now than after you've switched careers," she adds.
She also advises exploring interim roles. These may not be the ideal job, but they serve as a step towards your goal, like a job with similarities to the career you want, yet not in the same field.
"It's about giving yourself the leeway to say this is suitable temporarily, but that isn't for all time.
"That represents a clever strategy to get much closer to your desired transition."
3. Recall Your Accomplishments
For anyone who has recently lost your role, many are in the same boat – redundancy rates have increased significantly recently.
A former editor was the top editor in a magazine, but a few years ago she and her team were made redundant after the company ceased print operations.
Recognizing that this event was not a reflection of her performance helped her process the change.
"What you've learned doesn't disappear because you lost your job.
"Don't give up your confidence, it's crucial for all individuals to remember their intrinsic value."
The other editor was let go after a decade at a financial magazine after a change at the top and the arrival of a different editor.
She notes that a lot of the embarrassment of job loss is internal.
"With many individuals facing redundancy, it's not personal. It's likely not your fault, so refrain from bearing that feeling around with you."
4. Develop a Career Checklist
When you're actively hunting for employment or are profoundly unhappy in your current role, it can be tempting to dive straight into applying for any job – ignoring your own happiness.
Yet, this can be a major error.
Alternatively, she proposes a technique known as "scanning" – narrowing your search down to position summaries that sound interesting.
She advises exploring sites like LinkedIn and gathering a selection of that appeal to you.
"Identify {the words|the
