We Got Let Go, and We Accept It – Here's How to Land a New Job That Works Your Needs
The beginning of a new year can be a time for reflection, and for numerous people, that encompasses considering our professional paths.
Two publishing professionals who lost their jobs following company reorganizations at first believed it was a disaster.
"I invested my heart into the position... I believed in the ethos we stood for. But in my case, those principles didn't apply," one of them remarks.
They both decided to employ the word "dismissed" and argue that being transparent about the situation can assist you process it.
"People rely on countless soft terms for job loss. But the faster you acknowledge it, the sooner you're truthful about it, the sooner you can progress.
"It's the direct path to whatever you desire to pursue next," she continues.
Currently, they are thriving in different roles, where one running her own firm and the other serving as editor-in-chief at a prestigious publication.
If you've been made redundant or are just contemplating a change, these are four methods for guidance.
1. Contemplate Last Year
It's typical to experience some apprehension about work following time off.
A career expert highlights the necessity of introspection before starting a fresh job hunt.
She encourages individuals to think about what they wish to increase, what to reduce, and which factors inspires or drains them.
Reviewing your accomplishments to find underlying threads is also beneficial. "Avoid focusing solely on the most recent period, as people often suffer from to focus on the recent that can obstruct the process," she adds.
She also notes it is crucial to determine what place your job occupies in your life.
This involves being candid about how much time you devote to work and its impact on your family life.
After being let go, she recommends against letting yourself be dictated by your career.
2. Take Small Steps
The expert says people can implement gradual progress towards a career shift without a complete leap.
Her own journey took several years to make the jump from a corporate role to operating her own business completely, working on the venture while still employed, which enabled financial stability.
"It took more time, but that was the method I used sustainably," she says.
She recommends an experimental strategy.
This can include volunteering, participating in a work project you find appealing, or accepting something different in your existing role.
"The worst outcome, you find out it's not a fit, but it's preferable to know now rather than after you've switched careers," she states.
She also advises considering short-term "bridging roles". These may not be the dream position, but they serve as progress forward, like a job that shares traits to your target field, but in a different area.
"It means allowing yourself the permission to say this is good for now, but that isn't permanent.
"That represents an intelligent approach to get much closer to your desired transition."
3. Acknowledge Your Achievements
For anyone who has just left your role, you are not the only one – redundancy rates have surged significantly in recent times.
One professional was the top editor for a fashion publication, but in 2022 she were made redundant when the firm closed the print version.
Realizing that this situation was not indicative of her performance helped her cope with the situation.
"The skills you've gained doesn't go away because you were let go.
"Do not surrender your self-worth, it's crucial for all individuals to recognize their own worth."
Another professional lost her job following a long tenure at a financial magazine due to leadership changes in management and the arrival of a new editor.
She stresses that so much of the stigma of job loss is self-imposed.
"Given that hundreds of thousands of individuals facing redundancy, it's usually not about you. Chances are not your fault, so refrain from bearing that feeling around with you."
4. Build a Career Checklist
When you're urgently looking for work or are utterly miserable in your current role, it can be tempting to apply hastily for any job – ignoring what suits you.
But this is a big misstep.
Rather, she recommends an exercise called "browsing" – filtering opportunities on job descriptions that capture your interest.
She advises browsing sites like LinkedIn and gathering several that seem promising.
"Look for {the words|the
