We Got Fired, and We're Owning It – Here's How to Find a Fresh Position That Suits for You
The start of a new year is frequently a period for contemplation, and for numerous people, that involves considering our professional paths.
A pair of editors who were made redundant from their jobs due to organizational changes at first believed it was a disaster.
"I invested everything into that role... I believed in the principles we championed. Yet, when it came to me, those principles were absent," she remarks.
They both opted to use the term "fired" and argue that being open about the situation can aid you handle the event.
"We use so many alternative phrases for being dismissed. However, the quicker you acknowledge it, the sooner you're truthful regarding it, the faster you can move on.
"It's the quickest route to anything you want to do next," she notes.
Now, they are excelling in new positions, where one running her own media company and another working as top editor for a high-end journal.
Whether you've been laid off or are simply looking for a new career, here are four strategies for guidance.
1. Consider The Previous Year
It's common to have some apprehension regarding your job post-festive period.
A careers coach stresses the necessity of introspection before starting a fresh job hunt.
She advises people to consider what they want to pursue more, what to reduce, and the things that inspires or drains their drive.
Reviewing your accomplishments to find recurring patterns is useful too. "Avoid considering only the last month, as people often suffer from to focus on the recent that can obstruct the process," she states.
A former editor states it is important to decide what place your job occupies in your life.
This requires being truthful about the amount of time you spend working and its effect on your social and family life.
After being let go, she suggests preventing your identity be shaped solely by your work.
2. Take Incremental Actions
The expert notes that professionals can implement small steps for a career transition without diving in headfirst.
Her own journey took several years to move from her corporate career to managing her own company full-time, developing the venture alongside her job, which enabled self-funding from the start.
"It required a bit longer, but that represented my approach without risk," she says.
She advocates for a "try before you buy" approach.
This can include volunteering, joining an initiative you find appealing, or accepting a different task in your existing role.
"The worst outcome, you learn that area isn't for you, but it's better to know now than after you've committed fully," she remarks.
Additionally, she suggests looking into temporary "stepping-stone" positions. These might not be the ideal job, but they act as progress forward, like a job with parallels to your desired career, yet not in the same field.
"It means granting yourself the permission to acknowledge this is suitable temporarily, however, that is not permanent.
"That can be an intelligent strategy for getting nearer to that career change."
3. Remember Your Achievements
If you've just left your job, you are not the only one – redundancy rates have surged significantly in recent times.
A former editor was editor-in-chief at a style magazine, but in 2022 she lost their jobs following a decision to closed the print version.
Recognizing that this situation was not a reflection of her skills helped her process the change.
"The skills you've gained doesn't disappear just because you were dismissed.
"Don't give up your self-worth, it's vital for everybody to remember their own value."
Another professional lost her job following a long tenure with a finance publication after a change at the top and the appointment of a new editor.
She stresses that much of the stigma associated with being fired is self-imposed.
"Considering the vast numbers of individuals facing redundancy, it's rarely personal. It's probably not your fault, so don't carry that burden of shame forward."
4. Create a Career Checklist
When you're urgently looking for a new job or feel deeply dissatisfied in your current role, the temptation is to dive straight into applying at any opportunity – ignoring personal fulfillment.
Yet, this can be a big misstep.
Instead, she suggests a method called "reviewing" – narrowing your search down to role profiles that seem appealing.
She advises exploring professional networks and collecting several that seem promising.
"Look for {the words|the
