We Got Fired, and We're Owning It – Here's How to Land a Fresh Position That Works Your Needs
A new year's onset is frequently a moment for introspection, and for many, that encompasses considering our professional paths.
Two publishing professionals who left their roles after corporate restructures initially felt it was catastrophic.
"I poured my heart into the position... I believed in the principles we stood for. But in my case, that ethos weren't there," one of them states.
They both chose to use the term "dismissed" and suggest that being honest about what happened can assist you handle the event.
"People rely on countless alternative phrases for losing a job. However, the quicker you own it, the faster you're honest about it, the faster you can advance.
"It's the quickest route to anything you desire next," she notes.
Now, they are thriving in different roles, with one running her own firm and the other serving as lead editor for a high-end journal.
If you've been laid off or are contemplating a change, consider these four strategies to assist you.
1. Consider The Past Year
It's typical to feel a bit low about work after a holiday break.
A careers coach stresses the value of looking back before starting the search for a new role.
She encourages individuals to think about what they desire to increase, what to reduce, and the things that inspires or drains their energy.
Examining your achievements to spot common themes can also help. "Try to avoid considering only the last month, as people often exhibit for recency bias that can obstruct the process," she notes.
She also notes it is crucial to decide what place your job occupies in your life.
This means being honest about how much time you're working and the influence on your personal and family life.
Following her job loss, she advises against letting your life be defined by your work.
2. Implement Incremental Actions
She states that individuals can take incremental moves towards changing careers without a complete leap.
She took seven years to transition from a traditional job to running her own company completely, working on the venture alongside her job, which meant self-funding from the start.
"It took additional time, however, that was how I did it in a sustainable way," she comments.
She recommends a test-run method.
This could be volunteering, participating in a professional project that captures your interest, or accepting a new challenge within your current team.
"The worst outcome, you learn you don't like, however, it's wiser to learn now than after you've made the move," she adds.
She also encourages looking into short-term "bridging roles". These may not be the ideal job, but they serve as a step in the right direction, for example a position that shares traits to your target field, yet not in the same industry or sector.
"It means allowing yourself the permission to acknowledge this works for now, however, that is not permanent.
"That can be a clever tactic for getting nearer to your desired transition."
3. Recall Your Successes
If you've just left your job, you aren't alone – redundancy rates have risen markedly lately.
One professional held a senior role for a fashion publication, but in 2022 her entire team were laid off when the firm closed the print version.
Realizing that this was not indicative of her performance allowed her to cope with the situation.
"Your experience doesn't disappear just because you were dismissed.
"Don't relinquish your power, it's important for everybody to remember their intrinsic value."
The other editor was fired after a decade at a financial magazine after a change at the top and the hiring of a different editor.
She notes that so much of the shame of dismissal is internal.
"Given that hundreds of thousands of people being laid off, it's rarely personal. It's likely very much not you, so don't carry that feeling unnecessarily."
4. Develop a Job Search List
When you're desperately seeking work or are profoundly unhappy with your present job, it can be tempting to dive straight into applying for any job – overlooking personal fulfillment.
However, this represents a big misstep.
Alternatively, she proposes a method called "reviewing" – filtering opportunities down to role profiles that seem appealing.
She recommends browsing professional networks and gathering around 10 to 15 that appeal to you.
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