We Were Fired, and We Accept It – This Is How to Land a New Role That Fits Your Needs
The start of a new year is frequently a period for contemplation, and for numerous people, that includes considering our work lives.
Two publishing professionals who left their positions following company reorganizations originally thought it was a disaster.
"I poured all my energy into that role... I had faith in the ethos we stood for. However, regarding my situation, those principles weren't there," one of them remarks.
Both individuals decided to employ the word "fired" and believe that being open about it can help you process the experience.
"There are so many euphemisms for being dismissed. However, the quicker you accept it, the sooner you're truthful about it, the sooner you can advance.
"That is the fast track to what you want to pursue next," she continues.
Currently, they are succeeding in new ventures, where one running her own firm and another working as lead editor for a high-end journal.
For those who have been laid off or are considering a shift, here are four approaches that can help.
1. Contemplate Last Year
It's natural to have a bit low regarding your job following time off.
A professional advisor emphasizes the necessity of introspection before starting a new job search.
She suggests professionals to evaluate what they want to pursue more, what to decrease, and what energizes or exhausts their energy.
Looking back at your past successes to identify common themes is useful too. "Avoid considering only the most recent period, because we all exhibit for recent-event bias that can impede the process," she adds.
Another professional states it is vital to decide what place your job plays in your life.
This means being honest regarding the hours you're working and its impact on your social and family life.
After being let go, she recommends preventing your life be defined by your work.
2. Implement Small Steps
She states that individuals can implement incremental moves towards a career shift without a complete leap.
She herself required a long period to transition from her corporate career to operating a company full-time, developing her idea alongside her job, which meant self-funding from the start.
"It needed additional time, but that represented the method I used in a sustainable way," she explains.
She advocates for an experimental method.
This could be volunteering, getting involved in a work project that captures your interest, or accepting a different task in your existing role.
"If it fails, you discover that area isn't for you, however, it's wiser to learn now rather than after you've made the move," she states.
Additionally, she suggests looking into temporary "stepping-stone" positions. These may not be the perfect role, yet they function as progress forward, such as a role with parallels to your target field, though not in the exact industry or sector.
"It involves granting yourself the permission to acknowledge this is good for now, but that isn't for all time.
"That can be a very smart tactic for moving nearer to your career change."
3. Acknowledge Your Accomplishments
If you've recently been made redundant from your position, you are not the only one – redundancy rates have increased significantly recently.
A former editor was editor-in-chief in a magazine, but in 2022 she were laid off after the company closed the print version.
Recognizing that this did not reflect of her performance assisted her cope with the situation.
"Your experience doesn't go away because you lost your job.
"Don't give up your power, it's important for everyone to recall their own value."
The other editor was fired after a decade in a business journal after a change at the top and the appointment of new leadership.
She emphasizes that much of the shame of dismissal is in your head.
"Given that hundreds of thousands of professionals losing jobs, it's rarely personal. Chances are not your fault, so avoid carrying that burden of shame around with you."
4. Create a Job Search List
For those who are urgently looking for work or are deeply dissatisfied in your current role, the temptation is to jump at for any vacancy – disregarding your own happiness.
Yet, this can be a major error.
Rather, she recommends an exercise called "browsing" – narrowing your search to only position summaries that sound interesting.
She recommends exploring sites like LinkedIn and saving around 10 to 15 that appeal to you.
"Look for {the words|the
