We Were Let Go, and We're Owning It – This Is How to Find a New Job That Suits You Personally
The start of a new year is frequently a period for contemplation, and for many, that involves thinking about our professional paths.
Two publishing professionals who left their jobs following company reorganizations initially felt it was a disaster.
"I poured all my energy into the position... I believed in the principles we promoted. Yet, when it came to me, those principles didn't apply," she says.
Both individuals opted to say "fired" and believe that being honest about it can help you process the event.
"There are numerous euphemisms for job loss. However, the quicker you acknowledge it, the faster you're candid about it, the sooner you can move on.
"That's the direct path to what you want to do next," she continues.
Now, they are excelling in new positions, where one leading a media business and another serving as editor-in-chief for a high-end journal.
If you've lost your job or are just contemplating a change, these are four strategies to assist you.
1. Reflect On Last Year
It's natural to have a bit low regarding your job post-festive period.
A careers coach stresses the value of introspection before starting a new job search.
She advises people to consider what they want to do more of, what to decrease, and which factors energizes or exhausts their energy.
Reviewing your accomplishments to find underlying threads is also beneficial. "Avoid focusing solely on the most recent period, since everyone exhibit for recent-event bias that can hinder your judgment," she states.
Another professional notes it is important to determine the role of work occupies in your life.
This requires being truthful regarding the hours you spend working and its effect on your social and family life.
After her own experience, she recommends against letting your life be shaped solely by your career.
2. Implement Small Steps
The advisor states that individuals can take gradual progress towards a career shift without committing fully.
Her own journey required a long period to move from her corporate career to running a company completely, building her idea concurrently with her role, which allowed self-funding from the start.
"It needed a bit longer, however, that was my approach sustainably," she explains.
She suggests an experimental strategy.
This can include volunteer work, getting involved in a work project you find appealing, or saying yes to something different at your present job.
"Worst case scenario, you find out you don't like, but it's better to know now than after you've committed fully," she adds.
Additionally, she suggests exploring short-term "bridging roles". These may not be the ideal job, but they act as a move in the right direction, for example a position that shares traits to your target field, but in a different industry or sector.
"It involves granting yourself the leeway to say this is suitable temporarily, however, that is not for all time.
"This is a clever tactic to get much closer to that new career."
3. Recall Your Accomplishments
If you've recently lost your job, many are in the same boat – redundancy rates have risen significantly in recent times.
She was editor-in-chief for a fashion publication, previously she and her team lost their jobs following a decision to closed the print version.
Recognizing that this situation was not indicative of her ability assisted her handle the transition.
"What you've learned doesn't disappear just because you lost your job.
"Don't relinquish your power, it's important for everyone to recall their intrinsic value."
Another professional was fired after ten years in a business journal due to leadership changes in senior ranks and the hiring of a new editor.
She stresses that much of the stigma of dismissal is self-imposed.
"With many professionals losing jobs, it's rarely personal. It's probably not your fault, so don't carry that ball of shame forward."
4. Develop a Professional Checklist
When you're desperately seeking work or are utterly miserable in your current role, it can be tempting to apply hastily for any job – ignoring personal fulfillment.
However, this represents a big misstep.
Instead, she suggests an exercise called "browsing" – filtering opportunities down to role profiles that capture your interest.
She suggests searching job platforms and gathering several that appeal to you.
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