We Were Fired, and We're Owning It – This Is How to Land a Fresh Position That Suits for You
The beginning of a new year is often a moment for introspection, and for a lot of us, that includes considering our work lives.
Two editors who were made redundant from their roles due to organizational changes originally thought their world had ended.
"I dedicated my heart into the position... I believed in the principles we stood for. Yet, when it came to me, those values didn't apply," a former editor states.
The two decided to use the term "dismissed" and believe that being honest about what happened can help you handle the experience.
"People rely on numerous alternative phrases for job loss. However, the quicker you accept it, the sooner you're truthful about it, the sooner you can progress.
"It's the quickest route to anything you want to pursue next," she notes.
Currently, they are excelling in new positions, with one running her own firm and the other holding the position of top editor for a high-end journal.
Whether you've been made redundant or are just considering a shift, consider these four approaches to assist you.
1. Consider Last Year
It's natural to feel some unease concerning your career after a holiday break.
A careers coach emphasizes the importance of looking back before starting the search for a new role.
She advises people to consider what they want to pursue more, what they want less of, and the things that motivates or depletes them.
Examining your achievements to find underlying threads is also beneficial. "Try to avoid focusing solely on the most recent period, because we all exhibit for recent-event bias that can obstruct clear thinking," she states.
Another professional says it is crucial to determine the role of work occupies in your life.
This means being truthful about how much time you devote to work and its impact on your social life.
After being let go, she advises not allowing your life be dictated by your career.
2. Take Gradual Moves
She says people can make gradual progress towards changing careers without a complete leap.
She herself took seven years to transition from her corporate career to operating a company completely, developing her project while still employed, which enabled she could pay herself.
"It needed additional time, however, that was the method I used in a sustainable way," she says.
She suggests a test-run approach.
This could be volunteer work, participating in an initiative you find appealing, or accepting a different task at your present job.
"If it fails, you learn that area isn't for you, however, it's wiser to learn now instead of after you've switched careers," she remarks.
She also encourages looking into short-term "bridging roles". These may not be the dream position, but they serve as a step towards your goal, such as a role with similarities to your target field, yet not in the same field.
"It's about granting yourself the leeway to accept this works for now, however, that is not the same as forever.
"That represents a very smart strategy for moving closer to that career change."
3. Acknowledge Your Accomplishments
Should you have recently been made redundant from your job, you aren't alone – redundancy rates have surged significantly lately.
One professional was the top editor in a magazine, but in 2022 she were made redundant following a decision to closed the print version.
Understanding that this was not indicative of her skills helped her cope with the situation.
"What you've learned doesn't go away because you were let go.
"Don't give up your self-worth, it's important for everyone to recognize their own worth."
Her colleague was fired after a decade at a financial magazine after a change in management and the hiring of a new editor.
She notes that a lot of the stigma associated with being fired is in your head.
"With many people being laid off, it's usually not about you. Chances are very much not you, so don't carry that feeling forward."
4. Create a Professional Checklist
For those who are actively hunting for work or are utterly miserable in your current role, it can be tempting to dive straight into applying for any job – ignoring your own happiness.
Yet, this can be a major error.
Rather, she recommends a technique known as "reviewing" – narrowing your search down to position summaries that capture your interest.
She advises exploring sites like LinkedIn and collecting several that appeal to you.
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