We Were Fired, and We're Owning It – This Is How to Find a Fresh Position That Fits Your Needs
A new year's onset can be a moment for introspection, and for numerous people, that includes thinking about our professional paths.
Two publishing professionals who left their roles due to organizational changes at first believed it was catastrophic.
"I dedicated my heart into the job... I had faith in the values we stood for. Yet, when it came to me, those values didn't apply," a former editor states.
They both decided to employ the word "fired" and argue that being honest about it can help you handle the experience.
"There are so many alternative phrases for being dismissed. But the faster you acknowledge it, the faster you're truthful regarding it, the quicker you can progress.
"It's the quickest route to whatever you want to pursue next," she notes.
Now, they are excelling in new ventures, where one running her own media company and another serving as lead editor for a high-end journal.
If you've lost your job or are just considering a shift, here are four approaches to assist you.
1. Reflect On The Previous Year
It's typical to have a bit low about work post-festive period.
A career expert highlights the value of reflection prior to launching the search for a new role.
She advises professionals to evaluate what they want to pursue more, what they want less of, and the things that motivates or depletes their energy.
Examining your achievements to identify recurring patterns is also beneficial. "Try not to focusing solely on the recent past, since everyone exhibit to focus on the recent that can hinder your judgment," she notes.
She also notes it is crucial to decide what place your job fits in your life.
This requires being candid about how much time you spend working and the influence on your family life.
After being let go, she advises against letting your life be dictated by your career.
2. Make Small Steps
The expert states that individuals can take incremental moves towards changing careers without committing fully.
She required a long period to move from her corporate career to managing her own business full-time, working on her idea alongside her job, which meant she could pay herself.
"It needed a bit longer, but that was the method I used sustainably," she comments.
She suggests a "try before you buy" strategy.
This could be volunteer work, getting involved in a professional project you find appealing, or saying yes to something different at your present job.
"The worst outcome, you learn you don't like, but it's preferable to know now instead of after you've committed fully," she remarks.
Additionally, she suggests considering temporary "stepping-stone" positions. They are perhaps not the dream position, but they serve as a move towards your goal, for example a position with parallels to your desired career, though not in the exact industry or sector.
"It involves allowing yourself the space to say this works for now, however, that is not for all time.
"That can be a very smart strategy for moving closer to your career change."
3. Remember Your Accomplishments
Should you have recently been made redundant from your position, many are in the same boat – redundancy rates have increased markedly lately.
One professional was the top editor at a style magazine, but a few years ago her entire team were made redundant after the company discontinued the physical magazine.
Recognizing that this situation was not indicative of her skills assisted her handle the transition.
"What you've learned doesn't go away simply due to were let go.
"Do not surrender your self-worth, it's crucial for everybody to recognize their own value."
Her colleague lost her job following a long tenure in a business journal after a change in management and the arrival of a different editor.
She emphasizes that so much of the embarrassment of job loss is self-imposed.
"Given that hundreds of thousands of professionals losing jobs, it's usually not about you. Chances are not about you, so avoid carrying that feeling forward."
4. Develop a Career Checklist
When you're urgently looking for work or are profoundly unhappy with your present job, the temptation is to jump at at any opportunity – overlooking what suits you.
Yet, this can be a major error.
Rather, she recommends a method called "reviewing" – filtering opportunities on job descriptions that sound interesting.
She recommends exploring sites like LinkedIn and gathering several that appeal to you.
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