We Were Dismissed, and We're Owning It – Learn How to Find a Fresh Position That Suits You Personally

The start of a new year is frequently a period for contemplation, and for numerous people, that includes evaluating our professional paths.

Two publishing professionals who left their roles following company reorganizations initially felt their world had ended.

"I invested my heart into that role... I believed in the values we stood for. However, regarding my situation, that ethos were absent," a former editor remarks.

The two opted to say "dismissed" and suggest that being transparent about the situation can help you deal with it.

"We use numerous euphemisms for job loss. Yet, the sooner you accept it, the quicker you're honest about it, the sooner you can advance.

"That is the quickest route to anything you want to do next," she adds.

Now, they are succeeding in different roles, with one owning her own firm and the other serving as top editor for a luxury magazine.

Whether you've lost your job or are considering a shift, these are four strategies that can help.

1. Contemplate The Previous Year

It's common to have some apprehension concerning your career after a holiday break.

A career expert stresses the value of reflection before starting a fresh job hunt.

She encourages professionals to evaluate what they desire to pursue more, what to decrease, and which factors inspires or drains their drive.

Looking back at your achievements to find recurring patterns can also help. "Avoid considering only the most recent period, because we all have a tendency for recent-event bias that can obstruct clear thinking," she adds.

Another professional notes it is vital to decide where your work occupies in your life.

This means being honest about the amount of time you spend working and the influence on your social and family life.

After her own experience, she recommends not allowing yourself be dictated by your job.

2. Implement Small Steps

The advisor notes that professionals can take incremental moves towards changing careers without diving in headfirst.

Her own journey required a long period to transition from her corporate career to managing her own business completely, building the venture alongside her job, which enabled financial stability.

"It needed more time, but that represented the method I used in a sustainable way," she comments.

She recommends a test-run strategy.

This could be volunteer work, joining a work project you find appealing, or agreeing to a new challenge at your present job.

"Worst case scenario, you learn you don't like, however, it's wiser to find out now rather than after you've committed fully," she adds.

She also advises considering temporary "stepping-stone" positions. These may not be the ideal job, but they act as progress in the right direction, such as a role with similarities to the career you want, but in a different area.

"It means granting yourself the leeway to accept this is good for now, however, that is not for all time.

"That can be a clever approach for getting much closer to a desired transition."

3. Acknowledge Your Successes

For anyone who has recently been made redundant from your role, you aren't alone – layoff figures have increased markedly in recent times.

One professional was the top editor for a fashion publication, but in 2022 her entire team were made redundant following a decision to ceased print operations.

Understanding that this was not indicative of her skills allowed her to cope with the situation.

"What you've learned doesn't go away just because you lost your job.

"Don't give up your self-worth, it's vital for everybody to recall their intrinsic value."

Her colleague lost her job after ten years at a financial magazine following a regime change in management and the appointment of a different editor.

She stresses that a lot of the stigma associated with being fired is self-imposed.

"Given that hundreds of thousands of professionals losing jobs, it's not personal. It's likely very much not you, so don't carry that feeling unnecessarily."

4. Create a Job Search List

If you're actively hunting for work or are utterly miserable in your current role, you might be tempted to jump at for any job – ignoring your own happiness.

However, this represents a significant mistake.

Rather, she recommends a method called "reviewing" – filtering opportunities to only job descriptions that seem appealing.

She advises browsing sites like LinkedIn and gathering a selection of that seem promising.

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