We Were Dismissed, and We're Owning It – Learn How to Secure a Fresh Position That Suits Your Needs
A new year's onset is frequently a time for reflection, and for a lot of us, that includes evaluating our work lives.
Two editors who left their jobs due to organizational changes at first believed it was catastrophic.
"I invested everything into the position... I had faith in the principles we stood for. Yet, when it came to me, those values didn't apply," one of them says.
Both individuals chose to say "dismissed" and suggest that being transparent about it can assist you handle the experience.
"There are countless euphemisms for losing a job. But the faster you accept it, the sooner you're honest about it, the faster you can move on.
"It's the quickest route to anything you want to pursue next," she continues.
Now, they are succeeding in new ventures, with one leading her own firm and the other holding the position of lead editor for a luxury magazine.
If you've lost your job or are simply looking for a new career, these are four approaches that can help.
1. Reflect On The Previous Year
It's natural to feel some unease about work following time off.
A career expert highlights the necessity of introspection before embarking on the search for a new role.
She encourages people to consider what they want to increase, what to reduce, and what energizes or exhausts their energy.
Examining your accomplishments to find underlying threads is useful too. "Try not to focusing solely on the recent past, because we all exhibit to focus on the recent that can hinder your judgment," she states.
She also states it is important to establish where your work occupies in your life.
This means being candid regarding the hours you're working and its impact on your family and family life.
After her own experience, she recommends not allowing your identity be dictated by your job.
2. Take Small Steps
The advisor notes that professionals can implement incremental moves towards changing careers without diving in headfirst.
She herself took several years to move from a traditional job to managing her own company completely, developing the venture alongside her job, which meant financial stability.
"It required additional time, but that represented how I did it in a sustainable way," she says.
She suggests a test-run approach.
This can include pro bono work, participating in an initiative you find appealing, or agreeing to a new challenge in your existing role.
"The worst outcome, you learn it's not a fit, however, it's wiser to know now than after you've committed fully," she adds.
She also advises exploring temporary "stepping-stone" positions. These might not be the ideal job, but they serve as a step in the right direction, for example a position with parallels to your target field, yet not in the same area.
"It means giving yourself the space to say this works for now, but that does not mean the same as forever.
"That can be an intelligent approach for getting closer to a career change."
3. Remember Your Accomplishments
Should you have recently been made redundant from your role, many are in the same boat – job cuts have risen to high levels recently.
A former editor was the top editor for a fashion publication, previously she were laid off after the company discontinued the physical magazine.
Recognizing that this was not a reflection of her skills allowed her to cope with the situation.
"What you've learned doesn't disappear because you were let go.
"Don't give up your confidence, it's important for all individuals to recall their own value."
Her colleague was fired following a long tenure at a financial magazine following a regime change at the top and the arrival of a different editor.
She emphasizes that so much of the embarrassment of dismissal is self-imposed.
"Given that hundreds of thousands of people being laid off, it's usually not about you. It's probably not your fault, so don't carry that ball of shame unnecessarily."
4. Create a Job Search List
For those who are desperately seeking employment or are profoundly unhappy in your current role, it can be tempting to dive straight into applying for any job – disregarding your own happiness.
Yet, this can be a significant mistake.
Rather, she recommends an exercise called "scanning" – focusing your search to only position summaries that capture your interest.
She recommends searching professional networks and collecting several that appeal to you.
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