We Got Fired, and We're Embracing It – Here's How to Find a New Role That Fits Your Needs
The start of a new year is often a time for reflection, and for numerous people, that encompasses thinking about our professional paths.
Two publishing professionals who were made redundant from their positions after corporate restructures originally thought their world had ended.
"I dedicated everything into the job... I believed in the values we championed. But in my case, those principles weren't there," she states.
They both chose to use the term "let go" and argue that being open about it can assist you handle the experience.
"There are numerous euphemisms for being dismissed. Yet, the sooner you acknowledge it, the quicker you're truthful about it, the sooner you can advance.
"That's the fast track to anything you desire next," she notes.
Today, they are excelling in new ventures, where one running her own firm and the other working as editor-in-chief at a prestigious publication.
Whether you've been laid off or are just contemplating a change, consider these four strategies for guidance.
1. Reflect On The Past Year
It's natural to experience a bit low concerning your career post-festive period.
A career expert highlights the necessity of introspection before starting a new job search.
She encourages professionals to evaluate what they wish to increase, what to decrease, and what motivates or depletes their energy.
Examining your accomplishments to find recurring patterns is useful too. "Avoid considering only the last month, as people often exhibit for recent-event bias that can impede your judgment," she adds.
She also says it is crucial to determine what place your job fits in your life.
This involves being candid about the amount of time you're working and the influence on your personal life.
Following her job loss, she advises preventing your life be shaped solely by your career.
2. Implement Incremental Actions
She notes that professionals can take incremental moves towards changing careers without committing fully.
She took seven years to move from a traditional job to running her own business entirely, building her idea while still employed, which meant financial stability.
"It needed more time, but that was how I did it in a sustainable way," she explains.
She advocates for an experimental method.
This could be pro bono work, getting involved in a professional project that interests you, or accepting something different within your current team.
"If it fails, you find out it's not a fit, but it's better to find out now rather than after you've made the move," she adds.
Additionally, she suggests considering interim roles. These might not be the ideal job, but they act as a move towards your goal, such as a role with parallels to your desired career, though not in the exact area.
"It means allowing yourself the permission to accept this is good for now, but that does not mean the same as forever.
"This is a clever strategy for getting closer to that desired transition."
3. Remember Your Achievements
If you've recently been made redundant from your role, you are not the only one – redundancy rates have surged to high levels in recent times.
One professional was editor-in-chief for a fashion publication, previously her entire team were made redundant when the firm closed the print version.
Understanding that this did not reflect of her skills assisted her handle the transition.
"Your experience doesn't disappear just because you lost your job.
"Don't give up your confidence, it's important for all individuals to recognize their intrinsic value."
The other editor was let go after ten years in a business journal after a change in management and the appointment of a different editor.
She notes that much of the embarrassment associated with being fired is self-imposed.
"Considering the vast numbers of individuals facing redundancy, it's not personal. It's likely not about you, so don't carry that ball of shame forward."
4. Build a Professional Checklist
If you're actively hunting for a new job or feel profoundly unhappy at work, it can be tempting to dive straight into applying for any vacancy – overlooking what suits you.
However, this represents a significant mistake.
Alternatively, she proposes an exercise called "scanning" – filtering opportunities on role profiles that sound interesting.
She recommends browsing professional networks and gathering several that seem promising.
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