We Were Let Go, and We're Embracing It – Here's How to Secure a New Role That Fits Your Needs
The start of a new year is often a time for reflection, and for a lot of us, that involves considering our work lives.
A pair of editors who lost their jobs due to organizational changes originally thought it was a disaster.
"I invested my heart into the job... I trusted in the values we stood for. But in my case, those values weren't there," she says.
The two decided to say "let go" and suggest that being transparent about the situation can assist you deal with the event.
"There are numerous alternative phrases for losing a job. But the faster you acknowledge it, the sooner you're candid about it, the faster you can progress.
"That's the direct path to anything you want to do next," she notes.
Currently, they are succeeding in new ventures, where one running her own media company and another working as top editor at a prestigious publication.
For those who have been laid off or are simply contemplating a change, here are four methods that can help.
1. Consider Last Year
It's natural to experience some apprehension about work following time off.
A career expert stresses the importance of reflection prior to launching a fresh job hunt.
She encourages professionals to evaluate what they wish to pursue more, what to decrease, and what inspires or drains them.
Reviewing your accomplishments to spot underlying threads is useful too. "Try not to considering only the last month, because we all have a tendency for recent-event bias that can obstruct the process," she states.
She also notes it is important to establish where your work occupies in your life.
This means being truthful regarding the hours you're working and its impact on your social and family life.
After being let go, she suggests not allowing your life be dictated by your career.
2. Implement Incremental Actions
The advisor says people can take small steps towards a career shift without a complete leap.
She took seven years to move from her corporate career to running her own company completely, building the venture concurrently with her role, which allowed financial stability.
"It took additional time, but that was my approach sustainably," she comments.
She recommends a test-run strategy.
This might involve volunteer work, participating in an initiative that captures your interest, or saying yes to something different in your existing role.
"The worst outcome, you discover it's not a fit, but it's preferable to find out now than after you've committed fully," she adds.
Additionally, she suggests considering short-term "bridging roles". These may not be the ideal job, yet they function as progress in the right direction, like a job with parallels to your target field, but in a different area.
"It's about giving yourself the leeway to say this is suitable temporarily, but that isn't for all time.
"That can be an intelligent tactic for getting much closer to your new career."
3. Remember Your Successes
If you've recently been made redundant from your role, many are in the same boat – layoff figures have increased to high levels lately.
She held a senior role in a magazine, but a few years ago she lost their jobs after the company discontinued the physical magazine.
Realizing that this situation did not reflect of her ability helped her handle the transition.
"Your experience remains with you simply due to were dismissed.
"Don't give up your power, it's crucial for all individuals to recall their own worth."
The other editor lost her job after a decade with a finance publication after a change in senior ranks and the appointment of a new editor.
She emphasizes that much of the stigma of job loss is self-imposed.
"Given that hundreds of thousands of professionals losing jobs, it's not personal. It's probably very much not you, so refrain from bearing that ball of shame around with you."
4. Develop a Job Search List
For those who are actively hunting for work or are utterly miserable at work, it can be tempting to apply hastily at any opportunity – ignoring your own happiness.
Yet, this can be a big misstep.
Instead, she suggests an exercise called "browsing" – focusing your search down to role profiles that seem appealing.
She advises searching sites like LinkedIn and saving around 10 to 15 that you like.
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