We Were Let Go, and We Accept It – Here's How to Secure a New Job That Fits You Personally
The start of a new year can be a time for reflection, and for many, that includes evaluating our work lives.
Two publishing professionals who were made redundant from their positions following company reorganizations originally thought their world had ended.
"I poured my heart into the job... I trusted in the values we stood for. But in my case, that ethos didn't apply," a former editor states.
Both individuals chose to employ the word "let go" and argue that being transparent about it can help you deal with it.
"There are so many soft terms for losing a job. However, the quicker you acknowledge it, the faster you're honest regarding it, the sooner you can advance.
"That's the quickest route to what you want to do next," she continues.
Today, they are thriving in new positions, with one running her own media company and another working as lead editor for a high-end journal.
If you've lost your job or are just contemplating a change, consider these four strategies to assist you.
1. Consider Last Year
It's typical to feel some unease about work following time off.
A career expert stresses the importance of looking back before embarking on a new job search.
She suggests people to consider what they desire to do more of, what to decrease, and the things that energizes or exhausts their drive.
Reviewing your past successes to find underlying threads is useful too. "Avoid just looking at the last month, as people often have a tendency for recency bias that can obstruct the process," she notes.
She also says it is crucial to determine the role of work occupies in your life.
This involves being truthful about the amount of time you devote to work and its effect on your social and family life.
After being let go, she suggests not allowing yourself be dictated by your work.
2. Implement Gradual Moves
The advisor notes that professionals can make incremental moves towards a career shift without committing fully.
She required a long period to move from a traditional job to managing her own business entirely, building her idea while still employed, which enabled self-funding from the start.
"It took a bit longer, however, that was the method I used in a sustainable way," she says.
She suggests an experimental strategy.
This can include volunteering, joining a professional project you find appealing, or agreeing to a new challenge within your current team.
"The worst outcome, you learn it's not a fit, but it's preferable to learn now than after you've made the move," she remarks.
She also advises looking into short-term "bridging roles". These might not be the dream position, but they serve as a move in the right direction, such as a role that shares traits to the career you want, yet not in the same field.
"It involves giving yourself the space to say this is suitable temporarily, however, that is not the same as forever.
"This is a clever strategy for getting nearer to a career change."
3. Remember Your Achievements
If you've recently been made redundant from your job, you aren't alone – redundancy rates have increased to high levels in recent times.
She was editor-in-chief at a style magazine, but in 2022 she and her team were made redundant following a decision to closed the print version.
Recognizing that this situation did not reflect of her ability allowed her to cope with the situation.
"Your experience doesn't disappear simply due to were dismissed.
"Do not surrender your power, it's vital for everybody to recall their own value."
Another professional was let go after a decade in a business journal following a regime change in management and the hiring of a different editor.
She notes that much of the shame of job loss is self-imposed.
"Given that hundreds of thousands of people being laid off, it's rarely personal. Chances are very much not you, so don't carry that ball of shame forward."
4. Build a Professional Checklist
When you're urgently looking for work or are deeply dissatisfied in your current role, the temptation is to dive straight into applying at any opportunity – ignoring personal fulfillment.
Yet, this can be a major error.
Rather, she recommends a technique known as "scanning" – filtering opportunities on role profiles that sound interesting.
She suggests browsing professional networks and saving a selection of that appeal to you.
"Look for {the words|the
