We Got Dismissed, and We Accept It – This Is How to Land a Fresh Position That Suits Your Needs

Two women discussing career transitions
Experts discuss their journey after job loss in a new book.

A new year's onset is often a time for reflection, and for numerous people, that involves considering our professional paths.

Two publishing professionals who were made redundant from their jobs due to organizational changes at first believed their world had ended.

"I invested my heart into the job... I trusted in the values we championed. Yet, when it came to me, those principles were absent," a former editor remarks.

Both individuals chose to employ the word "fired" and suggest that being open about the situation can assist you handle the experience.

"There are countless alternative phrases for being dismissed. Yet, the sooner you acknowledge it, the quicker you're candid regarding it, the quicker you can progress.

"It's the fast track to anything you wish next," she notes.

Now, they are excelling in different roles, with one owning a media business and another holding the position of editor-in-chief for a high-end journal.

For those who have been laid off or are looking for a new career, these are four strategies that can help.

1. Contemplate The Past Year

Individual reflecting about career

It's common to experience some apprehension concerning your career post-festive period.

A professional advisor emphasizes the importance of reflection before starting the search for a new role.

She advises professionals to evaluate what they wish to do more of, what they want less of, and what inspires or drains their energy.

Reviewing your accomplishments to find common themes is useful too. "Try to avoid focusing solely on the last month, as people often suffer from for recent-event bias that can hinder the process," she states.

She also says it is crucial to decide what place your job occupies in your life.

This requires being candid regarding the hours you spend working and its effect on your social and social life.

Following her job loss, she advises preventing your identity be dictated by your job.

2. Take Gradual Moves

Individual making small steps

She notes that professionals can take incremental moves towards a career shift without a complete leap.

She took seven years to transition from her corporate career to managing her own company completely, building her project concurrently with her role, which enabled she could pay herself.

"It required more time, however, that was my approach sustainably," she says.

She advocates for an experimental approach.

This can include volunteering, joining a professional project that captures your interest, or agreeing to a new challenge within your current team.

"If it fails, you learn it's not a fit, but it's preferable to learn now than after you've switched careers," she adds.

Additionally, she suggests considering interim roles. These might not be the ideal job, but they serve as a step in the right direction, like a job with parallels to your target field, though not in the exact area.

"It's about granting yourself the leeway to accept this is suitable temporarily, but that isn't permanent.

"That represents a very smart strategy for moving much closer to your desired transition."

3. Remember Your Accomplishments

List of achievements

For anyone who has just left your role, many are in the same boat – layoff figures have risen significantly recently.

She was the top editor at a style magazine, previously her entire team lost their jobs after the company closed the print version.

Recognizing that this event was not indicative of her skills assisted her handle the transition.

"What you've learned doesn't go away just because you were dismissed.

"Don't relinquish your self-worth, it's crucial for everyone to remember their intrinsic value."

Her colleague was let go after a decade in a business journal after a change at the top and the arrival of new leadership.

She notes that so much of the embarrassment associated with being fired is internal.

"With many individuals facing redundancy, it's usually not about you. Chances are not your fault, so avoid carrying that ball of shame unnecessarily."

4. Create a Career Checklist

Person making a checklist

For those who are urgently looking for employment or are deeply dissatisfied with your present job, it can be tempting to apply hastily at any opportunity – overlooking personal fulfillment.

But this is a significant mistake.

Alternatively, she proposes an exercise called "scanning" – narrowing your search on position summaries that seem appealing.

She advises searching sites like LinkedIn and saving a selection of that appeal to you.

"Identify {the words|the

Shawna Stewart
Shawna Stewart

A seasoned lifestyle journalist with over a decade of experience covering luxury trends and exclusive events across Europe.