🔗 Share this article We Were Dismissed, and We Accept It – This Is How to Find a New Role That Fits Your Needs Experts talk about their journey after job loss in a recent publication. The beginning of a new year can be a time for reflection, and for many, that involves thinking about our career trajectories. Two publishing professionals who were made redundant from their positions due to organizational changes at first believed it was catastrophic. "I invested everything into that role... I believed in the values we championed. Yet, when it came to me, those principles were absent," a former editor says. The two opted to use the term "dismissed" and believe that being open about the situation can assist you handle it. "We use countless alternative phrases for being dismissed. Yet, the sooner you own it, the quicker you're honest regarding it, the quicker you can progress. "That's the fast track to what you wish to do next," she notes. Now, they are excelling in new ventures, with one owning her own media company and the other holding the position of top editor for a high-end journal. If you've lost your job or are looking for a new career, these are four approaches that can help. 1. Consider The Past Year It's natural to have a bit low regarding your job following time off. A professional advisor emphasizes the value of introspection before starting a new job search. She encourages professionals to evaluate what they wish to do more of, what to reduce, and which factors motivates or depletes their energy. Reviewing your past successes to identify underlying threads is useful too. "Try to avoid focusing solely on the recent past, as people often exhibit for recency bias that can impede the process," she notes. A former editor states it is crucial to determine what place your job occupies in your life. This involves being truthful about the amount of time you devote to work and the influence on your family life. Following her job loss, she suggests preventing your identity be dictated by your job. 2. Take Gradual Moves The advisor says people can take small steps towards changing careers without committing fully. She required a long period to move from a corporate role to managing her own company completely, building the venture alongside her job, which enabled self-funding from the start. "It required a bit longer, but that was my approach in a sustainable way," she explains. She suggests an experimental method. This could be pro bono work, joining an initiative that captures your interest, or saying yes to a different task within your current team. "Worst case scenario, you discover you don't like, however, it's wiser to learn now than after you've switched careers," she remarks. She also encourages exploring short-term "bridging roles". These might not be the dream position, but they serve as a step towards your goal, for example a position with parallels to your target field, yet not in the same industry or sector. "It's about giving yourself the space to say this is suitable temporarily, but that does not mean for all time. "That can be a very smart tactic for moving nearer to that new career." 3. Acknowledge Your Achievements For anyone who has just left your job, you aren't alone – redundancy rates have surged to high levels recently. One professional held a senior role in a magazine, previously her entire team lost their jobs after the company closed the print version. Realizing that this was not a reflection of her performance assisted her handle the transition. "What you've learned remains with you simply due to were let go. "Don't give up your self-worth, it's vital for all individuals to recall their intrinsic value." The other editor was fired after a decade with a finance publication due to leadership changes at the top and the appointment of a new editor. She emphasizes that so much of the shame of job loss is self-imposed. "With many professionals losing jobs, it's rarely personal. Chances are not about you, so avoid carrying that burden of shame unnecessarily." 4. Develop a Job Search List For those who are actively hunting for employment or are profoundly unhappy with your present job, you might be tempted to jump at at any opportunity – overlooking personal fulfillment. However, this represents a significant mistake. Alternatively, she proposes a method called "browsing" – filtering opportunities down to role profiles that sound interesting. She recommends exploring professional networks and saving a selection of that you like. "Look for {the words|the