🔗 Share this article

A new year's onset is often a moment for introspection, and for numerous people, that involves thinking about our work lives.

Two editors who left their roles due to organizational changes at first believed it was catastrophic.

"I invested all my energy into the job... I had faith in the ethos we stood for. Yet, when it came to me, that ethos were absent," a former editor states.

They both decided to use the term "let go" and suggest that being transparent about what happened can help you deal with the event.

"We use countless euphemisms for being dismissed. Yet, the sooner you own it, the sooner you're candid about it, the sooner you can advance.

"That's the direct path to what you wish to do next," she adds.

Currently, they are succeeding in new ventures, with one owning her own firm and another working as lead editor for a luxury magazine.

For those who have been made redundant or are considering a shift, here are four methods to assist you.

1. Contemplate The Past Year

It's common to experience some unease about work following time off.

A career expert emphasizes the value of reflection before embarking on a fresh job hunt.

She suggests individuals to think about what they wish to increase, what to reduce, and which factors inspires or drains them.

Examining your past successes to identify recurring patterns is useful too. "Avoid focusing solely on the most recent period, since everyone exhibit for recency bias that can obstruct clear thinking," she states.

A former editor states it is crucial to decide where your work fits in your life.

This means being candid about the amount of time you devote to work and its effect on your family life.

Following her job loss, she advises against letting yourself be shaped solely by your career.

2. Make Small Steps

The expert states that individuals can take incremental moves towards changing careers without diving in headfirst.

She required a long period to make the jump from a traditional job to managing a company full-time, building her idea alongside her job, which meant self-funding from the start.

"It took additional time, however, that was my approach in a sustainable way," she explains.

She advocates for an experimental approach.

This might involve pro bono work, joining a work project you find appealing, or agreeing to a new challenge at your present job.

"The worst outcome, you discover it's not a fit, but it's preferable to learn now instead of after you've committed fully," she adds.

Additionally, she suggests looking into interim roles. These may not be the ideal job, yet they function as a move in the right direction, for example a position with parallels to the career you want, but in a different industry or sector.

"It's about giving yourself the permission to accept this works for now, but that does not mean the same as forever.

"That can be an intelligent approach for moving nearer to a new career."

3. Acknowledge Your Successes

If you've recently lost your role, many are in the same boat – job cuts have surged markedly recently.

She was the top editor for a fashion publication, but a few years ago her entire team were laid off when the firm discontinued the physical magazine.

Understanding that this situation was not indicative of her skills helped her cope with the situation.

"The skills you've gained doesn't go away simply due to were dismissed.

"Don't give up your self-worth, it's vital for everyone to recognize their own worth."

The other editor lost her job after a decade with a finance publication after a change in management and the arrival of a new editor.

She stresses that a lot of the shame of job loss is self-imposed.

"With many individuals facing redundancy, it's not personal. It's probably very much not you, so refrain from bearing that feeling around with you."

4. Develop a Career Checklist

If you're actively hunting for employment or are profoundly unhappy in your current role, it can be tempting to apply hastily at any opportunity – ignoring personal fulfillment.

But this is a major error.

Instead, she suggests a method called "scanning" – focusing your search on position summaries that capture your interest.

She recommends browsing sites like LinkedIn and collecting several that you like.

"Look for {the words|the