🔗 Share this article We Got Dismissed, and We're Owning It – Here's How to Land a New Job That Fits Your Needs Professionals talk about their path after job loss in a recent publication. The start of a new year can be a time for reflection, and for many, that includes considering our professional paths. Two publishing professionals who were made redundant from their positions following company reorganizations originally thought their world had ended. "I dedicated all my energy into the position... I trusted in the principles we stood for. But in my case, those principles didn't apply," a former editor remarks. The two opted to say "fired" and suggest that being honest about what happened can assist you deal with it. "We use so many euphemisms for losing a job. But the faster you acknowledge it, the sooner you're honest regarding it, the sooner you can move on. "That's the fast track to anything you desire next," she notes. Currently, they are succeeding in new positions, where one running a media business and the other holding the position of top editor at a prestigious publication. For those who have lost your job or are contemplating a change, here are four strategies for guidance. 1. Reflect On The Previous Year It's natural to feel some apprehension about work after a holiday break. A career expert emphasizes the necessity of reflection before starting a fresh job hunt. She suggests individuals to think about what they want to increase, what to reduce, and what energizes or exhausts them. Looking back at your achievements to find underlying threads is also beneficial. "Try to avoid considering only the most recent period, as people often have a tendency for recency bias that can impede your judgment," she states. A former editor states it is vital to decide where your work occupies in your life. This means being honest about the amount of time you devote to work and the influence on your social and social life. After her own experience, she advises not allowing yourself be dictated by your career. 2. Make Gradual Moves The expert notes that professionals can implement gradual progress for a career transition without diving in headfirst. She herself took seven years to make the jump from a traditional job to operating her own business full-time, building her project concurrently with her role, which enabled self-funding from the start. "It required a bit longer, however, that was how I did it in a sustainable way," she says. She recommends a test-run approach. This could be pro bono work, participating in an initiative you find appealing, or saying yes to a new challenge at your present job. "If it fails, you find out it's not a fit, but it's preferable to learn now than after you've committed fully," she states. She also advises looking into short-term "bridging roles". These may not be the dream position, yet they function as a move in the right direction, such as a role with similarities to your target field, but in a different area. "It means allowing yourself the leeway to acknowledge this is suitable temporarily, but that does not mean permanent. "That can be an intelligent approach for getting much closer to a career change." 3. Acknowledge Your Successes Should you have recently been made redundant from your role, you are not the only one – job cuts have risen markedly lately. One professional was editor-in-chief for a fashion publication, but in 2022 her entire team were made redundant after the company discontinued the physical magazine. Understanding that this situation was not a reflection of her skills allowed her to process the change. "The skills you've gained doesn't go away just because you were dismissed. "Don't relinquish your self-worth, it's important for all individuals to recall their intrinsic value." Another professional was fired after a decade in a business journal after a change in senior ranks and the hiring of new leadership. She stresses that a lot of the embarrassment of dismissal is internal. "With many people being laid off, it's not personal. Chances are not your fault, so don't carry that ball of shame forward." 4. Develop a Job Search List If you're desperately seeking work or are deeply dissatisfied at work, it can be tempting to dive straight into applying at any opportunity – ignoring what suits you. Yet, this can be a major error. Rather, she recommends a method called "scanning" – filtering opportunities to only job descriptions that seem appealing. She advises searching sites like LinkedIn and gathering several that you like. "What are {the words|the