🔗 Share this article

The start of a new year is often a moment for introspection, and for numerous people, that encompasses thinking about our work lives.

Two editors who lost their jobs due to organizational changes originally thought it was a disaster.

"I poured everything into the position... I trusted in the values we promoted. Yet, when it came to me, those principles weren't there," she remarks.

The two opted to say "dismissed" and argue that being transparent about the situation can assist you process the event.

"There are numerous soft terms for losing a job. But the faster you accept it, the faster you're truthful about it, the faster you can advance.

"It's the direct path to anything you wish next," she adds.

Today, they are succeeding in new positions, where one leading her own firm and another holding the position of editor-in-chief at a prestigious publication.

For those who have been laid off or are considering a shift, here are four strategies that can help.

1. Contemplate The Previous Year

It's common to feel a bit low regarding your job following time off.

A careers coach highlights the value of reflection before embarking on the search for a new role.

She encourages professionals to evaluate what they wish to increase, what to decrease, and what inspires or drains them.

Reviewing your accomplishments to spot recurring patterns is also beneficial. "Try not to considering only the most recent period, as people often exhibit for recent-event bias that can impede clear thinking," she notes.

Another professional says it is important to decide where your work plays in your life.

This requires being honest regarding the hours you're working and its effect on your personal and social life.

After her own experience, she advises not allowing your life be defined by your job.

2. Take Gradual Moves

She notes that professionals can take incremental moves towards changing careers without committing fully.

She herself took seven years to move from a traditional job to running her own business entirely, working on her idea alongside her job, which enabled self-funding from the start.

"It needed additional time, but that represented my approach sustainably," she explains.

She advocates for a test-run method.

This can include volunteering, participating in an initiative that captures your interest, or accepting a new challenge in your existing role.

"The worst outcome, you find out that area isn't for you, but it's preferable to learn now instead of after you've committed fully," she remarks.

Additionally, she suggests looking into temporary "stepping-stone" positions. They are perhaps not the dream position, but they act as progress towards your goal, such as a role with similarities to your target field, though not in the exact area.

"It means granting yourself the leeway to accept this is suitable temporarily, but that does not mean the same as forever.

"This is a clever tactic to get much closer to a new career."

3. Acknowledge Your Accomplishments

Should you have recently lost your position, you are not the only one – job cuts have increased significantly lately.

One professional was the top editor for a fashion publication, but in 2022 she were laid off when the firm closed the print version.

Understanding that this event did not reflect of her ability allowed her to handle the transition.

"The skills you've gained doesn't disappear simply due to lost your job.

"Don't relinquish your power, it's crucial for everybody to remember their own value."

Another professional lost her job following a long tenure at a financial magazine after a change at the top and the arrival of a new editor.

She emphasizes that much of the shame associated with being fired is internal.

"Given that hundreds of thousands of individuals facing redundancy, it's not personal. It's probably not your fault, so don't carry that burden of shame around with you."

4. Create a Job Search List

For those who are actively hunting for work or are profoundly unhappy at work, you might be tempted to dive straight into applying for any job – disregarding what suits you.

But this is a big misstep.

Instead, she suggests a method called "scanning" – focusing your search on job descriptions that seem appealing.

She suggests browsing sites like LinkedIn and gathering around 10 to 15 that you like.

"What are {the words|the