We Got Fired, and We Accept It – This Is How to Land a New Role That Suits You Personally

Two women discussing job changes
Experts talk about their journey following redundancy in a new book.

The start of a new year can be a time for reflection, and for numerous people, that involves evaluating our professional paths.

A pair of editors who were made redundant from their jobs following company reorganizations at first believed their world had ended.

"I dedicated my heart into that role... I had faith in the values we stood for. However, regarding my situation, those values didn't apply," one of them remarks.

They both opted to use the term "let go" and argue that being open about it can help you process the event.

"We use numerous euphemisms for losing a job. But the faster you acknowledge it, the quicker you're honest regarding it, the quicker you can progress.

"That is the fast track to anything you wish to do next," she adds.

Now, they are excelling in new positions, with one owning her own firm and the other working as lead editor for a luxury magazine.

For those who have been made redundant or are just contemplating a change, these are four approaches that can help.

1. Reflect On The Previous Year

Person thinking about career

It's natural to have some unease regarding your job after a holiday break.

A professional advisor emphasizes the necessity of introspection before embarking on the search for a new role.

She suggests professionals to evaluate what they desire to pursue more, what to reduce, and the things that inspires or drains their energy.

Examining your accomplishments to find recurring patterns is useful too. "Try to avoid considering only the last month, as people often have a tendency for recency bias that can impede your judgment," she notes.

She also says it is vital to decide what place your job plays in your life.

This requires being honest about the amount of time you spend working and its impact on your social and social life.

Following her job loss, she suggests against letting your identity be dictated by your work.

2. Implement Gradual Moves

Individual making gradual progress

The expert states that individuals can take incremental moves towards a career shift without a complete leap.

She herself took seven years to move from a corporate role to operating her own company entirely, working on her idea concurrently with her role, which enabled financial stability.

"It needed more time, however, that was the method I used in a sustainable way," she explains.

She advocates for a "try before you buy" strategy.

This can include volunteer work, getting involved in a work project that interests you, or saying yes to a different task at your present job.

"If it fails, you discover it's not a fit, but it's better to learn now instead of after you've made the move," she states.

She also advises considering interim roles. These may not be the perfect role, but they serve as a move towards your goal, like a job with parallels to your target field, though not in the exact industry or sector.

"It involves giving yourself the space to say this is good for now, but that does not mean for all time.

"That represents a clever tactic to get much closer to a new career."

3. Remember Your Successes

Career accomplishments

Should you have just left your job, you are not the only one – redundancy rates have risen markedly in recent times.

A former editor was editor-in-chief for a fashion publication, previously she lost their jobs when the firm discontinued the physical magazine.

Realizing that this event was not a reflection of her ability assisted her cope with the situation.

"The skills you've gained doesn't disappear because you were let go.

"Do not surrender your confidence, it's crucial for everybody to recognize their own worth."

Another professional was fired after a decade with a finance publication due to leadership changes in senior ranks and the hiring of a different editor.

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

"With many individuals facing redundancy, it's not personal. Chances are very much not you, so don't carry that burden of shame forward."

4. Build a Professional Checklist

Individual creating a checklist

When you're actively hunting for employment or are profoundly unhappy in your current role, it can be tempting to dive straight into applying for any job – overlooking your own happiness.

But this is a major error.

Alternatively, she proposes a technique known as "browsing" – focusing your search to only role profiles that seem appealing.

She recommends searching sites like LinkedIn and collecting around 10 to 15 that seem promising.

"Look for {the words|the

James Rodriguez
James Rodriguez

A certified fitness trainer and tech enthusiast who specializes in wearable health devices and sustainable workout routines.