The start of a new year is frequently a period for contemplation, and for a lot of us, that encompasses evaluating our career trajectories.
Two editors who were made redundant from their roles due to organizational changes originally thought it was catastrophic.
"I dedicated all my energy into that role... I trusted in the principles we championed. But in my case, those values didn't apply," one of them states.
They both chose to employ the word "fired" and suggest that being transparent about what happened can help you process the experience.
"There are numerous soft terms for being dismissed. However, the quicker you acknowledge it, the quicker you're candid regarding it, the sooner you can progress.
"That is the direct path to whatever you want to do next," she continues.
Currently, they are thriving in different roles, where one leading a media business and another holding the position of lead editor at a prestigious publication.
Whether you've lost your job or are considering a shift, these are four methods for guidance.
It's natural to have a bit low concerning your career after a holiday break.
A careers coach highlights the value of reflection before starting the search for a new role.
She encourages professionals to evaluate what they desire to increase, what they want less of, and which factors energizes or exhausts their drive.
Reviewing your accomplishments to identify recurring patterns can also help. "Avoid just looking at the recent past, as people often exhibit for recency bias that can impede clear thinking," she notes.
A former editor notes it is important to establish where your work fits in your life.
This involves being honest regarding the hours you devote to work and the influence on your personal and family life.
After her own experience, she advises preventing yourself be dictated by your job.
The advisor states that individuals can take incremental moves for a career transition without diving in headfirst.
She herself took several years to make the jump from a traditional job to running her own company entirely, developing the venture while still employed, which enabled self-funding from the start.
"It needed additional time, but that represented how I did it sustainably," she comments.
She advocates for an experimental method.
This might involve volunteering, joining a professional project that interests you, or saying yes to a different task at your present job.
"The worst outcome, you find out you don't like, but it's preferable to find out now than after you've committed fully," she adds.
She also encourages looking into interim roles. They are perhaps not the ideal job, but they act as a step in the right direction, such as a role with similarities to your target field, yet not in the same field.
"It means allowing yourself the leeway to acknowledge this is suitable temporarily, but that does not mean the same as forever.
"This is a clever strategy to get nearer to that new career."
If you've recently lost your position, you are not the only one – layoff figures have risen to high levels recently.
She was editor-in-chief in a magazine, previously her entire team were laid off after the company closed the print version.
Realizing that this was not a reflection of her performance assisted her cope with the situation.
"What you've learned doesn't disappear because you were dismissed.
"Don't relinquish your self-worth, it's crucial for all individuals to remember their intrinsic value."
The other editor was let go after ten years at a financial magazine following a regime change at the top and the arrival of new leadership.
She stresses that much of the embarrassment of dismissal is in your head.
"With many professionals losing jobs, it's not personal. It's likely not about you, so don't carry that burden of shame around with you."
For those who are desperately seeking a new job or feel utterly miserable with your present job, it can be tempting to jump at at any opportunity – ignoring your own happiness.
Yet, this can be a significant mistake.
Instead, she suggests a method called "reviewing" – filtering opportunities to only role profiles that capture your interest.
She advises searching job platforms and collecting around 10 to 15 that seem promising.
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A passionate writer and traveler sharing insights on personal growth and lifestyle from a UK perspective.
