🔗 Share this article

The beginning of a new year can be a moment for introspection, and for a lot of us, that involves thinking about our career trajectories.

A pair of editors who left their positions after corporate restructures originally thought it was a disaster.

"I invested everything into that role... I believed in the ethos we stood for. However, regarding my situation, that ethos weren't there," a former editor states.

They both opted to employ the word "dismissed" and believe that being transparent about what happened can assist you handle the event.

"There are countless soft terms for job loss. Yet, the sooner you acknowledge it, the sooner you're truthful about it, the quicker you can progress.

"It's the quickest route to what you desire to do next," she adds.

Now, they are thriving in new positions, with one leading a media business and the other holding the position of top editor for a luxury magazine.

If you've been made redundant or are just considering a shift, consider these four approaches that can help.

1. Contemplate The Past Year

It's natural to experience some apprehension regarding your job following time off.

A careers coach stresses the necessity of introspection prior to launching a new job search.

She advises people to consider what they wish to pursue more, what to decrease, and the things that motivates or depletes their energy.

Examining your achievements to spot recurring patterns is also beneficial. "Try to avoid focusing solely on the last month, since everyone suffer from for recent-event bias that can hinder the process," she notes.

Another professional notes it is important to establish where your work occupies in your life.

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

Following her job loss, she recommends against letting yourself be dictated by your work.

2. Implement Incremental Actions

She says people can make small steps towards changing careers without diving in headfirst.

Her own journey took seven years to transition from her corporate career to running a company entirely, working on the venture concurrently with her role, which meant self-funding from the start.

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

She suggests a "try before you buy" approach.

This can include pro bono work, joining a professional project that captures your interest, or accepting something different at your present job.

"The worst outcome, you find out it's not a fit, but it's preferable to know now rather than after you've committed fully," she adds.

She also advises exploring short-term "bridging roles". These might not be the dream position, but they serve as progress towards your goal, for example a position with similarities to the career you want, but in a different area.

"It involves allowing yourself the permission to acknowledge this is good for now, but that does not mean permanent.

"That can be a very smart approach for getting closer to that desired transition."

3. Remember Your Accomplishments

If you've recently lost your position, many are in the same boat – redundancy rates have risen to high levels lately.

A former editor was editor-in-chief at a style magazine, previously she lost their jobs when the firm ceased print operations.

Understanding that this event did not reflect of her performance helped her cope with the situation.

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

"Don't relinquish your self-worth, it's important for everybody to recall their own worth."

Another professional was fired after a decade at a financial magazine after a change in senior ranks and the arrival of new leadership.

She emphasizes that a lot of the stigma associated with being fired is self-imposed.

"With many individuals facing redundancy, it's rarely personal. It's likely not your fault, so don't carry that ball of shame unnecessarily."

4. Create a Job Search List

If you're urgently looking for employment or are utterly miserable at work, the temptation is to apply hastily for any vacancy – overlooking what suits you.

However, this represents a significant mistake.

Rather, she recommends a technique known as "scanning" – filtering opportunities to only job descriptions that seem appealing.

She suggests exploring job platforms and collecting a selection of that appeal to you.

"Look for {the words|the