We Were Let Go, and We're Embracing It – Here's How to Find a New Job That Suits Your Needs

The start of a new year is frequently a time for reflection, and for a lot of us, that encompasses thinking about our work lives.

A pair of editors who left their roles after corporate restructures at first believed it was catastrophic.

"I invested my heart into the job... I believed in the principles we stood for. Yet, when it came to me, that ethos weren't there," one of them remarks.

They both decided to employ the word "let go" and argue that being transparent about it can assist you process it.

"People rely on countless euphemisms for being dismissed. But the faster you acknowledge it, the sooner you're truthful about it, the sooner you can progress.

"It's the quickest route to anything you want to do next," she continues.

Now, they are excelling in new positions, where one running a media business and another serving as editor-in-chief at a prestigious publication.

For those who have been laid off or are just looking for a new career, here are four methods for guidance.

1. Consider Last Year

It's typical to feel some unease regarding your job post-festive period.

A professional advisor stresses the importance of reflection prior to launching the search for a new role.

She advises professionals to evaluate what they want to pursue more, what they want less of, and what motivates or depletes their energy.

Looking back at your past successes to find underlying threads is useful too. "Avoid focusing solely on the last month, as people often suffer from to focus on the recent that can impede your judgment," she notes.

A former editor says it is important to determine what place your job fits in your life.

This involves being honest about how much time you spend working and the influence on your family and family life.

Following her job loss, she recommends against letting your identity be defined by your job.

2. Make Gradual Moves

The expert says people can take incremental moves towards changing careers without committing fully.

She herself took several years to move from a traditional job to managing her own company entirely, developing the venture while still employed, which enabled self-funding from the start.

"It took additional time, but that was my approach without risk," she comments.

She recommends a "try before you buy" method.

This can include volunteer work, participating in a work project that captures your interest, or agreeing to a different task within your current team.

"Worst case scenario, you discover that area isn't for you, but it's better to find out now than after you've made the move," she remarks.

Additionally, she suggests looking into interim roles. They are perhaps not the dream position, but they act as a move forward, such as a role with similarities to the career you want, yet not in the same field.

"It's about giving yourself the space to say this works for now, but that isn't for all time.

"That represents a clever strategy to get closer to a new career."

3. Acknowledge Your Successes

If you've just left your job, you are not the only one – layoff figures have increased significantly lately.

One professional was the top editor at a style magazine, previously her entire team were made redundant following a decision to discontinued the physical magazine.

Realizing that this did not reflect of her performance helped her handle the transition.

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

"Don't give up your self-worth, it's vital for all individuals to remember their own worth."

Her colleague was fired following a long tenure with a finance publication due to leadership changes in management and the arrival of a new editor.

She notes that much of the stigma of job loss is self-imposed.

"With many people being laid off, it's not personal. It's likely not your fault, so refrain from bearing that burden of shame around with you."

4. Build a Professional Checklist

For those who are desperately seeking a new job or feel profoundly unhappy at work, the temptation is to dive straight into applying for any job – overlooking your own happiness.

But this is a significant mistake.

Instead, she suggests a method called "reviewing" – focusing your search down to position summaries that sound interesting.

She advises searching job platforms and gathering a selection of that appeal to you.

"Look for {the words|the