We Were Fired, and We Accept It – This Is How to Find a New Job That Fits Your Needs

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

The start of a new year is often a moment for introspection, and for a lot of us, that involves thinking about our career trajectories.

Two editors who left their positions due to organizational changes initially felt it was a disaster.

"I invested all my energy into the job... I had faith in the ethos we promoted. However, regarding my situation, those principles weren't there," she remarks.

They both opted to employ the word "dismissed" and suggest that being honest about it can aid you deal with the experience.

"There are countless soft terms for losing a job. However, the quicker you own it, the sooner you're truthful about it, the sooner you can move on.

"That's the fast track to anything you desire next," she continues.

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

If you've been made redundant or are just looking for a new career, these are four methods for guidance.

1. Consider The Previous Year

Person thinking about career

It's typical to feel a bit low concerning your career following time off.

A career expert stresses the necessity of looking back prior to launching the search for a new role.

She suggests people to consider what they desire to increase, what they want less of, and which factors energizes or exhausts their energy.

Reviewing your accomplishments to find common themes can also help. "Avoid considering only the last month, since everyone suffer from for recency bias that can obstruct your judgment," she notes.

A former editor states it is vital to establish where your work occupies in your life.

This means being honest about the amount of time you devote to work and the influence on your social life.

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

2. Make Incremental Actions

Individual making small steps

The advisor states that individuals can implement small steps towards a career shift without diving in headfirst.

She took seven years to transition from a corporate role to managing a company completely, building the venture concurrently with her role, which meant financial stability.

"It required additional time, but that was how I did it sustainably," she says.

She advocates for an experimental approach.

This can include pro bono work, getting involved in a professional project you find appealing, or accepting a different task at your present job.

"If it fails, you discover you don't like, but it's preferable to know now than after you've switched careers," she remarks.

She also advises considering interim roles. They are perhaps not the ideal job, yet they function as a step towards your goal, for example a position that shares traits to your target field, but in a different area.

"It means granting yourself the leeway to acknowledge this is good for now, however, that is not permanent.

"This is a very smart strategy for moving nearer to that career change."

3. Acknowledge Your Achievements

List of achievements

Should you have recently lost your position, you aren't alone – job cuts have increased to high levels lately.

A former editor was the top editor in a magazine, but in 2022 she and her team were laid off when the firm closed the print version.

Understanding that this event was not indicative of her performance helped her process the change.

"The skills you've gained doesn't go away just because you lost your job.

"Do not surrender your power, it's vital for everybody to recognize their intrinsic value."

Her colleague was fired following a long tenure at a financial magazine following a regime change at the top and the arrival of a different editor.

She notes that much of the stigma associated with being fired is in your head.

"Considering the vast numbers of professionals losing jobs, it's usually not about you. It's likely not about you, so don't carry that burden of shame around with you."

4. Develop a Job Search List

Person making a list

If you're desperately seeking employment or are profoundly unhappy at work, you might be tempted to dive straight into applying at any opportunity – overlooking what suits you.

Yet, this can be a significant mistake.

Rather, she recommends an exercise called "reviewing" – focusing your search down to job descriptions that sound interesting.

She recommends searching sites like LinkedIn and gathering several that you like.

"Look for {the words|the

Dana Jones
Dana Jones

A dedicated eSports journalist with a passion for competitive gaming and community building.