We Were Dismissed, and We Accept It – Here's How to Land a Fresh Position That Suits for You

A new year's onset can be a period for contemplation, and for a lot of us, that includes evaluating our work lives.

A pair of editors who lost their roles following company reorganizations at first believed their world had ended.

"I poured my heart into that role... I had faith in the principles we stood for. However, regarding my situation, those principles were absent," she says.

The two opted to employ the word "let go" and suggest that being honest about the situation can aid you process the experience.

"We use countless alternative phrases for job loss. Yet, the sooner you acknowledge it, the quicker you're truthful about it, the quicker you can advance.

"That is the quickest route to anything you want to pursue next," she adds.

Currently, they are thriving in different roles, with one running her own media company and another working as editor-in-chief at a prestigious publication.

For those who have been made redundant or are contemplating a change, these are four strategies for guidance.

1. Reflect On Last Year

It's common to feel some unease concerning your career following time off.

A professional advisor highlights the importance of introspection before embarking on a fresh job hunt.

She suggests professionals to evaluate what they wish to do more of, what to reduce, and which factors motivates or depletes their energy.

Looking back at your achievements to spot underlying threads can also help. "Try to avoid focusing solely on the most recent period, as people often exhibit for recency bias that can impede clear thinking," she notes.

She also states it is important to decide what place your job fits in your life.

This requires being honest about the amount of time you spend working and its effect on your personal and family life.

After being let go, she recommends against letting yourself be defined by your career.

2. Take Incremental Actions

She says people can make incremental moves for a career transition without a complete leap.

She herself took several years to make the jump from a corporate role to operating a company completely, building her project concurrently with her role, which enabled she could pay herself.

"It required a bit longer, but that represented my approach without risk," she explains.

She suggests an experimental approach.

This can include volunteer work, getting involved in a work project you find appealing, or accepting a new challenge at your present job.

"If it fails, you learn that area isn't for you, however, it's wiser to learn now rather than after you've committed fully," she states.

She also encourages looking into temporary "stepping-stone" positions. These might not be the ideal job, yet they function as progress in the right direction, for example a position that shares traits to your desired career, yet not in the same area.

"It involves allowing yourself the leeway to accept this is suitable temporarily, but that isn't permanent.

"This is a very smart tactic to get nearer to a desired transition."

3. Acknowledge Your Accomplishments

For anyone who has just left your role, you are not the only one – layoff figures have risen markedly recently.

One professional was the top editor in a magazine, but a few years ago she were laid off following a decision to ceased print operations.

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

"The skills you've gained remains with you because you were dismissed.

"Do not surrender your self-worth, it's important for everyone to recall their own value."

Another professional was let go after ten years with a finance publication after a change in senior ranks and the hiring of a new editor.

She emphasizes that so much of the stigma of job loss is in your head.

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

4. Build a Professional Checklist

If you're actively hunting for a new job or feel deeply dissatisfied at work, the temptation is to jump at for any vacancy – ignoring what suits you.

However, this represents a big misstep.

Instead, she suggests a method called "reviewing" – narrowing your search on job descriptions that capture your interest.

She recommends browsing sites like LinkedIn and collecting several that you like.

"Look for {the words|the