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The start of a new year is frequently a moment for introspection, and for a lot of us, that involves considering our professional paths.

Two editors who lost their positions following company reorganizations originally thought it was a disaster.

"I poured all my energy into that role... I had faith in the ethos we stood for. Yet, when it came to me, those principles were absent," she states.

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

"People rely on countless soft terms for job loss. Yet, the sooner you acknowledge it, the quicker you're truthful about it, the faster you can advance.

"It's the quickest route to whatever you wish to pursue next," she continues.

Today, they are thriving in new ventures, with one owning a media business and another working as top editor at a prestigious publication.

Whether you've been made redundant or are just contemplating a change, consider these four strategies that can help.

1. Consider Last Year

It's typical to have some apprehension concerning your career after a holiday break.

A professional advisor emphasizes the value of looking back before embarking on a new job search.

She advises professionals to evaluate what they desire to increase, what they want less of, and the things that inspires or drains them.

Examining your past successes to find underlying threads is also beneficial. "Try to avoid focusing solely on the most recent period, because we all exhibit to focus on the recent that can impede the process," she states.

A former editor notes it is important to determine where your work plays in your life.

This involves being truthful about how much time you spend working and its effect on your family and social life.

Following her job loss, she suggests preventing your identity be defined by your career.

2. Implement Incremental Actions

The expert says people can take gradual progress for a career transition without committing fully.

Her own journey took seven years to move from a traditional job to operating her own business entirely, building her project while still employed, which enabled she could pay herself.

"It required a bit longer, but that represented how I did it sustainably," she comments.

She recommends a test-run approach.

This might involve volunteering, getting involved in a work project that captures your interest, or accepting something different within your current team.

"If it fails, you discover it's not a fit, but it's preferable to know now rather than after you've committed fully," she states.

She also advises exploring temporary "stepping-stone" positions. They are perhaps not the perfect role, but they act as a step forward, like a job that shares traits to your desired career, but in a different industry or sector.

"It's about allowing yourself the leeway to acknowledge this works for now, but that isn't the same as forever.

"That represents a clever tactic for moving much closer to a new career."

3. Recall Your Accomplishments

Should you have recently lost your position, many are in the same boat – layoff figures have risen markedly in recent times.

She was the top editor at a style magazine, but a few years ago she and her team were made redundant following a decision to discontinued the physical magazine.

Recognizing that this was not indicative of her skills allowed her to cope with the situation.

"Your experience doesn't disappear just because you were dismissed.

"Don't give up your self-worth, it's vital for everybody to recognize their own worth."

Another professional was let go after a decade in a business journal due to leadership changes in senior ranks and the hiring of a new editor.

She stresses that a lot of the shame associated with being fired is in your head.

"Given that hundreds of thousands of people being laid off, it's usually not about you. It's probably very much not you, so refrain from bearing that burden of shame around with you."

4. Build a Job Search List

For those who are urgently looking for a new job or feel utterly miserable at work, the temptation is to dive straight into applying for any job – ignoring personal fulfillment.

Yet, this can be a big misstep.

Instead, she suggests a method called "reviewing" – filtering opportunities down to position summaries that seem appealing.

She recommends browsing job platforms and gathering a selection of that seem promising.

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