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A new year's onset can be a period for contemplation, and for a lot of us, that includes thinking about our professional paths.

Two editors who left their jobs after corporate restructures initially felt their world had ended.

"I poured everything into the position... I believed in the principles we championed. But in my case, that ethos were absent," one of them says.

They both opted to say "dismissed" and suggest that being transparent about what happened can assist you handle it.

"There are so many alternative phrases for job loss. Yet, the sooner you accept it, the quicker you're truthful about it, the quicker you can advance.

"It's the fast track to anything you want to do next," she adds.

Now, they are excelling in new positions, where one owning her own media company and another holding the position of lead editor for a high-end journal.

Whether you've been made redundant or are simply looking for a new career, these are four strategies for guidance.

1. Consider Last Year

It's natural to have some unease regarding your job following time off.

A career expert highlights the value of reflection before embarking on the search for a new role.

She suggests people to consider what they desire to do more of, what to decrease, and what energizes or exhausts their energy.

Reviewing your accomplishments to identify common themes can also help. "Try not to considering only the most recent period, because we all have a tendency to focus on the recent that can impede clear thinking," she states.

She also notes it is important to establish what place your job occupies in your life.

This means being candid regarding the hours you devote to work and the influence on your family and social life.

After being let go, she advises preventing your identity be shaped solely by your job.

2. Take Small Steps

The expert says people can make incremental moves towards a career shift without diving in headfirst.

Her own journey took several years to move from her corporate career to running her own company full-time, building her project concurrently with her role, which enabled she could pay herself.

"It required a bit longer, but that was my approach without risk," she says.

She recommends a "try before you buy" strategy.

This could be volunteering, participating in an initiative that captures your interest, or saying yes to a new challenge within your current team.

"If it fails, you learn you don't like, but it's preferable to find out now rather than after you've committed fully," she remarks.

She also advises looking into interim roles. These may not be the dream position, yet they function as a step towards your goal, for example a position that shares traits to your desired career, but in a different industry or sector.

"It involves allowing yourself the leeway to accept this is suitable temporarily, but that does not mean permanent.

"That represents a clever approach to get much closer to a career change."

3. Recall Your Successes

Should you have just left your job, many are in the same boat – layoff figures have surged significantly in recent times.

A former editor held a senior role in a magazine, but in 2022 she were made redundant following a decision to closed the print version.

Realizing that this was not indicative of her skills helped her process the change.

"Your experience doesn't go away because you were dismissed.

"Don't relinquish your self-worth, it's important for all individuals to recall their intrinsic value."

Her colleague was let go after ten years in a business journal following a regime change in management and the arrival of a new editor.

She emphasizes that so much of the shame associated with being fired is in your head.

"Considering the vast numbers of individuals facing redundancy, it's usually not about you. Chances are very much not you, so avoid carrying that ball of shame around with you."

4. Develop a Professional Checklist

When you're actively hunting for employment or are utterly miserable in your current role, it can be tempting to apply hastily for any vacancy – ignoring what suits you.

But this is a big misstep.

Instead, she suggests an exercise called "reviewing" – focusing your search on job descriptions that capture your interest.

She advises searching job platforms and saving several that seem promising.

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