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

Two editors who left their jobs following company reorganizations originally thought it was a disaster.

"I dedicated my heart into the position... I trusted in the principles we championed. However, regarding my situation, those principles didn't apply," a former editor states.

Both individuals chose to use the term "dismissed" and believe that being open about the situation can aid you handle the event.

"We use countless euphemisms for losing a job. But the faster you acknowledge it, the faster you're candid about it, the sooner you can progress.

"That's the direct path to whatever you want next," she notes.

Currently, they are thriving in different roles, where one leading a media business and the other working as lead editor for a luxury magazine.

If you've been made redundant or are considering a shift, consider these four strategies for guidance.

1. Reflect On The Previous Year

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

A career expert emphasizes the importance of looking back before starting the search for a new role.

She advises individuals to think about what they desire to do more of, what to decrease, and what energizes or exhausts their energy.

Examining your past successes to find common themes is also beneficial. "Avoid just looking at the last month, because we all suffer from for recent-event bias that can impede clear thinking," she notes.

She also states it is crucial to decide what place your job plays in your life.

This involves being truthful about the amount of time you spend working and the influence on your family life.

Following her job loss, she advises not allowing yourself be shaped solely by your job.

2. Take Gradual Moves

The advisor notes that professionals can take gradual progress towards changing careers without a complete leap.

She herself took several years to make the jump from a corporate role to operating a company entirely, developing her idea concurrently with her role, which meant self-funding from the start.

"It needed more time, but that was how I did it sustainably," she says.

She recommends a "try before you buy" strategy.

This could be pro bono work, participating in an initiative that captures your interest, or agreeing to a different task at your present job.

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

She also advises looking into short-term "bridging roles". These might not be the ideal job, but they serve as progress in the right direction, like a job that shares traits to your desired career, though not in the exact area.

"It means granting yourself the space to accept this is good for now, however, that is not for all time.

"This is a very smart approach for moving much closer to your career change."

3. Recall Your Achievements

Should you have recently lost your job, you are not the only one – layoff figures have risen to high levels in recent times.

She was editor-in-chief at a style magazine, but in 2022 she and her team lost their jobs after the company closed the print version.

Recognizing that this event was not indicative of her skills allowed her to process the change.

"The skills you've gained doesn't go away just because you were let go.

"Don't give up your power, it's important for everybody to recall their intrinsic value."

The other editor was fired after ten years at a financial magazine due to leadership changes at the top and the appointment of a different editor.

She stresses that so much of the embarrassment of dismissal is internal.

"Considering the vast numbers of individuals facing redundancy, it's not personal. It's likely not about you, so don't carry that burden of shame around with you."

4. Create a Professional Checklist

When you're urgently looking for work or are profoundly unhappy at work, it can be tempting to dive straight into applying at any opportunity – disregarding what suits you.

But this is a major error.

Instead, she suggests a method called "scanning" – narrowing your search down to job descriptions that seem appealing.

She recommends searching professional networks and saving around 10 to 15 that you like.

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