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A new year's onset is frequently a time for reflection, and for numerous people, that includes thinking about our professional paths.

Two publishing professionals who left their roles after corporate restructures at first believed it was a disaster.

"I dedicated everything into the position... I believed in the principles we championed. But in my case, those principles didn't apply," she remarks.

Both individuals decided to use the term "dismissed" and suggest that being transparent about it can assist you process the event.

"There are countless soft terms for being dismissed. However, the quicker you own it, the quicker you're truthful about it, the faster you can move on.

"It's the direct path to anything you desire next," she adds.

Now, they are thriving in new positions, where one running a media business and another serving as lead editor for a high-end journal.

For those who have lost your job or are just considering a shift, these are four methods for guidance.

1. Contemplate The Previous Year

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

A career expert stresses the necessity of reflection before embarking on a new job search.

She advises people to consider what they desire to pursue more, what they want less of, and the things that energizes or exhausts them.

Examining your past successes to spot underlying threads is also beneficial. "Try to avoid focusing solely on the last month, as people often suffer from for recency bias that can impede your judgment," she notes.

She also states it is important to determine where your work plays in your life.

This means being honest regarding the hours you spend working and its impact on your personal and social life.

After being let go, she advises against letting yourself be defined by your job.

2. Take Gradual Moves

She states that individuals can take gradual progress for a career transition without a complete leap.

Her own journey required a long period to make the jump from a traditional job to running her own business completely, developing the venture concurrently with her role, which allowed she could pay herself.

"It needed additional time, but that represented the method I used in a sustainable way," she says.

She suggests a "try before you buy" approach.

This can include volunteer work, joining a professional project you find appealing, or saying yes to something different at your present job.

"If it fails, you learn you don't like, but it's preferable to know now instead of after you've made the move," she remarks.

Additionally, she suggests considering temporary "stepping-stone" positions. These may not be the dream position, but they act as progress in the right direction, such as a role with similarities to your target field, though not in the exact field.

"It's about granting yourself the space to accept this works for now, however, that is not permanent.

"That can be a very smart tactic for moving closer to a new career."

3. Acknowledge Your Accomplishments

Should you have recently been made redundant from your position, you are not the only one – layoff figures have risen to high levels lately.

One professional held a senior role in a magazine, but in 2022 her entire team lost their jobs when the firm closed the print version.

Understanding that this was not a reflection of her skills assisted her handle the transition.

"What you've learned doesn't go away just because you were dismissed.

"Do not surrender your power, it's vital for everyone to remember their own value."

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

She stresses that so much of the shame of job loss is internal.

"With many professionals losing jobs, it's rarely personal. Chances are not about you, so don't carry that burden of shame forward."

4. Develop a Career Checklist

For those who are desperately seeking work or are profoundly unhappy at work, it can be tempting to jump at for any vacancy – disregarding personal fulfillment.

Yet, this can be a big misstep.

Alternatively, she proposes a technique known as "browsing" – narrowing your search down to role profiles that sound interesting.

She recommends browsing professional networks and gathering around 10 to 15 that seem promising.

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