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A new year's onset can be a period for contemplation, and for many, that involves thinking about our career trajectories.

A pair of editors who lost their roles after corporate restructures at first believed it was a disaster.

"I invested everything into the position... I had faith in the principles we championed. However, regarding my situation, those principles were absent," one of them remarks.

The two chose to use the term "let go" and argue that being open about it can aid you process it.

"We use so many euphemisms for losing a job. But the faster you accept it, the quicker you're candid regarding it, the quicker you can advance.

"It's the quickest route to whatever you want to pursue next," she adds.

Now, they are excelling in new positions, with one leading a media business and another holding the position of top editor for a high-end journal.

Whether you've lost your job or are looking for a new career, here are four strategies that can help.

1. Contemplate The Previous Year

It's typical to feel a bit low about work following time off.

A career expert emphasizes the value of introspection before embarking on a fresh job hunt.

She encourages professionals to evaluate what they wish to increase, what to reduce, and what inspires or drains their energy.

Reviewing your past successes to find common themes is useful too. "Try not to focusing solely on the most recent period, because we all exhibit for recency bias that can obstruct your judgment," she adds.

She also notes it is crucial to establish the role of work occupies in your life.

This means being truthful regarding the hours you devote to work and its effect on your social and social life.

After her own experience, she recommends preventing your life be shaped solely by your career.

2. Make Gradual Moves

The advisor states that individuals can take gradual progress towards changing careers without diving in headfirst.

She herself took several years to move from a corporate role to operating her own business full-time, building her idea while still employed, which enabled self-funding from the start.

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

She recommends an experimental approach.

This could be pro bono work, joining an initiative that captures your interest, or agreeing to a different task within your current team.

"The worst outcome, you find out you don't like, but it's preferable to know now rather than after you've committed fully," she states.

She also advises considering short-term "bridging roles". They are perhaps not the ideal job, but they act as a step towards your goal, for example a position with similarities to your target field, though not in the exact field.

"It's about granting yourself the leeway to acknowledge this is suitable temporarily, but that isn't for all time.

"This is a clever strategy for getting closer to that new career."

3. Remember Your Achievements

Should you have recently been made redundant from your job, you aren't alone – layoff figures have increased significantly in recent times.

One professional was the top editor at a style magazine, but in 2022 she and her team lost their jobs following a decision to discontinued the physical magazine.

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

"What you've learned remains with you simply due to were dismissed.

"Do not surrender your self-worth, it's vital for everybody to recognize their intrinsic value."

Another professional was let go following a long tenure in a business journal after a change in senior ranks and the appointment of a new editor.

She emphasizes that so much of the embarrassment associated with being fired is self-imposed.

"With many people being laid off, it's not personal. Chances are not your fault, so don't carry that ball of shame unnecessarily."

4. Create a Professional Checklist

If you're desperately seeking a new job or feel profoundly unhappy at work, it can be tempting to dive straight into applying at any opportunity – overlooking what suits you.

However, this represents a significant mistake.

Instead, she suggests an exercise called "browsing" – focusing your search to only job descriptions that seem appealing.

She advises searching professional networks and gathering around 10 to 15 that you like.

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