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The beginning of a new year is frequently a time for reflection, and for many, that involves considering our work lives.

Two publishing professionals who left their positions following company reorganizations initially felt it was a disaster.

"I dedicated everything into the position... I trusted in the principles we championed. But in my case, that ethos weren't there," one of them says.

Both individuals opted to use the term "dismissed" and believe that being honest about what happened can help you handle the event.

"People rely on countless alternative phrases for job loss. But the faster you accept it, the faster you're candid regarding it, the sooner you can progress.

"It's the direct path to whatever you want next," she continues.

Now, they are succeeding in new ventures, with one owning a media business and another holding the position of lead editor for a high-end journal.

Whether you've been laid off or are considering a shift, these are four methods to assist you.

1. Consider Last Year

It's typical to experience some unease concerning your career after a holiday break.

A careers coach stresses the necessity of looking back prior to launching a fresh job hunt.

She suggests individuals to think about what they want to do more of, what to decrease, and the things that inspires or drains their energy.

Reviewing your achievements to spot recurring patterns is useful too. "Try not to just looking at the most recent period, since everyone exhibit to focus on the recent that can obstruct the process," she states.

A former editor states it is important to decide the role of work fits in your life.

This requires being honest about how much time you devote to work and its impact on your family and family life.

After her own experience, she suggests not allowing your life be defined by your career.

2. Make Gradual Moves

She states that individuals can implement incremental moves towards changing careers without a complete leap.

She took several years to transition from a traditional job to operating a company entirely, building her project alongside her job, which meant financial stability.

"It took more time, but that was the method I used in a sustainable way," she comments.

She recommends a "try before you buy" approach.

This might involve pro bono work, getting involved in an initiative that interests you, or saying yes to something different in your existing role.

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

She also encourages exploring temporary "stepping-stone" positions. They are perhaps not the dream position, yet they function as progress forward, for example a position with parallels to your target field, but in a different area.

"It means allowing yourself the leeway to accept this is good for now, but that isn't permanent.

"This is a clever approach to get closer to that new career."

3. Acknowledge Your Successes

If you've recently been made redundant from your role, many are in the same boat – layoff figures have surged significantly recently.

She was the top editor at a style magazine, but in 2022 her entire team lost their jobs after the company discontinued the physical magazine.

Understanding that this did not reflect of her ability helped her cope with the situation.

"Your experience doesn't go away just because you lost your job.

"Don't relinquish your self-worth, it's crucial for all individuals to recognize their own value."

The other editor lost her job after ten years in a business journal due to leadership changes at the top and the arrival of a different editor.

She stresses that so much of the embarrassment of job loss is self-imposed.

"Considering the vast numbers of individuals facing redundancy, it's usually not about you. It's likely not about you, so refrain from bearing that feeling forward."

4. Develop a Professional Checklist

If you're desperately seeking a new job or feel utterly miserable in your current role, you might be tempted to apply hastily at any opportunity – disregarding what suits you.

Yet, this can be a significant mistake.

Rather, she recommends a technique known as "reviewing" – filtering opportunities on job descriptions that sound interesting.

She advises browsing job platforms and collecting around 10 to 15 that seem promising.

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