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A new year's onset is often a time for reflection, and for a lot of us, that involves considering our professional paths.

A pair of editors who left their roles following company reorganizations at first believed their world had ended.

"I poured my heart into the position... I had faith in the values we promoted. However, regarding my situation, that ethos weren't there," she says.

Both individuals decided to employ the word "dismissed" and suggest that being transparent about it can assist you process the experience.

"We use numerous alternative phrases for losing a job. Yet, the sooner you accept it, the sooner you're candid regarding it, the faster you can advance.

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

Currently, they are excelling in new positions, with one owning her own firm and the other working as top editor at a prestigious publication.

For those who have lost your job or are simply contemplating a change, these are four strategies for guidance.

1. Consider The Past Year

It's natural to have some unease regarding your job after a holiday break.

A professional advisor stresses the value of introspection prior to launching the search for a new role.

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

Examining your past successes to find underlying threads is also beneficial. "Try not to focusing solely on the recent past, as people often suffer from for recency bias that can impede clear thinking," she states.

A former editor notes it is vital to determine the role of work fits in your life.

This requires being truthful about how much time you devote to work and its effect on your family and social life.

Following her job loss, she advises against letting yourself be dictated by your work.

2. Take Gradual Moves

She notes that professionals can implement incremental moves for a career transition without diving in headfirst.

Her own journey required a long period to move from a corporate role to running her own business completely, building the venture while still employed, which meant financial stability.

"It required more time, but that represented how I did it sustainably," she says.

She advocates for an experimental approach.

This could be pro bono work, participating in a work project that captures your interest, or saying yes to a different task in your existing role.

"The worst outcome, you discover you don't like, however, it's wiser to know now instead of after you've committed fully," she adds.

She also advises considering interim roles. These may not be the ideal job, but they serve as a step forward, like a job with similarities to your desired career, though not in the exact area.

"It's about giving yourself the permission to say this is suitable temporarily, however, that is not the same as forever.

"This is an intelligent tactic for moving closer to a desired transition."

3. Recall Your Successes

Should you have recently been made redundant from your job, you are not the only one – redundancy rates have surged to high levels in recent times.

A former editor was the top editor for a fashion publication, but a few years ago she were made redundant following a decision to closed the print version.

Recognizing that this event did not reflect of her ability allowed her to process the change.

"What you've learned remains with you because you were let go.

"Don't give up your self-worth, it's crucial for everybody to recall their own value."

The other editor was let go following a long tenure with a finance publication due to leadership changes in management and the hiring of new leadership.

She emphasizes that so much of the stigma of job loss is internal.

"Given that hundreds of thousands of people being laid off, it's usually not about you. Chances are not about you, so avoid carrying that feeling unnecessarily."

4. Develop a Career Checklist

When you're desperately seeking work or are deeply dissatisfied at work, it can be tempting to jump at for any job – ignoring your own happiness.

However, this represents a big misstep.

Alternatively, she proposes a technique known as "reviewing" – narrowing your search down to position summaries that sound interesting.

She suggests browsing sites like LinkedIn and saving several that seem promising.

"Look for {the words|the