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The start of a new year can be a time for reflection, and for numerous people, that encompasses evaluating our professional paths.

Two publishing professionals who lost their jobs after corporate restructures initially felt their world had ended.

"I invested all my energy into that role... I trusted in the values we stood for. But in my case, those values weren't there," a former editor remarks.

The two decided to say "dismissed" and suggest that being honest about the situation can help you handle it.

"People rely on countless soft terms for being dismissed. But the faster you acknowledge it, the sooner you're candid about it, the faster you can progress.

"It's the quickest route to anything you wish next," she continues.

Today, they are thriving in new ventures, where one owning a media business and the other holding the position of lead editor at a prestigious publication.

If you've been laid off or are considering a shift, consider these four approaches that can help.

1. Contemplate The Previous Year

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

A career expert highlights the value of reflection before starting the search for a new role.

She suggests individuals to think about what they wish to do more of, what they want less of, and which factors inspires or drains them.

Reviewing your accomplishments to identify recurring patterns is useful too. "Try not to focusing solely on the recent past, because we all have a tendency to focus on the recent that can hinder the process," she notes.

She also states it is crucial to decide where your work plays in your life.

This involves being honest about the amount of time you're working and its effect on your family life.

Following her job loss, she advises not allowing your life be dictated by your career.

2. Take Incremental Actions

The advisor states that individuals can take incremental moves towards a career shift without a complete leap.

She herself took several years to transition from her corporate career to running her own business entirely, developing her project while still employed, which meant financial stability.

"It required more time, but that was the method I used without risk," she says.

She advocates for a test-run method.

This could be volunteer work, joining an initiative that interests you, or agreeing to something different within your current team.

"If it fails, you discover it's not a fit, however, it's wiser to know now instead of after you've made the move," she states.

She also advises looking into short-term "bridging roles". They are perhaps not the ideal job, but they serve as a move in the right direction, such as a role with similarities to your desired career, though not in the exact field.

"It's about giving yourself the space to acknowledge this is suitable temporarily, however, that is not for all time.

"This is an intelligent approach to get much closer to your career change."

3. Remember Your Accomplishments

If you've recently been made redundant from your position, you are not the only one – layoff figures have risen significantly recently.

A former editor was the top editor at a style magazine, previously she and her team were laid off after the company closed the print version.

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

"What you've learned doesn't disappear because you lost your job.

"Don't relinquish your power, it's crucial for everybody to recall their own value."

Her colleague was let go after a decade with a finance publication after a change at the top and the arrival of new leadership.

She notes that much of the stigma associated with being fired is internal.

"Considering the vast numbers of professionals losing jobs, it's usually not about you. It's probably very much not you, so don't carry that burden of shame around with you."

4. Create a Job Search List

When you're desperately seeking employment or are utterly miserable with your present job, it can be tempting to apply hastily for any job – overlooking your own happiness.

But this is a major error.

Alternatively, she proposes a method called "reviewing" – narrowing your search on role profiles that seem appealing.

She recommends searching job platforms and gathering a selection of that seem promising.

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