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The start of a new year is frequently a period for contemplation, and for numerous people, that involves considering our professional paths.

A pair of editors who were made redundant from their jobs due to organizational changes originally thought it was catastrophic.

"I dedicated my heart into the position... I trusted in the principles we championed. But in my case, that ethos weren't there," she says.

They both decided to employ the word "let go" and suggest that being honest about the situation can help you handle it.

"There are so many soft terms for being dismissed. However, the quicker you acknowledge it, the sooner you're candid regarding it, the sooner you can advance.

"It's the fast track to whatever you wish to pursue next," she continues.

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

For those who have been made redundant or are considering a shift, these are four strategies for guidance.

1. Consider The Previous Year

It's typical to have some apprehension regarding your job after a holiday break.

A professional advisor emphasizes the importance of looking back before starting a new job search.

She suggests people to consider what they wish to pursue more, what to decrease, and which factors inspires or drains their drive.

Examining your accomplishments to find underlying threads is useful too. "Try to avoid just looking at the recent past, because we all have a tendency for recency bias that can hinder clear thinking," she states.

Another professional says it is vital to establish the role of work plays in your life.

This involves being honest regarding the hours you devote to work and its effect on your family life.

After her own experience, she advises against letting your identity be dictated by your career.

2. Take Small Steps

The advisor states that individuals can take gradual progress towards a career shift without committing fully.

She took seven years to make the jump from her corporate career to managing a company full-time, working on her project while still employed, which meant financial stability.

"It needed additional time, but that was the method I used sustainably," she says.

She suggests an experimental approach.

This might involve pro bono work, participating in a work project you find appealing, or agreeing to a new challenge in your existing role.

"Worst case scenario, you discover it's not a fit, but it's better to know now than after you've switched careers," she remarks.

Additionally, she suggests considering short-term "bridging roles". These might not be the perfect role, but they act as progress forward, for example a position with parallels to your target field, but in a different industry or sector.

"It involves allowing yourself the leeway to acknowledge this is suitable temporarily, but that isn't permanent.

"That represents an intelligent tactic to get much closer to a new career."

3. Recall Your Achievements

For anyone who has just left your role, you are not the only one – job cuts have surged to high levels recently.

She was the top editor for a fashion publication, but a few years ago her entire team were laid off following a decision to discontinued the physical magazine.

Realizing that this was not a reflection of her performance helped her cope with the situation.

"What you've learned doesn't disappear simply due to lost your job.

"Don't give up your confidence, it's vital for all individuals to recall their own worth."

Her colleague was fired after a decade at a financial magazine due to leadership changes in senior ranks and the hiring of new leadership.

She stresses that a lot of the shame of dismissal is in your head.

"Given that hundreds of thousands of people being laid off, it's not personal. It's likely very much not you, so don't carry that burden of shame forward."

4. Build a Job Search List

When you're desperately seeking work or are profoundly unhappy in your current role, you might be tempted to dive straight into applying for any vacancy – disregarding your own happiness.

But this is a major error.

Alternatively, she proposes an exercise called "scanning" – filtering opportunities down to job descriptions that seem appealing.

She advises searching job platforms and gathering around 10 to 15 that seem promising.

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