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The start of a new year is frequently a period for contemplation, and for a lot of us, that includes thinking about our professional paths.

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

"I invested all my energy into the job... I had faith in the principles we stood for. However, regarding my situation, those principles weren't there," she says.

The two decided to use the term "fired" and believe that being honest about what happened can help you process it.

"People rely on so many alternative phrases for being dismissed. But the faster you own it, the faster you're truthful regarding it, the faster you can progress.

"It's the fast track to whatever you want to do next," she continues.

Now, they are thriving in new positions, where one running her own media company and the other serving as lead editor for a high-end journal.

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

1. Consider Last Year

It's natural to have some unease concerning your career after a holiday break.

A professional advisor highlights the necessity of looking back prior to launching the search for a new role.

She encourages professionals to evaluate what they want to increase, what to decrease, and what energizes or exhausts their drive.

Examining your accomplishments to spot recurring patterns can also help. "Try to avoid just looking at the most recent period, since everyone exhibit for recent-event bias that can impede clear thinking," she states.

A former editor states it is vital to determine where your work plays in your life.

This requires being truthful about the amount of time you devote to work and its effect on your family and social life.

After being let go, she advises not allowing yourself be dictated by your job.

2. Make Gradual Moves

She says people can take gradual progress towards a career shift without committing fully.

She herself took seven years to make the jump from a corporate role to running her own company entirely, developing her project alongside her job, which allowed she could pay herself.

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

She suggests a test-run strategy.

This can include pro bono work, getting involved in a work project you find appealing, or saying yes to a new challenge in your existing role.

"Worst case scenario, you find out it's not a fit, but it's preferable to learn now rather than after you've committed fully," she remarks.

Additionally, she suggests looking into interim roles. They are perhaps not the perfect role, yet they function as a move towards your goal, for example a position with parallels to the career you want, though not in the exact industry or sector.

"It means allowing yourself the leeway to accept this is good for now, however, that is not for all time.

"That can be a clever tactic for getting much closer to a desired transition."

3. Remember Your Successes

If you've recently lost your role, you are not the only one – redundancy rates have increased markedly in recent times.

A former editor held a senior role in a magazine, but in 2022 she and her team were made redundant after the company discontinued the physical magazine.

Understanding that this situation did not reflect of her ability assisted her handle the transition.

"Your experience doesn't disappear just because you were dismissed.

"Don't relinquish your confidence, it's important for everybody to remember their own worth."

Her colleague was let go after ten years in a business journal after a change in management and the appointment of new leadership.

She emphasizes that much of the shame of dismissal is internal.

"With many individuals facing redundancy, it's not personal. It's likely very much not you, so don't carry that feeling forward."

4. Develop a Professional Checklist

For those who are desperately seeking a new job or feel profoundly unhappy in your current role, you might be tempted to dive straight into applying for any vacancy – disregarding personal fulfillment.

However, this represents a significant mistake.

Instead, she suggests a technique known as "reviewing" – focusing your search down to position summaries that seem appealing.

She recommends exploring sites like LinkedIn and saving a selection of that you like.

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