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The beginning of a new year can be a period for contemplation, and for numerous people, that involves evaluating our career trajectories.

Two publishing professionals who left their jobs following company reorganizations originally thought their world had ended.

"I dedicated all my energy into the position... I trusted in the ethos we stood for. However, regarding my situation, that ethos didn't apply," one of them says.

Both individuals chose to use the term "let go" and suggest that being honest about what happened can assist you process it.

"People rely on countless euphemisms for being dismissed. Yet, the sooner you acknowledge it, the faster you're honest about it, the faster you can move on.

"That's the fast track to what you want next," she continues.

Today, they are thriving in different roles, where one owning her own media company and another working as editor-in-chief at a prestigious publication.

Whether you've lost your job or are simply contemplating a change, consider these four approaches that can help.

1. Consider Last Year

It's common to have a bit low about work post-festive period.

A career expert stresses the necessity of introspection before embarking on a new job search.

She suggests people to consider what they want to increase, what they want less of, and the things that energizes or exhausts them.

Examining your achievements to find recurring patterns is useful too. "Try to avoid just looking at the last month, since everyone exhibit to focus on the recent that can impede clear thinking," she states.

She also says it is important to determine what place your job occupies in your life.

This means being candid about the amount of time you're working and its effect on your personal life.

Following her job loss, she recommends against letting your identity be shaped solely by your work.

2. Implement Incremental Actions

The expert says people can make small steps towards changing careers without committing fully.

Her own journey required a long period to make the jump from a corporate role to running her own business entirely, developing the venture concurrently with her role, which allowed she could pay herself.

"It took additional time, but that represented how I did it in a sustainable way," she says.

She recommends a "try before you buy" strategy.

This might involve volunteer work, joining a professional project you find appealing, or saying yes to something different at your present job.

"Worst case scenario, you discover you don't like, however, it's wiser to learn now instead of after you've made the move," she adds.

She also advises considering temporary "stepping-stone" positions. They are perhaps not the dream position, but they act as progress forward, such as a role with similarities to the career you want, though not in the exact field.

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

"That represents a very smart strategy for getting nearer to a desired transition."

3. Acknowledge Your Successes

Should you have recently been made redundant from your job, you aren't alone – redundancy rates have increased significantly in recent times.

One professional was the top editor in a magazine, but in 2022 her entire team were laid off after the company discontinued the physical magazine.

Realizing that this event was not a reflection of her performance allowed her to handle the transition.

"Your experience remains with you because you were let go.

"Do not surrender your self-worth, it's crucial for everyone to recall their own value."

Her colleague was let go after a decade in a business journal after a change in senior ranks and the hiring of a different editor.

She emphasizes that a lot of the embarrassment associated with being fired is in your head.

"With many people being laid off, it's rarely personal. Chances are not about you, so avoid carrying that feeling forward."

4. Create a Career Checklist

If you're actively hunting for work or are deeply dissatisfied in your current role, you might be tempted to apply hastily at any opportunity – disregarding your own happiness.

Yet, this can be a big misstep.

Instead, she suggests a method called "browsing" – focusing your search on position summaries that capture your interest.

She recommends browsing professional networks and saving around 10 to 15 that appeal to you.

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