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A new year's onset can be a time for reflection, and for numerous people, that involves evaluating our professional paths.

A pair of editors who were made redundant from their roles after corporate restructures initially felt their world had ended.

"I dedicated my heart into the job... I believed in the principles we stood for. Yet, when it came to me, those values weren't there," a former editor says.

Both individuals opted to use the term "dismissed" and argue that being open about it can help you deal with the experience.

"There are numerous soft terms for job loss. However, the quicker you acknowledge it, the faster you're candid regarding it, the sooner you can progress.

"That is the fast track to anything you wish to pursue next," she notes.

Now, they are excelling in different roles, where one leading her own media company and the other serving as lead editor at a prestigious publication.

If you've been made redundant or are looking for a new career, these are four approaches that can help.

1. Reflect On The Previous Year

It's common to experience some apprehension concerning your career following time off.

A careers coach stresses the value of introspection before starting the search for a new role.

She advises people to consider what they wish to increase, what to decrease, and the things that motivates or depletes them.

Looking back at your accomplishments to identify common themes can also help. "Try to avoid just looking at the last month, because we all exhibit for recent-event bias that can obstruct clear thinking," she notes.

A former editor notes it is vital to determine where your work fits in your life.

This involves being truthful about how much time you spend working and the influence on your family life.

After her own experience, she suggests against letting yourself be shaped solely by your job.

2. Implement Incremental Actions

The expert states that individuals can implement incremental moves towards changing careers without committing fully.

She herself took seven years to transition from a traditional job to running a company full-time, developing her project concurrently with her role, which meant she could pay herself.

"It required additional time, but that represented my approach sustainably," she comments.

She recommends an experimental approach.

This might involve volunteering, joining a professional project you find appealing, or accepting a new challenge within your current team.

"Worst case scenario, you learn you don't like, however, it's wiser to know now rather than after you've switched careers," she adds.

Additionally, she suggests exploring temporary "stepping-stone" positions. These might not be the perfect role, yet they function as a move in the right direction, such as a role that shares traits to the career you want, but in a different industry or sector.

"It's about granting yourself the leeway to accept this is good for now, however, that is not permanent.

"That represents a very smart tactic to get nearer to your desired transition."

3. Remember Your Achievements

For anyone who has just left your job, you aren't alone – redundancy rates have increased significantly lately.

One professional held a senior role at a style magazine, previously she and her team were laid off following a decision to ceased print operations.

Understanding that this situation was not indicative of her skills helped her cope with the situation.

"The skills you've gained doesn't disappear because you were dismissed.

"Do not surrender your confidence, it's crucial for everybody to recall their intrinsic value."

The other editor lost her job after a decade at a financial magazine following a regime change in management and the hiring of new leadership.

She notes that so much of the embarrassment associated with being fired is self-imposed.

"Considering the vast numbers of professionals losing jobs, it's usually not about you. It's likely very much not you, so refrain from bearing that feeling unnecessarily."

4. Build a Professional Checklist

For those who are urgently looking for a new job or feel deeply dissatisfied in your current role, it can be tempting to jump at at any opportunity – ignoring what suits you.

But this is a big misstep.

Rather, she recommends an exercise called "scanning" – filtering opportunities on position summaries that sound interesting.

She suggests browsing professional networks and collecting around 10 to 15 that seem promising.

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