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The beginning of a new year can be a moment for introspection, and for a lot of us, that encompasses evaluating our professional paths.

Two publishing professionals who left their positions following company reorganizations initially felt their world had ended.

"I poured everything into the position... I believed in the ethos we stood for. Yet, when it came to me, that ethos were absent," a former editor remarks.

The two opted to use the term "dismissed" and suggest that being transparent about the situation can assist you process the experience.

"We use numerous alternative phrases for job loss. Yet, the sooner you accept it, the faster you're candid about it, the sooner you can progress.

"It's the direct path to anything you wish to do next," she adds.

Now, they are excelling in different roles, with one owning her own media company and the other working as editor-in-chief for a luxury magazine.

For those who have lost your job or are contemplating a change, these are four approaches to assist you.

1. Consider The Previous Year

It's natural to have some apprehension concerning your career following time off.

A professional advisor highlights the value of introspection prior to launching a fresh job hunt.

She encourages individuals to think about what they desire to do more of, what to reduce, and the things that energizes or exhausts their drive.

Reviewing your past successes to find recurring patterns is also beneficial. "Try not to considering only the most recent period, since everyone have a tendency for recent-event bias that can impede clear thinking," she adds.

She also notes it is important to determine the role of work occupies in your life.

This requires being truthful about how much time you're working and its impact on your family life.

After her own experience, she recommends preventing yourself be defined by your job.

2. Take Incremental Actions

She says people can make small steps for a career transition without a complete leap.

She required a long period to move from her corporate career to managing her own company completely, working on her project while still employed, which meant financial stability.

"It took additional time, but that was my approach sustainably," she says.

She suggests an experimental method.

This could be pro bono work, joining a work project you find appealing, or saying yes to something different in your existing role.

"Worst case scenario, you learn that area isn't for you, but it's preferable to know now rather than after you've committed fully," she adds.

Additionally, she suggests looking into interim roles. These may not be the perfect role, but they act as a move in the right direction, like a job with parallels to your target field, though not in the exact industry or sector.

"It means giving yourself the leeway to acknowledge this is suitable temporarily, but that does not mean permanent.

"That represents a clever approach for getting nearer to that new career."

3. Remember Your Successes

If you've recently lost your job, you aren't alone – redundancy rates have increased markedly lately.

She was editor-in-chief in a magazine, but in 2022 she and her team were laid off when the firm discontinued the physical magazine.

Understanding that this event was not a reflection of her skills helped her handle the transition.

"Your experience doesn't disappear just because you lost your job.

"Do not surrender your power, it's important for all individuals to recall their intrinsic value."

Her colleague was let go after a decade at a financial magazine following a regime change in management and the hiring of a different editor.

She stresses that a lot of the embarrassment of dismissal is self-imposed.

"Considering the vast numbers of professionals losing jobs, it's rarely personal. It's likely not about you, so don't carry that ball of shame around with you."

4. Build a Job Search List

For those who are actively hunting for a new job or feel utterly miserable in your current role, the temptation is to apply hastily for any job – overlooking what suits you.

Yet, this can be a major error.

Rather, she recommends a technique known as "scanning" – focusing your search on position summaries that seem appealing.

She recommends exploring professional networks and gathering around 10 to 15 that you like.

"Look for {the words|the