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The start of a new year can be a time for reflection, and for many, that involves considering our career trajectories.

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

"I poured everything into the job... I had faith in the principles we stood for. Yet, when it came to me, those values weren't there," a former editor states.

They both decided to employ the word "let go" and believe that being honest about it can help you process the experience.

"People rely on countless soft terms for job loss. But the faster you accept it, the sooner you're candid about it, the sooner you can move on.

"It's the quickest route to whatever you desire to do next," she adds.

Currently, they are excelling in different roles, with one running her own firm and another serving as lead editor at a prestigious publication.

Whether you've been made redundant or are contemplating a change, consider these four approaches to assist you.

1. Consider Last Year

It's typical to have some unease regarding your job post-festive period.

A careers coach highlights the importance of introspection before embarking on the search for a new role.

She advises professionals to evaluate what they want to increase, what to decrease, and the things that inspires or drains their energy.

Reviewing your achievements to spot recurring patterns is useful too. "Try to avoid focusing solely on the recent past, since everyone exhibit for recency bias that can hinder clear thinking," she notes.

Another professional notes it is important to decide what place your job occupies in your life.

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

After her own experience, she suggests preventing your identity be dictated by your career.

2. Implement Incremental Actions

The advisor notes that professionals can implement gradual progress for a career transition without committing fully.

Her own journey required a long period to make the jump from a corporate role to managing her own business completely, building her project concurrently with her role, which enabled she could pay herself.

"It required more time, but that was my approach in a sustainable way," she explains.

She suggests an experimental method.

This could be volunteer work, participating in an initiative that captures your interest, or accepting a new challenge within your current team.

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

She also encourages looking into temporary "stepping-stone" positions. These may not be the ideal job, but they act as progress in the right direction, such as a role with parallels to the career you want, but in a different industry or sector.

"It's about granting yourself the permission to say this works for now, however, that is not permanent.

"This is a very smart approach to get closer to your desired transition."

3. Recall Your Successes

If you've recently lost your position, you are not the only one – job cuts have risen to high levels lately.

She was the top editor in a magazine, but a few years ago her entire team lost their jobs following a decision to closed the print version.

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

"What you've learned doesn't go away because you were let go.

"Don't give up your self-worth, it's crucial for all individuals to recall their own worth."

The other editor was let go following a long tenure in a business journal due to leadership changes in management and the hiring of a different editor.

She notes that much of the embarrassment of job loss is in your head.

"With many people being laid off, it's not personal. It's probably not about you, so avoid carrying that feeling unnecessarily."

4. Develop a Professional Checklist

For those who are actively hunting for employment or are deeply dissatisfied with your present job, it can be tempting to dive straight into applying for any vacancy – overlooking what suits you.

However, this represents a big misstep.

Rather, she recommends a method called "scanning" – filtering opportunities down to job descriptions that sound interesting.

She recommends browsing job platforms and collecting a selection of that seem promising.

"Look for {the words|the