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The start of a new year can be a moment for introspection, and for numerous people, that involves thinking about our work lives.

Two publishing professionals who lost their jobs following company reorganizations initially felt their world had ended.

"I invested everything into the job... I had faith in the ethos we stood for. But in my case, those values were absent," she remarks.

They both opted to say "let go" and suggest that being open about it can aid you deal with it.

"People rely on countless euphemisms for being dismissed. But the faster you acknowledge it, the quicker you're candid about it, the sooner you can progress.

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

Today, they are succeeding in new ventures, with one running her own media company and the other holding the position of editor-in-chief for a luxury magazine.

For those who have been laid off or are simply looking for a new career, these are four approaches that can help.

1. Contemplate The Past Year

It's natural to feel a bit low concerning your career following time off.

A careers coach highlights the importance of introspection before starting a fresh job hunt.

She suggests professionals to evaluate what they want to increase, what they want less of, and what energizes or exhausts their energy.

Examining your accomplishments to spot common themes can also help. "Try not to considering only the most recent period, because we all suffer from for recency bias that can obstruct your judgment," she states.

Another professional says it is crucial to decide where your work plays in your life.

This requires being candid regarding the hours you spend working and its effect on your family and family life.

Following her job loss, she suggests preventing your life be shaped solely by your work.

2. Make Small Steps

She notes that professionals can take incremental moves towards a career shift without a complete leap.

Her own journey took seven years to transition from her corporate career to managing her own business completely, developing her project while still employed, which allowed she could pay herself.

"It took more time, but that represented how I did it without risk," she says.

She advocates for a test-run strategy.

This can include volunteer work, getting involved in an initiative that interests you, or accepting something different at your present job.

"If it fails, you discover that area isn't for you, however, it's wiser to find out now instead of after you've committed fully," she states.

She also encourages exploring interim roles. These may not be the ideal job, but they act as a step forward, for example a position with similarities to your target field, but in a different field.

"It involves granting yourself the space to acknowledge this is suitable temporarily, but that does not mean for all time.

"That represents a very smart strategy for moving nearer to your career change."

3. Recall Your Achievements

For anyone who has just left your role, you are not the only one – layoff figures have risen markedly lately.

One professional was the top editor for a fashion publication, but a few years ago her entire team lost their jobs following a decision to discontinued the physical magazine.

Recognizing that this situation did not reflect of her ability helped her handle the transition.

"Your experience doesn't disappear simply due to were dismissed.

"Don't relinquish your self-worth, it's important for everyone to recognize their own worth."

Another professional was let go after ten years in a business journal due to leadership changes in management and the hiring of new leadership.

She stresses that a lot of the shame associated with being fired is internal.

"Given that hundreds of thousands of individuals facing redundancy, it's not personal. It's probably very much not you, so avoid carrying that ball of shame forward."

4. Build a Career Checklist

If you're desperately seeking work or are utterly miserable at work, you might be tempted to apply hastily for any job – overlooking personal fulfillment.

But this is a big misstep.

Alternatively, she proposes a method called "reviewing" – narrowing your search on position summaries that seem appealing.

She advises searching sites like LinkedIn and gathering several that you like.

"Look for {the words|the