🔗 Share this article

The start of a new year is frequently a time for reflection, and for many, that includes evaluating our work lives.

Two publishing professionals who were made redundant from their positions after corporate restructures at first believed it was catastrophic.

"I dedicated everything into the job... I believed in the ethos we promoted. However, regarding my situation, that ethos didn't apply," she remarks.

The two opted to say "fired" and argue that being transparent about what happened can help you process the experience.

"People rely on numerous euphemisms for losing a job. However, the quicker you accept it, the faster you're honest regarding it, the faster you can move on.

"That's the fast track to whatever you wish to do next," she notes.

Now, they are succeeding in new ventures, where one leading her own firm and another serving as top editor at a prestigious publication.

Whether you've been made redundant or are just contemplating a change, consider these four methods that can help.

1. Reflect On The Past Year

It's natural to feel some apprehension concerning your career post-festive period.

A career expert highlights the value of reflection prior to launching a fresh job hunt.

She encourages people to consider what they want to pursue more, what to decrease, and the things that energizes or exhausts their energy.

Looking back at your achievements to find underlying threads can also help. "Try not to focusing solely on the most recent period, as people often exhibit for recent-event bias that can obstruct clear thinking," she notes.

Another professional notes it is vital to determine what place your job plays in your life.

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

After her own experience, she advises against letting yourself be defined by your work.

2. Implement Incremental Actions

She notes that professionals can take small steps for a career transition without diving in headfirst.

She herself took seven years to make the jump from a traditional job to running her own company entirely, building the venture alongside her job, which enabled financial stability.

"It needed additional time, but that was the method I used in a sustainable way," she says.

She advocates for a "try before you buy" method.

This might involve volunteer work, getting involved in a work project that interests you, or accepting a different task at your present job.

"If it fails, you learn you don't like, but it's better to learn now instead of after you've switched careers," she adds.

She also encourages looking into interim roles. They are perhaps not the ideal job, but they act as a move forward, like a job with similarities to your target field, yet not in the same industry or sector.

"It's about giving yourself the space to acknowledge this is good for now, but that does not mean permanent.

"That represents an intelligent strategy for getting closer to your desired transition."

3. Recall Your Achievements

Should you have just left your position, many are in the same boat – job cuts have surged markedly recently.

One professional was editor-in-chief at a style magazine, but a few years ago she were laid off after the company closed the print version.

Recognizing that this was not a reflection of her ability helped her process the change.

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

"Don't relinquish your confidence, it's important for everyone to recognize their own value."

The other editor was fired following a long tenure at a financial magazine after a change in senior ranks and the appointment of new leadership.

She emphasizes that so much of the embarrassment associated with being fired is in your head.

"With many people being laid off, it's rarely personal. It's likely very much not you, so refrain from bearing that burden of shame around with you."

4. Create a Job Search List

If you're actively hunting for work or are deeply dissatisfied in your current role, you might be tempted to jump at for any job – overlooking your own happiness.

However, this represents a major error.

Rather, she recommends a technique known as "scanning" – filtering opportunities to only role profiles that seem appealing.

She recommends searching professional networks and collecting several that appeal to you.

"Look for {the words|the