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A new year's onset is often a moment for introspection, and for a lot of us, that encompasses evaluating our career trajectories.

Two publishing professionals who lost their positions after corporate restructures at first believed their world had ended.

"I poured all my energy into the position... I had faith in the values we promoted. However, regarding my situation, those values weren't there," one of them says.

They both chose to say "dismissed" and argue that being transparent about it can assist you handle it.

"We use countless euphemisms for being dismissed. Yet, the sooner you acknowledge it, the sooner you're honest regarding it, the sooner you can move on.

"That's the quickest route to anything you wish to pursue next," she notes.

Today, they are excelling in new positions, with one leading her own media company and the other working as top editor for a high-end journal.

Whether you've been laid off or are considering a shift, here are four strategies for guidance.

1. Consider The Previous Year

It's common to experience some unease about work after a holiday break.

A careers coach highlights the value of reflection prior to launching the search for a new role.

She advises professionals to evaluate what they desire to do more of, what to reduce, and the things that inspires or drains their drive.

Reviewing your accomplishments to spot recurring patterns is also beneficial. "Try not to just looking at the most recent period, because we all exhibit for recent-event bias that can hinder your judgment," she notes.

Another professional notes it is important to determine the role of work occupies in your life.

This means being honest about how much time you devote to work and the influence on your social and family life.

After her own experience, she recommends against letting your life be defined by your job.

2. Take Small Steps

She notes that professionals can take gradual progress towards changing careers without a complete leap.

She required a long period to make the jump from a traditional job to operating her own company entirely, building her project concurrently with her role, which allowed self-funding from the start.

"It required additional time, but that was the method I used sustainably," she says.

She advocates for an experimental method.

This can include volunteering, joining an initiative that interests you, or accepting something different at your present job.

"The worst outcome, you discover you don't like, but it's better to learn now rather than after you've committed fully," she remarks.

Additionally, she suggests looking into interim roles. These might not be the dream position, but they act as a move forward, like a job with similarities to your target field, though not in the exact field.

"It means granting yourself the permission to accept this works for now, however, that is not the same as forever.

"This is a very smart approach to get nearer to that career change."

3. Acknowledge Your Achievements

Should you have recently lost your position, you aren't alone – layoff figures have increased significantly recently.

She held a senior role in a magazine, previously her entire team lost their jobs after the company ceased print operations.

Realizing that this situation did not reflect of her skills helped her process the change.

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

"Don't relinquish your power, it's vital for everyone to recognize their own worth."

The other editor was let go following a long tenure at a financial magazine due to leadership changes in senior ranks and the arrival of a new editor.

She emphasizes that much of the shame of dismissal is internal.

"Given that hundreds of thousands of professionals losing jobs, it's not personal. It's likely very much not you, so don't carry that ball of shame unnecessarily."

4. Create a Career Checklist

If you're actively hunting for work or are profoundly unhappy at work, the temptation is to apply hastily at any opportunity – overlooking your own happiness.

But this is a significant mistake.

Instead, she suggests an exercise called "scanning" – narrowing your search on job descriptions that sound interesting.

She recommends browsing professional networks and collecting a selection of that you like.

"Look for {the words|the