Laid Off? What To Do After The Unthinkable Happens

Although unemployment rates are lowering and there are more jobs becoming available, our economy is still hurting from the recent tough times. These tips will help you be better prepared in case you are ever in the unfortunate situation where your days of employment have come to a fast and unexpected end. Go ahead and freak out in private, but here is how to react while in the public eye:

Ask For Severance Pay
Most times that an employee gets laid off it is not because they did or didn't do something - it is because the company is struggling to pay the number of employees they currently have. If your company doesn't immediately offer a severance pay, it is not out of place to ask for it. Most companies will agree to pay you one week of your regular salary for each year that you've worked for them - but that is just a general statement and each company has their own policy.

Get A Recommendation Letter
Before you leave work, remember to ask your boss if you can use him/her as a reference during future job interviews.

File For Unemployment
Unemployment cheques can take anywhere from two to eight weeks to be mailed after you have filed for them. Make sure you file immediately so the processing begins ASAP and you can start receiving some money to help get you by until you find a new source of employment.

Tell Everyone You Know
After you have time to calm down (so you don't send anything you will regret) email everyone you have a good work-related relationship with about your situation. Marc Dorio, author of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Career Advancement, says to send a simple "Due to (insert company's reason here), as of now I am no longer with the company. I will be reaching out to you later for advice as I begin my job search, but in the meantime, please keep me in mind for any future opportunities."

Lastly, Don't Freak Out
In the beginning you might be angry, disappointed, upset and feel like it isn't fair. Instead of dwelling on all those negative feelings, see this as an opportunity to think about what you want to do next. Do you want to stay in the same type of niche or do something totally different? Maybe go back to school? Don't jump too fast at a job you think you won't be happy with, and if you do get a job you don't like, remember that it can only be a temporary fix if you wish.

After all the tips for dealing with unemployment and being laid-off, one thing is certain: Always keep your head up because things will get better!