You are free to print the following information provided you have left the byline in tack (Copyright Pat Mistretta 2005, All rights reserved)

STEPS TO TAKE WHEN YOU HAVE BEEN LAID OFF

Unfortunately, in today's economic climate, layoffs are happening to many people.  Some might have seen it was coming, while others were caught off guard.  Either way, it can be a scary situation.  Here is some helpful information and things you should do when you have been laid off:

1.         Get a letter of recommendation from your employer.  Obviously, you have been laid off through no fault of your own.  It would be a great asset for you to have your employer give you a letter of recommendation to give to a prospective employer.  It would also help if the employer states in the letter of recommendation that you were terminated due to a layoff.

2.         Ask your current employer if he has any business referrals or recommendations on other places to seek employment.  Perhaps he has a business colleague that can use your services.

3.         Find out what kind of severance package you will get, if any.  If you have insurance, you will be eligible for COBRA benefits.  Although COBRA benefits can be expensive, it will carry you through until you are once again employed and covered by your new employer.  If, by chance, you cannot afford your COBRA premiums, you should look into short-term insurance coverage.  Bear in mind that most short-term insurance policies will not cover pre-existing conditions.  Another viable option is to check into health insurance "plans."

4.         Apply for Unemployment Insurance and Benefits.  More than likely, you will qualify for unemployment benefits.  The eligibility requirements differ from state to state and it is important that you contact your local unemployment office right away.  This should be your first step, especially since it will take a few weeks for the processing and until you see your first check.  Some states will require you to go into their office to apply, while others will allow an application done on the phone.  Either way, if you have access to a computer, it is important that you go to the Department of Labor's website (http:www.//dol.gov) to get information pertaining to your state.  Or, you can contact them directly at:  1-877-US-2JOBS (TTY: 1-877-889-5627).

5.         The Department of Labor also has good career information which can be found at: http://www.careeronestop.org/.

6.         Another helpful site on unemployment is the AFL CIO.  They offer a handbook on unemployment, as well as resourceful articles.  More information can be found at their website:  http://www.aflcio.org/yourjobeconomy/help/.

7.         Update your resume.  It is extremely important you have an updated resume.  Make it clear, precise and professional.  There are many sites offering assistance on creating a resume.  Monster (http://www.monster.com) and Hot Jobs (http://www.hotjobs.com) offer free resumes that you can create, and post to their websites.  Higher versions of Microsoft Works also have resume programs available right in their software.

8.         Get an email address.  The majority of employers are accepting resumes through email.  This is much faster than sending your resume through the postal service.  You will need an email address in order to not only send resumes, but to receive replies.  There are numerous places online to get free email addresses.  The most common sites are:  Yahoo! and MSN Hotmail, although you can get a listing of other available websites for free email addresses at:  http://fepg.net.       

9.         Seek jobs online and through the classifieds.  Online job searches are the most popular and there are many websites dedicated to seeking employment.  The more popular, online employment websites are:  http://careerbuilders.com, http://hotjobs.com, http://monster.com, and http://jobs.net.  The classifieds in your home newspaper is also a good place to seek employment.  You can either look for employment in the newspaper or at the newspapers online website.  If you are seeking a job in another area, you can check out that areas employment site directly online.  To find a listing of all newspapers, check out this website:  http://usnpl.com.

10.        Register with professional employment agencies.  There are numerous, private agencies available for employment.  Some might require a small registration fee, while others are totally free.

11.        Cold calling.  Stop by other corporations and companies that are similar to the place you have been working at and drop off a resume.

12.        Make sure you have an answering machine or voice mail.  This will be particularly helpful when you are not home to make sure you do not miss out on any important calls relating to employment.

13.        Review your finances.  This is the time for you to know exactly what kind of financial situation you are in.  Make a list of all of your assets, as well as your monthly bills.  If you can, contact your mortgage company or landlord and alert them to your situation.  They might be willing to work something out with you until you find other employment.  It would also be wise to contact your credit card companies, as well as your insurance carrier and bank that has your car loan to see if they will offer you any extensions.

14.        Adjust your standard of living.  This will be the time when you will have to temporarily cut back on unneeded expenses.  Determine which things can be temporarily eliminated and cut back.

15.        Further your education or training.  When you are not seeking employment, this could be a good time to check into the possibility to further your education and/or training.  When you apply for unemployment, ask if they have any programs available to assist you.

16.        Be focused and determined.  Whatever you do, keep your wits about you and know this is only a temporary situation.  Be thorough and consistent in your job search.    Good Luck!

Copyright Pat Mistretta 2005.  All rights reserved.