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It's a terrible thing to be fired ' whether it is called a downsizing, outsourcing or just a 'temporary layoff'

What can you possibly do in such a situation? All seems lost. No options what so ever. 'Henny Penny the sky is falling'.

Yet there is much you can do. First of all get as much of your records out the door before the security guards knock on your door to escort you out of the building as the saying and description say. You can do this either physically in your briefcase, or in this day and age of modern communications ' by simply emailing the files as attachments to another email account of yours. If the files are large you can compress them with a program such as WinZip or winrar ' either for size or packaging. If the files are larger than the standard 10 or 20 megabytes allowed currently by most email providers such as gmail m hotmail or yahoo there are any number of services to either send you larger packages. Yousendit.com is one example. In a flash if you need larger capacities that are offered in the free services you can pay a small amount to obtain the premium services. Remember time is of the essence.

Next you want to continue with an income stream as long as possible. The longer a steady income can be maintained the greater your flexibility will be in terms of options.

In most cases vacation days are a cache protected by local state labor laws. What that means is that if you have 10 vacation days unused that year then the employer cannot declare them null and void since you are no longer working at the firm. They must provide you with the cash payment for those days of employment. You earned them in the previous year of time employed by that organization.

Next apply for unemployment insurance benefits more than promptly. The paper trail and general government processes delay the receipt of unemployment insurance benefits. The quicker you get on the ball here the faster the results ' and the cash i.e. unemployment insurance checks.

Your benefits such as health benefits may continue on with your employer for some time after employment. However often in a reduced state with greater financial inputs by yourself. This is another reason for you to both request your earned vacation pay and as well follow through on your unemployment insurance benefit payment request promptly. Be careful though of employers who arbitrarily decide that they want to change the rules ' so as not to pay benefits. Just as you have obligations in life; an agreed deal is an agreed deal. An employer cannot just decide arbitrarily that they do not want to pay benefits and change the rules midstream.

If the employer offers professional services for help in seeking new employment accept it graciously. In a way it's a slap in the face ' as if insult to injury. The decision has been made so to speak. Any help and contacts in networking that you can make, at no expense to yourself can only be a good thing. Whether it is to update your resume, or to network ' these services would cost you money out of your pocket and time. Why not have it provided for free, at high quality by your present or former employer.

Lastly it is always best policy to leave on good terms and not burn your bridges no matter how you feel. A good reference from your former employer is among the most important assets in being rehired and finding another new source of employment. You are always most valuable to a new employer if you are currently employed. Get on the bandwagon to find new employment and a new job promptly as soon as possible.