Ok, so you found out you were just fired, laid off, whatever. Doesn't matter, you are now unemployed. First thing is to take a deep breath. The world did not just end. DO NOT PANIC!!!!
I have had several friends, who found themselves in transition, ask me about what to do when they first find themselves unemployed. As a contractor, you tend to see things cycle through every time a contract ends. So here are a few things I would recommend starting off with to get you on the right path:
1) Go out to dinner. I know you just lost your job, so you may be wondering why I recommend spending money. Simply to get your mind off of the issue. You can show the family too that this won't be as stressful a situation as they think. Part of dealing with transition is also dealing with the stress. Go out and have fun!
2) Budget. Yes, now that you just spent money on a dinner, I am telling you to pinch pennies. Look over your bills and see where you can save money. Get rid of the costly satellite tv bill and buy a ROKU and get Netflix. After the initial cost of the ROKU, I was saving $80/month. Instead of simply making going to the grocery store, make a list and look over the circulars for deals. For items you use a lot of, buy in bulk.
3) Unemployment. I highly recommend putting in your claim the first week day you are not working. Get the ball rolling right away. Even if you are not sure if you will receive them, put in for them anyhow. Keep in mind, you may be able to extend those benefits with a p/t job.
4) Networking. This is not a time for pride. Write PRIDE on a notecard and stick it in your closet. This is a time to let everyone know you are looking for a job...friends, family, neighbors, etc. You never know who may know of a job that is right for you. Also, get business cards to hand out. Vista Print is a cheap online store for developing business cards.
One thing you should not do is blast your resume around. Take the time to have someone evaluate it and give you some constructive feedback. If you haven't been in transition for some time, the game has changed quite a bit. If you don't take the time to find out the rules, you may be doing a great disservice to yourself. There are a lot of networking groups out there that offer free resume classes. DO NOT PAY SOMEONE!!
This should get you started. Good luck on your job search!!!
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