The second emotion he felt was worry. Susan had a relatively high-paying job, but still Paul felt uneasy. It also helped to know that we could afford to order takeout and go to the movies every once in a while. To figure out what he wanted to do next, Paul emailed former colleagues, bosses, and classmates from graduate school and invited them for coffee or lunch. During one of these meetings, Paul was introduced to the director of an NGO. I got to do interesting work; I got to network with potential employers; and I was able to make a little money.
Four months later, Paul landed a new job with one of the directors he interviewed for the project. You have 1 free article s left this month. You are reading your last free article for this month. Subscribe for unlimited access. Create an account to read 2 more. In some cases, laid-off employees may be entitled to severance pay or other employee benefits provided by their employer.
In some cases, a layoff may be temporary, and the employee is rehired when the economy improves. An employee may be furloughed instead of laid off. When an employer furloughs workers, there is an expectation of returning to the job. The worker may be able to continue health insurance and collect unemployment benefits during the furlough.
The first thing you need to figure out, as a newly terminated employee, is how your former employer will characterize your separation from the company. If you are an at-will employee —and workers not covered by an employment contract in most states in the U. But it's still appropriate for you to ask them how they'll refer to your termination when speaking to future employers and the state unemployment office. Typically, employers will ask laid-off employees to sign an employment separation agreement , sometimes but not always in return for a severance package.
It's always a good idea to take time to read and consider the agreement before signing. Don't sign anything in the heat of the moment, directly after learning of your termination. In addition, it's often wise to consult an employment attorney. To collect unemployment , you typically need to have lost your job "through no fault of your own. People who are fired are less likely to receive unemployment because they left due to issues with their personal performance. However, if a fired employee can argue that their firing was unfounded or unrelated to performance, he may be eligible for unemployment.
If you are unsure whether or not you qualify for unemployment, check with your state unemployment office. You may be legally entitled to pay for unused time off, for example. Hopefully you have an emergency fund three to six months of living expenses saved up to get you through the tough times. Hit pause on all nonessential spending, like entertainment and gym memberships, until your income level is back to normal. Here are a few examples:. Your time has been shifted around, so use it to your advantage!
Here are three practical ways to get back out there and look for work:. If your whole industry has taken a hit this past year, it might be time to start branching out into other types of work. Be willing to step outside your comfort zone and even take lower pay for the time being. Start your search by making a list of the people in your immediate circle who can help you get connected in another field.
Reach out to them and let them know about your situation. Be bold—but not obnoxious—as you ask for work opportunities. Keep asking and digging and expanding your network. There are certain fields that always need employees, and others that have needed to hire a lot more people because of increased demand.
Ultimately, consulting with an attorney can help you determine whether your layoff appears to be legal or illegal, but only you can determine whether the cost of going after your former employer is worth the time and effort. If you think you might have a legal claim, be sure to work with an employment lawyer to help you walk away with a better severance or, if warranted, pursue a lawsuit.
Could you use some help jump-starting a job search? Join Monster for free today. As a member, you can upload up to five versions of your resume—each tailored to the types of jobs that interest you. Recruiters search Monster every day looking to fill top jobs with qualified candidates, just like you.
Additionally, you can get job alerts sent to you when positions become available. Those are just two quick and easy ways Monster can take some of the burden off your shoulders. This article is not intended as a substitute for professional legal advice. Always seek the advice of an attorney regarding any legal questions you may have. Thank you! You are now a Monster member—and you'll receive more content in your inbox soon.
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