It happens to almost everyone at least once in a lifetime, so why should you be exempt? Chalk it up to experience, throw yourself a 24-hour pity party and move on.

Staying Positive

Resist the temptation to be a pessimist because that will only prolong your unemployment. You can go in one of two directions:

1) If you were happy in your chosen field then, by all means, continue to pursue it.

• Seek out networking opportunities. Write to all your former contacts and let them know where to forward information to you.
• If you think they can help you, tell them you are looking for a job and ask them to let you know if they hear of anything.
• If the market is weak, seek out informational interviews. Make friends with receptionists at places you want to work. They often know as much as their bosses about where their company is going.
• After the interview, send two thank you cards: one to the boss and one to the receptionist.

 2) If you weren’t so happy at your job or just feel it is time to move on, then turn this negative moment into a positive one.

• What would you rather be doing?  Do you need training? 
• Why not turn a hobby into a career?
• If you have no idea what you want to do take a career counseling class.

Consider Volunteering

1. It forces you to think about others and realize you are not so bad off after all.
2. You meet a lot of interesting people and can network through them.
3. You can put it on your resume so that there are no missing chunks of time.
4. It might inspire you to go into a new direction.

How to File for Unemployment

Each state runs its own program.

• Go to go to the web site for the state where you were employed if that is different from where you live.
• The Labor Department has put together a site with links for every state.
• The requirements are different in each state but basically you file a claim either by phone or on line as soon as possible after losing your job.
• Within a few weeks you start getting a weekly payment for a percentage of what you made in your last job.
• You will have to report in weekly to tell them you are still unemployed to keep the money flowing.
• There is a limit to the number of weeks you can collect benefits and it’s based on the economic climate in your state. 

What is Cobra?

When you lose a job in which you were covered by a health insurance policy you can keep that coverage for the next 18 months by paying for it yourself. 

• Companies are required to send you information about Cobra after you leave, and then you have a certain amount of time to accept or reject it. 
• Generally this coverage is pretty pricey because your former employer no longer pays it's share, so most people seek other options.
• However, if you lost your job between September of 2008 through the end of May 2010 you probably qualify for a federal program that pays 65% of Cobra and you only have to pay for 35%.  Find out more here.
• Or if you are under 26 you also might be able to get insured through your parents policy.  It might be worth it even if they make you pay for it.