FIRST THING’S FIRST.

So you were among the thousands of people to get the pink slip over the holidays. After sending out the obligatory “its been real, keep in touch” emails to your colleagues and friends, the first thing to do is hit the local bar and take the edge off. After you shake off the hangover, you need to get a few things taken care of so you can be a member in good standing of The 405 Club.

1) Know your benefits: now that you’re ending the relationship, make sure you know what’s coming to you. Check on severance, vacation pay, COBRA, etc.

2) Apply for unemployment: Go here and apply for benefits. There is a waiting period and you won’t actually get money for a few weeks so get on it asap. Direct deposit into your banking account is super easy to set up as well.

3) Think about next steps: Figure out how you want to polish up/refresh the resume and begin to extend your network. It’s time to begin thinking about new opportunities.