What to do if you're laid off

This issue is really close to my heart right now, and I thought I'd pass along what I am reading on Get Rich Slowly.

The advice in the Ask Metafilter thread seems very practical:

• Don’t take it personally. Many commenters noted that employees can lose their jobs for any number of reasons unrelated to performance and ability. Try not to let your job loss eat at your self-esteem.
• Don’t panic. Any sudden life change can seem like the end of the world. It’s not. Take time to breathe. Gather your wits and move forward.
• Maintain network connections. Reach out to your professional and social networks for support. You may not find a job through them, but you may be able to derive other benefits.
• Buckle down financially. When you lose your job, it’s especially important to practice sound personal finance. Cut any unnecessary recurring expenses. Watch the discretionary spending. Make a budget.
• Job hunt methodically. Take your time. Don’t just take the first job you’re offered. Look for a situation that will draw upon your strengths, a job that will make you happy.
• Be open to change. If you live in a rural area, you may need to move closer to a city to find work. If you were working in a career that is disappearing (videotape duplicator?) then explore new lines of work.
• Consider becoming a consultant. Depending on your career, freelance consulting work may be a viable option. It could at least provide some temporary income while you look for long-term employment.

-from Get Rich Slowly

They make mention of this in the post, but It is worth bubbling up.  A really (some might say "the") great book on finding a job is What Color Is Your Parachute? 2008: A Practical Manual for Job-hunters and Career-Changers.  I as a matter of practice get a new copy every few years. And, I'm thinking I'm about due. The author, Richard Nelson Bolles, does a really good job of cutting through the FUD (Fear Uncertainty and Doubt) about how to look for a job and what approaches work best. Since looking for a job is always a transitory state for most folks, we all tend to doggy paddle frantically to then next job and not pay too much attention to the mechanics of looking for a job. Bolles brings a lot of information about the process of finding a job to light, both from the employer and employee point of view, in a clear methodical (numbers driven) way that eases the mind. And, while you will never feel like you're in control of the situation entirely, it's always easier to at least feel like you have a grasp of the mechanics of your current situation is. All right, now back to cowering under my desk in fear.