Fired from Job today!!! Wife just had Baby?

Question

I work for an architectural design company. Before I started there my boss created a division for interior design.I have been there for a few years. He called me into his office today and told me that he could not afford the division anymore and told me that he would have to let me go. I was making decent money and I am extremely SCARED!!!. My wife gave birth two weeks ago, and now we are both not working. I plan to start looking for a new job immediately. Help Me, I need advice???I am so scared at lost right now. What do i do???

Answer 1

First congratulations. Hope you are all well.

Now for the job related stuff, first go down and file for unemployment. You will not get what you were making before, but it is something. If they offer you the option to withhold taxes- do it or else you will get hit up come tax time.

Next start looking around at you local papers, check hotjobs, monster, careerbuilder etc. Also see if you have any former contacts that you worked with at your old firm. Networking can do wonders. They might have a line on something, or even a job.

Brush up your resume, start sending it out. Apply with temporary agencies in your area.

Finally, if you are in a bind, take something, anything to get money comming in. Who knows, you might find a good job in another industry.

Good Luck and God Bless.

Answer 2

First of all, ask if there is a severance and/or outplacement package available? If they have laid off an entire division, they should be offering something.

Apply for unemployment ASAP since there is usually a waiting period of a few days after you apply before you get paid.

If you had group benefits while you were working, you should be offered the option to continue those same benefits under a law called COBRA. The difference is that you will pay full cost of the premiums, which can be expensive. The good news is that you have 60 days to decide whether or not you want the insurance, and another 45 days to pay - premiums and coverage will be retroactive back to your termination date.

Last but not least, get your resume out there now. Post online at monster, careerbuilder, and the like. If you belonged to or knew of any professional associations for architects, contact them and post a resume or attend a meeting (many associations let you attend for free when you are "in transition", meaning between jobs.) Network with everyone - alumni associations, church groups, people in line with you at the market - let everyone know you're looking for work.

I know it's a shock, but you WILL be fine. Hang in there ok?

Answer 3

My dad got a pink slip the day my little sister was born.

Look for a job, start out looking in your field, but you have to have SOMETHING, so even if you end up having to get a job you dont' like or you don't really want, take it. You can eventually get to doing what you want to be doing, but right now, I'm sure you know, is all about providing for your family.

Lucky for you, having a newborn is a *little* less expensive than having, say, a two year old, outside of the astronomical cost of diapers.

Also, accept help whenever you can get it. That's good advice with any new parents, but especially with new parents who have the financial burden of a lost job.

Hopefully, you and your wife can rely on each other. This is a HUGE stressor, and so is the baby, so you'll need to really be a team during this time, and help each other in any way possible.

It sounds like you were laid off, not "fired" (which is an important distinction), so you should be qualified for unemployment until you can get back on your feet.

Go to placement agencies (not "temp" agencies, places whose purpose is to actually place you in permanent places and professional jobs).

Also, talk to your boss. Let him know that if the division comes up again, please call you. If he has a position in another division, and you think you could learn to do it, ask him to consider you. This is unfortunate, but it doesn't sound like they were malicious or anything, so make sure you don't burn any bridges there.

I don't know if you're the praying kind, but that's what I would do -- immediately, and often.

Also, try hard to separate the obvious stress of your job situation and enjoy the time with your baby. It would be terrible to realize that you wasted your memories of these early months of your baby's life because you couldn't put aside your stress over finances.

Good luck to you.

Answer 4

Okay - I will admit I am new here and do not know all the rules, but.... took a quick review of your previous questions...and 6 months ago you posted that your girlfriend had a pregnancy scare, then 2 months ago you posted your girlfriend had pregnancy scare, then 1 month ago you complained about your girlfriend (6 months pregnant) gaining too much weight.....Now your wife gave birth two weeks ago.


Maybe this is the way things are done - although it did make for some funny reading..... just thought I would ask??? As I said before I am new here!!!!!

Answer 5

Most companies pay for insurance policies at the start of the month, so you should be good for medical until the end of the month, but double check just in case.

Second thing, this is a great opportunity for you. You helped start a division at a company and that helps make you more well rounded. Treat each day like you are going to work, get up at 6am every morning, make coffee, take a shower, dress decently then plant yourself for three hours at your computer applying online. Then get yourself into online networking groups. Yahoo has a new group of networking through answers, then there is LinkedIn.com. If you'd like to connect to me, just shoot me an email, it's my avatar name @ yahoo.com, and I will show you how to do it.

Networking will be your biggest strength through this. There are many people out there in your situation, and many shoulders to lean on. Make sure your resume is impeccable, and put yourself in a mind set that things will happen quickly and they will.

Answer 6

First off don't panic. Second, collect unemployment. Since you were laid off you can easily get. It may not be as much as what you where getting before be its something. Third, since your really in a hurry for work try temp agency's. Last, if you are in anyway religions, just pray about and try to think positive. You don't need to be too stress out. Your health and you sanity and family is more important. Good Luck! And Congrat on the new baby.

Answer 7

So sorry to hear that!
Apply for unemployment insurance ASAP. That will at least give you something while you are in the job market. Get your resume ready and out there. Keep an eye on the papers for openings and get it out onto websites like Monster.com.
Best of luck!

Answer 8

sorry to hear that, but mean while, collect unemployment insurance and look for jobs that pay more than unemployment insurance.

yeap, it is tough when you make so much. I have been there. Sometimes, I just don't want to make too much, and if you do, you get more chance to get laid off... you should low down your salary expectation when looking for new job. Maybe 5k less at least .. it is tough out there!

Answer 9

Grab some unemployment and look for another job.
I presume you had enough sense to store away for such
"shock" days like these life has to offer?

Answer 10

you mustve had other business contacts from other company's. give them a call. maybe this is a sign from god. this is not the place he wanted you to be. seek him, he will show you the way.