Enjoy your mai tais. After a shock like that you deserve them.
Then all the best to you come monday when you get to job hunting.
That sucks, but it’s not the end of the world. You’ll find another job, quite possibly a better job, and things will work out just fine.
I say this as the daughter of someone who lost their job for various reasons not once or even twice, but six times between my birth and now. That’s not counting A) the time when my mother was six months pregnant with me when he was laid off nor B) the periods when he was between contract jobs.
Enjoy your drinks, take advantage of whatever help comes your way, and try not to panic.
Sorry to hear that, Winston. I hate surprise pink slips. I’ve gotten a few, though fortunately (if anything about it can be considered fortunate) most of them were in the nature of layoffs due to lack of work or corporate downsizing. Only one in recent memory was poor performance, and that was a steaming crock, given that I’d been given three performance raises in a year and received very positive unsolicited commendations from customers. But, y’know, I was making more than most in my department now, and new owners, and blah blah. They just wanted someone cheaper. They didn’t actually fire me, but I got written up several times for trumped up reasons and was given the choice of “shaping up” or quitting. So I took my week of vacation, found another job, and gave them my notice.
But I’m sure you’ll find something to replace it, possibly even something better. The aforementioned reverse-firing was one of the best things that happened to me, since I ultimately managed to turn it around (three jobs and a major promotion later) into a position making almost double. Sometimes stuff just works out in your favor. Then you can turn around and thumb your nose at the morons who let you go.
That really blows goat chunks 
How easily can you find a new job?
I know your pain Winston Smith. I was fired last January after 7 years with that company and a 25 year career with stellar reviews. The unemployment office is your first stop, but only after those cocktails. Tomorrow’s another day. Chin up.
Gah. That blows. Welcome to the Unemployed Club.
We suck.
I’m sorry to read this, Winston. Best of luck to you. I hope you find a job that you like soon. In the meantime, enjoy your mai tais and rip the hell out of those weeds!
Sorry to hear Winston.
I just departed the Unemployed Club and went back to the Gainfully Employed Club after being fired from my job in March.
I worked for that company for two years without a bad review or any negative anything. definitely a shock to me. I was unemployed for 7 weeks and got no severance pay.
Everyone told me that when I found a new job it would be much better. It was. The job I have now appears to have great opportunities.
Your old employers aren’t supposed to tell prospective employers that you were fired. All they are allowed to say (AFAIK) is that yes you worked there, during such and such date, pay scale (I think that varies) and possibly if they would hire you back (but only if the prospective employer asks).
My new job, they didn’t ask why I was no longer with my former company. I didn’t offer the information. Kind of a don’t ask don’t tell policy. 
You will find another job soon. After the weekend start by calling up/emailing your networking contacts.
Some things that I don’t think have been mentioned so far…
Apply for unemployment, but be aware that your former employer(s) will likely fight your eligibility for that benefit.
Also be prepared for the demoralizing fact that while you are at the unemployment office you may be forced to sit in a room full of potential fast-food workers and made to watch a 1970’s video on how to properly groom, brush your teeth and look “presentable”.
You may be forced to apply for any job that comes along in order to get benefits.
The unemployment drones will tell you about various potential openings, some of which you already know about and aren’t interested in. There will be other job openings that don’t fit you at all.
But you MUST apply at all of them or you lose your unemployment benefits. Brush your teeth first!
Especially at management level jobs, both the interviewer and interviewee already know that it’s just a paper shuffle, you are just there to get your unemployment papers signed.
Not saying that you can’t land a gig, but go in, chat politely, see what happens. If nothing is happening, hand them your paperwork for them to sign and be on your way.
VERY IMPORTANT: You really don’t want to be surprised at tax time that you have to pay taxes on your unemployment benefits and whatever severance package you got.
Maybe things have changed, but I found myself in exactly your situation about 20 years ago.
Ah, being fired. Another form of rejection from society. Who wants to be told they do more harm than good? Especially when it might be an unfair assessment.
In Russia, they drink vodka when this happens. You should go drink vodka with a portion of society that accepts you (friends? family? friendly hobos?) to even things out.
ps: If you drink with hobos, be sure you wear clothes you don’t like very much.
Oh shit.
That really stinks, and I’m sorry.
There’s a really good chance that “performance” wasn’t the cause. My co-worker got fired a month ago, and I really don’t think it was because of her job perf–
Ah, hell, it’s irrelevant. I am sure that you will find another position, and it’s really, seriously, not the worst thing in the world, and you are smart, capable, and totally employable. Good vibes your way, and just yeah, on the good advise upthread.
Winston… ho-lee shit! That totally blows goats :eek: 
I only had one case when I got fired without any kind of warning: central just sent an order to “fire all the part-timers and temps tomorrow”; one of the foremen had moved from a string of temp contracts to perma, signed the papers on the mortgage and set the wedding date - the day before!
Ein?
I’m not familiar with unemployment in the USA, but isn’t that a government thing? Why would his ex-employer fight it, it’s not any skin off their noses! If you mean that a “termination with cause” may lead to lower or no benefits then ok, I understand that… but “fight so our ex-employee doesn’t get his unemployment benefits”? That I need an explanation on.
Unemployment benefits usually include stuff like resume reviews (although frankly I think you’ll get better ones here, I know we have several people who work HR and some have done reviews for other Dopers), access to courses and other stuff. Hopefully you won’t need any of that!
Sorry to hear your news. Good luck in your job hunt!
Termination with cause will not qualify him for unemployment benefits. Now, I know lots of people terminiated with cause who applied, the office called their company and the company chose not to pursue the cause thing. So its worth a try.
In the US, employers pay into a fund. How much they pay, in part, is a function of how many successful claims are made against them. It is in their best interest never to lay anyone off, but always to fire “for cause.”
That sucks. Here’s hopeing that next year you can say getting fired was the best thing that happend, since you got the great new job, which is lots more fun and pays much better.
Sorry to hear the bad news, but good luck finding the best job ever!
Sorry to hear your bad news! You’re not alone, that’s for sure!
Good luck with your job search!
Best of luck in the coming weeks to you and your family.