Another voice of support. That sucks. What is the job market like in your field?
I’m in IT, I’ve got ten years of experience, and I’m up on the latest technologies, so I’m pretty marketable. Boston has a decent job market, and I (hope I) have enough contacts to find something that way. I hate that I’ve got to find a job so fast, though. This is the fourth summer in a row I’ve been looking for a job.
I was planning to finish my degree next May and change careers. Damn. Don’t know if that plan’s gonna work out. We’ll have to wait and see.
What do you mean by “IT”? Ever worked for a hospital? The pay isn’t great, but it’s steady.
Sorry to hear Winston, it can be a kick in the shorts. I was terminated by surprise a year ago. On the termination papers (take them with you to the unemployment office, it speeds up the process!) it stated that I wasn’t doing my job but they had never told me otherwise. That was actually on the papers! I read alot on wrongful termination but nothing seemed to apply to me.
On the flip side, there are many, many job sites on the web and you are in a very big city. Good Luck!
Al they all suck ass. Except dice.com. That one rocks.
Here’s a tip – update your resume every day, with something little, like adding or taking away the period after your middle initial. That way you stay “new”, and at the top of the list.
Also, if there’s little to no documentation backing up why you were fired, the employer doesn’t have much of a chance of successfully fighting the claim. Best of luck to you, Winston.
Thanks, everyone.
They gave me a package and instructions on filing an unemployment claim. I hope it doesn’t come to that, though.
File as soon as you can. It takes at least a week or more for you to get your first check and if there’s an appeal immediately, it can take even longer to get your first check.
I will. Thank you.
Winston Smith, I just wanted to drop in and say I’m sorry - it sucks. I’ve been fired in the past - it’s a rotten feeling. 
Holy crap, Winston. offers booze, chocolate, a free hammock, and hugs, in no particular order
Thank you, thank you, thank you and thank you!
Winston, don’t hesitate to file for unemployment. In my one experience with the Massachusetts unemployment system, they didn’t seem that uptight about the reasons for my unemployment. They seemed to have a – dare I say it – liberal attitude toward eligibility. And while I was supposed to maintain logs documenting my job search, they never once asked for them. So even though you’re ostensibly to take a job from Wal-Mart if it’s offered, the chances of the state holding you to it are minimal, it seems to me.
Good luck. I don’t really think you’ll have trouble finding a job. The market’s good right now.
In Michigan you filre for unemployment on the internet or by phone. You make your byweekly contact by phone.
If they fight your unemployment ,you can insist on a hearing . The board will decide if you qualify.
Unemployment does not pay the bills. It is too small to keep up with expenses. It will possibly help you survive. In Michigan jobs are scarce so many have exhausted their unemployment benefits. In Boston you still have a job market .
If you are slow filing , they will shorten your benefits. Get on the internet and look up the qualifications and your filing day.
Winston, I’m so sorry to hear about this. Having been in high-tech for 25 years now, I’ve been downsized, reorganized, RIF’ed and just plain laid off more than I’d really like to think about.
The traditional course of action in situations like this is:
A bunch of your friends get together in a bar and buy you drinks and commiserate with you and the fuckwittedness of your former employer. Let me be the first to offer you a good stiff drinkie-poo of your choice.
Next, apply for unemployment - as others have stated above, the benefits start when you apply (subject to a waiting period, generally one week), not when your employment was terminated. So apply as soon as you can.
If you haven’t already received your final check from your employer, you might want to consider changing your tax withholding to maximize the net amount you receive. Be aware that this (hopefully) amounts to a short-term loan; you need to change your withholding back to the correct rates when you get your new job and you need to remember that you’ve incurred a tax liability for the under-withholding. Also, as others have noted, unemployment benefits are taxable. Don’t make any unpleasant surprises for yourself next April.
Make sure to update all your contact numbers/email addresses for friends and co-workers, and make sure they have your contact info. Let your friends know that you’re looking for a job and ask them to let you know if they’re aware of any openings in your field.
Somebody (might as well be me) needs to tell you the old chestnut about the Chinese character denoting “disaster” is the same as the one for “opportunity”.
Best of luck to you in the job search!
Wait a second - were you fired from the job where your supervisor assaulted you? Or was that episode at your new job?
Sorry to hear that, Winston, but it does sound like it was more a matter of bad fit than that you were a bad worker. Buck up, old sock. You’ll find something. We always do.
I am also a member of the Unemployed Club, but we do not suck. We are just in-between jobs.
This was my experience with MA unemployment as well. Very easy, very relaxed. Not only did I never get called, I received two extensions just by asking. I wasn’t in the tech industry, though, if that makes a difference.
I’m sorry about what happened. Not what you expected when you walked into work!
So you can do this. You’re going to be okay. (( Winston )) I’m sorry you’ve had such a rotten surprise.
If they don’t have documentation (and it sounds like they won’t), they probably won’t win an unemployment battle and might not even try (considering they gave severance, I’m betting they won’t try. They think they’re in the wrong). Only big things like workplace intoxication or violence generally don’t require a lot of prior documentation and warnings. If you have a handbook, check it out for the proper regimen for warnings, etc.
And best of luck to you.
Yep it was from the old job with the asshole. My new job is going extremely well!
Winston,
My company fought me on the unemployment payments, by lying to the unemployment office. when they couldn’t “cough” up the documentation… I got the back checks, afetr 6 weeks, I started my new job right after that. So do file with Unemployment in your state. Yo may be able to get it.
Also, you don’t have to apply for jobs at WalMart if you are an engineer (or whatever) You are supoosed to look for work in line with your experience. I am a geologist and I was worried about that and asked if I had to apply for and take any job (aka walmart or McD’s) and was told no. Look for work in whatever industry you are associated with.
Good Luck 