In my state you have to show evidence of three job applications a week. I was averaging at least 10 applications per DAY, I had a gigantic file where I posted records of every internet job application I made. Of course, none of these ever actually worked (except one!).
One time I had to go down to the unemployment office and watch a movie and afterward show a guy a hard copy of my job search files. I looked at them for about half a second and thanked me for coming in and wished me luck.
Well. Sucks that your old company did that to you, but good that the new company and new job are going well. Congratulations!
Winston,
I’m going through the same thing. Some hints: get out your resume and get it updated now. Don’t put it out there until it pops & screams your accomplishments; if you don’t tell them all you did, how will they ever know? Networking is your friend (some people say 80% of jobs go unadvertised). Talk to people you used to work with years ago, former college classmates, friends/acquaintences who work at other companies. Down play why you left, up play that you are looking for a career at another company. Get business cards printed up re your skillset/specialty; Vistaprint will do 250 free (plus shipping). Hand them out to people who are in the business world in your field or in fields that can use your skillset.
Also, line up references from the old job now. Make sure you have names & numbers of people going back 3 jobs who will let you use them as personal or professional references & who won’t torpedo your applications elsewhere.
PS- Allow yourself to grieve, but Don’t take the summer off. Periods of time unemployed are hard to explain to new employers.
Well, you know, if you did, suck, you’d never have to worry about being unemployed again. 
Or should that be the :o smiley? 
Interesting that they gave you the instructions to file, even though it appears they let you go “for cause”. It would appear that alleged failure to perform isn’t necessarily a cause per se.
I haven’t gone through the OP’s experience, but I did once get an absolutely brutal and scathing review (along with a raise), after the boss had hardly said boo to me all year.
Then that boss left the company and I stayed, and things went notably better with the new supervisor.
That could very well be. I got axed from my job at the beginning of April, and the HR head insisted that I file for unemployment, while she didn’t come right out and say it, I was left with the distinct impression that I got axed simply because of office politics and not for the reasons that I was given. I should also note, that I haven’t gotten my unemployment as of yet, as the unemployment office here is staffed by idiots. Thankfully, however, I have managed to find another job, so I’m not exactly starving.
Well, I wasn’t going to drink a bunch of Margaritas this weekend, but for Winston, well I just might have to make a personal sacrifice. Harsh toke, dude.
I got fired once. Just once. It was 21 years ago and I did absolutely nothing to deserve it. Which made it worse because now “fear of getting canned for no good reason” is a major chunk of bagage fo me. Happened then when I had nothing to lose, why couldn’t it happen now?
You wouldn’t happen to be a member of any protected classes would you? Not that playing that card is a good thing…
What city do you live in? Got any edumacation? Convictions? Gear?
I’m sorry to hear this, Winston. Here’s hoping that you find another job that pays more and is even better suited to you very quickly. This could possibly be the best thing that could have happened to you at this point in your life.
Unless she sucked at sucking. We males have to worry more about this “sucking” you speak of.
I don’t know if I should high-five you or refill your glass. Salute, in any event.
(and at least the weather has been good)
Describe it in three words
Got Fired Today.
That really sucks.
Here’s to an unexpected adventure with a surprise (and happy) ending!
Think positive…
Winston, I am very sad to hear of your misfortune and can offer only my prayers and general good thoughts to you in this, one of your greater times of despair. I have , in the past enjoyed our communications, you are a card my friend. I hope what I must now tell you wont offend you as I offer it as a friend and as a fellow man with the same family and responsibilties that you have. I hope that you can fiqure out the reason(s) you were dismissed and correct them for your next job. It is tough, but something I have had to do before and I’m certain you have too.I would like to offer one piece of advice that I have found to be of use to me in the past. Don’t allow yourself to get depressed over this , get your butt out there on Monday morning and hit it hard, I MEAN HARD , my friend. Think of your wife and children because they are really who we, as men , should think of in our business endeavors. Thinking of them allows some of the stupider people we have to deal with be more easily dealt with if you get my point.I don’t want to ramble but be sure I’ll be thinking of you, my friend.
Oh, and don’t let that business that went on in the pit the other day bother you too much. I got a little wound up over some of the evil things in this world and the childish idiots who then attacked me for doing so. I hope you don’t think less of me Winston. Be sure I’m a mans man right down to the bottom of my size 14 boots. Try to remember these are only words on a website not actual deeds that men do for one another.
That saying has always amused me. Wouldn’t a man’s man be a guy who was all about the other guys?
The Pit? Did you Pit me? 
No worries. I actually had to go over to the pit and have a gander. Looks like it could have been worse. Posting in the pit is like playing with fire (and I don’t think any less of you, mate). Anyways.
Yes, I’ve already talked to a couple headhunters. My resume is always current, so I actually had it out there first thing friday morning. Got a couple hits off Monster, a couple hits off some job ads I responded to on Craiglist. I’ve got a couple phone interviews lined up already and I’m going to meet a headhunter face-to-face tomorrow afternoon.
The wheels are very much in motion. This is the fourth summer in a row I’ve been looking for a job. Stupid IT. Stupid professional burnout. 
And I accept all the responsibility for this. I knew it wasn’t a good fit. My wife reminded me that when I got home from my first day there I was crestfallen at how poorly I’d been treated. I knew immediately that I’d made a mistake taking the job, and I should have just found another one. I foolishly thought I could hang in there and that things would get better. Obviously that wasn’t the case. I actually posted about being very unhappy at this job back in April.
Nope. Unless you think middle-class white guy is an endangered species.
Boston
2 year business degree, 10 years professional experience that includes some world-class companies. I’m 7 classes away from an International Management degree, which will allow me to get out of IT operations and into management.
Convicted? No. Never convicted.
Um. Yes?
Actually, now that you bring it it up,I remember that thread back in April, and I know you’ll find yourself a position that a man of your caliber would be more than happy with. I can just see you playing with your children in your living room , telling them how you need to move this army here and this army there in your bid for world domination. You use your time off to the best of your ability my friend. I send my love to you and your family and I will keep you in my prayers.
Law varies from state to state but i never heard of a state where you could get unemployment before your severance has run out, so there is probably no big hurry. Also being fired for a good reason is not necessarily being fired for cause. Excessive absenteeism may be a good reason to fire someone but it won’t necessarily deny them unemployment. If you are denied benefits and you have not done anything intentionally wrong or behaved improperly or otherwise given them a reason to fire you, consult an attorney and appeal the denial. You have nothing to lose and you can recover significant amounts of money down the road when the case is heard.
Good luck!!
Wrong. If it’s a one-time severence as the OP got, then you can (and should) apply right away. If it’s a severance that will be paid out over a period of time, then there’s no rush.
Last year I was laid off in PA on Feb 2nd. I was told my last day was March 30th, and got 6 weeks of severance and two weeks of vacation. Also, although they gave me two months notice, I was “locked out” that day. PA law let me sign up for unemployment right away.