Laid off this week, where do I start? - 9 months and counting

They called a meeting on Wednesday and 16 of us were let go. I had been there 16 years. I would rather hear the honest version than the polite one. I have a few weeks of savings and a rent payment due. Is there a checklist I should follow?

I made a short list: benefits, bills, documents, and then my résumé. One thing each day kept me steady.

Give yourself the first couple of days to be upset. I did, and then I felt able to plan.