3 ways to be more prepared when you are losing your job

1  .)    Ask for a letter of reference, giving a brief background to the reasons and circumstances of your job loss. This is different to a reference that you may ask for later from a previous employer if you apply for other jobs. A letter of reference hopefully will put you in a good light, praise you and speak of your accomplishments. It can be useful when applying for jobs and before references have been requested. It will show that your termination of contract was not because of any wrong doing. Employers these days are very fussy, they have the pick of quite possibly hundreds of applicants for each job they advertise and they can afford to be fussy. Most people would not even think to ask for such a letter and it can be difficult to get later on if you need one.

2  .)    Be sure to find out everything you may be able to claim, because you are going to need it. Check everything you may be able to claim from both your employer and from the government. Be sure to remember things like unused holiday time and check If you are entitled to be paid for it, were you going to be given a bonus for e.g., reaching targets but had not yet got it, remember to ask if you can still have it, after all you did earn it.  Check what pension arrangements you have with the company and if there are any benefits to claiming it early. If you do so on health grounds, remember that some health conditions such as high blood pressure can mean that you can get your pension paid at an increased amount, called an enhanced pension. If you do claim a pension early though, be sure to check how this will affect your future and any entitlement to state benefits

3  .)    Lastly, even before knowing that you are going to lose your job, always have a plan B, do you have a hobby e.g. a craft skill or talent that you could earn some money from? Such as in my case writing, or maybe you are good at photography and could sell your photographs.  Start early and make use of it and keep it up your sleeve as a plan B so that you always have an alternative career to fall back on.
 A friend of mine who was made redundant from a major clothing manufacturer, did a computer course and got a job that she loved with a domestic violence unit, working there until she retired, she then with the computer skills, worked from home as a local reporter for the local newspaper, earning some extra money in retirement ~ if you are reading this before being in the position of losing your job, always have a backup plan.  

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