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I just lost my job. What should I do first?

You do not have to solve your entire future today. The first goal is to protect your immediate needs, collect information, and take one manageable step at a time.

1. Save the documents you may need

• Your separation or termination letter
• Recent pay statements and tax forms
• Benefits and health-insurance information
• Performance reviews, awards, and non-confidential examples of your work
• Personal contact information for people who may serve as references

Do not take confidential company information, customer data, source code, or materials you are not allowed to keep.

2. Check time-sensitive benefits

Find the official unemployment-benefits website for your state. Review health-insurance deadlines, retirement-account information, severance terms, unused paid time off, and any company outplacement help. Rules vary, so use official sources or qualified professional advice.

3. Make a short financial plan

List essential monthly expenses and any deadlines coming in the next 30 days. You do not need a perfect long-term budget today. You need a clear picture of what must be protected first.

4. Write down your work while it is fresh

Before worrying about resume formatting, list the problems you solved, projects you led, improvements you made, people you supported, and results you can describe honestly. Numbers help when you have them, but useful results can also include time saved, risk reduced, customers retained, or work made easier.

5. Take one job-search step

Choose one position you might consider and save the posting. That is enough for a first step. You can compare it with your experience, update your resume, and decide whether to apply later.