Several times daily, we find ourselves reading diaries from fellow Kossacks who have joined the ranks of the unemployed. I've been there for five months, and have compiled a collection of good advice passed on to me by others, and things I've learned the hard way...
Unemployment is sometimes expected (like the time when I was 16 and threw a box of straws all over the lobby at McDonald's. Hey, I was 16 and dammit, I had my reasons.) Sometimes it's unexpected, like showing up where your office used to be--until the middle of last night when the trucks pulled up. The key to a proper recovery either way is preparation.
Keep a copy of your contacts. Whether it's asking for two business cards when you meet someone and running a "shadow rolodex" at home, or printing off a monthly report from your CRM software, make sure you can reach out to your network when you need them. LinkedIn and other newtorking websites are brilliant for keeping up with people. The same advice goes for files, reports, anything else you've created which may be useful post-employment. Of course, don't steal copies of anything proprietary from your current employer, unless you're in a hurry to become unemployed.
Keep your friends close. Work that network, all the time. When you are looking for a new job, odds are 75% or better that they'll find it for you. Classified ads are a terrible way to seek employment, so it really does come down to who you know. Don't be afraid to buy them lunch or a beer now, before you need them. That way when you come with hat in hand, they won't see you as an opportunist.
Keep your enemies closer. The competition to your current employer (well, unless you are a civil servant) is the most likely place for you to land a new job. Make sure you know who's who over there, and make sure they know your name.
Make your name known. Are there trade publications you can author articles or Op/Eds for? Committees you can join? Leadership posts? Sure, they can be a pain when you're working, but when a hiring manager is looking at 30 otherwise equal candidates, this will help. Plus, you'll probably meet some movers and shakers in the process.
Start your new career as a hobby. Most of us will change fields several times throughout our careers, but it's exceptionally hard to land a job outside your field in a buyer's market. Right now, employers are getting hundreds of applicants per opening, and if you don't have at least a little relevant experience, even your network can't help you. If you know where you want to go next, start dabbling now.
Have your resume ready. It's much harder to put a resume together while sitting at home trying to remember what you've been doing for the last five years. If you keep it up to date, it's ready to go, no effort required, and with fewer omissions.
Don't be afraid to stand out. OK, this is more of a post-job loss strategy, but when I was doing hiring for a large tour company, the sheer background noise of 200 applicants all saying "I'm an eager, experienced, and well qualified people person" gets you lost. If it's appropriate in your industry, say something more interesting. Don't be too tentative at your interview, either. Most hiring decisions are based on how well the interviewer likes you personally--everyone who scores an interview is assumed to be qualified. Of course, if your personality is too bright, practice toning it down. I've done both during my current job search, turned it up at a theater company in Oregon, and down at a Manhattan highrise.
Have a fiscal plan in place. For God's sake, have some savings. I know it's really hard, but start by giving up one coffee a week, or ordering a cheaper entree, and putting the saved money into a savings account. Work out a budget for 1/3 your current income, and be ready to implement it when the time comes. Better yet, start cutting costs now. Switch that land line for a $10 VoIP plan. Cut cable and watch tv through Hulu and a set top Netflix box (you don't lose much, I swear.) Go vegetarian one (more) night per week. Stock up when things like canned goods and toilet paper are on sale. Expect and be ready to be unemployed for 3 months at entry level, and six months mid-career.
Make a list of things you want to do with the spare time. Maybe you want to learn guitar, catch up on your reading, plant a garden, reconnect with old friends (hmmm...more networking!) volunteer to help the homeless, or whatever. Unemployment is tragic, but it also offers opportunities you don't see very often in your adult life: vast tracks of spare time. Plan your job search to last 8 hours a day, no more, no less. Make the rest of the time yours, and treasure it.