Laying off an employee is one of the most difficult tasks a manager can face. At that time, the departing employee needs as much information as possible about resources available to help him or her cope and make the transition to a new job.

Definitely the first thing the employee must do is to register with the local unemployment insurance agency. In the United States, this link  will help individuals find the closest office.  Additional information about unemployment insurance benefits can be found here. In some cases, when unemployment is very high, certain states will provide extended benefits to laid-off workers. Canadian information about unemployment insurance can be found here.

Both the American and Canadian government offer support to individuals who decide to start their own small business in response to a lay-off. In the US, availability of this service varies between states. Information about the Canadian program can be found here. 

Other support programs include Rapid Response. Companies can access this program if they must layoff many workers at once. In this case, the Rapid Response team will come to the job site to support the workers. For details about the program, contact the appropriate state team.

For interview and resume tips, recruiters and job coaches can provide a wealth of information. On the Internet, job board websites provide resume, interview and job search tips.

Careerbuilder.com  provides advice on how to write a resume and conduct a job search. The Monster career centre also provides job search, interview and resume tips.

Resources to help unemployed US workers find employment can be found here. Similarly, Canadian workers can find job search advice here. 

Please take the time to share links to any additional resources that you are aware of, especially those located outside of the US and Canada.