Another dilemma: whether to sign an agreement that you won't sue your employer as the price of receiving severance benefits. My advice: Unless you're an ace researcher-negotiator (browse "employment separation agreements"), have the document reviewed by an attorney to be sure you're not giving away the store. Additionally, Corenthal zeros in on a key point for your future: "Consider asking your employers to provide an employment reference as part of the separation agreement you are being asked to sign."
As for your eligibility to collect unemployment benefits, the probable answer is yes. But many federal, state and local laws apply, and you should check with your state department of labor (servicelocator.org) for the rules where you live.
DEAR JOYCE: You recently wrote about why employers don't get back to interviewees after meeting with them and saying that they would. People are rightly upset about this, and your answer was clear and good. But I thought of one more possibility that makes sense to me.
When times were good, managers needed to move fast or lose out. Today, managers are taking more time to find the "perfect" candidate rather than merely settling on someone. So the best of intentions may be erased because a "more perfect" candidate was discovered later in the interviewing period -- someone they like better than you. -- P.T.R.
Thanks. For whatever reason, it's maddening when you're the one waiting for a call that never comes. Remember the job-warrior battle cry: Follow up!