In October, for the first time in what I considered a successful 14 year career, I was fired. HR had a friendlier term and referred to the action as a "redundant position that was being eliminated" as part of the company's "profit optimization initiative." Call it what you want - job elimination, headcount reduction, downsizing or a "profit optimization initiative" - I no longer had a revenue stream. I was fired.

To say I was surprised is an understatement, despite all the economic indicators in the Detroit area where unemployment had risen to 28%. I had survived three waves of downsizing across two Fortune 500 companies. I had a proven track record of successful project delivery and was often asked to help turn around troubled projects and programs. In a company that leveraged outsourcing, I was convinced they couldn't outsource leadership. Despite all of this I was still fired.

Fortunately, 40 days later, I was hired

I published a Unemployment Rescue Kit on TechRepublic that provides some tactical advice and a Career Contact Matrix to help find employment in continuing War for Talent.

Read more at http://blogs.techrepublic.com.com/career/?p=1534&tag=results;CR1