If you're in the United States going through a career transition, here's what you need to know about the support available to you.
Unemployment Insurance
Each state has its own unemployment insurance program. File immediately after losing your job — benefits take time to process and there's usually a waiting week before payments start.
CareerOneStop
The US Department of Labor's CareerOneStop (careeronestop.org) offers free career assessments, job search tools, and connections to local training programs.
Community Colleges
Community colleges are an affordable way to retrain. Many offer accelerated certificate programs in trades, healthcare, and technology that take 6-12 months.
Networking in the US
The American job market is heavily network-driven. LinkedIn is essential. Consider joining local meetups, professional associations, and alumni networks.