After being fired, the sports agent in the movie "Jerry Maguire" promises his co-workers that he won't "flip out." But he does, delivering a crazed speech as he heads for the door, pausing to steal an office goldfish. ("These fish have manners," he says.)

There are more graceful ways to join the swelling ranks of the newly unemployed, experts say. The first thing to do is to deal with reality -- determine priorities, establish a safety net, and assess and contain the financial, mental and emotional damage, according to "Career Comeback" author Bradley G. Richardson.

Most pressing: figure out your immediate needs, experts say.

Obtain Health Insurance

It pays to shop around for health insurance options. Investigate your spouse's plan, a student plan, a professional association plan. There's also COBRA, a government plan that allows laid-off workers to keep their previous employers' health plan, generally for 18 months. The down side is that the workers are usually responsible for paying the entire premium, including the part their employers used to pay -- a hefty sum. However, as part of the economic stimulus package, the federal government has agreed to pay 65 percent of the premium for nine months.

Collect Unemployment

It can take weeks for unemployment benefits to be processed, so the newly jobless should not wait until they are desperate for cash -- apply right away. Know that the unemployment office verifies layoffs with former employers. Benefits in most states last 26 weeks. Recipients should be prepared to answer questions in the coming weeks about how the job search is going and to pay income taxes on the benefits.

Make House Payments

If you know that making house payments is going to be a problem, get with your lender fast. Many lenders are in a mood to work out plans that offer job seekers some temporary relief, but they'll have less patience for missed payments.

Deal With No Income

The best way to deal with a lack of income is to save money –- experts advise a minimum of three months' worth of expenses -- before the layoff. Of course, some people don't see the pink slip coming and many can't afford to sock away that kind of cash.

Among the bits of expert advice:

• Negotiate a severance. Two weeks pay for every year of service is considered a standard in many industries. It's best to do this right after you are hired, but if you are on the way out, it's not too late.
• Find little ways to save money. The Internet is littered with advice: How To Save Money On Groceries (Oprah); How To Save Money On Gas (USA Today); How To Save Money On Practically Everything (Kiplinger).
• Don't dip into a 401(k). The penalties can be severe. That money is set aside for retirement, not a rainy day.

Launch Job Search

Most experts, authors and employment Web sites agree that networking is by far the most effective way to find a new job. Get out of the house. Be assertive. Don't be shy about passing your resume around, experts say.

Nancy Collamer, author of "The Layoff Survival Guide," recommends going to job fairs, trade shows, conventions, professional organization meetings, lectures. She also suggests thumbing through trade journals and joining networking groups -– both online and offline.

Accept The Jobless Life

Job seekers might want to revel in their first day of unemployment, according to Jim Stringham and David Workman, authors of the 2004 book "The Unemployment Survival Guide." They recommend wallowing in "Black Monday" -- sleep late, stay in your bathrobe, watch bad TV. Searchers deserve an indulgence. The days to come will prove that looking for a job is as exhausting and emotionally draining as real work, the authors write.

The authors recommend that the newly jobless learn to rely on these skills: creativity, patience, perseverance, humor and fun, assertiveness and kindness -- to yourself and those supporting you during a cranky phase of your life.

Many experts also recommend taking a good look in the mirror. After the anger passes, it's often fruitful to do some soul-searching to explore what you could have done differently -– hold yourself accountable, "Landing on the Right Side of Your Ass" author Michael Laskoff writes. He also focuses on the importance of finding meaningful activities to do and rallying support from friends and family.

Experts recommend that searchers focus on the fact that this is an opportunity to try something different. It helps to think about what you didn't like about your old job –- and pour your energy into finding new work without all that garbage. Assess your goals and be open to charting a whole new path.

Of course, job searches are often discouraging. Experts recommend that job seekers remind themselves they won't be out of work forever. Winston Churchill said, "If you are going through hell, keep going."