Have you received a so-called pink slip or, more officially, a termination notice? Pink Slip is an interesting - and symbolic - term, and I tried to research where it came from. I had thought maybe layoff notifications in the days of paper were pink, but it appears that there isn't a definitive answer as to the origin of the term, other than it's been used as long as anyone can remember.
Getting a layoff notice is colorfully described in other countries, too. According to Snopes, in Germany, it's a blue letter and the French military sent a yellow paper.
Not that it matters much what you call it. The number of people who have lost their jobs over the last year or so is staggering and if you have received a so-called pink slip, you're not alone.
It's important to keep in mind that you might have advance notice or a layoff can take you by surprise. I won't forget being shocked when I, and everyone in the same position across the country, were laid-off one Friday afternoon. The company's restructuring ended up in an offer for a different job a couple of weeks later (which I didn't take), but that didn't mitigate the fact that I was suddenly out of work, without my job, company car, my phone, and everything else that went along with being gainfully employed.
The most important thing to do when you lose your job is to check where you stand as far as benefits and unemployment, then get going on a job search.
More: How to Handle a Layoff | Employee Rights When You Lose Your Job