<prompt> Human: I was notified last week that I would be laid off September 30. This was my first job here for 16 years, so this is the first time Ive ever experienced a layoff personally, so I feel lost.The company is giving me a severance package 32-weeks pay prorated bonus. Its a hefty chunk of change, but I have to stay until Sept. 30 to get it. Im not sure if I should find a new job before September 30 and forego the severance? Note that I have updated my resume and already started applying to various companies in my field just to see what bites I can get. I figure if its a job I dont really want, I can at least improve my interviewing skills.Thanks!EDIT: Thanks for all the great advice. Ive already received a couple calls from headhunters finding full time positions in my field. Now to wait to see if that pays off.  <response>: I suggest you start looking now, and see what happens. If you get a job offer and the company wants you to start before the beginning of October, youll have to decide whether youd prefer to take the job offer and forgo the severance package or keep looking for something else. Its very possible that it will take you a few months to find a job, so theres no harm in starting to look now. 