Called in to help companies lay people off, and to offer career guidance aimed at easing the newly unemployed into their next jobs elsewhere, outplacement firms are pretty busy these days, especially in the financial services industry, writes Fortune’s Anne Fisher in her April 4 Ask Annie column.

Have you been offered professional job-hunting help as part of a layoff? Just severance? Nothing at all? Does having a job coach help? Can it speed your job search?

It’s every professional’s nightmare: You’re working in a great job for a well-regarded employer, then the company — seemingly overnight — suffers a crisis and is bought out or goes belly-up. That’s the unpleasant situation facing many Bear Stearns employees, writes Fortune’s Anne Fisher in her March 25 Ask Annie column. How safe is your job? Are you worried your company could suffer a Bear Stearns-like implosion, and if so, what are you doing to get ready? If you worked for a company that failed, how did you deal with it? You can also send us your photos and videos, or email us and share your story.