If you have left your boss’s office with the news that your position is being eliminated try to appear as calm as possible. This is advise Anne Fisher in her January 27 Ask Annie column.

She goes on to write that doing so could help you negotiate a bigger severance package.

If you’ve been laid off, like I was, what kind of severance package did you get? Did you feel it was fair? Did you try to negotiate at all? What did you want, and did you get it? Any suggestions for others who want to pursue a better deal in a layoff?

Of course circumstances are different for business that are closing up shop versus just downsizing or discontinuing products.