Laid off? Like free events? Want to network with other people in a similar situation? LaidOffCamp may be for you. A free event happening tonight and tomorrow ^[1], LaidOffCamp is for people who want to network with others and look for new opportunities in a different setting than that of traditional job fairs. This isn’t just for the unemployed – it’s really for anyone who wants to look into what’s next for them, whether it’s a new job in the same field, collaborating with like-minded individuals on a new venture, or going back to school to reinvent their careers.

Tonight there will be a panel discussion and reception, and tomorrow there will be sessions ^[2] on all sorts of topics, from job searching and negotiations to freelancing, personal health, and community involvement. It’s more of an “unconference” than a traditional conference – lots of brainstorming, group discussions, networking, etc. It’s based on the BarCamp ^[3] model of user-generated conferences, with content provided by participants. It’s free and you don’t have to be laid off or even unemployed to attend.

Tonight’s event starts at 4:30 (hurry!) and goes until 7:30 and is at New World Stages, 340 W. 50th Street. Tomorrow’s event starts at 8 with sessions from 9:30-5 and is at Pace University’s Michael Schimmel Center for the Arts. More info at the LaidOffCamp Wiki ^[1].