|
FYI
The unemployment level in the US has increased in recent months and the US government has stepped up the benefits unemployed workers are eligible for. There are a few changes of note:
Longer unemployment benefits. The bill calls for an additional 20 weeks of normal unemployment benefits, plus up to 13 additional weeks on top of the 20 extra weeks for unemployment filers who live in a "high unemployment state." There are currently 30 states that qualify under the "high unemployment" label. Be sure to check with your state's employment bureau for more information about your state.
Increased unemployment payments. The average weekly unemployment benefit in the US is around $300. The 2009 stimulus bill will temporarily increase payments by $25 across the board.
Tax exemption of some unemployment benefits. Unemployment benefits are considered taxable income. The new economic stimulus bill is calling for the first $2,400 of unemployment benefits paid in 2009 to be exempt from federal income taxes.
Health insurance help for the jobless. Another provision of the 2009 economic stimulus bill assists eligible jobless workers to pay for health insurance under COBRA. COBRA Health Insurance coverage gives newly unemployed workers the opportunity to continue receiving the same health insurance that was provided by their former employers - however, the newly unemployed workers must pay the entire cost out of pocket and they are only eligible to receive these benefits for a set period of time.
|
|
SOCIAL
NETWORK
We have once again opened the social network on the request of some of our readers. A social network is designed for you. It is a place you can talk to other people who are searching for their new opportunity. You can create a forum around certain topics and you can attend sessions designed to provide you with professional help. You need to register on the site and you can do this by creating an on line name you make up or use your own. It is important that you see this space as one where you can reach out to others. It becomes what you what it to become. So please use the site and join. We do plan to have on - line sessions on a regular basis with experts who can help you in your search. But we need to have enough people signed up to make it worthwhile for these experts.
So go to the site and joing the only social network we know of that is exclusively for people in job transition. Join up free today!
www.JacksonLifeCoaching
ning.com
| |
| Hello Everyone~
Can you believe it will be the 4th of July this coming weekend? We hope all our US readers have a safe and happy 4th! Welcome to all our new readers.
As promised, I want to give you some of the statistics from our recent survey. Thanks to everyone who participated, and we hope you will participate in future surveys. I will give you some of the results each week.
Response: 6,821 Responses out of 11,217 readers
Length of unemployment:
40.8- 3-6 months
8.1 - employed but feeling insecure
Have reached out to search firms:
57.1 yes, but no results
30.6 No
Important to your job search: Top Five
Professionally written resume
Search strategy
Using a Coach
Social Networking
Internet search
For those of you who are not in our coaching practice, I want to suggest a book that our cliients read as part of their stategy preparation. Tom Rath has written a book entilted, STRENGTH FINDER 2.0. It is published by Gallup press. Included with the book is a free on-line assessment and it is a valuable tool in helping you to see your personal strengths-the key ingredient to defining your 'brand'.
My opening note this week is way too long so I will close with one final word- as many of you know, you do not have to be a client to reach out to us with a question or concern. We are in this practice because we truely care about you and your career development. Of course we would love to have you as a client, but being your professional friends is just as important!
Be Well,
Mikal
Mikal Jackson
SKYPE: MikalJackson
YAHOO: Mikalj69
AIM: HRmikal1
Phone: 404-808-1896
Social Network : ( NEW)
|
|
|
BEST JOB BOARDS
Careerbuilder is among the top job sites with thousands of job postings and resumes. CareerBuilder has partnered with Gannett, Knight Ridder, Tribune, and other newspapers to provide local as well as national job listings. CareerBuilder.com powers the online job search centers for more than 1,000 partners, including 150 newspapers, America Online, and MSN
Cool Works
If you're interested in a seasonal job, start your search with CoolWorks. CoolWorks lists thousands of summer and seasonal jobs. There's a free weekly email newsletter and the opportunity to sign-up for a free email account to use for your job search.
Jobfox
Jobfox matches job seekers with employers, provides a professional web page for personal branding, and has a selection of tools, including text messaging, resume tracking, and Instant Messaging (IM) to manage your job search.
Indeed.com
Indeed includes millions of job listings from thousands of web sites, including company career pages, job boards, newspaper classifieds, associations, and blogs. Any job search can be saved as an email alert, so new jobs are delivered daily. Job seekers may also search job trends and salaries, read and participate in discussion forums, research companies and even find people working for companies of interest through their online social networks.
LinkedIn
LinkedIn is the top career networking site and an excellent way to connect with people who can help with your job search and/or who work at a company you're interested in. In addition, LinkedIn has a Jobs section where you can search for positions by keyword and location, or use the Advanced Search option to search for listings by even more specific criteria.
LinkUp
LinkUp is a job search engine that uncovers unadvertised jobs listed on company web sites. LinkUp monitors thousands of small, mid-sized, and large company career sections in order to connect applicants with unadvertised jobs by listing the jobs on company web sites.
Monster
From a numbers perspective, Monster continues to be the top job board site. Positions range from hourly local jobs to professional positions in just about every career field.
Realmatch
Realmatch works a little like an online dating service, but with jobs. The system matches you with employers and presents the results according to how good the match is.
SimplyHire
SimplyHired searches thousands of job boards, classifieds, and company sites. Advanced search options include type of job, type of company, keyword, location, and the date the job was posted.
USAJobs
USAJobs (USAJobs.gov) is the Federal Government's official source for Federal government job listings, job application, and employment information.
Yahoo! Hot Jobs
In addition to job postings, registered HotJobs users can get search results automatically delivered by email, block employers from seeing their resume, create and save cover letters, and save job search results.
|
FINDING THE JOB THAT IS RIGHT FOR YOU - HONESTLY!
It is always tempting to bend the truth on a resume and in an interview. Ultimately you have to ask yourself - what is the benefit? When it comes down to your resume and your interview, what do you gain when you are honest?
1. You have a greater chance of getting a job that suits you. It is a great feeling to work in a job that lines up with your strengths, abilities - one that let's you shine and build a career!
2. If there are some key skills that you lack but are passionate about learning - express that will to learn to the employer (or better yet, show them that you are taking the steps to learn). A drive to learn and improve is a wonderful trait to highlight in a job search, and could help you get the training you need to succeed.
3. You get the chance to look like a star. If there is a cover-up out there to throw recruiters off the path from a bad end to a job, a weakness in your skills, or any other anomaly in your career - the recruiter you are communicating with has heard it, seen it and has learned to dismiss candidates that use these techniques. Quickly. We have all made mistakes and learned tough lessons. Take every opportunity to show what you have learned from your mistakes, how you overcame your obstacles and how these "anomalies" have helped you become the great employee you are today. Anyone can make a mistake. It takes a true super-star to face it and improve.
4. Honest, straightforward communication helps employers see what you can do - efficiently. Recruiters often have great demands on their time and need to figure out if you fit in as quickly as possible. You can help them if you keep your resume and interviews free of "fluff" and stick to what you know, what you can do and what you have learned.
Good luck building your career - please let us know what has worked for you!
|
|
|
|
|
