Entry bubble Preparing for a Layoff

By: Nancy | October 30, 2008 | Category: Money

It happened again just now.

Another friend told me he's been laid off. That's the second this week. And there are so many others who are hearing rumors that their jobs could be next or who have had their work hours cut so severely that they think it's just a matter of time before they're pink slipped too.

laid off employee's box of possessionsIf your company has lost a lot of business or has been bought out recently or you're just sensing from talk around the office that your job is vulnerable, asking yourself a few questions now can help you be prepared if the worst happens later.


What does my current financial picture look like?
The rule of thumb is to have the equivalent of six months' salary in your savings account. Most people I know can't afford to do that. Take a look at what you have and think about how you can cut your monthly expenses. Can you...

  • Refinance your mortgage?
  • Cut any services or subscriptions like cable TV or DVD rentals?
  • Renegotiate or get out of contracts with the gym or the daycare center?
  • Get a deferment on your student loans?

How out of date is my resume?
Commercial job search sites like Monster.com offer up-to-date tips for crafting the right resume for the line of work you're going after. And I found a slew of resume templates that you can download if you use Microsoft Word.

Who do I know?
I got this job through networking. I gave a friend a copy of my resume and she gave it to the then-editor of the Consumer Information Catalog who passed it on to my future bosses. You never know how you're going to find your next job. So let friends and family know, join social networking sites like Facebook and LinkedIn and job hunting sites and get the word out. Also consider setting up a special job hunting email account rather than using your personal or family email and think about changing the voice mail on the phone number you'll be using on your resume; as cute as your two-year-old might sound singing on the home answering machine, a potential employer may not be so amused.

How does unemployment insurance work?
It's one of those things you don't think about 'til you need it. But if you can get familiar with it now, it'll be one less thing you'll have to figure out later.

If you are laid off, Job-hunt.org has excellent tips on what to do right away, from negotiating a severance package to continuing your health insurance coverage.

This is a rough time for so many people. What advice do you have for someone who's facing a layoff or job hunting?

| Post a Comment | View Comments [10] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: job   layoff   money   nancy   unemployment  

 

Entry bubble Find a Job

By: Joanne | May 20, 2008 | Category: Money

help wanted ads

Are you sick of your job? Are you ready to move on to other things? Are you unemployed and wearing a deep groove in your parents’ sofa? A student looking for an internship? It sounds like you need a job.

From time to time, we all need to look for a job, and I don’t know if you find it easy, but most of us don’t. You’ve got to figure out what you want to do, determine if there’s a market for the occupation that interests you, polish that resume, and begin the hunt.

It’s always good to look in the local paper or check an online source for local job listings, but the government’s got some resources to help too. If you’re looking for a job or an internship with the federal government, you’ll find all openings announced to the public at USAJOBS. Check out your state job bank for even more job opportunities in your area. If you need a helping hand, look up your local Department of Labor office and see what services they offer to job seekers in your area. And if the job sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Be aware of job scams.

p.s. Thanks for all your great suggestions in response to my post last week! This post was inspired by one of your comments, and we'll be using more of your ideas in coming posts.

| View Comments [3] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: career   employment   federal   joanne   job   labor   resume   scam  

 

Entry bubble Family Medical Leave Act Basics

By: Sommer | March 28, 2008 | Category: Home and Family

I first heard about the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) in one of my college classes. Needless to say, my husband and I havepregnant woman talking to a male coworker discussed this little law a lot around the house recently. Since I work for Uncle Sam I don’t get “maternity leave” per se, but I have been able to save up enough vacation to use while I’m off work with the baby. Luckily I won’t have to take unpaid leave under FMLA to spend time with my newborn. My husband isn’t that lucky though; he just took a new job last fall. And, since his company doesn’t offer paid paternity leave, he’ll have to invoke his FMLA rights and take unpaid time off if he decides to take extended leave to welcome the baby home.

Here are some details about your rights under FMLA:

  • The Clinton Administration enacted the FMLA in 1993.
  • The main purpose of the law is to grant eligible employees up to 12 workweeks, per 12 month period, of unpaid family and temporary medical leave under the following circumstances:
    • birth and care of the newborn child;
    • adoption or taking a child into foster care;
    • care for an immediate family member (spouse, child, or parent) with a serious health condition; or
    • personal medical leave when the employee cannot work because of a serious health condition.
  • Your employer must give you your original job back once you return to work. If your employer has filled your job in your absence or, for some reason it's no longer available, your employer must provide you with a job that’s equal in pay, benefits and responsibility.
  • You’re also entitled to all your employee benefits while you’re out.

| View Comments [5] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: employee   family   job   law   leave   maternity   paternity   sommer   work  

 

Entry bubble Finding a Job That’s Right for You

By: Sam | January 02, 2008 | Category: Home and Family

O.K, you may have not made the cut for Celebrity Apprentice, Project Runway, or American Idol.  But there’s still a great job out there for you.  You just have to “make it work” as my favorite fashion guru likes to say.

Take it from me, after my dreams of being a rock star were dashed by the fact I can’t carry a tune, I turned to another passion:  public service.  I always knew with whatever career path I chose, I wanted to have the opportunity to make a difference.  During my job hunt, I saw federal service as a way for me to accomplish this goal.  Thankfully, a search on USAJobs gave me the chance to work with the folks from Pueblo, CO.

Now, I know working for Uncle Sam isn’t for everyone, but the government does have tons of great career resources.  For instance, the “Finding a Job” page on USA.gov connects you to info on choosing a career, building a resume, applying for jobs, and more.  There’s also the “Employment” section of Pueblo.gsa.gov and the “Jobseekers” tab on the Department of Labor’s homepage that are full of useful tips and services.

I’ve also found the followings sites to be a source of really great and sometimes humorous career advice:

Please feel free to suggest other career resources that you’ve found helpful.  Or share a great “You’re Hired!” story.

| View Comments [1] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: career   employment   job   resume   usa.gov