Unemployment & Career: February 2012

Saturday, February 25, 2012

Unemployed-keeping a roof over your head-homeowners

Chris Wodke

http://www.summittrainingpublications.com/

This is a tough economy for homeowners. A recent news release reported forty eight percent of homeowners were underwater on their mortgage. That means they owed more than their home was worth. Maybe you really like your home and kept up with all of your bills until you were unemployed. What do you do to keep your home when you lose your job or can’t make your payments?

Payments

Stay current with your mortgage payment if at all possible. This may be your biggest asset and you don’t want to lose it. Pay this bill first. Draw on the emergency fund you set aside. If your partner is working you can use their income or severance payout. Ask family or friends for help if needed.

Lender

Call your lender before you get behind in your payments. Explain your situation and ask if you can make other payment arrangements. If you call take the name of the person you spoke with. Ask for the same person on future calls. Send a letter to summarize any agreement you are able to get from the lender. Options you might be offered include: temporary forbearance, extending the loan term or refinancing

Union

If you are a union member involved in a large layoff the union may be able to get some concessions with local banks. Check if any other assistance is available through your union.

Mortgage Insurance

If you are still working, check with your lender about insuring your mortgage. I have a policy that will defer my payments for two years if I am unemployed. I will still have to pay real estate taxes. The deferred payment means I can live on my unemployment benefits if I lose my job. This can make a big difference in your monthly cash flow. If you have a mortgage with FHA, HUD, FMHA or VA you may already have insurance. Check with the agency to see the help they can provide.

Sell

This is not the best time to sell. Some markets are decent even in this bad economy. Selling and moving to a smaller place may be a good long term move. This is a good option if you have a lot of equity in your home. Better to sell at a slight loss than to lose the property in a foreclosure.

Equity Sharing

Try to find someone willing to invest in your property. One or more person can join you in owning the property. They assume the mortgage payments and begin building equity, while you keep the equity you already have. A real estate lawyer could draw up the contracts. This may make sense in areas with a temporary down turn in values.

Rental

You may be able to help your situation by renting out rooms in your house or renting out the entire house. Although this is not an ideal situation it can really help your cash flow and may help you keep your house. Be sure to do a full credit and background check on any potential renter. Any renter should also sign a lease.

Government

FEMA offers one time assistance in areas with high employment or poverty rates. This help is offered through local agencies like

United Way

. This agency is a good place to help to seek this one time assistance. Help will be dependent on your financial situation and employment status.

Social Service/Charities

Check with local charities such as the Salvation Army. Local churches may also offer assistance to help with your mortgage. Fraternal organizations often have funds to help members in need.

Surrender

It may make sense to turn the property to the bank, if you have little equity or have not been making payments for an extended period of time. This will keep a foreclosure off of your credit record.

Do you hate to write training programs? Too much work to do and no time to put together your training program? Asked to deliver training or a presentation and have no idea where to start?

Let Summit Training Publications take care of your program design needs with our off the shelf training in a box or one of our presentation modules.

Our off the shelf training solutions provide:

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Subject areas include; Communication Skills, Employee Development, Human Resources, Quality, Product Safety, Safety and Supervisor Training.

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Monday, February 20, 2012

Unemployment-keeping the lights on.

Chris Wodke

http://www.summittrainingpublications.com/

While money is tight you can take some steps to cut your utility costs and keep your lights on.

Telephone

Do you need both a land line and a cell phone? Get rid of one.
Get rid of features like call waiting or unpublished numbers to reduce costs.
If you have a cell phone watch your minutes and be aware of roaming charges.
Check your bill each month to be sure all charges are correct.
If you are paying for long distance, make calls on nights and weekends when rates are cheaper.

Electric & Gas-Reduce Costs

Turn off lights when they aren’t being used.
Unplug electrical devices like computers and TV’s when not in use. These devices use electricity even when turned off.
Pull the plug on the air conditioning if you can’t afford it. In a moderate Midwest climate you really can live without it. What do you think our parents did?
Unplug the second refrigerator. You really can do without that one in the garage or basement being used to keep drinks cold.
Lower the thermostat in the winter to save heating costs.
Hang clothes outside to save on dryer costs.
Shut off the dishwasher and do dishes by hand.
Do only full loads in the washer.

Budget Plans

Call your local gas, electric or phone company to see if you can get on a budget plan. Spreading out the payments can really help your plan your expenses each month. Notify your utility company before you get behind. They may also be able to get you enrolled for energy assistance programs.

Know Your Rights

Contact the state public service commission. In Wisconsin your power cannot be shut off in the winter.

101 Cost Savings Tips

Check out the WE Energies web site for many more energy saving tips for lighting, water heaters, stoves, washers, dryers and a host of other appliances.

http://www.we-energies.com/residential/energyeff/index.htm

Copyright 2012 Summit Training Publications

Do you hate to write training programs? Too much work to do and no time to put together your training program? Asked to deliver training or a presentation and have no idea where to start?

Let Summit Training Publications take care of your program design needs with our off the shelf training in a box or one of our presentation modules.

Our off the shelf training solutions provide:

PowerPoint Presentation
Instructor Guide & handouts
Student Guide
Quiz
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Subject areas include; Communication Skills, Employee Development, Human Resources, Quality, Product Safety, Safety and Supervisor Training.

Sunday, February 19, 2012

Job Search Web Sites

Chris Wodke

http://www.summittrainingpublications.com/

Job you may not know about

If you have looked at newspaper classified ads lately you will see they are pretty slim on listings. Many companies have gone exclusively to on line postings.

Here are some places you can look for employment online. Many of these sites have information on careers and continuing educations. Some charge a fee, but most are free.

The Big Job Boards

http://www.monster.com/

www.careerbuilder.com
www.hotjobs.com

Lesser Known Sites

www.jobcenterofwisconsin.com

www.directemployers.com

www.employmentguide.com

www.job.com

www.employment911.com

http://www.christiancareercenter.com/

Do you hate to write training programs? Too much work to do and no time to put together your training program? Asked to deliver training or a presentation and have no idea where to start?

Let Summit Training Publications take care of your program design needs with our off the shelf training in a box or one of our presentation modules.

Our off the shelf training solutions provide:

PowerPoint Presentation
Instructor Guide & handouts
Student Guide
Quiz
Feedback Form

Subject areas include; Communication Skills, Employee Development, Human Resources, Quality, Product Safety, Safety and Supervisor Training.

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Where to Network?

Chris Wodke

http://www.summittrainingpublications.com/

Everyone talks about the fact that you have to network to find a job. It is true that most positions are found via networking. If you haven’t had to search for a job in years, you may be at a loss about where to network. Here are some ideas:

Networking Events

There are many local events for networking in the Milwaukee area. Do a search on the internet, check the local paper or business publication.

Professional Societies

Most professional groups have monthly meetings. The meeting usually starts with a cocktail hour followed by dinner and a speaker. These events are great for networking. These events are great places to find out about openings in your field, keep up on industry trends and make contacts. Do an internet search and find a local chapter in your area.

Volunteer

Use your skills to benefit a local charity or use the experience to develop new skills. Tell everyone you meet at your volunteer job that you are looking for work. You may connect with a future employer with this experience.

Social Events

Groups in your social network, can also help your networking. Think about all of the social groups you belong too: book club, church, chamber of commerce, Lions Club, Fraternal Organizations, etc. Get out and circulate and tell everyone you are looking. Have your 30 second speech ready that tells people the type of professional you are and the type of work you are looking for. Accept invitations to social events. You may meet your future employer at one of these events.

Create Your Own Event

Give a party for someone you admire to honor them. Throw a Tupperware, Pampered Chef or Home Interiors party. Casually let those attending you are on a job search.

Internet

Write a blog in an area where you have expertise. This can bring in some income and help to build your brand. Put up a profile on Linkin to showcase your qualifications.

Have a business card made that you can give out events. This should state your name and your profession with your contact information. Get a business card from everyone you meet. Note on the back of the card where you met. Follow up with a resume if requested or with a short handwritten note telling them you enjoyed the meeting.

There is no need to hide or feel ashamed if you are out of work. Your network and the efforts you make can be your best chance to secure a new job.

Copyright 2012 Summit Training Publications

Do you hate to write training programs? Too much work to do and no time to put together your training program? Asked to deliver training or a presentation and have no idea where to start?

Let Summit Training Publications take care of your program design needs with our off the shelf training in a box or one of our presentation modules.

Our off the shelf training solutions provide:

PowerPoint Presentation
Instructor Guide & handouts
Student Guide
Quiz
Feedback Form

Subject areas include; Communication Skills, Employee Development, Human Resources, Quality, Product Safety, Safety and Supervisor Training.

Saturday, February 11, 2012

How did the interview go?

Chris Wodke

http://www.summittrainingpublications.com/

After your interview someone may ask you how your interview went. You may be wondering yourself. Here are some hints that will tell you if interview went well.

Call Back

If you are called in for a second interview the company is interested. Only serious candidates are brought back.

References

If you are asked from references the company is serious. My company only checks references when they are planning to make an offer. Check with those listed on your reference list to see if they have been called.

Availability

If you are asked when you might be available things are going really well. This shows they are thinking of bringing you on board. They are thinking of making an offer and want to see how long it will take to get you on board.

Introductions

If you are taken to meet the hiring manager’s boss or his direct reports they are sending a signal. Usually you are introduced to the rest of the team if you are a serious candidate. The manager will not waste anyone’s time by introducing them to a candidate they have no intention of hiring.

Body Language

Does the interviewer check their watch a lot? That is a bad sign. Good signs would be eye contact, nodding in agreement with your answers and leaning forward as you talk.

Sales Job

If the hiring manager talks about how great the company is and how well you would fit, the interview is going very well. They already picture you as part of the team and are trying to convince you to come on board.

Questions

If a hiring manager is interested they will spend a lot of time asking you questions. If they aren’t interested or if you aren’t the interview will quickly wrap up. If they are interested in you they will spend a lot of time answering your questions because they want to sell you on the position.

Do you get a positive vibe from HR? Do they return your calls? The better their response the more likely the interview will result in an offer. They know what decision the hiring manager has made. They want you as a potential employee to have a favorable view of the company.

If most of these signs are present, the interview went well. There is no sure thing with interviews; another better candidate can always come along after your interview.

Copyright 2012 Summit Training Publications

Do you hate to write training programs? Too much work to do and no time to put together your training program? Asked to deliver training or a presentation and have no idea where to start?

Let Summit Training Publications take care of your program design needs with our off the shelf training in a box or one of our presentation modules.

Our off the shelf training solutions provide:

PowerPoint Presentation
Instructor Guide & handouts
Student Guide
Quiz
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Subject areas include; Communication Skills, Employee Development, Human Resources, Quality, Product Safety, Safety and Supervisor Training.

Monday, February 6, 2012

Benefits Denied

Chris Wodke

http://www.summittrainingpublications.com/

One of the dirty secrets of this recession is that 1 in 4 unemployed workers are being denied unemployment benefits by their former employer. It’s bad enough to be laid off, much less be told you are being denied benefits when you need them the most.

Employer challenges are on the rise. The number filing challenges have doubled in 15 years. For companies this is an economic decision. Many business owners are struggling to keep their doors open. The premiums paid to the state by a business owner are partially based on the number of claims filed. In industries where turnover is high the rate assessed to the business can be high.

If this happens to you check with your local unemployment office about the rules for appeal. Make sure you follow all the rules and meet all deadlines. A majority of these claims are won by employees. If you are still employed be sure you have good attendance and follow all company rules. If you are discharged for cause the employer may legitimately deny your claim. If you have any questions contact your local office. If you need legal advice contact an employment lawyer.

Do you hate to write training programs? Too much work to do and no time to put together your training program? Asked to deliver training or a presentation and have no idea where to start?

Let Summit Training Publications take care of your program design needs with our off the shelf training in a box or one of our presentation modules.

Our off the shelf training solutions provide:

PowerPoint Presentation
Instructor Guide & handouts
Student Guide
Quiz
Feedback Form

Subject areas include; Communication Skills, Employee Development, Human Resources, Quality, Product Safety, Safety and Supervisor Training.

Sunday, February 5, 2012

Twenty something’s-last hired first fired?

Chris Wodke

http://www.summittrainingpublications.com/

Young employees are being hit hard by layoffs in many organizations. Employees over the age of 40 are in a protected class. Employers fearing age discrimination suits are choosing to layoff their youngest staff members first. Employers have adopted a last hired, first fired approach to layoffs. The U. S. Department of Labor bears this out. The unemployment rate for the 25 to 34 age group was 9.6% in April. The rate for workers older than 55 was 3.3%. Companies are also reluctant to let workers with the largest amount of company knowledge leave their organizations and do not want to face age discrimination lawsuits. Younger workers are lower risk to layoff. The managers involved in these decisions may also lean toward letting younger workers go. Younger workers do not often have the family and financial responsibilities of older workers. This may play a factor in the decisions made regarding layoffs. Baby-boomer workers as a group have more loyalty to a company and have a strong work ethic. Younger workers demand more flexibility, responsibility and high pay that their baby-boomer co-workers did not expect early in their careers. Older workers tend to be easier to manage and are less high maintenance. All these factors play in to lay off decision.

This trend is also seen in the public sector. Layoffs have come to many school districts. Layoffs are being done by seniority, meaning younger workers are the first to be let go.

Merit is not even considered. To keep things fair all layoffs are done by seniority.

The layoff by seniority may change now with the reforms adopted by the Walker administration. It will be up to individual districts to employ the tools given them by the state. Many districts rushed through contracts before the new rules went into effect.

The districts that waited for the new rules are not even laying off employees. The layoffs have all come in districts where contracts were renewed before the changes.

Do you hate to write training programs? Too much work to do and no time to put together your training program? Asked to deliver training or a presentation and have no idea where to start?

Let Summit Training Publications take care of your program design needs with our off the shelf training in a box or one of our presentation modules.

Our off the shelf training solutions provide:

PowerPoint Presentation
Instructor Guide & handouts
Student Guide
Quiz
Feedback Form

Subject areas include; Communication Skills, Employee Development, Human Resources, Quality, Product Safety, Safety and Supervisor Training.