How to Beat Unemployment

Posted on November 6, 2011 by LBCommuter

When asked to name the biggest problem facing the country, Gallup poll found that 35 percent of Americans said unemployment.

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The unemployment rate remains at 9 percent with around 14 million Americans looking for work. TheBureau of Labor Statistics says that more than 8 million people are working part-time, but would rather be working full-time. Another 1 million are classified as “discouraged workers,” which mean they would like to look for work, but don’t think there are jobs out there for them.

It is taking longer to find a job with the average duration of unemployment at 36.9 weeks in January, the highest level since 1948.

Some of the ways to beat unemployment are easily accessible to you. Start your job search with a good resume and refresh your resume frequently. Practice an interview with questions (which can be found online) with a friend. Questions like: Why do you want this job? Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

The Unemployment Office has programs, which can be checked out online, like The Oregon Self Employment Assistance Program (SEA) that help eligible unemployed workers set up a business on a full-time basis and still receive full unemployment benefits.

Another program the Unemployment Office offers is the Training Unemployment Insurance Program (TUI). To qualify as a dislocated worker, an individual must be certified as a dislocated worker by meeting the criteria under the Workforce Investment Act, or be certified by the Employment Department.

There are other programs on the unemployment website to help. If you are on unemployment, please notify unemployment before you go to school, so that you can take advantage of their programs and keep your benefits.

Check out the internet! Youtube.com is filled with hundreds of suggestions on starting over, or making money, while on unemployment. If you decide to work for yourself, you can go online and get your own web address for as little as $3.95 a year on Yahoo.com, for example.

A lot of the local companies only do applications online. This makes it easier to get employed as it is not based on appearance or the employer’s first impression, but is based on the information you include.  However, there are nearly 14 million Americans who are out of work and looking, as well.

Anne P., 26, has been actively looking for work for six months and has only had one call back. They did not think she had enough work experience. Being so young, non or little work experience is a deficit, but how do you correct this if no one will hire you in the first place? Even the minimum wage jobs are looking for more experienced workers.

Mark, 32, has former work experience, but does not want to continue working for minimum wages. Therefore, like so many people at school, he is continuing his education to get a better job.

I am unemployed and am caught in the middle as I am looking for work and trying to go to school. When I told Unemployment Office four weeks ago that I was going to school full-time, I lost my unemployment benefits immediately.

Now I am in the process of enrolling in the Training Unemployment Insurance Program (TUI) and have to wait for them to decide whether I am eligible for unemployment, while going to school and keeping my benefits.

Beating unemployment becomes a job in itself. Send out as many resumes as you can online, or in person. Sell yourself to a future employer once you have an interview,  or go to a technical school or college to get better skills.

Nora Palmtag, Contributing Writer