6 Tips For When Your Unemployment Benefits Expire

Posted on January 20, 2014 by Elizabeth Mandler 

Losing your job can be a stressful time. If you were one of the 1.3 million Americans whose unemployment benefits expired at the 26-week mark, things just got a whole lot trickier. With the Senate not expected to pass legislation to reinstate extended benefits until late January or early February of 2014, there are a few things you can do to ease the stress.

1. Double-check your unemployment paperwork.
Be sure to double-check your Emergency Unemployment Compensation program documents to see if and when you’ll be affected by Congress’s ruling. This will also keep you informed if they reach an agreement in the upcoming weeks, and it will help you better prepare your monthly budgets.

2. Create a new budget.
Creating a budget is a great way to help you get the most bang for your buck when it comes to paying for life. Make a list of the items that are necessities such as rent, water and other utilities, and food. Then list all your other monthly payments. Set money aside to ensure you can pay the necessities first before you add up your other expenses. If, after looking at both lists of payments, you’re struggling to make ends meet, start cutting out some of the unnecessary monthly bills. For example: cable, internet, gaming subscriptions, magazine subscriptions, or even an unnecessary vehicle payment can be either cancelled or sold. Put your monthly income where you need it most and instead utilize the public library or other community buildings for internet and entertainment. These seemingly little expenses add up significantly, and they can always become a part of your life again once you land a job. If you didn’t already have it, think of this as extra motivation to work your hardest at finding a job!

3. Utilize coupons and become a savvy shopper.
The average person spends approximately $55 a week on groceries. To make your budget go further, try utilizing coupons you’ve received in the mail and ones you can easily print online. Also check out your grocery store’s deals and specials each week. Try combining coupons with the store’s specials, and get creative at putting together your weekly meal plan. Some grocery stores will even double or triple manufacturer’s coupons at checkout! Make a game of grocery shopping to try saving more and more with each trip. You and your family will love the meal variety, and your wallet will most certainly thank you for the break in spending!

4. Maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Getting sick or having a medical problem while employed can be a headache. Getting sick while you’re unemployed is even worse. Exercise regularly and maintain a healthy diet to avoid any unexpected trips to the doctor.

5. Check out various assistance programs.
There are many local, state and national programs that provide assistance to those in need. Please try to avoid letting your pride get in the way of asking for help. It’s a trap anyone can fall into, but these programs are made to help people just like you and me. If you need assistance, here are a few programs you may find helpful; the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Food Banks, local church programs, WIC, prevention and emergency assistance programs.

6. Keep up your job search, and don’t get discouraged.
Even when times seem to be at their toughest, you should still stay motivated to find employment. Check out local newspapers and websites, and talk to people about opportunities in your area. Your hard work will pay off! For tips about applying and interviewing for jobs, make sure you stay up-to-date withEmploymentGuide.com’s blog, and be sure to keep checking out your local job listings on our site, as well!

Know of any assistance programs in your area? Help those who might benefit from them by sharing them on our Facebook Page!

Jobs coming to Michigan

• IT TALENT: CONNECT WITH IT EMPLOYERS
• Comcast Hiring Business Account Executives in Southeast Michigan
• Truck and Heavy Equipment Mechanic Opening
• Car Sales Associate with Maple Hill Auto Group
• MiRoad2Work.org Helps Individuals Find Way Into Apprenticeship Training and Programs
• More Hot Jobs in Michigan

Best And Worst Places For Job Growth

Texas Gov. Rick Perry touted the “Texas miracle” during his unsuccessful campaign for the 2012 presidential election. No income  tax, a lax regulatory government and a pro-business government and court system helped Texas generate 37% of all new jobs in the U.S. between 2009 and when Perry announced his run for President in August 2011. Perry announced last month that he would not seek a fourth term as Governor in the 2014 Texas election, but the Texas miracle shows no signs of slowing down.
The graphic below looks at the metro areas, among the 200 largest by population, that are expected to have the fastest and slowest rates of employment growth through 2015, according to research firm Moody’s Analytics. Texas dominates with seven of the top 10 spots led by Austin, which Moody’s forecasts 4% annual job growth.
Kurt Badenhausen, Forbes Staff

6 Ways To Prepare For Unexpected Financial Events

In a relatively short period of time, Americans have seen a collapse of housing prices, the near-collapse of the banking system, double-digit unemployment and various boom-and-bust cycles in financial markets. You may not know what’s coming next, but bad news shouldn’t exactly come as a surprise anymore. You can’t protect against everything, but there are steps you can take to be better prepared to react when surprises threaten to impact your personal finances.

 Here are six things you can do to be prepared:


Draw up an investment wish list. Suppose the stock market fell to half its current level tomorrow — what stocks would you most like to own at drastically discounted prices? After all, Apple AAPL -1.1%, Google GOOG -0.83% and other standout companies don’t come cheap. Chances to buy them at reasonable prices are rare and fleeting. For example, the S&P 500 hit bottom in early 2009 after the financial crisis, but by the end of that year it had bounced back by 50 percent. You can prepare for sudden price drops by making a list of what stocks you’d most like to own, and what you would be willing to pay for them.

Move up http://i.forbesimg.com t Move down

 

Be equally ready to sell. Just as you should be prepared to snap up buying opportunities, you have to be ready to sell when the time is right. When you first buy a stock, you should have some plan for what price you would sell the stock for, or under what conditions.

Build an emergency fund. Separate from your retirement fund or any other savings earmarked for a specific goal, you should have an emergency fund — typically, a high-yield savings account or similarly safe and accessible vehicle that could provide you with about six months worth of living expenses in a pinch.

Create a certificate of deposit rollover schedule. Have your calendar give you a reminder a couple weeks before your CDs are due to mature, so you can make an informed decision about what length CD you want next, and take the time to shop for the best CD rates.

Do a phantom job search. Unless you have built up a substantial portfolio of investments, your career may be your most valuable asset simply because of its ongoing earning power. You should manage your career actively, as you would an investment. Without actually applying for anything, you can do a phantom job search in which you look at the job market to see how many openings are out there that you’d be qualified for, and what they pay. Strong demand for your skills could strengthen your negotiating position at your current employer, while weak demand may remind you to go the extra mile to make sure you are valued.

Update your training. A phantom job search can also tell you if your training is out-of-date. If so, don’t wait until you’re out of a job to improve your credentials. Doing it now could improve your performance in your current job, and make you immediately competitive if you have to re-enter the job market.

In addition to helping you weather emergencies, these steps may also help you do better if financial conditions go smoothly — which may be the biggest surprise of all.
Richard Barrington, Contributor                                            

Top 8 Tips for Job Fair Success

Walking into a job fair may seem like a daunting task. You may be one of hundreds of candidates vying for a recruiter’s attention, but you can earn an advantage over the competition by following these top tips for job fair success.

1. Do Your Homework

Most companies have to pre-register if they plan to have a booth at a job fair. This information is generally made available to participants. See which companies are hiring people with your skill set and then make an effort to visit those recruiters first while you’re still fresh and have copies of your resume available.

In many cases, the job fair organizers will provide participants with a floor plan or map of the company locations. Since job fairs can be overwhelming, bring a highlighter or pen with you to mark the places you need to visit first. You should also mark off the companies that you speak to, so that you can remember to follow-up after the event.

2. Arrive Early

Recruiters are at their best at the beginning of the job fair, too, so plan to arrive when the event begins to attract the most attention. Be prepared to answer some brief interview questions on the spot or fill out applications for some employers.

3. Bring Extra Copies Of Your Resume

Even though you have target companies that you’ll want to visit, bring extra copies of your resume in case you see an employer or position opening that appeals to you the day of the job fair. You don’t need to hand out your resume aimlessly, but bring at least a dozen extra copies above what you need for your target companies.

4. Practice Your Elevator Speech

In this economy, job fairs attract hundreds of candidates. In order to be noticed – and remembered – by recruiters, you should have a 30 second or less pitch about who you are and what value you would add to the employer. It takes a while to perfect your pitch, so write it out, revise it and practice several times before the job fair.

5. Wear Comfortable Shoes

This may seem like a no-brainer, but participating in a job fair can be grueling both emotionally and physically. You won’t be able to be your best self for the recruiters if you’re in excruciating pain because of uncomfortable footwear. Most job seekers dress professionally for job fairs and you should do that, too, but make comfortable business-appropriate shoes a priority.

6. Bring A Bottle Of Water And Hand Sanitizer

You’re going to get thirsty from talking to all those recruiters, so bring a bottle of water to refresh yourself. While many job fairs provide refreshments to participants, it’s not a given. You’ll feel much better if you can hydrate yourself during the event. Hand sanitizer is also a great thing to bring to cut down on passing germs back and forth with all the handshakes you’ll be doing. Using hand sanitizer is also a good way to prevent sweaty palms if you’re nervous.

7. Just Say No To Giveaways

It’s perfectly acceptable to take some company literature if you’re interested in a company, but try to stay away from taking giveaways and extra items from all of the employers. These items weigh you down and make you tired.

Remember, you’re there to find a job, not to get a new stress ball. If you must take items, consider bringing a messenger bag or briefcase with a shoulder strap to put the items into so your hands are free for sealing a conversation with a firm handshake.

8. Follow Up Within 48 Hours

Recruiters meet lots of candidates at job fairs. If you want to set yourself apart from the competition, take business cards and send thank you e-mails after the event. In your e-mail, you should reference when and where you met and the position that interests you. You most likely won’t receive a response from the recruiter, but it might help move your resume to the top of the pile.

Be sure to check out the video below for a bonus tip!

November 17, 2013 by Amanda Haddaway
Read more at http://www.careerealism.com/tips-job-fair-success/#UXJvrqZSTPaOSZXC.99

More Hot Jobs in Michigan

Assistant Manager – Advance America Cash Advance Centers – Royal Oak, MI

Customer Service – Advance America Cash Advance Centers – Detroit, MI

Principal Industrial Design-Writing – Newell Rubbermaid – Kalamazoo, MI

Quality Technician – Essential Personnel – Hamburg, MI

Landscape Installation Technician – Naylor Landscape Management, Inc. – Kalamazoo, MI

Programmer/Analyst – Computer Management Technologies, Inc. – Saginaw, MI

Production Worker – Bradford White Corporation – Middleville, MI

 

North American Bancard Hiring for Multiple Positions

North American Bancard, an industry leader in credit card processing, whose success is a result of an unwavering dedication to helping American entrepreneurs succeed, is currently hiring for the following positions in Troy, MI, all of which are amazing opportunities to join a dynamic, growing company that is a leader in mobile payment solutions:

• PHP Developer – The primary focus of the Senior PHP Developer is to create and maintain systems written in PHP. The ideal candidate for this position will have experience coding in a deadline-driven, multi-project environment. Click here to learn more about this position and how to apply, or visit Pure Michigan Talent Connect.
• Senior Android Developer – The primary focus of the Senior Android Mobile Developer is to create and maintain new applications for mobile payment systems, PayAnywhere and Phone Swipe by providing technical leadership. The ideal candidate for this position will have experience coding Android applications in Java, and have extensive experience creating applications for Smart phones. Click here to learn more about this position and how to apply, or visit Pure Michigan Talent Connect. 
• iOS Developer – The primary focus of the Mobile Application Developer is to create and maintain applications for mobile payment solutions, PayAnywhere and Phone Swipe. The ideal candidate for this position will have experience coding in Objective C for iOS applications. Click here to learn more about this position and how to apply, or visit Pure Michigan Talent Connect.