Stay active while unemployed

After being laid off or just being between jobs your time and your energy seem to be wrapped up in your job search and that is understandable. You need money to survive and the unemployment insurance that you may be receiving isn’t very much. But work isn’t the only thing that defines you, is it? While you are in the hunt for a job you need to continue your life and even expand your horizons.

Define yourself, who are you outside of work? What are your hobbies? Are you interested in volunteering? Are you passionate about certain causes? These are questions that you need to think about because when some folks become unemployed they forget about things in their life that defines them or drives them.

And why should you do that?
When you are unemployed you need to remain as strong and sharp as you are when you are employed. Unemployment puts a good deal of stress on you and everyone knows that too much stress is not a good thing. Keeping a good attitude helps maintain the balance in your life. It can’t be said enough to think positive in tough times. Be realistic but remember who you are and all the good things that are in your life.


Keep in mind that you are a good person who is just looking for work. Nothing changes because of your employment situation. Often people downgrade themselves because they are between jobs. You are the same person whether you are working or not.

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Skilled trade jobs are in high demand

If you are of the boomer generation then it was probably drummed into your head that you must have a college education to get anywhere in life. While education in its own right is a wonderful thing to pursue it isn’t the only path to a successful career. You should also consider a skilled trade job often referred to as a blue collar job.

Why not learn a skilled trade?

Blue collar work opposed to white collar work that requires a college education has always had an image problem. It is as if people looked down at other folks who worked with their hands for a living. But the truth be known these types of jobs are indispensable in any economy good or bad. As for the pay it can start out better than many professional jobs and you can start working after a relatively short training period or you can learn on the job. There are many community colleges and technical schools that teach the skills you need in your future career. And if you are changing jobs and don’t have time to go to class during the day most places offer evening and weekend classes.

In this economy the demand for skilled labor is high and there isn’t much threat of these jobs being outsourced.

Here are just a few of the skilled trade jobs

• Auto mechanic 
• Electricians  
• Construction jobs  
• Machinist  
• Welding 
• Carpentry worker/wood worker 
• Plumber 
• Pipe fitter 
• Dental hygienist 
• Barber 
• Landscaping operations and management 
• Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration

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What is a patient advocate?

If you have ever dealt with a serious illness or have had a family member who was ill and required extensive medical treatment then you know how mind numbing that experience can be. Not only are you dealing with the illness you are also trying to find the best care and make the best decisions on doctors and medical options. For most people this can be very discouraging and stressful. It would be great if you had some help dealing with these things. That is where the patient advocate comes in to help guide you during the stressful time of illness.

 

What is a patient advocate?

 

This is a relativity new occupation. The maze that is healthcare today has created this position out of necessity. Anyone that has had a serious illness has many questions that are not always answered at the doctor’s office. A patient advocate is knowledgeable in various aspects of the medical profession whether it is health insurance or treatment.

 

What skills does a patient advocate have to have?

 

• A great deal of patience especially around the patient or the patient’s family.  
• A good understanding of the health industry 
• Effective communication, especially during trying times. 
• Problem solving comes in handy when there are difficult decisions to be made.

 Patient advocate can work on their own, work for an insurance company and they can be employees of a hospital.



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Stafford loans for education

The last post I wrote about one of the ways that you can receive federal money to further your education through grants. Another possible financial solution is to apply for Federal loans. One of the most popular is the Stafford loan.

 

The Stafford loan is a low interest loan made available by the government for 4 year college courses, graduate studies, and trade, career or technical schools. The money comes directly from the Department of Education.

 

There are 2 types of Direct Stafford Loans.

1. Direct Subsidized loans are for students that show financial needs. Your school will determine how much money you will receive.  
2. Direct Unsubsidized loans are for anyone regardless of financial needs. Your school determines how much money you will receive. You can pay the interest off as it accrues or wait till you are out of school.

You can apply for a Stafford loan by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). You must also sign a Master Promissory Note (MPN) that says that you will repay the loan and the interest. This too can be found on line.


There is a loan fee applied that is 1%. The direct loan program has various payment schedules between 10 and 25 years to pay off loans. If you are having problems repaying the loan go to the repayment loans website.




   
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Federal Grants for education

One of the best things that you can do to increase your chances of getting a job is to get an education or further what education you have. There are different ways of receiving money from the government. One of the most popular is receiving a grant. A government Grant is money that you receive to further your education that you don’t have to pay back.

Here a few examples of them

• The Pell grant is probably the best know of the Federal grants. A Pell grant usually gives money to undergraduate students who haven’t finished their degrees. The amount that you receive will depend upon your financial need. The maximum amount for the years 2010-2011 is 5,500$. For more information go to the Pell Grant  
• TEACH Grant (Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education) The government will give you money to become a teacher in schools that are made of low income families. For more information go to Teach Grant  
• The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) program is for those are exceptional financial need. You can receive between 100 and 4000 a year  
• For first year college student who have completed a rigorous secondary school program of study. For more information go to Academic Grants  
• The National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant SMART is for students who excel in Math and Science. This can be included with the Pell Grant.  

 
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Should you apply for jobs you aren’t qualified for?

You have searched through job sites till your eyes are about to pop out of your head then suddenly you find a particular job that looks interesting. The job description seems like something you might like. Then you go over the qualifications and find that there are a few things that they ask for that you don’t have. Surly that wouldn’t be a big problem, would it? The question is should you apply for jobs that you aren’t qualified for?




This can be a tricky question to answer. One school of thought says that you should apply for a job even though your qualifications aren’t an exact match. That is probably a good way to think if your experience doesn’t quite add up to what they wanted, but if your skills don’t match it might be another story. If that is the case then you are probably wasting your time and the company’s time as well.



Something else to remember is to keep your resume and interview truthful. The worst way to start a new job is to demonstrate to your new boss that you don’t have the skills that your resume said you did. So avoid an embarrassing situation for everybody and be truthful about what you do and don’t know.



So when you see a want ad that interests you but you don’t quite have the experience but you do have the skills apply anyway it might lead to an interview.



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Become an entrepreneur

Searching for a job is always difficult but right now it almost seems impossible. How are you going to find a job when no one is hiring? And if they are hiring you may compete with hundreds or even thousands of applicants. The economic times are grim. You should consider all possible options on how to make a living. One idea is to start your own business, become an entrepreneur, and become your own boss.




You may think that this is absolutely the worst time to start your own business but if you have a good idea and you are passionate about it then just do it. Starting a business can be as terrifying and as exciting as it gets success isn’t guaranteed and failure occurs in the majority of folks that try their hand at entrepreneur.



But why not try?

Jobs aren’t plentiful right now and they may not be for quite a while. Going out on your own can be a lot easier if you know what you want to do and you have made a plan. And what can also be a great help to you is that the government encourages small business with loans and help. Make sure to start your entrepreneur journey with a visit to the SBA Small Business Administration website. There is an incredible amount of useful information there.



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Keeping the right attitude while unemployed

No one would blame you if you became depressed while looking for a job. In this economy finding a job is extremely difficult. Not only is it hard to find a job it is also tough to find places to send your resume to. And if you do find a job opening you will probably be competing with quite a few other people. So if you are down it isn’t surprising. But one thing to remember is that being down will definitely hinder your chance at finding employment.




If you watch the news, read the internet or even read the paper, you see that the present economy is terrible and might even get worse. The number of people on unemployment and unemployment extensions are staggering. You can’t let the news get you down! Don’t spend too much time dwelling on the sorry state of the economy you can find better ways to spend your time.



Even though you don’t get paid right now looking for a job is a job in its self and you should treat it that way. Make a schedule of your day and keep to it. Once that day is over you should do other things to get your mind off of job hunting.



Exercise is a great way to work off the tension of the day. And exercise has the added benefit of allowing you to think clearly. Without the stress you can stay focused continuing to live your life and search for a job.



Make plans and stick to them, exercise regularly and continue to do the things that you enjoy and find fulfilling in life.



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Truck drivers are safe from outsourcing

With outsourcing becoming so popular in the United States it is important to seek out jobs that can’t be outsourced. In the past I have written about certain jobs that are safe from outsourcing such as mechanics and dental hygienists. What makes a job safe from outsourcing? You can’t do your work over an internet connection and that is definitely true of a truck driver.


It is not surprising that there are so many truck drivers in the United States. Practically everything that is sold in a store must come via truck and this method of transporting goods wouldn’t change anytime in the near future.



What do you need to become a truck driver?

To drive a truck, especially the big rigs, you will need to be trained at a truck driving training school. Make sure that the school that you are planning to attend is certified by the Professional Truck Driver Institute (PTDI).

You will also need a commercial driver’s license (CDL) which you can usually obtain from the vocational school that you are getting your training from.



What is the employment outlook for truck driving?

According to the Bureau of Labor statistics the outlook for employment in this field is favorable.



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Advantages of being a state employee

Like the federal government, state government hires people on a regular basis. Also like the federal government each state employment has a presence of the internet. From there you can find where the jobs are and how to get them. Although there is more opportunities working for the federal government you should still check out state and local jobs.

 

 

 

Advantages of becoming a state employee

 

• While it isn’t as secure as it once was, there still is more job security in a state employment job than in the private sector where you can pretty much be laid off at any time. In the present economy this is a huge plus. 
• Of course the one thing that you probably know about state and federal employment is the great benefits. Your health benefits (medical, dental) are usually far superior to the private sector. With the cost of health care going up this is indeed a major advantage. 
• State employees are generally hired on the basis of the score they receive on employment tests; they are like the federal government is extremely cognizant of hiring folks according to ability, without discrimination.  
• You may not think so but the salaries of state employees are competitive to the private sector. 
• Most states want their employees to succeed and the best way to do that is by continuing their education. Check with your state to see if they have tuition reimbursement.

  

 

Go to your state’s employment website for further details.

 

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Brainstorming and job hunting

You probably think that you don’t need much inspiration to find a job if you are unemployed. Just by looking at the bills every month and your dwindling check account should be inspiration enough. But it really should be more than just surviving to make ends meet. While that is extremely important you need to look deep inside your self to find out what you really want in life. After finding that out then you can really start out on your inspired job hunting.


What questions need to be answered?
Simple questions, like what do you want to do for a living, and it is vital to include “for a living” because you still need to make a living. One way to find this answer is to brainstorm. Write down everything that you like to do and everything that you would like to do on a piece of paper. At this point don’t stop to think whether your answer is doable or not, just write it down. When you feel that you have exhausted your list, put the paper away and wait a few days and see if you can think of anything else.

After you have had some time to think about the list and what you could add to it, take the list out and circle all the items that you want to do further research. Be open minded and don’t reject every thing on the list you are still in the discovery phase.

Take every item circled and write it as a heading on a separate sheet of paper. Under the heading write a short paragraph on why you might want to pursue this field. If you are having a hard time writing the paragraph then you might want to reconsider this as a choice.


Read over every paragraph and see which ones have the most written about them. You’ll find that the ones that you could write the most about are probably the ones to further research.


Brainstorming is a terrific way to come up with ideas and its can really be useful when you looking for a job.


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Overseas jobs

You hear so much about how companies in the US are turning to outsourcing to lower their costs. Outsourcing certainly helps corporations but it doesn’t help you much especially if you are unemployed. In these difficult times you have to consider every angle in order to find work. One such angle is finding jobs overseas.

   

This may seem extreme to some folks especially those who have ties in this country that they can’t break. But if you have the freedom to move why not consider it?

 

 

Here are a few jobs that can be found overseas.

• One employer for overseas employment is the Federal Government. I know that seems strange but it is true. Go through the same government sites for domestic jobs and you will find opportunities abroad. 
• There are teaching jobs available overseas for Americans. Many of the positions are at schools where American who work overseas send their children. 
• Travel jobs are also available but they are usually for short term assignments. 
• Farm jobs are low paying but you would still receive the benefit of traveling. 
• Jobs dealing with the gas and oil industries are always looking for people in the Middle East, (Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and others)

 

 

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