When it comes to Universal Basic Income, it’s not a new idea that has been floated by the government. It’s a concept that has brought about a lot of discussions and gained traction in the media and Congress.
How it works is that a basic income or basic living stipend is provided to citizens as a cash payment using taxpayer money. This is unconditional and this means that there is no test when it is being implemented at a local or national level.
There has been a debate on the impact of technology on employment. The concept of universal basic income poses as a support system against automation. The overwhelming response to the debate would be the impact on jobs and the way in which this income would help the millions that are out of work.
Talking about the need for universal basic income, Karl Widerquist, associate professor said, “This was not just for the people at the bottom but also for the average worker.” As an advocate for UBI, he further added, “We should remove the judgment and paternalism that pervade the world’s existing social welfare systems.” This would then pave the way for governments to pay a basic income.
Chris Hughes, Facebook Co-founder also argued that workers in the US could receive a basic income of $500 per month. This could be done if Congress removed President Donald Trump’s tax reform. He stated on national television that less than one-third of Americans have benefited from the 2017 Tax and Jobs Act.
He also argued about how people cannot adapt because of the lack of bandwidth that is needed to do so. This would require a lot of time and resources to build on new skills and technical developments. Hughes also believes this is why the poorer people do not capitalize on educational opportunities when they are free.
While the incomes of people have been plateaued, the cost of living, housing, education, and health care have increased drastically. He feels strongly that a basic income would re-balance the economy and create economic growth.
Recently, US Senator Kamala Harris, D-California recently introduced Lift the Middle-Class Act. This would provide a monthly payment of $500 per month to low-income families. This would be paid for by removed the Trump tax cuts. Basic income payments are made in cash and paid to individuals and works as an obligatory fee.
There were recent efforts by a privately funded 18-month pilot program which was launched to distribute basic income in Stockton, California. Similarly, Chicago’s Mayor Rahm Emanuel has created a task force to study basic income.
So What is Basic Income?
Basic Income is a fixed sum which is paid to the public from taxes. Based on the inability to tackle unemployment with conventional means in the last decade there is a major reason that this idea should be taken seriously. Here social and economic policy should not be separated. Basic income would help both poverty relief and improve employment.
Does Basic Income Discourage Work?
The Heritage Foundation found that this was a failed experiment when it was conducted in six states from 1968 to 1980. A negative income tax would guarantee a minimum income to a specific group of people. One goal is to determine if this assistance would increase employment and the quality of life metrics. This format involves reducing benefits as earnings increase. This outcome created the opposite of the intended effect.
The Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend program has been in place for the last 25 years with money distributed from the oil reserve royalties earned in the state. The unconditional cash payments amount to $2,000 for every resident of Alaska.
You could notice a difference in different sectors. For example, in sectors where goods and services produced could be traded outside Alaska, part-time employment was down. This appeared to be more than an offset by increases in part-time employment in the non-tradable sectors of the Alaskan economy.
Time will tell us whether these findings are lessons from the Alaskan experiment. But it needs to be reviewed about the transferability of the findings from a very unique stat to other parts of the world. However, researchers express that more research is needed to analyze the impact of Universal Basic Income.
Vijay Menon, a research assistant at Heritage Foundation, expressed that negative income tax reduced the desired hours of work by 9% by husbands, 20% for wives and 25% of percent for single female heads of families. Single men that were not heads of families that received the stipend worked less by 43%.
Recipients who experienced unemployment during the experiment were unemployed for longer periods of time than unemployed non-participants. It was found that for every $1,000 in additional benefits recipients received, there was an average reduction of $660 in earned income. In other words, $3,000 worth of government benefits was needed to increase the net income by $1,000.
The results suggest that receiving unconditional aid and not the phase-out of benefits causes reduced work effort. This means that creating policies that discourage work is not good for America.
According to a 2016 General Social Survey, 70% of Americans love working even if they didn’t need the money. This would suggest that policies should be framed to reward work rather than replace it.
The Heritage Foundation suggests that an alternative to basic income is to expand the earned income tax credit. While the former would reduce work and increase dependency, the second option would bring in a sense of dignity and self-sufficiency.
UBI Pilot in Oakland
Y Combinator had run a UBI pilot in Oakland, California in 2016-17 and awarded participants with an unconditional monthly income of $2,000 each. These experiments were also done in Brazil, Finland, Italy, and the Netherlands.
The idea behind an unconditional cash transfer is not something new. This was advocated by Thomas Paine in the 1700s and more recently in post-war Britain by Juliet Rhy-Williams.
At FileUnemployment.org, we help in giving you the right information to help you get your due of benefits from the government. To realize this, you can check the Base Period Calculator, Benefits Calculator, and Eligibility Calculator. This will help you determine the base period to calculate benefits, the amount of benefits that you should get and finally whether you are eligible for benefits.
What do you feel about Universal Basic Income? Do Americans need it? Let us know in the comment section below.
Have you taken a career break to start a family of your own or due to temporary retirement? Otherwise, have you taken a break to enjoy yourself and travel the world? Based on this, women outweigh men that took a break due to family and personal reasons.
But whatever was the motive behind you taking a career break, there is always a time when you would decide to jump back on the career ladder. This can be tough and unnerving to get back to work after a break. You might feel anxious about starting a new job or worry about your skills being a little rusty because a lot has changed since you have been away.
7 Ways to Secure a Job After An Employment Gap
In case you feel that you are in a similar situation then these seven tips will increase your chances of getting hired after a career break:
1. Review the Situation
Most people make the mistake of taking up the first job that they find. First and foremost, you should not be unsure about the job as the interviewer would sense uncertainty and would be unlikely to take you further in the hiring process.
The second thing is that if you secure a job that is not suitable for you then you will find yourself moving frequently till the time you find the right one. It is important to take some time to assess your situation and then decide what to do next. You should open your mind and think of what was best for you before the career break and look for a good fit.
2. Update your CV
Most candidates believe that a gap in their CV would ruin their career. But, if you can change this to something positive that can differentiate you from other candidates, it won’t be that bad. If you have not been working for a while then you should not hide it. A break could provide you with a lot of benefits that make you more hireable and give you a chance to step back and re-evaluate your future career. You should add all the new skills that you have developed over your break and explain how it relates to the job that you are applying for.
Working with resume gaps can be as simple as revamping your resume formats and refocusing your entire CV based on skills and interests. Some of the functional aspects of your resume include ensuring that your achievements and skills are emphasized on rather than work history. You can also remove the exact dates from your CV. There is no need to put the exact dates if you are heading back to work in less than a year. You can add volunteer work and talk about skills that you have developed in this time. Just ensure that you do not lie because there will always be the risk of being caught sooner than later.
3. Network
You should connect with your existing connections when you are looking for your first job after a career break. Reach out to all of your previous colleagues, your friends, family, and clients and let them know that you are looking out for a job.
You never know. They might have the perfect job for you. They could also act as a reference to support you with your job applications.
4. Prepare for the Interview After A Career Break
Take time to prepare to answer questions about your career break. Interviewers are quite likely to ask you questions about the career gap and what you did with your time. You need to be honest and make it clear that you decided that the break was the right thing to do at the time. Also, you should tailor your answers to demonstrate how your break will benefit the role that you are applying for. You should think critically about some of the concerns that the interviewer might have. The company may wonder if you have what it takes to rejoin and you will need to demonstrate this by portraying your drive, focus, and passion.
5. Lookout for Career Returner Programs
Apart from using job boards for jobs, research on the various career returner programs that are available to the public. There are certain companies like JP Morgan and Deloitte that encourage these programs. These programs are targeted at those men and women that have taken a career break. Regardless of whether you took a family break or a break for other reasons, this scheme would provide support and experience that will help you re-adjust to work.
6. Training
If you have joined a training course or completed a degree program then you should mention this in your CV. You need all the career advice you can get before you get back from a career break. This will go a long way in ensuring that you are certified with your job and stay updated with new techniques and roles that come your way. You should be able to suggest how this degree/diploma will help further your career and make it a bonus. This would help you explain to the recruiter that you utilized even your time off to better your career and this would add as skills that would make you better positioned for the role.
7. Be Confident
Whether you have been away from 1 to 4 years, getting back into the hiring pool can be nerve-racking. The most important thing that you need to do is to ensure that you remain confident and have faith in your abilities.
If you do not have confidence then you can seriously undervalue yourself and what you can offer the employer. If you are worried, then you should write down your skills and strengths on a slip of paper. You can refer to this in order to boost your energy. If you still happen to be unsure, then ask your family and friends about your strengths and weaknesses. Look at yourself in the mirror and tell yourself what your strengths are, and you can also practice appearing confident.
Switching Gears
If you feel that your skills are no longer up-to-date then you should join a refresher course. Do your research and check on social media channels. Take a look at what the competitors are doing and see if you can do a trends analysis and check on industry news.
Though life is like a bitter-sweet symphony that is determined by success and failure, you should not let one misfortune hamper your confidence. Just like it’s important to stay calm, you should keep a focus. If your mind is focused, then you will overcome a difficult situation. Remember that a strong mind can move a mountain. All you have to do is focus. Simply start applying for jobs, look for ways to learn new skills and improve your profile.
The Unemployment rate in the United States remains unchanged at 3.9% while the total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 201,000 in the month of August. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics in their monthly report state that job gains occurred in professional and business services, wholesale trade, health care, transportation and warehousing and mining industries.
As stated above, the unemployment rate remained at 3.9% in August and the number of unemployed personnel remained at 6.2 million.
Household Survey Unemployment Data
In terms of the major worker groups, the unemployment rate for adult men was at 3.5%, and adult women tallied at 3.6% unemployed. Unemployed teenagers were accounted at 12.8%.
The Whites accounted at 3.4%, Blacks at 6.3%, Asians at 3% and Hispanics at 4.7%. There was little to no change in the unemployment rates for each major worker groups.
The number of long term unemployed people changed little in the month of August at 1.3 million and accounted for 21.5% of the total unemployed. Long term unemployed are people who have been jobless for 27 weeks or more. Over the year, the long term unemployed numbers have declined by 403,000.
In other findings from the report, the labor force participation rate (62.7%) and the employment population ratio (60.3%) both declined by 0.2% in the month of August 2018.
When it comes to people employed part time for economic reasons (also known as involuntary part time workers), at 4.4 million, changed little in the month of August. However, the number has been down by 830,000. It should be noted that these individuals preferred full-time employment but had to work part time because of reduced hours or the lack of full-time jobs.
The month of August 2018 sees 1.4 million people marginally attached to the labor force, which is a slight difference from the previous year. These people were not in the labor force, were looking to seek employment and have been searching for jobs sometime in the past 12 months.
Non Farm Payroll
In the month of August, the total non farm payroll employment had increased by 201,000. This is in tune with the average monthly gain of 196,000 over the past year. In the month of August, employment increased in the following industries:
- Professional and Business Services
- Health Care
- Wholesale Trade
- Transportation and Warehousing
- Mining
The Professional and business services added in 53,000 jobs in the month of August. The professional and business services added in 519,000 over the past 12 months.
August 2018 sees an employment rise in the healthcare industry by 33,000. Most of the jobs gains stem mostly from ambulatory health care services with 21,000 jobs. Job gains of about 8,000 were seen in hospitals. Over the year, the healthcare industry has added in 301,000 jobs.
Employment in the wholesale trade industry increased by 22,000 in the month of August and 99,000 over the past 12 months. From the industry, the durable goods wholesalers added 14,000 jobs over the month. This accounted for about two-thirds of the over the year job gain in the wholesale trade industry.
The transportation and warehousing industry rose by 20,000 jobs in the month of August. The industry has risen by 173,000 jobs over the past year. Within the industry, couriers and messengers have been responsible for adding in around 4,000 jobs in the month of August.
The mining industry had a rise in employment by 6,000 jobs in the month of August and showed little change from its progress in July. Since a recent dip in October 2016, the mining industry has added in 104,000 jobs. Most of the jobs in entire support of mining activities.
The construction industry continues to have an uptick of 23,000 jobs in the month of August. Over the year, the construction industry has increased its jobs by 297,000 over the year.
The manufacturing industry changed slightly negatively in the month of August, with a loss of 3,000 jobs. Over the past 12 months, employment in the industry was up by 254,000. More than 3/4th of the gains were from the durable goods segment in the industry.
In terms of employment in other major industries, there was little to no change in employment. These major industries include retail trade, information, financial activities, leisure and hospitality and government.
United States President Donald Trump’s quest for job creation in the United States has had many twists and turns. President Trump believes that the solution to creating more jobs in the United States is through levying heavy trade tariffs, targeting mostly Chinese made products.
In 2018 alone, Trumps has levied tariffs on 10,000+ products from China, Canada and European Union. In reciprocation these countries have levied their own trade tariffs on American goods. While this may help certain industries to create more jobs within the country, there is always the scenario of cause and effect.
What President Trump has failed to realise, is that levying high tariffs on foreign goods does not affect traders but more importantly set the burden onto the American consumers. In order for American consumers to obtain foreign goods, they will have to pay the high tariffs of trade instead of the supplier.
Trade Tariffs Impacts Agrarian Economy
The main industry that is affected by trump’s tariffs is the agriculture industry. This is because all the profits that farmers gain from trade become nullified because of the high tariffs, and this will result in severe losses.
While setting tariffs on agriculture would be a smart thing to do because the industry is solely export based. It leads the country to be vulnerable from trade tariffs being set by foreign countries. China is the second largest buyer of agricultural exports from agricultural exports. This means that farmers are particularly affected.
China retaliated by levying 25% duties on US agricultural products, which estimates to around $45 Billion. US producers of soybean, corn, poultry and beef were affected the most. As a result, farmers and agricultural workers have a hard time making a living in a sector that has always lagged behind historically in the national average of all industries.
Not to mention, poorer areas of the United States will be afflicted much more than others. States like Louisiana, Alabama and South Carolina have per capita incomes much lesser than the national average.
These households face the greatest threat in the export dependant agricultural companies, because of the inability to do business with one of their most important trade partners.
While it is significant that industries like the steel and aluminium stand to benefit from trade tariffs (possibility of gaining 26,000+ jobs), every industry is connected to each other. The high tariffs of steel and aluminum can affect the manufacturing of other products that use steel and aluminium. The dependency of a certain product and increase in trade tariffs can result in the loss of 400,000 jobs in other industries.
Not only that, automobile companies like Ford or Mercedes Benz/ BMW will also be hit majorly with the trade tariffs being levied. While it may seem like a good idea to prevent the influx of foreign vehicles, these automobile companies have their largest factories situated right in the United States.
Higher tariffs on raw materials like Steel and Aluminium leads to higher production costs for the automobile industry. This in turn would lead to more reliance on machines and higher number of layoffs of human resource. This would lead countless number of jobs being lost and a rising unemployment rate.
Companies Affected by Trade Tariffs
Just this year, the largest nail maker in the US, Mid-Continent Nail had to let go of 60 workers after their sales plunged by 70% after Trump’s implementation of a 25% tariff on steel from Canada and Mexico. Similarly, the Poplar Bluff Company had to raise its prices which led to defection by customers. The company worries of more layoffs and the termination of the entire 500 member workforce by Labor Day.
World renowned motorcycle company Harley-Davidson aims to shift a portion of its motorcycle manufacturing to outside the US in order to survive the trade war. The Milwaukee based motorcycle company stated in public filing that the move was paramount in preserving its second biggest sales market after the European marked imposed new tariffs. The company intends to close its plant in Kansas, Missouri, and add jobs to its Pennsylvania facility.
Meanwhile, Tariffs can lead to the cause of 4000 workers becoming unemployed at the Volvo plant in South Carolina. Volvo Cars Chief Executive Hakan Samuellsson told Reuters that trade barriers and restrictions were preventing them from creating as many jobs as they hoped to plan.
Finding Jobs
Now with the trade war deemed to escalate, it would mean the potential decrease in jobs. If you are currently looking for employment, it is advisable to check www.fileunemployment.org to see the unemployment benefits you could avail from the city/state you reside in. Also check out the various articles that provide vital information as to getting employed in the United States.
Times can be tough, even more so when you are unemployed. There are uneven economies around the world that have made it difficult for people to find work. Unemployment could be a challenge irrespective of age, qualification and how unemployment affects the larger population in recent years.
Though you might not be able to control being unemployed, you should know how to react to it. This could be despite several conditions that hinder your growth and stay at a job. If you are still looking out for a job, then you should keep busy with these assignments and stay productive.
How To Stay Productive When Unemployed
Here are 10 ways to stay productive even when you are unemployed and make the most of your time. This way you can learn effective skills and put your time to good use.
1. Keep a Schedule
You can take a few days off to relax but you shouldn’t be too get comfortable. This means that you need to have a focus and build on a schedule to stay productive and ready to work hard. If you are unemployed, you can continue to start the day early and get more things done effectively. This way, if you are working on day to day tasks, there is a lower chance of you getting inactive and depressed.
2. Work at a Temporary Agency
The best way to bridge the gap between jobs is to find temporary work or work at a temp agency. Here, while you search for a permanent job, you can include your temp agency in the search. Though this is not a permanent solution, you are in a better position financially until you find something more permanent.
3. Work Online
Look for work online to make a little money that can cover your expenses. There are several sites that offer ways to make money online and you need to make sure the site is reputable. Check for micro job sites that pay for you for things like taking surveys and making quick solutions to several problems out there. Though these sites may not pay well, it’s a better way to move forward than being stuck in a rut.
4. Get Organized
Spend time by getting organized and ensuring that you are prepped for a job in the offering. You can embark in spring cleaning, get rid of old things and streamline your life to dive ahead into the next chapter. This means that you should feel like you are being a product even when you are unemployed.
5. Exercise
Much like organizing your life, another good way to keep yourself enthusiastic and healthy is to exercise. It doesn’t take much to get slightly more active, and exercise can help you stay positive. Even a walk around the block a few times a week can do a lot for keeping you motivated and determined. If you take care of yourself, you can make the most of this extra time.
6. Volunteer
There are ample opportunities out there if you are looking for chances to get hired and stay strategic about it. Say your an unemployed teacher, you could volunteer as a coach’s assistant. You could provide some of your services as a web designer to a not-for-profit organization and do things pro bono. You need to volunteer somewhere relevant and keep your skills fresh and relevant. The brownie point is that you can add this as experience and that you volunteered on your resume.
7. Improve Your Skills
Build on ways to increase and improve your skills when you are unemployed and move forward. Just look for ways to improve in terms of certifications and training and look for free ones. This means that you should be able to qualify for entry-level positions with the training that you undertake. This can be done in several cities or states that offer these job skills training. All you have to do is refresh your resume, job skills and interview better to make your job hunt easier.
8. Treat yourself
There’s a point in one’s life where you can find unemployment tiring and tough on you. This is when you need to go out there and treat yourself. Take some time off and recharge your batteries. Let yourself go and rest to maximize productivity to help you search for your job. If you do not have the money for it then you can go for a walk, visit a park and take enough time off before you head back and continue the search.
9. Network
Spend a good amount of time networking and reconnecting with old contacts or making new ones. Based on where you are in your career, you should reconnect with your friends, professors, internship supervisors or old colleagues or bosses.
You should email them, call them or even ask them out for a coffee. What you need to do is tell them about specifics of your job search in terms of industry and location and they will let you know if they can connect you with something. Don’t forget to follow up and go to networking events and where you can get the word out that you are looking for work.
10. Take a course
Just like training and certification, you should take a class and be good to yourself and stay sharp. When it comes to being between jobs, it can be easy to forget this option as most courses cost money. Choose among several free educational tools online. Also, keep your brain sharp that you can stay focused and may even help you find a more relevant job with the skills that you develop.
In times when unemployment is high, then you should do things to better yourself and gain new skills and find plenty of free ways to get ahead. Don’t forget to take time for yourself and wonder why it keeps you productive in your job hunt. Though this may seem like a challenge, this gives you the extra time to better yourself and grow to be more qualified for a new job that may interest you.
Register for work
- You should register with the State Employment Service for work and they will help you find a job.
- In case the job offers are limited then you can get the assistance of the Employment Service to help you with tests and counseling
- If there is a reason to believe that you need special needs and consideration then the staff will refer you to institutions that will help you.
Put on a Brave Face
When you’re between jobs, you should also review if you are eligible for benefits. This can be done by using the unemployment tools. The first is to Check Eligibility and see if you can be assessed for unemployment benefits. The second is by using the Benefits Calculator to determine how much you are due in terms of benefits from the state and finally to figure out when this payment starts, you need to connect with the Base Period Calculator to know the base period when you received the highest salary.
The most important thing is time is to stay calm and upskill if necessary. You are in control and you should do whatever it takes to remain positive and never let the current state dishearten you or shatter your confidence. So don’t let this discourage you as you take steps in the right direction. The best thing that you can do is update your resume, wake up early, stay focused on the job search, learn new skills and network. Also, your friends and family will go out of their way to help you if you are looking for a new job. Just stay positive and look out for the silver lining!
There’s a lot of upheavals taking place in the organization and a round of layoffs have been happening. Decide if you need to quit your job or if you should leave your job.
Your workload is shrinking and other people’s positions are being slashed. You feel you’re being excluded from meetings and that you might just be the next in line to get the pink slip.
You’re faced with a question, “Should you quit your job on your own terms or wait for the company to decide your fate?”
Each of the situations has its own advantages. But as an employee, you need to draw the fine line between staying loyal to your current company and making the wise decision to move on
Advantages of Quitting Your Job
In some situations, quitting your job willingly can be beneficial as it helps you approach an interview with more confidence. Candidates who get laid off tend to lack confidence when they attend interviews, even though the reason due to which they were let go is usually not their fault.
Interviewers have the habit of asking the interviewing candidate their reason for leaving the previous job. This question is almost always asked regardless of the position to be filled.
When a candidate leaves a job voluntarily as against being laid off, it becomes easier to take on this question and answer it. Candidates find it easier to say that they took a conscious decision to quit their job and move on rather than having to admit they were let go of even if it was without a cause.
Speaking along these lines, quitting your job voluntarily makes it a smoother emotional transition between jobs. The fact that one gets to make their own decisions and has not been handed over their fate, makes them feel like they’re in control of the situation.
This helps the person feel empowered during their job hunt instead of feeling the desperation that could be accompanied by losing a job.
By quitting your job, you could be saving your current company from the difficult task of firing you and also save on unemployment benefits. You could also probably negotiate a notice period that gives you sufficient time to look out for other opportunities.
Maybe you can even ask for a viable recommendation or two. Mention it to your employer that you will continue to maintain a positive attitude with the company until your last day.
Advantages of Getting Laid Off
From what we have weighed so far, quitting your job seems to have quite a few benefits when compared to anxiously awaiting a layoff.
Quitting a job, however, makes you miss out on certain benefits that come with being laid off.
What are the benefits you gain when you are laid off?
- Severance pay
- Unemployment benefits
- Health insurance through COBRA
- Compensation for the remaining vacation days
- Possible deferred compensation like retirement plans, stock options, pension.
Your unemployment checks will not completely replace your paychecks. Nonetheless, if you’re a middle or low earner it could help you pay your bills until you find alternate employment.
In most states, one can draw unemployment benefits up to 26 weeks. In Massachusetts, unemployment benefits could amount to as much as $1,103 and extend up to 30 weeks.
Check the maximum weekly benefits in your state. So if finances are a concern to you, it might just pay off to wait until you get laid off.
The financial support that accompanies a layoff relieves you from the burden of paying bills and staying afloat. It also gives you time to look for the right job.
If you are stressed out about money, it’s likely that you will jump towards the first offer that comes your way. A little financial support to help you sustain, you can take a little time to search for jobs and also approach the situation from a more level-headed outlook.
To Quit or Not to Quit
Making a decision about whether waiting to get laid off or quit before the situation arises can be a tough decision. Here are some reasons to stay on in the job and also situations in which you should probably quit before you are handed over the pink slip.
Read on to help yourself make a composed decision and not a hasty one:
Reasons to Stay on the Job
A few good reasons for you to continue with the company are:
- Candidates tend to be more confident while networking and interviewing when they are still employed
- It is relatively easier to get hired while you still have a job than when you are out of work
- You could probably start applying for jobs while you’re still working so that you can avoid the question about why you quit or having to tell your interviewer that you were laid off
Situations in which You Should Consider Leaving
Employees tend to get a little too comfortable in their positions and build emotional bonds with their companies. This is especially common in situations where the employee enjoys their job.
Such employees tend to stick on to the company even when the company is sinking instead of looking out for other jobs. Another reason for employees not to begin their job search is laziness.
The second situation in which you should consider leaving is if the job is affecting your mental health in a negative way. If the stress and anxiety of getting laid off are affecting your work life, your everyday activity or your confidence, quitting could help you.
You could put down your papers and try to negotiate for a sufficient notice period and start your job search at the same time. The one disadvantage that you need to be prepared for though is that they may ask you to leave immediately without serving a notice period.
How to Prepare?
The feeling of not being in control of the situation can always be stressful, but preparation can make things easier. Update your resume and start applying.
The best case scenario would be that you’ll get a job offer soon after you put down your papers. In the worst case scenario, you could be let go.
But hey, you’ll be prepared for it as you would have already updated your resume and begun the job search. Then there’s always the severance pay and unemployment benefits to look forward to.
If you haven’t attended an interview in a long, here are some interview tips that you could use to brush up on your interview skills. Browse through our site and view the unemployment benefits for different states.
If you have any questions regarding the unemployment situation, you can visit our Community Forums to get quick answers to your queries. Communicate with experts in the field and interact with people in similar situations and get answers to all your queries.
Since the 1960s, the federal laws have banned states from drug testing jobless people that apply for benefits. But after the recent legislation, Republicans now want all states to institute tests for benefits.
Currently, $1.6 million has been spent on drug testing jobless people that apply for unemployment benefits. Also, over $2 million was spent in the last two years alone. This money could have been spent to expand welfare benefits or drug treatment programs.
You should know that employers are not legally required to test you for drugs. This is either at the time when you apply for a job or when you are working at the company. There are restrictions when or why employers can test you or if your boss has a reasonable suspicion.
This could be if they had a reasonable suspicion if there was a workplace incident. Also, if there were reliable witnesses of drug use or if you have agreed to be tested.
Testing Based on States
If you fail a drug test then the state decides whether you qualify for unemployment benefits. You would have to forgo your employment benefits if you do not pass a simple state-sponsored drug test.
In the State of Pennsylvania, if you fail or refuse a drug test then you will lose your benefits. State laws require you to get another job before you reapply. Wages are a minimum of six times greater than the weekly benefits. Unlike other states, you can regain benefits after a legally mandated waiting period.
In 2012, Congress passed a bill that enables states to drug-test any fired unemployment applicant. Mississippi passed a law to cut off benefits to those that fail drug tests.
If you are a resident of Connecticut, then your employer can test you if the safety of the job is important. For instance, if you are a forklift operator and if there is a reasonable suspicion that you are using drugs then there would be a test, a follow-up test and then you would be terminated. But, if you have a case then you can file a case in court or file a complaint with the state labor department.
Recent Ruling at Congress
The Trump Administration has been working hard to bring back and broaden the rule that was struck down last year in Congress which required drug testing for unemployment benefits.
With the Congressional Review Act (CRA), Republicans had repealed the Obama rule that limited the ability of states to drug test people that applied for unemployment pay.
While the Republicans felt that the 2016 rule was narrow and not far-sighted because it did not allow states to drug test people whose occupations needed it. This category referred to those employees that worked as airplane pilots, flight crews and air traffic controllers for commercial and public transit drivers and especially those that required carrying a firearm on their person.
While the Labor Department signaled its plans to issue broader rules, it will have to redefine the type of occupations that require a drug test. This would mean that there are a set of jobs that would have to ensure that one of the conditions of the requisites of the job involves drug testing.
The Labor Department warned that there would be a regulatory agenda where a semiannual roadmap for an administration’s rulemaking plans. After the repeal of 2016, states no longer have the authority to drug test unemployment compensation applicants.
Earlier, they could get suitable work based availability in occupations that conduct regular drug tests for unlawful use of controlled substances.
Regarding the issue of notice of proposed rulemaking, the Labour Department said, “It will identify the occupations that regularly conduct drug testing.” There are several liberal advocates are not happy with the prospect of a new rule that provides the administration’s move which could set an important precedent.
Here this allows you to issue regulations that provide action that is repealed under the CRA. Explaining this, George Wentworth, Senior Counsel of the National Employment Law Project explained that the 2016 rule focused on jobs that conduct random drug screenings and not those that test as a condition of pre-employment.
Currently, there are 13 states across the United States that have instituted specific regimes. So far, these experiences have proven expensive to administer year after year.
Despite this, the number of positive test results is extremely low. In 2016, out of nearly 250,000 applicants, there were only 369 that tested positive in four states and similarly zero tested positive for illegal drug use.
States that had positive results ranged from a low of 0.07 percent of all applicants to a high of 2.14 percent and rates far below the nearly 10 percent drug use rate which would fall under the general population.
All in all only three states have come forward and implemented drug tests across their jurisdictions. These states include Texas, Mississippi, and Wisconsin that have passed laws that allow employers and the state to allow drug testing for their unemployment insurance programs.
Drug Testing Policy – What You Need to Know
What are Drug Testing Policies?
There are several policies that start out by expressing the positive terms that are needed for safety at the workplace and adherence to the job and work quality. This includes improving safety and productivity and explaining violations, employee coverage, disciplinary measures, and rehabilitation.
Based on drug and alcohol policies, you should allow employees to have a written copy of these policies. Employers usually make signing these policies as a condition to be hired.
As part of the overall policy manual, all employees should sign separate forms for search and testing policies.
What if you refuse to sign the policy?
You cannot be fired if you refuse to sign an acknowledgment of the policy. But this should not be done until and unless you are warned. This should be done in writing or witnessed by others that refuse to sign.
An alternative approach that is used is by holding a mandatory staff meeting and employees are forced to sign an attendance register or face a disciplinary action for absence.
Though they might distribute the new drug-testing policy, discuss and distribute the policy in front of witnesses. You can choose to refuse to sign on the acknowledgment form. The only issue is that your employer can use this to their advantage and ensure that you are aware of the policy.
How is discipline or rehabilitation conducted?
Most companies notify employees that testing positive for drugs or alcohol will result in immediate termination. Some companies allow a chance for rehabilitation and a return to work under probationary conditions. But this type of second chance is not required under Texas or federal law.
A worker is allowed to return to work after a positive test result. This is generally under a “last chance” agreement. This provides for monthly random tests, a year’s probation, and immediate termination for any subsequent positive test result.
How Are Searches Done?
While some companies have incorporated these searches in their policies and part of the drug testing policies, there are several provisions that you should review and you should understand the sample drug-testing policy. This is based on the type of search and how the test is administered.
What are the Pre-employment Drug Testing?
Pre-employment drug testing is done by a few employers for some applicants. This is not regarded by the ADA as a medical examination.
This can be done at any point of the selection process and due to cost issues. Companies would restrict testing to final candidates only. On the issue of who pays for the test, most companies assume the burden. But, there is no specific law in Texas or Federal Law.
A Pre-employment drug test would discourage minority applicants. These are works that effectively result in less than minimum wages for an employee’s first paycheck.
It would be best to let doubtful cases be reviewed by employment law counsel prior to such testing. These tests would have to be kept confidential and all medical records should be maintained under the ADA.
Applying For Unemployment Claims
If you are filing your unemployment claims then you should know how to apply in your respective state by selecting your state from the Benefits by State option. Once you select your state, you can determine how to connect with Unemployment Office.
You will then have to learn how to submit your claim and understand your eligibility and what you stand to gain with the Benefits Calculator.
You can also connect with the File Unemployment Community and get your questions answered in this forum. Make the most of your unemployment claims and connect with your Unemployment to help you find your next job!
The best way to understand yourself personally and professionally is if you review your work and contemplate your job or determine if you need a career change. This is a time to reflect on your past experience and to think about what direction and goals you should work on and determine where you would want to grow in the future.
There are several jobs in the market and plenty of opportunities. You need to shift gears and know that you are not alone in this aspect. Most people change their job 10 to 15 times at most in their work life and this means that you do not have to stay on a particular career path that is not what you favor and right for you. Today, there are several jobs lost to Artificial Intelligence.
Many reasons suggest that this is practical and that you should be thinking about a career path that is straightforward and gives you clarity. In this manner, you should look forward to working hard and enjoying a rewarding career.
Activities to Boost Career Goals
Here are some activities to help you to establish new career goals:
List Your Skills
It’s important to make a list of all your skills and review your work in terms of volunteering, extracurricular and academic and fill these elements with things that you did in your past and what you enjoy and adds a spark of life to your otherwise mundane day.
You should make an inventory of skills that you enjoy working on and list different types of jobs and skills. This way you can develop a preferred set of skills where you can understand what works in your favor in terms of activities and skills that you can utilize in your career.
Participate in Career Research
Read through careers that interest you and review work that you find stimulating by looking through magazines, books, and websites. Make sure that you identify two new careers to research and review every week and keep a diary and makes notes of each type of job.
Look to measure skills in your career and list them based on preference. In this manner, you can field those that have a genuine appeal and compile a list of questions that you should research on and appraise suitably for the career that you opt for.
Review Friends Jobs
Stay curious and learn what your friends work on by looking at their social network information and reviewing online work and publications. Understand the role of teammates, suppliers, clients and whether you are a good fit. Know what workers expect from employers and what you should commit to.
You should spend time on interviewing, asking them about work and brainstorming with them on career options and considering what they do in their particular sector. You should take time to connect with your contacts for possible introductions to people they know and the fields that interest you and how they can get a meeting set up on your behalf.
Engage in a Job Shadow
Learn how to set up a job shadowing approach where the opportunities with contacts in the fields of interest can let you learn about a certain job role. During your vacation time, you can get an exposure to the field and learn about things that you would have to face in a few years and what you would do if you were in his shoes.
Gain Experience With Volunteering
You should find places to look out for volunteering positions in your field. This way, you can help consider social work and help out at a shelter. In time, you can determine if you should stay in school, work out of the home, be unemployed or consider a part-time or full-time job after your internship in that specific field.
Education
You can work on interesting options to further your education. This can be done by boosting your career skills and reviewing offerings of colleges or courses by local community colleges. You can enroll in an adult education center to understand your field of interest.
Also, connect and schedule meetings with different departments to learn about how programs work. You can complete your degree, mid-way in your degree and make this option viable with the right support from your family and loved ones.
Connect With Your College
Visit your alma mater and request for help or get assistance with the career counselor. There are several people that focus on their studies or soul searching but you can actively engage with career resources and working people.
Distinguish Between Short and Long Term Goals
When it comes to defining goals, it can be broadly classified into short and long-term goals. These short-term goals can be accomplished anywhere within six months to three years and long-term goals take three to five years.
There are times that you can reach a short-term goal in less than three months and long terms goals could take more time. But in order to accomplish this long-term goal, you should complete a series of short-term goals.
For instance, it would mean that you should first graduate college then complete an internship and then work on certain certificates. Those could be long-term goals. While short-term goals can be reached based on how you can start working on them like excelling at an exam and completing applications. But, you should know that you can further break down short-term goals further.
Ways to Help You Reach Your Goals
It can be difficult to define your goals and how you would go about achieving them. To make this happen, you should work hard towards making this a massive role in your success. You can do this by formulating your goals and finding what difficulties are there in reaching them. Ensure that you meet these criteria:
1. Specific Goals
Ensure that your goals should be definite and specific in order to be successful. You need to define success and what it means to you and what it takes to reach those goals.
2. Measure Outcome of Goals
Whenever these goals are set, you should always include a time frame needed in achieving these set goals.
3. Stay Positive
Avoid anything that stands in the way of your goals and it should be something that you want.
4. Keep Goals Realistic
Make all long-term goals compatible with your skills and abilities. This means that you should be able to perform and work hard towards achieving it and it should not be superficial.
5. Set a Goal Time Frame
Is your goal reachable within your time frame? You should ascertain not to set yourself up to fail. This means that you should have one big goal and then you should break it down into several smaller short-term goals. Look to better what you do with baby steps instead of going for a giant leap.
6. Fix an Action For Every Goal
You should ensure that you work hard for your goals by honoring it with certain skills. This will take hard work and time and you should do certain actions in order to achieve the desired results.
7. Make Goals Flexible
There are times when you will encounter barriers and this can threaten your progress. You should not give up but instead, you should modify your goals. You should continue working and studying, if needed, to make sure that you reach your desired goal. But, in case you find that it is unimportant then you should pursue other goals and channelize your energy on other objectives.
These tips are sure to help you reach your professional goals and help you make ripples in everything that you work towards. This can help you shape your work and determine if you can set particular goals based on time, flexibility and the type of action required to boost your skills.
These activities and benchmark criteria should help you deliver your career goals. You would have to change your career goals based on the time and other aspects.
It’s a great time to be in the job market. America has the lowest unemployment rate at 4.1 percent which is the lowest its been in 17 years. There is a 4 percent increase in hires since the previous graduating class.
For job seekers, there is a good chance of feeling optimistic. Job creation was a whole 6 percent lower in 2017 than the previous year. There is a likelihood that this would improve in the current fiscal year. Currently, the Bureau of Labor Statistics suggests that unemployment will stabilize at 4.1 percent and the National Association of Colleges and Employers looks to hire more than earlier years.
WalletHub did a study on 182 cities that included 150 highly populated cities across the US. These states were determined based on two key dimensions such as Job Market and Socio-economics. There is a higher weight for the Job Market category and these include factors that influence the job seeker’s decision in terms of relocation for employment purposes.
To determine the top cities, a metric was based on a 100-point scale which scored based on which were the most favorable conditions for job seekers from all cities. The cities were then weighed based on average across all metrics to figure out the final score and in order to help rank the cities.
US cities are based on 26 metrics which includes employment growth, median salary, job opportunities, unemployment rate, commute time, average work rate, housing cost and access to internships. These metrics fall into two key dimensions which include job market and socioeconomic environment. With a greater weight based on different assigned metrics which are under the job market category.
20 Top Cities To Find Your Dream Job
Ranking for cities was based as follows:
Job Market
- Job Opportunities
- Employment Growth
- Monthly Average Starting Salary
- Unemployment Rate
- Underemployment Rate
- Industry Variety
- Employment Outlook
- Job Security
- Job Satisfaction
- Retirement Access & Participation
- Access to Employee Benefits
- Presence of Work-Share Programs
- Full-Time Employment
- Access to Internships
- Apprentice-Trainee Jobs as Share of Total Jobs Posted on Glassdoor.com
- Share of Workers in Poverty
- Disability-Friendliness of Employers
Socioeconomics
- Median Annual Income
- Average Work & Commute Time
- Transit Accessibility of Workplace
- Housing Affordability
- Annual Transportation Costs
- Safety
- Family-Friendliness
- Dating-Friendliness
- Recreation-Friendliness
Table of Ranking Scores
| Rank |
City |
Total score |
Job Market Rank |
Socioeconomic rank |
| 1 |
Chandler, Arizona |
67.66 |
3 |
9 |
| 2 |
Scottsdale, Arizona |
66.29 |
5 |
3 |
| 3 |
San Francisco, California |
66.06 |
2 |
43 |
| 4 |
Peoria, Arizona |
65.86 |
1 |
56 |
| 5 |
Gilbert, Arizona |
65.35 |
4 |
34 |
| 6 |
Plano, Texas |
64.69 |
6 |
16 |
| 7 |
Portland, Maine |
63.06 |
10 |
12 |
| 8 |
Irvine, California |
62.86 |
11 |
13 |
| 9 |
Madison, Wisconsin |
62.44 |
21 |
1 |
| 10 |
Boston, Massachusetts |
62.37 |
7 |
42 |
| 11 |
Austin, Texas |
62.29 |
12 |
25 |
| 12 |
Fargo, North Dakota |
62.10 |
14 |
18 |
| 13 |
Orlando, Florida |
61.98 |
9 |
36 |
| 14 |
Bismarck, North Dakota |
61.61 |
13 |
39 |
| 15 |
Columbia, Maryland |
61.28 |
30 |
4 |
| 16 |
Tampa, Florida |
60.78 |
18 |
22 |
| 17 |
Seattle, Washington |
60.70 |
28 |
11 |
| 18 |
Salt Lake City, Utah |
60.65 |
17 |
28 |
| 19 |
Fremont, California |
60.04 |
15 |
66 |
| 20 |
Tempe, Arizona |
59.79 |
32 |
15 |
From the table, you can find that Chandler in Arizona tops the list and this is based on its high scores in the market and the favorable socioeconomic conditions for its workers. In Chandler the largest employers are Intel. There are four other cities in the top 10 which includes Scottsdale, Peoria, and Gilbert. A major reason for this is the booming healthcare industry and the rise in the elderly population in the region. The highest ranking city which is outside Arizona is San Francisco. Even though it is 43rd for its expensive socioeconomic environment, the city by the bay area has a thriving job market that helped boost it to the top of the list.
You will also notice that some of the major towns are in Florida, Franklin, Tennessee, and Texas while the others are in Central Florida like Tampa and Orlando. Apart from being a vacation destination, Orlando has been attracting more technology-based businesses and has several job roles in aerospace, aviation, and the defense industry. There are also modeling and simulation, interactive entertainment, microelectronics and digital media. Also, you can find healthcare, life sciences, and medical care technologies.
Take Advantage of the Boom Period
Despite the hurricanes that hit the coastline in 2017, it worked as a major factor that would affect Florida’s boomtown in the coming years. This is the huge influx of people from Puerto Rico based on the impact of the hurricane that destroyed much of the region. There is also a slow recovery in this region. More people coming into the market could push the prices of homes up and this will raise the unemployment rate higher to a certain degree. There are more than 250,000 people that arrived in Florida from Puerto Rico between October and December of 2017.
Look For Jobs in a Boomtown
The most important thing to do in this period is to look for opportunities in a boomtown. Take it up as a challenge and be prepared to make tasks and tips by putting effective strategies together to make things work in your favor. Moreover, to get your job, you should:
- Read and research about the region of interest to come across opportunities that you could be a good fit. Review websites, job listings and learn how actively is the company growing and what positions you could consider filing for
- Take your pick of the boomtowns and consider all parameters that would help you gauge better if another town would be more suitable for the future. As a newcomer, you should look for areas of interest and the growing industries of interest and where they are hiring and which companies you should approach
- Make sure that your resume is updated and that it is professional in every way possible. There should not be amateur phrases like ‘references available upon request.’ Also, ensure that you talk about your achievements and how you made a difference in terms of figures in one year. Therefore, you should add keywords as a lot of employers use automation to look through the millions of resumes that could help you be a good match and step forward to landing the job
Avail of your unemployment if you are willing to work and haven’t found work or between jobs. But, before you do so, you should check to determine your unemployment eligibility, what are kinds of benefits you could receive with the benefits calculator and calculate the base period too. Stay up to date with your skills and constantly work towards finding employment. Most of all, there’s no better time than now to be applying for work in the job market!
Just like that two months have flown by and you should start 2018 as a year full of untold possibilities. You need to make this year exciting enough to make tough decisions that could have a positive effect on your job.
Does this make you part of the 40 percent of Americans that want to really make their resolution count? Well, you could be among the 8 percent that does keep their resolutions but unfortunately most us of us seem to find that we’re nowhere close to those plans. Well, if you haven’t been able to meet those goals in the past then 2018 is the year that you should push hard to succeed and work hard to make some important career decisions.
Similarly, you need to step out of your comfort zone, reskill or upskill to stay relevant and make tough decisions that determine the future of your job. What is really important is to review methods to take advantage of these possibilities and make the most of it.
Planning Your Career in 2018
These pointers should help you review if you are making the right decisions and plans to further your career in 2018 and make an impact:
-
Recruitment
With thousands of jobs available in the market, you need to determine the right mix and match of skills to be able to fill the opening for your dream job. Local companies have a lot of variety when it comes to choosing from when looking workers. Most companies would list job postings, have recruitment drives and job fairs and provide assistance to several companies that are looking for qualified candidates. You can either apply through recruitment firms or directly with the company. Also, you should know that there are staffing agencies that perform recruitment and selection processes for organizations. They usually do not have time, resources and expertise to manage employment processes and assist job seekers.
-
Training
There are several companies that spend on Workforce training through training grants to continuously train employees. There is a specific fund set up to assist with training for thousands of employees across the US. There is an option to help with reducing payroll costs, design on-the-job and maintain a valued workforce.
You should make it a point to learn from the best and work with a mentor. Determine who makes you enjoy and helps you excel in your work. Can you learn from them? Do these people have a certain amount of positive energy? This infectious energy can help better your career if you let that energy rub off on you.
-
New Job
Make the choice to find a career-related resolution. Whether it is to look for a new job, promotion, or venture on your own and start your own business. What you need to do if to get your resume ready and send it out to all the recruitment websites and write a cover letter for each one and for each position that you are applying for.
You should enroll on Linkedin and stay in touch with the business community and have your profile updated and professional. Connect with your friends, family, neighbors, and well-wishers to put yourself out there. Also, attend events, meetups, and mixers. What you should know is that nearly 70% of all jobs come through networking. Don’t forget to search on job boards, apply for positions online and respond to potential opportunities that come your way. Relevant searches on company pages, on search engines and applying through the company pages, should be able to help.
Look through all the aspects of the job and figure out what you like the most. By doing this, you can do what you find more to your liking. You should find that the project that you are engrossed in, is energizing and not draining. At times, you may seem to like certain tasks unlike coworkers that dislike it and then by understanding this, you have a win-win situation for yourself.
-
Define Your Work Traits
Think of it as if you had to write a statement that covers your entire career and encompass you, what would you write professionally and personally? You should take some time to clarify what is your unique career signature and use this statement as a guiding statement to determine who you should be and what you should become. You should recognize what is in and not in your control. By doing this, you can write down things like what stresses you at work and circle things that you can control and cross out those you cannot. Find ways to make solutions to redirect your energy to these problems that you should try to change. Take strides to work on a job that is above your current position. By doing so, you can offer to take on certain roles and responsibilities of a position above you and become familiar with the role and helps you be the obvious choice for the promotion in future.
-
Workforce Predictions
Every year, we tend to not review workforce trends and once we do, we can look at the bigger picture. This helps you get an idea as to whether the market is hiring or not and how effectively we can use these conditions and make better choices. These are usually economic conditions and indicators that provide a positive outlook for the economy every year. In terms of the situation, this will help you determine what are the salaries offered and whether there is a tendency to increase and for employers to invest more in advertising, benefits, training and staffing needs.
There are people that look to upskilling and retaining employees by making programs that focus on financial and wellness to prevent burnout and open more cultural awareness and diversity programs. Therefore, you need to find a new job only when the conditions are right and look at efforts to grow your team or create learning programs to assist your efforts. You should take advantage of these opportunities and make the most of it. In time, you should accomplish projects and tasks that you can pull up in your resume. Make sure that you select new projects and those that you can benefit from and what you can do to help quantify your results in terms of your work. You should add these accomplishments in your resume and update it regularly. At work, you should cultivate a habit of making friends with your coworkers that can understand you and appreciate life. You should take time to develop a friendship and build relationships with them. This way you can benefit personally and professionally when you invest time in them and get to know them.
Look at the bigger picture and have an overall vision of what your professional life should be. There are small daily steps or tiny pictures that put together make the bigger picture and get you there. When you take a small goal and join a professional organization and find a mentor, you should be on your way to accomplishing these goals in the near future. Make sure this is part of your resolution and work towards it by putting some genuine effort behind this.
Most importantly, you should review if you are on the right path and doing what you truly love. Does what you think you should be doing come in the way of what you are currently working on? Well if none of these suggestions work for you and you need to take time to align your career, then do just that. Your personal interests, traits, natural abilities will help you assess your career better and help you determine your priorities.
May this year help you choose the best career option that best suits you and give you the job that you are working hard to be a part of. The possibilities are limitless, it’s only time and hard work that will work in your favor and help you truly succeed in everything that you put your mind to.
On this note, if you should know what to do when you quit your job voluntarily, and what to consider when you sign a job offer. Similarly, if you are looking to start your career then you need to make tough choices when you find your first job, and that you must read the job offer before signing your contract. May this year be filled with opportunities and success!
