TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Know your rights in the event of a lay-off

ADVERTISEMENT

BY AMY DOMINELLO

MEDIA GENERAL NEWS SERVICE

Published: February 20, 2009

WASHINGTON - The economy is shrinking. The recession is deepening. And tens of thousands of people were laid off this week alone.

What should you do if you're one of them?

We asked career counselors and state employment officials for their best advice. Here's a step by step guide to surviving a layoff.

1. Know your rights and exit professionally

Get all the information you need from your current employer, said Allison Nawoj, a career advisor with CareerBuilder.com.

Ask: how much severance pay you are entitled to, whether you will be paid for vacation and sick days and how to file for unemployment benefits and extended health care.

Leave in a professional manner. You never know when you'll cross paths with former coworkers.

"Make sure not to do anything that could hurt you," Nawoj said.

2. Take a deep breath

"Take time to digest the change you are undergoing and time to pull together your stamina and your self-confidence," said Carter Hunter Hopkins, the director of Alumni Career Services at the University of Virginia.

Think about what to do next. Do you want to stay in your current career field, go back to school or strike out in a new direction?

"It could be an opportunity for people to find something they enjoy," said Phyllis Bickers, a career counselor at Auburn University's Career Development Services.

3. Apply for unemployment

During a mass layoff, employers often have state workers on-site to help fill out the necessary paperwork.

If not, make sure you file as soon as possible. Many state unemployment systems are overloaded. You don't want your payments to be delayed.

File online if your state allows. In most states you can also file over the phone or in state employment offices, but you'll find long waits for both.

State employment Web sites can be vital sources of information, such as telling you what paperwork you might need to file a claim. That can keep you from wasting time in line or on the phone.

The unemployment benefit you'll receive varies on your state and income. Also, a severance or buyout package can affect what you'll receive or when you qualify for unemployment benefits.

For example, in North Carolina your severance has to run out before unemployment kicks in. But in Virginia you may be eligible for some unemployment before your severance runs out.

How long you are able to receive assistance also varies by state. In many cases, benefits are being extended. Those who qualify for extensions are notified.

Be aware that to continue receiving unemployment, many states also require proof that you have been job-hunting.

4. Line up health care coverage

Determine how long your health care coverage will last and whether you want to participate in COBRA or purchase health insurance.

COBRA provides temporary coverage but is expensive. A typical family premium costs more than $1,000 a month.

5. Network like crazy

Sixty percent of jobs are found through networking, career counselors say, so let your personal and professional networks know you are job-hunting. Send your resume to them.

"Line up all of your contacts, personal and professional," Hopkins said. "Inform them of your plan to find a new position."

Make sure to join or retain memberships in professional organization and use online career networking sites, such as LinkedIn.

6. Polish your resume

Use your resume to define what you've done, not just where you've worked, career counselors say. Point out accomplishments and leadership roles both at work and in your personal life, such as through volunteering.

Look for resume examples online. Bickers urges job seekers to put together a portfolio of work. Not only is it something to show employers, she said, but it also helps you prepare for interviews by outlining some of your top accomplishments.

7. Start the search

To find job openings, scour every source available - the Internet, newspapers and your contacts.

Use state unemployment offices for searchable job banks, classes and career counseling. Those offices often have phones, faxes and computers you can use. Their staff can consult on jobs.

For every job you apply for, customize your resume and cover letter.

Find out what employers are looking for and brush up on necessary skills.

Make a personal connection whenever possible and write to a specific individual or go to the office and hand someone your resume. It's "a subtle dance" between being too pushy and being assertive, Hopkins said.

"But the squeaky wheel gets the oil," she said. "You have to stand out in this job market."

Also, seek help. Consider using a career counselor or your college's alumni career services. Check out credentials of career counselors. Use those that come highly recommended.

Consider moving.

"There might be a need for your skills in another part of the country," Bickers said.

Polish interview skills in front of a mirror or with family and friends.

Post your resume to career Web sites if you like, but don't expect much.

"It's a passive and inefficient tool," Hopkins said.

8. Try a temporary job

Often a temporary job can lead to permanent employment.

In many states, someone receiving unemployment may earn a certain amount of money before losing benefits. Check to make sure. Some states also decrease the amount of unemployment based on your earnings, but it varies case-by-case.

9. Take care of yourself

Be patient and keep in mind that it won't be easy. Careerbuilder.com's most recent survey showed it took job seekers an average of four months to find a job.

"It's going to take you longer than it has in the past," Nawoj said.

In the meantime, career counselors say you should take care of yourself.

Hopkins said job seekers should continue to stay focused and stick to their workout and sleep routines.

Don't take it out on your close family and friends and vent to outside sources, she said.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT