Nuts & Bolts of Unemployment

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Nuts & Bolts of Unemployment

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Nuts & Bolts of Unemployment. The Unemployment Safety Net. Yes, it can be scary. But, it’s not the end of the world!. Unemployment Insurance. Unemployment compensation (or unemployment insurance - UI) is a way of receiving monetary income even after losing your job. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Transcript of Nuts & Bolts of Unemployment

Page 1: Nuts & Bolts of Unemployment

Nuts & Bolts of Unemployment

Page 2: Nuts & Bolts of Unemployment

The Unemployment Safety Net

Yes, it can be scary.

But, it’s not the end of the world!

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Unemployment Insurance

Unemployment compensation (or unemployment insurance - UI) is a way of receiving monetary income even after losing your job.

All states have a UI program.

Taking advantage of UI is a great way to stay on your feet while searching for a job. You won’t have as much income as you did while working, but it will help you get by in the interim.

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How Much Does Unemployment Insurance Pay?

The amount you will receive is usually based on how much you earned while most recently employed.

You will typically receive a weekly payment for half a year (26 weeks) as long as you remain eligible.

The amount varies by state and in the District of Columbia and is usually determined by a formula using amounts based on previous wages.

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Who Can File An Unemployment Claim?

Many states have restrictions on the kinds of job loss that unemployment insurance protects against.

Workers who quit voluntarily without showing cause, or who are fired from their job for misconduct, for example, may not be eligible for full benefits (or, in some cases, any benefits at all).

In addition, some states require that you register in a state job-search database in order to receive your compensation.

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Unemployment Insurance Resources to Get You Back in the Game.

Democratic GAIN forTips on surviving unemployment &

State-by-state UI links and info

https://www.democraticgain.org/?page=unemploymentbenefits

New Mexico’s department of labor website for:

information on training events,

job search advice, & online UI filing

https://www.jobs.state.nm.us/gsipub/index.asp?docid=22

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What About Your Health Insurance?

Continuing some kind of health coverage is a must! As a newly unemployed person, you’ll have up to

THREE options for health insurance before you find your next job:

COBRA

Individual Health Insurance

Your Parent’s Plan*

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Option 1: COBRA

COBRA provides temporary continuation of group health coverage at group rates to certain former employees, retirees, spouses, former spouses, and dependent children.

This coverage is only available when coverage is lost due to certain specific events – like termination of employment.

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How Much Does COBRA Cost? Group health coverage for COBRA participants is

usually more expensive than health coverage for active employees, since usually the employer pays a part of the premium for active employees while COBRA participants generally pay the entire premium themselves.

Depending on the size of your group, employer contribution, and covered benefits, COBRA coverage can be more expensive than individual health coverage.

COBRA is normally paid one month at a time – so you can sign up for COBRA while you figure out all of your options.

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How Do You Become Eligible for COBRA?

To be eligible for COBRA coverage, you must have been enrolled in your employer's health plan when you worked and the health plan must continue to be in effect for active employees.

COBRA continuation coverage is available upon the occurrence of a qualifying event that would, except for the COBRA continuation coverage, cause an individual to lose his or her health care coverage.

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How Do You Elect COBRA Coverage?

1. Your employer must notify plan administrators of your termination/reduced hours of employment within 30 days.

2. You generally must be sent an election notice not later than 14 days after the plan administrator receives this notice.

3. You then have 60 days to decide whether to elect COBRA continuation coverage. The person has 45 days after electing coverage to pay the initial premium.

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Option 2: Individual Health Insurance

New Mexico State Health Exchange

New Mexico Health Connections http://www.mynmhc.org/

Open Enrollment for 2015 begins November 15, 2014

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Option 2: Individual Health Insurance

Depending on your circumstances, individual health insurance can be less expensive than COBRA.

The best way to determine your costs and compare benefits available is by working with an insurance broker.

Democratic GAIN offers members access to individual health insurance support. Compare rates and benefits, determine if individual vs. COBRA is right for you, and find the best plan to suit your needs!

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Navigating the Individual Health Insurance Market

Getting your insurance quotes through Democratic GAIN’s member portal is a quick & easy process:

Open an inquiry through our member portal at www.DemocraticGAIN.org

You’ll receive a response in 24 hours with follow up questions

You’ll have quotes from 3-5 different plans within 3-5 days (often sooner)

Our insurance broker will help you navigate these options and choose the plan that best meets your needs

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Option 3: Your Parent’s Plan*

Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, if you are under 26 you are still eligible for coverage as a dependent on your parent’s health insurance plan

Same Benefits/Same Price. If you are under 26, you are eligible for ALL of the

dependent benefits the plan offers. You cannot be required to pay more than other

dependents!

Visit https://www.healthcare.gov/young-adults/coverage/ for more information

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How Do You Get On Your Parent’s Plan?

You can join or remain on your parent’s plan even if you are:

marriednot living with your parentsattending schoolnot financially dependent on your parentseligible to enroll in their employer’s plan

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Healthcare.gov

Resources to Protect Your Health Coverage.

US Department of Labor website for: FAQ to answer all of your questions!

A full Guide to Health Benefits Under COBRA

www.dol.gov/ebsa/COBRA.html

www.DemocraticGAIN.org/GAINPlanResources

All of these resources and more can be found on Democratic GAIN’s GAIN Plan

Resource Page:

https://www.healthcare.gov/young-adults/coverage/

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The Job Search

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Finding a Job The professional association for

progressives providing training & support for individuals & organizations.

Join to GAIN access to all the benefits we offer, including: Job Board & Talent Bank Career Counseling & Resume

Resources Calendar of Trainings &

Networking Opportunities Join the free JobsThatAreLEFT

listserv for daily job updates!

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Before You Start Your Search… Evaluate:

What did I enjoy about my last job? What did I hate? What are my skills? What do I need in my next job?

• Financial requirements

• Schedule

• Location

• Benefits What do I want in my next job?

• More money

• Additional job responsibilities

• A promotion Where do I want to be in 5 years?

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Before You Start Your Search… Research:

What is the mission? Who is the leadership? What is the governing structure? Who makes decisions and how? What are the benefits? What does the position entail?

Prepare: Resume & Interview Skills

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Resume + Cover Letter

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Basic Resume Content1. CONTACT INFORMATION

Name, Address, Phone Number, Professional Email Address

2. EXPERIENCE

Highlights

Professional Experience

Education (Post High School only)

3. SKILLS

Additional Qualifications: Computer Skills, Language Skills, Research/Writing Experiences, Training/Public Speaking Skills

Trainings: NOI, PCCC, Mid-West Academy, EMILY’s List, etc.

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You Should…

Tailor your resume to the position/organization

Keep it short

1 page (10 years work experience or less)

2 pages (10-20 years work experience)

3 pages (20+ years work experience)

List job title, employer, dates worked & location

Fact check yourself

Keep it clean, concise and reflective of your

experience

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Best Practices

Highlight accomplishments vs. tasks you performed

Use action verbs to describe responsibilities & experience Wrote, managed, researched, directed,

oversaw, coordinated, produced, increased, implemented

Use numbers to quantify experience “Managed a team of 3 interns and more than

20 volunteers over a three week period.” “Directed GOTV effort and increased turnout by

15% over previous election year”

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Getting it Out There Send as a PDF

Address to a specific person at the organization, if possible

Include a cover letter

Make sure all of your documents match

Name the files appropriately!

Good Examples:Smith_John Resume.pdf John Smith Resume.pdf

Bad Examples:My resume.doc

Political resume.pdf Resume12.doc

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Writing A Cover Letter

Begin by addressing to someone specific.

Find out who will read your letter. If you don’t know, use “To Whom It May Concern.”

Then, three Sections:

1. Express interest, specify the job you’re applying for and describe how you heard about the job.

2. Provide professional highlights that are relevant to the specific job. Don’t repeat your resume!

3. Explain why you’re interested in this specific job and why you’re the best fit.

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Application Package

Be consistent across all your documents.

Read the requirements before submitting application package. Make sure you follow all instructions carefully.

Double check your files on more than one system to catch any formatting errors.

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Networking

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The Value of Networking

YOUR RESUME

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How to Network• Build YOUR Network

Set up a LinkedIn account

• Make sure it matches your resume

Make a list of who is in your network and begin connecting

• Former supervisors, coworkers, employees, people you’ve met at events/meetings, friends

Keep building

• Go to events that are relevant to your career interests.

• Always collect business cards

• Connect!

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Work the Network

• The “Meet Up”

Coffees, meetings, happy hours

Learn about the landscape, meet more people

• Informational Interviews

PREPARE!

• The “Check-In”

Stay on the radar

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Social Media

LinkedIn

Excellent way to keep track of and utilize your network

Use the connector tool

Request recommendations

Facebook

Be careful.

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Preparing for Interviews

Learn about the Organization

Mission statement, programs, activities, public image, etc.

Learn about the People Management, your network

Learn about the Job

Job description, your network, similar positions elsewhereKnow your questions

Substantive questions

Don’t ask about benefits, salary, hours, etc. on first interview Treat Informational

Interviews like REAL Interviews.

Because they are.

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Additional Resources

LISTSERVS:

EMILY’s List Tom Manatos JobsThatAreLEFT NOI

NETWORKS: LinkedIn Facebook Twitter

JOB BOARDS:

Idealist.org Unionjobs.com WorkForCongress.com Brad Traverse HillZoo.com The Hill Roll Call Politico DSCC DCCC DLCC

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How to Get the Right Job

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Lay of the Land

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Some of Your Options

Campaigns & Elections

All of the Above:Internationally

Issue Research & Advocacy

The Administration

The Hill

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Campaigns & ElectionsCandidate Campaigns

Party Committees

Consulting Firms

Labor Organizations

Progressive Ally Organizations

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Candidate

Kitchen Cabinet/Donors Campaign ManagerFinance

Director

Finance Assistants

Field

Director

Regional Field Directors

Field Organizers

Volunteer Coordinator

Volunteers

Administrative

Staff/

Scheduler

Administrative Assistants

Communications Director

Press

Secretary

Communications Staff

New

Media

Research DirectorResearch StaffTrackers

Consultants

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Consulting Firms

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Labor Organizations

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Progressive Allies

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The HillSenator /

Representative

Chief of Staff / Admin

Asst.

Legislative Director

Legislative Assistant

Legislative Corresponde

nt

Intern

Press Secretary

SchedulerStaff

Assistant

Intern

District Office(s)

Legislative Assistant

Legislative Corresponde

nt

Intern

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The Administration

Career Political Appointment

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Issue Research & Advocacy

Think Tanks

Public Advocacy

Issue Advocacy

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Think Tanks

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Public Advocacy

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Issue Advocacy

Environment and Climate

Good Government

Women’s Health

Human Rights

LGBT

Voting Rights

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International Work

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Democratic GAIN

The professional association for progressives providing training & support for individuals & organizations.

Join to GAIN access to all the benefits we offer, including: Job Board & Talent Bank Career Counseling & Resume Resources Calendar of Trainings & Networking

Opportunities Member Discounts

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Questions?

Learn more about what you can GAIN by joining us!

www.DemocraticGAIN.org

@DemocraticGAIN

www.facebook.com/DemocraticGAIN