In her article for ForbesWoman, Susannah Breslin shares her story, How I went from Downsized to Self-Employed in Four Months.
See an excerpt from Breslin’s article. Read Full Article
I was downsized in January.
Four months later, I was self-employed and earning almost as much as I had at my full-time salary.
Here’s how I did it.
Wall Street Journal article, College Grads Expand Lead in Job Security, Conor Dougherty shows the gap of unemployment rates between College and High School Graduates.
Below is an excerpt from Dougherty’s article. Read Full Article
Fifteen years after high school, the working lives of Tremell Sinclair and Phyllis Sellars have evolved very differently, largely because of a single decision.
Ms. Sellars went to college; Mr. Sinclair didn’t.
That decision has always shaped their economic prospects, but never more so than during the recent recession: Ms. Sellars kept her white-collar job, recently landing a pay raise, while Mr. Sinclair was laid off from his forklift driving job last year and only just found a new one—at a 46% lower salary.
The classmates illustrate a divide between the fortunes of Americans with college degrees and those without. It’s not only that the college educated earn more, but that they are far more likely to keep their jobs when times get tough.
By some measures, recession has exacerbated the divide. The unemployment rate for workers 25-and-older with a bachelor’s degree or higher was 4.6% in August, for example, compared with 10.3% for those with just a high-school diploma. That’s a 5.7-percentage-point gap, compared with a gap of only 2.6 percentage points in December 2007 when the recession began.
In the September 17, 2010 SimplyBlog article, Top 5 Reasons to Volunteer While Unemployed, the folks at Simply Hired explain how volunteer work can be beneficial as you look for a permanent position.
Below is an excerpt from the Simply Hired blog. Read full article here
Most people try to find full-time work after becoming unemployed. However, a job search can be a lengthy process which leaves many in a rut emotionally, physically, and professionally. A different approach involves finding a volunteer job. True, you won’t get paid. But there are many benefits to taking a volunteer opportunity while you’re looking for that full-time paid job.
Here are our Top 5 Reasons to Volunteer while Unemployed:
1. It’s fulfilling. Giving back to your community allows you to connect with those around you who are in need and work for a cause that you care about. Writing a donation check might not be an option right now, but you can still give your time.
2. Maintain camaraderie & stay active. Many people who find themselves with an extended “time off” miss getting out and interacting with a team. Volunteering gives you a place to go on a regular basis where you can work with others for a common cause.
3. Building skills or maintaining current ones. Volunteering can be a great way to learn new skills or maintain current skills if the opportunity is suited to your experience. Non-profits and other organizations that provide volunteer opportunities are often willing to train those who give their time. Picking up new skills will make you a more valuable employee.
In his Wall Street Journal article, Want Your Old Job?, Dennis Nishi explains what laid off workers should evaluate before asking for their old job back.
Below is an excerpt from Nishi’s article. Click here to read full article.
If you’ve been laid off and your former employer is hiring again, you might see the news as a chance to get back to work at your old firm. But first it’s important to consider whether it’s a good idea—and whether the skills you bring are what the company needs now.
The odds of getting an old job back are good if you were let go simply for budgetary reasons and the company outlook has been improving.
But before you get too excited about trying to return, do a self-assessment—and be honest. “Sometimes there is some selectivity in who is laid off,” says Jerald Jellison, a professor of social psychology at the University of Southern California who specializes in the workplace. He recommends asking yourself whether you created any bad feelings when you left or while you were working at the company. Was your work up to par? Was your role valued in better economic times?
You also should consider whether or not you feel a renewed commitment to the work you’d be doing, says Mr. Jellison. “I liken it to returning to an old flame. Is it really a good idea? Do you really want to be there?”
WSJ article, Making an Easy Re-Entry Into the Work Force*, Diana Middleton has helpful advice for job seekers returning to work after a layoff.
Middleton offers to following advice to ensure a smooth transition.
*Click link to read full article
