The Unemployment Safety Net Yes it can be scary But its not the end of the world Unemployment Insurance Unemployment compensation or unemployment insurance UI is a way of receiving monetary income ID: 776834
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Slide1
Nuts & Bolts of Unemployment
Slide2The Unemployment Safety Net
Yes, it can be scary.
But, it’s not the end of the world!
Slide3Unemployment 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.
Slide4How 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.
Slide5Who 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.
Slide6Unemployment Insurance Resources to Get You Back in the Game.
Democratic GAIN for
Tips on surviving unemployment &
State-by-state UI links and info
https://www.democraticgain.org/?page=unemploymentbenefits
Minnesota’s
department of labor website for:
information on training events,
job search advice, & online UI filing
https://www1.uimn.org/ui_applicant/applicant/login.do
Slide7What 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:
Slide8Option 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.
Slide9How 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.
Slide10How
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.
Slide11How
Do You Elect COBRA Coverage?
Your employer must notify plan administrators of your termination/reduced hours of employment
within 30 days
.
You generally must be sent an election notice
not later than 14 days
after the plan administrator receives this notice.
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.
Slide12Option 2:
Individual
Health Insurance
Minnesota
State
Health
Exchange
MNSure
https://www.mnsure.org/
Open Enrollment for 2015 begins November 15, 2014
Slide13Option 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!
Slide14Navigating
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
Slide15Option 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
Slide16How Do You Get On Your Parent’s Plan?
You can join or remain on your parent’s plan even if you are:
married
not living with your parents
attending school
not financially dependent on your parents
eligible to enroll in their employer’s plan
Slide17Healthcare.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/
Slide18The Job Search
Slide19Finding 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!
Slide20Before 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 moneyAdditional job responsibilitiesA promotion
Where do I want to be in 5 years?
Slide21Before 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
Slide22Resume +
Cover Letter
Slide23Basic Resume Content
CONTACT INFORMATION
Name, Address, Phone Number, Professional Email Address
EXPERIENCE
Highlights
Professional Experience
Education (Post High School only)
SKILLS
Additional Qualifications: Computer Skills, Language Skills, Research/Writing Experiences, Training/Public Speaking Skills
Trainings
: NOI, PCCC, Mid-West Academy, EMILY’s List, etc.
Slide24You 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
Slide25Best 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”
Slide26Getting 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
Slide27Writing 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:
Express interest
,
specify the job you’re applying for and describe how you heard about the job.
Provide professional highlights
that are relevant to the specific job. Don’t repeat your resume!
Explain why you’re interested
in this specific job and why you’re the best fit.
Slide28Application 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.
Slide29Networking
Slide30The Value of Networking
YOUR RESUME
Slide31How 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!
Slide32Work 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
Slide33Social Media
LinkedIn
Excellent way to keep track of and utilize your network
Use the connector tool
Request recommendations
Facebook
Be careful.
Slide34Preparing 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 elsewhere
Know your questions
Substantive questions
Don’t ask about benefits, salary, hours, etc. on first interview
Treat Informational Interviews like REAL Interviews.
Because they are.
Slide35Additional 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
Slide36How to Get the Right Job
Slide37Lay of the Land
Slide38Some of Your Options
Campaigns & Elections
All of the Above:
Internationally
Issue Research & Advocacy
The Administration
The Hill
Slide39Campaigns & Elections
Slide40Slide41Consulting Firms
Slide42Labor Organizations
Slide43Progressive Allies
Slide44The Hill
Senator / Representative
Chief of Staff / Admin Asst.
Legislative Director
Legislative Assistant
Legislative Correspondent
Intern
Press Secretary
Scheduler
Staff Assistant
Intern
District Office(s)
Legislative Assistant
Legislative Correspondent
Intern
Slide45The Administration
Career
Political Appointment
Slide46Issue Research & Advocacy
Slide47Think Tanks
Slide48Public Advocacy
Slide49Issue Advocacy
Environment and Climate
Good Government
Women’s Health
Human Rights
LGBT
Voting Rights
Slide50International Work
Slide51Democratic 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
Slide52Questions?
Learn more about what you can
GAIN
by joining us!
www.DemocraticGAIN.org
@
DemocraticGAIN
www.facebook.com/DemocraticGAIN