Life and Career: Managing The Chaos

Filing For Unemployment - 7 Tips For Making the Process Run Smoothly

noreply@blogger.com (Life and Career: Managing The Chaos) — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 16:49:00 +0000

Filing for unemployment doesn't have to be a difficult process. In fact, there are several things you can do to make it easier. If you're looking for unemployment help, take advantage of the following tips:

1. Start by figuring out where to file. When you're filing for unemployment, you should start with the state you worked in, even if you've moved since losing your job. If you worked in several states, your local unemployment office can tell you which state to file in.

2. Make sure filing for unemployment is something you're eligible to do. To qualify, you must be out of work through no fault of your own, like being laid off. You cannot receive unemployment checks if you were fired or quit on your own. In some states, you may have had to work for your former company for a certain amount of time.

3. See if you actually have to go to the unemployment office. In many states, filing for unemployment can be done online or over the phone. If you file from home, you may be able to skip a long line!

4. When you're filing for unemployment, you need to have a lot of personal information ready. In most cases, you will need to provide:

- Your address
- Your Social Security number
- Your driver's license number
- Your mother's maiden name (for security purposes)
- Information about your last employer, like the company's name, address, and phone number
- The tax ID for your last employer (which can be found on your W-2)
- How much money you made before getting laid off
- Employment information for the past two years

5. Find out if receiving unemployment checks means that you have to file for your state's job service. These services can be a big help, offering you job search resources for free at your local unemployment office. However, in some states, filing for unemployment also means you have to prove that you're applying for jobs and sending out resumes.

6. Keep current on your unemployment checks. Once you're done filing for unemployment, the benefits process doesn't end there. You will have to register online and file for your unemployment checks every week.

7. Keep everything in perspective. Filing for unemployment can be tedious, and your unemployment checks will not be nearly as high as your former salary. Plus, in most states, you can only receive unemployment checks for 26 weeks. In some cases, your unemployment benefits can be extended, but don't assume that an extension will be automatically approved.

Do you have questions about filing for unemployment? Let FileUnemployment.com be your one-stop unemployment resource! Whether you need unemployment benefits, help with your job search, or are thinking about going back to school, FileUnemployment.com has all the information you need.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nicole_Beckett

What if You Can Change Your Life in an Instant?

noreply@blogger.com (Life and Career: Managing The Chaos) — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 16:43:00 +0000

"If you change the way you look at your life, the life you look at will change."

Let me give you an example: you take your car, you drive to where you want or need to go. You are in a general good mood. Then, all of a sudden, a driver cuts you off. 90 % of the people will react. An insult or a strong remark, a trembling or shaking of the entire body, a sudden cold sweat, a knot in the stomach, a general sudden stress symptoms system has taken place in a matter of seconds. This is what is called: a reaction.

Two Possible Outcomes

Now let us examine the same situation with a different response: you drive, someone cuts you off; you brake slightly to decrease your speed, and you go on your driving, without being affected by the negligent driver. Your life is not affected. You remain calm, and "stay with yourself," balanced and safe. But, if you are like the other 90% of the people, you will be affected by the negligent driver error, and this may spoiled your next half an hour, hour, or even your entire day.

Why did I say "even your entire day?"

First, the only one who got affected or offended was... you! The other driver may not even noticed you were furious at him or her. Second, when you are getting affected by this negligence, you are sending a negative or low vibration, which may attract more bad drivers, and or more negative events!

That is the reason why I said if you change the way you look at your life, the events in your life, the way others act, etc, the life you are looking at will (surely) change.

A tip: if you run into this type of negligence on the road, try to imagine yourself rushing and doing the same mistake, or try to imagine a friend of yours as the negligent driver, or try to imagine the sweetest person making that mistake.

Another point is that we are, each one of us, responsible for this world. If we want a better world, let us change ourselves first, so all of us will change. Act as an example, send positive energy around you, try to respond instead of reacting, and the world will change for the best. But for the moment, let us be in acceptance of the world as it is, because there is only so much we can do.

Action Steps

1. Accept others as your potential friends, partners, clients, or customers.

2. Try not to get offended so quickly.

3. Let go; do not hold any anger, hostility, or low energy emotions.

4. Be is a state of gratitude.

5. Say, It could have been much worse, or: That is not the end of the world.

6. Smile. A smile gives instant comfort.

7. Forgive; no one is perfect, except God or the Divine or the Universe.

8. Be thankful that you are OK, safe, and healthy.

If you apply these steps, you are going to see great improvement in your life. Yes, you can change your life in an instant, if you change the way you see your life.

Emrick Garam has been in the self-empowerment business for over seven years, and has been voted the number speaker number in the self empowerment on the internet community.For more info on How to create or change your life, To find out more about how Emrick does it, go to his site: http://bestyourlife.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Emrick_Garam

Creating a Personal Brand Statement

noreply@blogger.com (Life and Career: Managing The Chaos) — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 03:47:00 +0000

Forget about the war on drugs, many Americans are fighting against the war on jobs. This article details a strategy that will help job seekers land the job.

Searching for a job can be an exhaustive task. Most people believe that a resume is a summary of professional background and enter in the job search battle only equipped with a brief summary of their offerings.

The truth is a resume is only as good as you believe it is. The true purpose of a resume is to highlight what you do well and to advertise those skill sets to a potential employer. If you are unsure about what you want to do next in your career, your resume will show that because it will be unfocused and not direct enough.

Creating a powerful brand statement can help you write a better resume and present the confidence you need to win favor in an interview. A brand statement is a simple and to the point statement of who and what you are. The brand statement highlights what you do well and makes the listener excited to learn more about you.

Your resume should revolve around your brand statement. Think of it this way...if you were meeting with a consultant who is responsible for helping your business, what type of experience and profile would that person have?

The same way you view the consultant is the same way a potential employer will view you. When you meet with a consultant you are expecting to learn about their dedicated expertise and the solutions they have to offer your company. When you meet with a potential employer you are expected to respond and exceed the same expectation.

Here is an example of a brand statement:

I am a Senior level financial professional with more than 20 years' experience positioning small to medium sized energy companies to greater levels of financial solvency and overall management.

Content by www.CountrysBestResumes.com

The “How To” Guide for Discussing Salary during an Interview

noreply@blogger.com (Life and Career: Managing The Chaos) — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 13:33:00 +0000

So…How Much Are You Offering?
The “How To” Guide for Discussing Salary during an Interview

Talking about salary and compensation with potential employers can be one of the most intimidating tasks a job seeker faces. When and how you approach the topic is pertinent and should be handled with discretion. The timing of this discussion could make or break your chances of continuing in the interview process or could negate your interest in a job opening.

Shawntee White-Yates, Executive Recruiter, who has helped thousands of job seekers for more than a decade, offers the following advice:
1. If a recruiter is involved in your process, discuss all salary requirements in depth from the very beginning.
(Then there will be no need to discuss salary at all during the interview because he/she will handle the negotiating for you when an offer is made)

2. If a recruiter is not involved, this is usually discussed at the very beginning. The first call you receive or conversation you have with a hiring manager should include salary as one of the pre-screening questions.
(If not, you may want to follow-up with a phone call to inquire about the salary range or hourly rate of the job)

If for whatever reason salary is not discussed during the initial screening conversation, she suggests that you ask immediately during your next discussion with the hiring manager or whoever is scheduling you for an interview. Otherwise, it could be a waste of valuable time if the salary is not within your desired range or at least negotiable.
Good Luck on your search!

Tawana Wood, Chief Resume Writer for CountrysBestResumes.com says “job seekers must view interviews as sales calls.” According to Ms. Wood, salary and benefit negotiations are a part closing a deal. “Job seekers are selling their skills and abilities to potential employers who are investing/purchasing their expertise.”

Mrs. Wood recommends job seekers do the following:

1. Research the Market
Research how much professionals are being compensated for in the same or similar functions. Review salary surveys, industry related publications and associations for resources, job advertisements, as well as, consult with those in your network. Job seekers must also keep in mind that their geographic area plays a significant role in determining pay levels, salaries in NY will differ from those in FL.

2. Know About The Company
Like a Sales Professional, know your prospect. Research the company’s financial situation; do they have the resources and market position to support the salary you are seeking? It is critical that you find out this information before attempting any salary negotiation.

3. Are there Perks?
Are there things other than financial rewards that will attract you to a company? Consider what the full compensation package will look like. Does the company offer a good work/life balance? Do you receive healthcare benefits? Do they offer specialized training or tuition re-imbursement? “I accepted my job because it was close to my home and offered telecommunicating options” say Jerrod Stalls, Field Technician in Maryland. “I accepted the position because they offered me four weeks vacation the first year and six weeks for the year following” says Darrien Jones, IT Director in California.

Determine which factors are critical to you. Look at your whole picture…compensation today and retirement for tomorrow.

4. Distill Value
In order to close the deal you must distill value. A successful sales professional overcomes objections by distilling value. Highlight your achievements in a quantitative and qualitative manner. Your resume should focus on what you do well and be used as a guide to help you demonstrate your stuff to a potential employer. Employers are looking for solutions. Show how your experience and expertise will help them save money, make money, change, or do something new. The better you are at showing your worth, the more likely you are to negotiate a better deal.

5. Be prepared to Answer the Question
When the time is right the employer may ask you what your salary requirements are. Based on your thorough research you will be ready to respond. Never just say “I’m Flexible” if asked the question, give them a range mid XX’s to upper XX’s. If an employer doesn’t ask, then ask them. “How much has been budgeted for this position?”

6. Ask for an official offer letter with your compensation included
To officially close the deal, request the employer send you an offer in writing outlining the specifics of the offer including your key responsibilities, start date, salary and special arrangements.

Tawana Wood is a recruiter and Chief Resume Writer for The CountrysBestResumes.com, she has personally written more than 7,000 resumes for today’s top executives worldwide. http://www.CountrysBestResumes.com

Shawntee White Yates is a recruiter with more than 15 years’ experience in Executive Recruitment and Human Resources Management, she has worked for leading companies including Aerotek.

Got An Interview? Don't Stress Out!

noreply@blogger.com (Life and Career: Managing The Chaos) — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 17:59:00 +0000

By http://www.countrysbestresumes.com/

Tip 1 - Calm Down - Although the interview is important, your overall health is more. Interviewing is a mutual process. You are interviewing the company just as much as they are interviewing you.

Tip 2 - Always Bring Samples of Your Work - If you don't have any start calling your old job and get them. Always keep at least one ally at your job, you never know when you will need something. Before you leave a job, create a portfolio and make copies of your work but omit confidential business information.

Tip 3 - Do the Research - Know what you are getting yourself into, this may not be the company you want to spend 40+ hours a week with for a year.

Tip 4 - Fix Yourself Up and Smile! - First impressions are made in 30-seconds or less, don't miss an opportunity just because you got up late or did not neatly present yourself. Employers are looking for people who are organized, if you can't organize yourself, then how can you organize a project? Arrive 10-15 minutes early, smile at everyone - show you have manners.

Tip 5 - Cultivate Your References - Prior to giving the names and contact information of people who you would like to say a kind word about you, make sure you ask them and drop a line or e-mail every once in a while, cultivate your references, you need them!

Tip 6 - Get a Group of Mentors - Ask people to be your mentor, you should have a mentoring group, 1-2 people who can mentor you, 1-2 people who are on your level so that you can learn and swap ideas from each other and 1-2 people you can mentor.

Tip 7 - Use the Right Paper - Always present a fresh copy of your resume on proper rйsumй paper (minimum have two copies). Do not use colors other than Ivory or White. You will stick out if you use blue, pink, orange, etc., but most likely it will not be in the manner that is beneficial.

Tip 8 - Always have questions to ask - Never leave an interview without asking at least 3 questions.

Tip 9 - Practice Interviewing - If you are a client call us and we will gladly do a mock interview with you.

Tip 10 - Send a thank you letter within 24-Hours - Always thank the interviewer for taking the time out to meet with you.

Women - Delaying Motherhood For the Sake Of A Career

noreply@blogger.com (Life and Career: Managing The Chaos) — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 18:05:00 +0000

I am one of those women who grew up in the age of empowerment. I grew up with the belief that all things are possible. My mother taught me that with determination, a good education and work ethic I could achieve anything. We never discussed one big issue - Family.

I assumed that I would finish my education, get a great job and get married. I had no idea or concern of time. Like many American women, I waited to have children. I had my first son at the age of 31. It was not until, I turned 30 that I learned of all of the horrors surrounding infertility. I had spent my 20's trying NOT to get pregnant. I had no idea that so many women spent their 30's trying TO get pregnant and that I would be one of them.

Now, I am 35 and wondering why I wasted so many years? If you are a professional and a mom over the age of 30 please share your experiences and thoughts.

Tawana Wood, Entrepreneur, Mom, and Wife

1999 vs. 2009 What a difference a decade makes

noreply@blogger.com (Life and Career: Managing The Chaos) — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 01:00:00 +0000

Okay, so I just read a report titled “Unemployment and Jobs In International Perspective” by two distinguished professors for the United States Congress and it read “The United States has low unemployment rates and substantial job creation, while much of the rest of the industrialized world has high unemployment and little or no expansion in employment. Why?“

The in-depth report went on to show many descriptive statistics and simple econometric evidence to underscore why the U.S. did it better than the rest of the industrialized world due to its untiring attention to controlling labor costs. The report was written 10 years ago when the US economy was labeled the "Goldilocks economy" because things were going just right… not too hot and not too cold. Unemployment and inflation were both lowest they had been in 30 years and the stock market was booming with blossoming day traders all over the place. According to Business Week, the U.S. economy had entered a "new era" in which rapid technological change (especially information technology) will make it possible for the U.S. economy to continue to achieve both low unemployment and low inflation for the foreseeable future.

Oh what a difference a decade makes. Let’s fast forward to 2009 with the highest unemployment rates since the 80’s. Since December 2007 more than 5 million people filed for unemployment according to a recent report from the Department of Labor. The national unemployment rate hit 10.2% not since the 1980’s have we seen such a high rate. The manufacturing sector accounted for 36 percent of all initial unemployment filings during October 2009 compared to 2008’s number of 45 percent, reflecting a slight decrease.

Industries Hardest Hit in 2009:
1. Temporary help services
2. Motion picture and video production
3. Professional employer organizations
4. Automobile manufacturing
5. Construction machinery manufacturing
6. Highway, street, and bridge construction
7. Farm labor contractors and crew leaders
8. Food service contractors
9. Discount department stores
10. Hotels and motels, except casino hotels

States with the highest recorded unemployment rates for Aug, Sep & Oct 2009
1. California
2. Illinois
3. Florida
4. Wisconsin
5. Pennsylvania
6. Ohio
7. Michigan
8. Texas
9. New York
10. Indiana

Shifting Home Balance

noreply@blogger.com (Life and Career: Managing The Chaos) — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 03:09:00 +0000

The Home Balance is Shifting – Men are being hit harder by the recession than women

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, men reported a higher unemployment rate than women for the Month of June with a 2.3 percentage-point difference. According to published statistics, men experienced a 10.6% unemployment rate and women a slightly less rate of 8.3%. Both numbers reflect the highest rates ever recorded since record keeping began in the 1940’s.

Much of this is due to the fact that industries typically dominated by men have been hit harder – construction, manufacturing, and auto.

Industries that appear to be showing some sign of gain are private sector – healthcare and education and those have a high concentration of women, typically more than 51%. The healthcare industry gained more than a half a million jobs and education more than 100,000 since the recession began in December 2007. Both sexes have been impacted by the recession and both nearly doubled since the beginning, in Jan 2008 women’s unemployment was 4.7% and men’s were just over 5%.

Has this affected your home balance?

Are Women Still Expected To Give Up Their Careers?

noreply@blogger.com (Life and Career: Managing The Chaos) — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 03:53:00 +0000

As a mother and wife I often feel that I am walking on a tight rope. Prior to getting married, I was a career minded and progression focused executive looking for her next challenge. However, the ability to be as tenacious as focused as I had spent the last 10 years doing so became harder to do once I became a mother and a wife.

I had no real clue of how tough a working mother had it. Constantly feeling torn between duties at work and duties at home. I also had no clue that sleeping for more than 5 hours would become a luxury and not a part of my daily life.

I started my company years back but since it was undercapitalized when I learned I was pregnant, I immediately ran to the idea of getting a steady job with benefits to cover the medical costs.

Since I started my new job while pregnant, I did not accrue enough sick and vacation time to go on maternity leave. I was forced to work while in the hospital and had three clients waiting for me upon my arrival home. While pregnant, I worked for my new employer while moonlighting and continuing my business - it was not the best situation but necessary. The strain from pregnancy and working two jobs had its toll on me though. After giving birth, I was absolutely exhausted but now I had no time to catch my breath.

I had always been a go-getter and did what I had to do. So, working 60 -80 hours per week had always been the norm for me. Besides, I am a New Yorker where no one works less than 50 hours per week. I thought I could do both, be a great mom and work a demanding schedule.

However, I was finding it harder and harder to get on a train, travel 1 hr and 45 minutes and begin my 60-80 hour work week after resting for only 2-3 hours. My son has a severe case of asthma and had been admitted into the hospital multiple times before he reached his first birthday. The pressures from a demanding job coupled with my son's health had become overwhelming. I often felt as though I was drowning.

My husband expected me to be "the mom" and stay at home with our son when he was sick or on the borderline of becoming ill, needed to go on an appointment, family trips, school trips, plays, volunteer activities, etc. Feeling extremely concerned for my son, I never challenged my husband's expectation. After all, I am the woman, right? I started to feel like I was drowning. The increasing pressure from work had its toll on me. Not to mention the growing demands of being a new mom and wife. I no longer craved the thrill of climbing the corporate ladder. My employer noticed it as well. So after 18 months of working I returned back to managing my business full time. By then the economy had grown worse and two weeks later my husband lost his job.

Upon returning to my business full-time after leaving it for three years, I quickly learned how much the market had changed during that time. I had to work 20 times as hard to catch up. And now with my husband being out of work, I definitely had to produce. I worked around the clock, starting my day at 3:30 in the morning ended it well into the night. I was able to grow the business and sustain the family.

My husband found a new job and a new attitude. I noticed that once he was back on his feet, his expectation of me doing the lion share of the home duties had significantly heightened offering little time for me to do focus on my growing business. Starting and running a successful business had been a life long dream of mine since I was 10 years old and worked with my Junior Achievement mentor.

So now, the question is... how do you balance all demands? What is fair?

5 Secrets to Securing A Job Offer

noreply@blogger.com (Life and Career: Managing The Chaos) — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 18:16:00 +0000

by http://www.countrysbestresumes.com/

Securing the right opportunity can be challenging especially during a tough job market. With an estimated 14 million people out of work, job seekers must distill value. Detailed below are tips to help job seekers land the job!

Sell Your Skills: List your major professional accomplishments, use those accomplishments to justify your ability and suitability. Remember this is a sales call, you must convince a company that you are a great investment.

Eagerness: Team work is important, don't just say it but provide solid, results driven examples. Employers need to know you'd be willing to take on whatever it takes to help the team survive and prosper. Highlight your good work ethic, the amount of awards you have received, promotions, etc.

Manageability: You must demonstrate that you can work effectively alone as well as part of a team and able to take direction and criticism. Companies are looking for workers who get along with others, whatever their individual opinions or beliefs. Do not talk negatively about your current or previous employers.

Understand Your Industry: It's not enough to tell an interviewer you have experience within an industry, you must illustrate proven knowledge backed by facts.

Solutions Oriented: We all solve problems: Problem solving is the most important part of any job description so identify and recall at interview typical problems you have tackled in past employment. Provide specific examples and measurable results.

Secret Tactics of Interviewers

noreply@blogger.com (Life and Career: Managing The Chaos) — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 18:11:00 +0000

By: www.Countrysbestresumes.com

One of the biggest mistakes many people make when interviewing for a job is they think all that is necessary to be successful at an interview is to show you have what it takes to do the work. However, according to many recruiters and hiring managers there is much more.

Trained Interviewers will most likely:
Ask open-ended questions
Encourage you to talk 70-80% of the time
Give limited information about the position until qualifications are confirmed
Maintain eye contact
Be comfortable with silence
Ask you to tell them why you are interested in the job
Ask you about your knowledge of the company
Ask you at least 10 questions
Ask you why you left your last employment

Top States For Working Moms

noreply@blogger.com (Life and Career: Managing The Chaos) — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 17:33:00 +0000

By: www.TCBSolutions,net

In the United States more 60% of women who are married and have children under the age of 18 work as well as 73% of single women. With that being said, women must consider many factors that might affect their work life balance.

As a business owner and mom of a three year old, I had no idea that my life would be so hectic. Managing the pressures from balancing multiple priorities can at times be overwhelming. I was excited to view Smart Money's article that highlights states that take the demands of women into consideration.

According to Smart Money there are certain states that through policies and resources, help women balance the task of wearing multiple hats, including that of mom and employee. The report found 10 states that did extremely well in helping women. Factors reviewed included maternity leave time, cost of child care, salary, unemployment, and access to early childhood education among others. For the complete article, go to: http://www.smartmoney.com/Personal-Finance/Employment/10-Best-Places-to-Be-a-Working-Mom/

The top states include:

California
District of Columbia
Florida
Hawaii
Massachusetts
New Jersey
Oklahoma
Rhode Island
New York
Washington

For a complete list http://www.smartmoney.com/Personal-Finance/Employment/10-Best-Places-to-Be-a-Working-Mom/

Source: http://www.countrysbestresumes.com/

I've Been Laid Off...Now What

noreply@blogger.com (Life and Career: Managing The Chaos) — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 14:04:00 +0000

HOW TO SURVIVE A LAYOFF
Guide for Surviving a Layoff in Complex and Uncertain Times

By Tawana Wood, www.CountrysBestResumes.com

Things you should do first:
1. Synchronize Your Records
2. Salary and Accrued Vacation Time
3. Unemployment and Healthcare
4. Important Tax Forms
5. Cash Flow
6. Moving On

FACT:
Each year millions of Americans lose their jobs unexpectedly.
On average, most of those who have lost their job will find a new one within five months. Unemployment is expected to climb through 2010.

Now that you have been laid off, you need to hurry up and find a new job,
right? Wrong. Before you exit the door, there are a few important things you must do, a few loose ends that need to be tied up between you and your ex-employer. Denise Cook, mother of four children and former administrative assistant who was laid off in January, says “I was shocked that I was laid off and really needed the time to figure out what I was doing with my life, what is important to me. With four children, work/life balance is critical, in my old job I worked 50 hours per week. I did not want the same situation for myself again.”  

Before you go out looking for a new job, you must make a plan of action, map out what you are going to do next. Add these items to your to-do list for your first week out of work.

1. Synchronize Your Records

First, be sure that you and your former employer are on the same page regarding what you feel is owed to you. Work closely with your manager, employment benefits manager, union rep and/or HR manager to determine what is owed to you in terms of final pay, vacation time, unpaid expenses, etc.

Record the agreed upon date of your termination or the date you submitted your resignation letter. Also read over your company hand book very carefully, anything you don't understand call your former HR manager and have he or she explain it to you in simple terms.

Be sure to make a copy of project plans you spearheaded, designs you made, templates you created with no proprietary information included. These documents will come in handy as you interview and will also help to remind you of things you are good at, be sure to add your impressive documents to your portfolio. Be sure to check your handbook first to make sure you did not sign anything that states this might be a conflict.

2. Salary and Accrued Vacation Time
Make sure that you are not due any vacation time, if you received paid vacation then you are entitled to pay for time accrued. Call your state labor board and make sure you understand what the law mandates. Some states require that the employer pay you in full on your last day of work, others give the employer some time. Some states mandate payment for unused vested vacation time, others may not.

3. Unemployment and Healthcare

A major issue most people must deal with is providing for themselves and their families. Finding out if you qualify for unemployment compensation should be the next thing that is taken care of. There are certain criteria that must be met. Visit www.dol.gov to find your local labor office.

The next issue to deal with is healthcare insurance. In the U.S. more than 64 percent or 177 million of Americans receive some form of healthcare insurance through their employer. Usually when a job is lost so is the coverage. However, you may be entitled to COBRA benefits, your health plan must give you a notice stating your right to choose to continue benefits provided by COBRA. You financially contribute to this fund. You must respond in 60 days or you may lose your right to the benefits. There are additional benefits offered through the stimulus package, be sure to do your homework.

4. Important Tax Forms

Who has your W-2? If you haven't received your W-2 form by mid February, contact the IRS to request a substitute. You will be asked to produce your final paycheck for that tax year. Go to www.irs.gov for more info.

If you invested in special accounts that offer tax benefits be sure to consult with a tax accountant or financial planner. There are many firms that handle rollovers at no charge to you. Some firms also offer tax planning that will allow you to minimize the tax bit while still using as much cash as you need to carry you until you land your next job.

This might be a good time to start your own business or go back to school there are plenty of tax benefits offered to business owners, especially during their first year of business, where it is not uncommon to report a loss in revenues with no profit and reap the benefits of writing expenses off for taxes.

5. Cash Flow

Now that you have found yourself in the middle of a layoff, it can go without saying, you should take a conservative approach to your cash flow situation. Pool your resources, you have more money than you think. Here are some conservative avenues to take into consideration:
• Consolidating Credit Card Debt
• Defer Student Loan payments - Ask for a forbearance
• 401k rollover to a IRA or ROTH IRA (consult a financial advisor)
• Refinance Your home
• Consult your tax preparer about certain options
• Utilize your tax refund, have your accountant review previous returns for possible additional returns
• Re-assess your household spending
• Contact your creditors regarding reducing your interest rates

6. Moving On

Once we have come to terms with all matters emotional and practical, it is time to move on. We must decide where to go from here. First you must look at why you lost your job. Was the company downsizing? If so, is this a trend in the industry? How is the industry changing? Do you want to stay in the same field? Is a career change in order? If not, maybe this is a good time to spruce up some skills in order to make yourself more marketable. Take the time to make some changes - research different careers and industries, learn new skills (you must show value to a potential employer) and improve upon the ones you already have, or perhaps consider relocating. Look forward to your next opportunity.

Provided by www.CountrysBestResumes.com

“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy"
Martin Luther King

Keywords drive traffic to your resume

noreply@blogger.com (Life and Career: Managing The Chaos) — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 13:55:00 +0000

Getting Calls vs. Getting Ignored - It’s All About the Key Words
Keywords drive traffic to your resume

By Tawana Wood, www.CountrysBestResumes.com, A TCBSolutions.net Website

Optimizing your resume for today’s job market requires the right format, background, and key words.

If you are applying for jobs on-line chances are your resume will be read by an OCR Unit (Optical Character Recognition). An OCR unit is a computer scanner that is programmed to search for key terms in your resume. The difference between getting a call or getting ignored may be determined by the use of correct key words. Knowing the correct words to use in your resume is vital to your job search.

“Employers are looking for experts in the field and often request job candidates demonstrate knowledge about their industry and job. This is especially true in today’s tough job market” says Tawana Wood, Recruiter and Chief Resume Writer for CountrysBestResumes.com.

“A resume is a marketing document and must respond to what the market requests. That is why we thoroughly research our clients backgrounds, their employers, and more importantly, what it is that they want to do. Embedded in all of our resumes are industry and title specific keywords” says Ms. Wood.

CountrysBestResumes.com has been regarded as one of the nation’s leading resume writing firms. To date, they have written more than 10,000 resumes for top performing executives including heads of America’s leading companies, including: Verizon, Avon, JPMorgan Chase, CBS, MTV, Allstate, Halliburton, Prudential, The Conference Board, WNBA, NBA, NFL, Time Warner, CNET, Corcoran, Kraft, YMCA, Girl Scouts, Sony, Samsung, HP, IBM, CNN, FOX, Google, Goldman Sachs, Qualcomm, Microsoft, PricewaterhouseCoopers, etc.

Tawana Wood is Chief Resume Writer for The CountrysBestResumes.com, she has personally written more than 7,000 resumes for today’s top executives worldwide.

http://www.CountrysBestResumes.com • New York, NY • 800.409.8979

Secrets of a Mom and Entreprenuer

noreply@blogger.com (Life and Career: Managing The Chaos) — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 20:43:00 +0000

I started my business eight years ago and my family three years ago. I have to admit that this has been the hardest challenge of my life. I had no idea that running a business would require so much intense focus. Nor, did I ever imagine that a child would demand so much sacrifice.

I went from having a carefree life as a single woman living in one of the most electric cities on earth, to a married mom whose social calendar consists of family outings, client appointments and birthday parties. At one time in my life, I knew all of the hottest clubs and bars, traveled to fun and exciting places with friends, came home after kissing morning light. Now... I can barely stay up past 10pm.

Set aside from the partying side of life. I remember being able to put in a full 15-hours of productive work. Now, I have to set aside time for family and not just work. I created this blog to share for my own benefit and others what life is truly like when your priorities are no longer the center of your conversation.

Life and Career is a very delicate balance.