Job hunting is never fun, not to mention, often very stressful, but a prepared job hunter is much more likely to get the process over with less stress. Looking for a job is no longer a mystery and there are so many different factors that go into running a job search in the current economy, but there are also some things anyone can do in advance to make looking for work a lot less stressful. The first step to looking for work is to sit down and write out exactly what you're looking for. If you're looking for a job part time, then you'll want to put that on your resume. Make sure that it's specific enough to describe the position you're actually looking for to make sure that employers can actually see your skills.
The second step to looking for work is to make sure that you have all of your information right. Put down your resume, your contacts, your recent work history, your reasons for looking for work, etc. It might even be smart to make a quick list of the types of jobs you're specifically interested in that aren't on the listing of available jobs. If you don't put these items down, then you'll likely forget them or forget about them after putting them in the phone or your computer and may never look for a particular position again. Make sure everything is organized before you begin your job search!
One of the best steps to looking for work during a period where there isn't that much demand is to take advantage of the high unemployment rate. Many people are looking for work during this economic downturn and this is a great time for someone who wants to work part time or full time to capitalize on the unemployment. If you have a family that needs care, if you have a teenage son or daughter that's struggling with school, or if you just need a little extra money to get by, then you can make a great part time or full time living working at a temp agency. While the rates aren't quite as good as they used to be, there is definitely a good job market out there for people just like you.
Those who have families and are looking for work but are not currently counted as unemployed can also take advantage of the high number of positions that aren't posted in the labor force. The unemployment statistics do not count people who have been laid off from their jobs or those who have retired. This is especially true for those who have medical issues that prevent them from working. Remember, you can call your previous employer and state your employment status – they may be missing some of the information on their unemployment records, so call and double check.
Be careful not to count yourself as being employed if you're a student. Often times, if you're a student, you will end up being counted as employed under your F-1 status. Be aware that if you drop your class plans or stop attending classes, you can lose your eligibility to be placed on the Student Loan Master Promissory Note. If you don't qualify for Student Loan Credit Card Rewards, it won't matter how many classes you want to take or how much you want to earn, if you drop your class plan or stop attending classes, that will change your eligibility status and your ability to receive Student Credit Cards and benefits such as Student Cash Advance and Interest Free Student Auto Insurance. Even if you are currently enrolled in school, you can count yourself as employed under your present Student Loan Status.
You may be unemployed, on active duty, retired, still in the military or on extended leave and not considered unemployed due to a layoff. It can be difficult to figure out how much longer you will be counted as employed even if you are currently employed. There are many resources available that can help you determine your length of employment and the amount of time between the beginning of your force status and the end of the current one, such as the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the last week of each year. If you are looking for work and do not yet have a Guaranteed Job, you should contact your local unemployment office immediately to be assigned an agent who will begin to look for jobs in your area and in your sector.
If you are currently employed but are looking for work and don't know if you qualify for unemployment or not, you should contact your local Labor Relation Department. To be assigned an LRA (licensed labor relations) agent, you must fill out an application stating your intent to search for work. The form can be downloaded from their website or from their office. The LRA then begins to search on your behalf. They will notify you if there is an applicable labor dispute, an employer who is refusing to hire workers, or if a work agreement has been reached and signed between the LRA and the employer.
If you are unemployed but have not reached the maximum unemployment benefits (Paid benefits including benefits like Medicaid and Medicare) for that particular state, you may also want to inquire with your local labor relations office. Sometimes the state limits the amount of time an individual worker can be employed before being subjected to PTO (Worker's Compensation). This means that in some instances an individual who has reached the maximum benefits in that state may still be assigned a PTO contract and then be eligible to receive unemployment compensation in the future. In this case, you should inquire with your local office to determine if you qualify for Workforce Training or unemployment compensation in the future, in case you decide to start looking for work again in the near future. There are several benefits to being assigned an LRA, including an immediate, guaranteed income when you are first employed and no waiting period during which time you would receive benefits.
