Unemployment help

Posted Mon, 05/18/2009 - 09:06 by chuck

a few support resources

  • State unemployment offices want to help. They usually do more than process claims for benefits. Ask them about retraining grants, small business grants, networking opportunities, and the like.
  • Local networking groups for the unemployed -- find one in your area. Network with real people.
  • Sliding-scale family therapy -- this helps a lot. A lot of universities will offer free counseling if you're willing to be a test subject. Check your local listings.

I will add more to this list as I find them. Please feel free to add your own resources that would be helpful to the unemployed in the comments, and don't forget to keep looking for a job. They are out there.

Good luck.

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Comments

Nice Site

by LLnL - 05/19/2009 - 06:44

I am unemployed and struggling so it is nice to have a resource to go to for ideas on how to live a normal life. I read through a couple of your post and I feel like they are not only helpful. However I plan to stay unemployed by making my own money and I think your blog is a fun and easy read so I hope to be back often.

chuck's picture

Thanks

by chuck - 05/19/2009 - 08:10

I'm glad you found it useful.

When life hands you sh*t, make fertilizer.

Great Resource

by Joey P - 05/20/2009 - 13:22

Chuck,

This is a great resource and I imagine very helpful to many. Keep up the great work.

chuck's picture

Thanks

by chuck - 05/20/2009 - 14:18

Gosh, that feels good. One of the things that is hardest for me to deal with is that I can barely help myself these days, but I know that the only way to true happiness is to help others.

When life hands you sh*t, make fertilizer.

Volunteering to develop networking resources

by LearningMyLessons - 05/20/2009 - 14:28

Not sure how this would work in NYC, but in MI, I'm exploring my neighborhood association to (hopefully) make my community safer and more interesting, but also to meet people.

One goal is to strengthen work experience relevant to my nonprofit background, but I'm also learning that meeting my neighbors opens up a new world of contacts.

As an introvert, I'm not inclined to get out and mingle for no reason. Involving myself in a cause I believe in gives me common ground with others.

Making NPO (nonprofit org) connections may also help self-employed folks by giving them visibility and credibility. We already know how institutions, corporations, etc., like to associate with nonprofits to improve their images.

Has anyone here found jobs / valuable networks through volunteering?

Free medicine for the unemployed

by perpetual_applicant - 05/27/2009 - 08:49

Hope this helps someone out there...

About the Pfizer MAINTAIN™ Program: The Pfizer MAINTAIN program will help eligible people in financial need continue to get their Pfizer medicines if they have recently become unemployed and do not have prescription coverage. Beneficiaries of the program will get their Pfizer medicines for free for up to a year or until they become re-insured (whichever comes first).

People with limited income may qualify to get their Pfizer medicines for free. For information, call 866-706-2400 to speak with a live Pfizer Helpful Answers operator, in English or Spanish, or visit www.PfizerHelpfulAnswers.com. People who call Pfizer Helpful Answers in need of medicines made by other companies will be referred to the Partnership for Prescription Assistance, a pharmaceutical industry initiative that serves to raise awareness of, and boost enrollment in, more than 475 public and private patient assistance programs.

(Edited for clarity and to avoid copyright issues.)

chuck's picture

Thanks.

by chuck - 05/27/2009 - 09:29

I had to edit that down. I think it will help someone out there. It might even save a life.

When life hands you sh*t, make fertilizer.

e learning?

by Anonymous - 05/27/2009 - 09:14

I was wondering what you (chuck) or any readers for that matter think about e learning to further education. When in job interviews when I get asked what Ive done since my last job I feel like I lose points because it takes me forever to think of something to say, so I figured saying I've taken a few courses online (like as refreshers or to learn stuff) - Since my last interview I signed up for courses with NEF University... Its cheap so I really can't go wrong- but does anyone have thoughts on like the credibility of these type of classes- or if employers would actually want to hear this sort of thing.. any feedback would be great!

thanks:)

chuck's picture

Any learning is good

by chuck - 05/27/2009 - 09:28

It certainly can't hurt to tell a potential employer that you've been beefing up your skills set during your period of unemployment. More than that, I personally believe that if you're not growing, you're dying. Any improvement you make to your scope and depth of knowledge is a darn good thing.

Some states actually offer the unemployed tuition re-imbursement or free tuition at state colleges. I would look into that by calling your local unemployment office.

When life hands you sh*t, make fertilizer.

Haha phew, its nice to have

by Anonymous - 05/27/2009 - 14:03

Haha phew, its nice to have someone on my side- and thats a good moto, if you aren't growing you're dying, good words to live by. Thanks for the advice, I actually recieved a scholarship with NEF University (I guess theyre giving out 1 million -- TO ANYONE!) so I got a bundle of classes for about $25. Thanks again, I love your blog and will continue checking back in :)

Something some people may not know

by surveygirl46 - 05/27/2009 - 13:47

Hi Chuck! Love your website - extremely useful information in these trying times. Just wanted to add an FYI and sorry if you have already mentioned it and I just didn't see it (old age :))- If you email your EDD, at least in Sacramento, CA, and INFORM them that you MIGHT be attending one of their approved TRAINING PROGRAMS - that flags your account for a possible extension after 26 weeks HOWEVER if by week 16 you don't apply for training OR LET THEM KNOW YOUR INTENT TO, then you're pretty much scr**wd in getting an extension for that...SO everyone reading this, check into it RIGHT now, and err on the side of caution! (So we can keep writing on the internet while looking for work:) Lisa L.

chuck's picture

Great info!

by chuck - 05/27/2009 - 14:03

I did not know this. This demonstrates why many heads are better than one. Thanks for sharing.

So, everyone, just to iterate what surveygirl said above:

Before week 16 of your benefits period, let your state know that you might be attending an approved training program so that you can claim that as a reason for extension.

When life hands you sh*t, make fertilizer.

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