How the Federal Government Calculates the Unemployment Rate

With the discussion of the unemployment rate on most news channels and on-line blogs, it seems appropriate to explore just what the numbers mean. Many of us assume that to be counted as employed, a person should be working at least 20 hours a week and to be counted as unemployed, a person simply needs to be just that – unemployed. For the purpose of this Extra Info, we’ll discuss how the Federal Government calculates the Unemployment Rate. Let’s start with where the numbers come from. During the first few days of each month, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) of the U.S. Department of Labor releases the total number of employed and unemployed persons in the U.S. for the previous month, along with the unique characteristics of these people. Lately, the most important part of that information seems to be the number of people who are unemployed. Many people assume that the Government only uses the number of persons filing for Unemployment Insurance Benefits (UI) through State or Federal Government programs as their source. But since many people are not eligible for UI and many more have exhausted all their UI benefits, that data source would not give us a real picture of the number of unemployed people. Other people believe that the Government actually counts the number of all unemployed people each month. But this would require the level of work done by the U.S. Census every ten years. So, the BLS uses a monthly survey called the Current Population Survey (CPS) to measure unemployment across the country. This survey has been conducted in the United States every month since 1940. The CPS began as a Work Project Administration project and is one of the oldest continuous monthly sample survey of households in the world. It has been expanded and modified several times since its inception but the concept remains the same. Currently, there are about 60,000 households (or approximately 110,000 individuals) in the sample for this survey. The sample is selected so that it is representative of the entire population of the U.S. The selection begins with all of the counties and county-equivalent cities in the U.S. being grouped into 2,025 geographic areas, then the Census Bureau designs and selects a sample consisting of 824 of these areas so that each State and the District of Columbia is represented. This sample is a State-based design so that it reflects both urban and rural areas, as well as industrial and farming areas. Every month, one-fourth of the households in the sample are changed so that no household is interviewed more than 4 consecutive months. The individuals in the survey are questioned either in person or over the phone and the data is compiled electronically so that it can be “weighted” or adjusted to independent population estimates. However, a sample is not a total count but it is consistent data and the calculations are estimated to be within a 10% plus or minus range. The survey relies on three basic concepts of employment and unemployment: · Individuals with jobs are counted as employed · Individuals who are jobless, looking for a job, and available for work are unemployed · Individuals who are neither employed or unemployed are not counted in the labor force People who are under 16 or in the Armed Forces are not counted in the survey. Unfortunately, these definitions are not as simple as they may sound. Let’s look at the definition of employed. People are considered employed if they did any work at all for pay or profit during the survey week so this would also include all part-time work, regardless of the number of hours worked or the number of weeks worked during the full month. As an example, an 18 year old high school student who baby-sits for 6 hours a week would be counted as employed, just as her mother who might work 40 hours per week. The definition for unemployed is just as tenuous. People are classified as unemployed if they do not have a job, have actively looked for work in the prior 4 weeks, and are currently available for work. “Actively looking for work” can mean directly contacting employers, and participating in active job search. If they are in training or educational activities, they are not counted as either employed or unemployed. People are also not counted in either category if they are not working but are physically unable to job search for the survey period. Other examples of people not considered in the labor force would be persons confined to institutions such as prisons, jails, or hospitals. As you might expect, there is much work that is done outside these simple definitions. The BLS keeps data on persons who would be counted as “marginally attached to the labor force” but not counted as either employed or unemployed. This group contains individuals who don’t have a job but are not actively looking for work. “Discouraged workers” are a subset of this group. Many of these individuals are the people our community partners see every day. They don’t believe that there is a job available for them and that they lack the skills necessary to find employment. The BLS keeps numbers on these individuals as well, but doesn’t count them in the official numbers. If you would like to know more about how the government calculates the unemployment rate or other issues concerning either the Bureau of Labor Statistics or the Current Population Survey, check out some of the links below: The Current Population Survey: A Historical Perspective and the BLS role: http://www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/1984/06/art2exc.htm The Current Population Survey: http://www.ciesin.org/datasets/cps/cps-home.html The Bureau of Labor Statistics: Labor Force Statistics from the Current Population Survey: http://www.bls.gov/cps/cps_htgm.htm

Channel 11 Posts Important Story about filing for Unemployment Innsurance

Channel 11 (CBS) is on the ball again. They did an excellent job in covering yet another scam that takes advantage of Texans in crisis. We've got a portion of the story they delivered yesterday along with the link that will let you watch the video for yourself. Thanks to Jay Gormley and all of the folks at Channel 11 for helping us "Survive in 09". From CBS 11/TXA 21: Written by Jay Gormley Most parents with three children need every penny they can get. So, when Alfredo Mayoral of west Fort Worth was laid off, he immediately filed online for unemployment. "So, I'm waiting and waiting," he said. "I waited a whole month." Mayoral and his wife, Jacque, went to Google, searched for the Texas Workforce Commission, and clicked on TXWORKFORCE.ORG. After waiting a month, they went to the Texas Workforce Commission office, and were greeted with bad news. "They had no record that I applied for benefits whatsoever," said Alfredo. "I said, 'How can that be? We applied on the website.'" "I asked the lady, 'What is the correct website?' When she brought it up, the web page, I said, 'That's not the one,'" explained Jacque. As it turns out, the couple applied for unemployment on one of several websites that appear to be the agency's official website.The five websites listed provide employment-related links, but are not the official site for the Texas Workforce Commission. These generic sites contains links to file for Texas unemployment benefits. The sites even issue identification numbers. However, filing on the sites can delay and even deny benefits The correct site for filing unemployment claims is TEXASWORKFORCE.ORG. "I was crying," said Jacque, "because you try your hardest to do what's right for your family."The Texas Workforce Commission is aware of the confusion and said they are doing their best to make the public understand that not all websites are created equal.The Mayorals were finally directed to the correct website and began receiving unemployment benefits over the weekend. To see this full report, click here: http://cbs11tv.com/survivein09/Texas.Workforce.Commission.2.1084260.html

UI Benefit Estimator

The Texas Workforce Commission announced a new web-based application that is available to assist unemployment claimants estimate the potential amount of their unemployment benefits. UI claimants can enter their wage information and pay period and receive an estimate of the weekly benefit amount (WBA) and maximum benefit amount (MBA) on a regular claim. This application is not designed to provide estimates of special UI programs such as Emergency Unemployment Compensation, Disaster Unemployment Assistance, or Trade Readjustment Assistance. Applicants can access the Benefits Estimator through the TWC homepage, Unemployment Benefits Services portal page. Just remember, the estimator is designed to provide estimates based on a 40-hr work week. Any claimants that were part-time workers need to estimate their wages by month or quarter. Also remember to enter wages before taxes (gross pay). The Benefits Estimator includes the following 3 key fields: 1. Calendar Quarter – the application will automatically display the current base period quarters. For example, if you access the application on June 30, 2009 (the second quarter of 2009), the quarters displayed will be all four quarters of 2008; however, if you access the application on July 10, 2009 (third quarter of 2009), the application will use the last three quarters of 2008 and the first quarter of 2009 as the base period quarters 2. Wages – You must enter wage information for each base quarter. There is no need to enter a dollar sign ($) but a decimal point should be used if you are entering wage information in both dollars and cents. 3. Pay Period – You should enter the pay period that corresponds to the wage information entered. You may select from the following pay periods: o Per hour o Per day o Per Week o Every Two Weeks o Twice a Month o Per Month o Per Quarter o Per Year Remember, the WBA or MBA provided by the Benefits Estimator is an estimate and there may be instances when a claimant files for unemployment and is eligible for a lower WBA than the one quoted by the Benefits Estimator. You should also be aware that the actual WBA or MBA may be lowered for a variety of reasons which may include: ü Claimants used best-guessed estimates of his or her wages ü Last employer has not yet reported wages to TWC ü Wages were earned in another state ü Claimant may have earned military and/or federal wages ü Claimant worked part-time for any part of the base wage period; and/or ü Claimant failed to deduct vacation pay, pension payments, and/or secondary income before entering wage information into the Benefits Estimator And , most importantly this is merely an estimator, it doesn't tell you if you will be eligible, the only person that can make that determination is a TWC call center employee. This will give you an idea of how much money you may receive, making it easier to plan ahead. To access the Estimator, click here: http://www.twc.state.tx.us/ui/uiclaim.html

Applying for a Job with the Federal Government (part one)

The federal government is the nation’s largest employer and only 15% of those jobs are located in Washington D.C. That’s the good news. On the flip side, the federal government is a vast multi-pronged entity with complex rules and regulations for hiring qualified applicants. This series of articles will provide job seekers with bite- sized tips that will hopefully demystify the process.

Let’s start with the application process. Don’t expect this to be a quick or painless endeavor. You have to be prepared to sort through hundreds of job announcements and really review the procedures and deadlines for each application. You also have to be prepared for the whole process to take months, not necessarily weeks. However, you’ll be excited to see that the government hires people at all levels of experience, from inexperienced high school graduates to experienced college graduates. Veterans are also highly sought after in all federal agencies, as are people with disabilities.

Salaries with the government are comparable to corporate America and offer locality pay which assures the salary will reflect that area’s cost of living. The government is also known for strong employee benefits, which are the same for every employee and they have sick days and paid vacation time that increases over the years. Their retirement benefits are secure and based on salary and years of service, with health benefits that continue into retirement.

There are two classes of jobs with the Federal Government:

Competitive Services jobs: These jobs fall under the jurisdiction of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and are subject to civil service laws passed by Congress. These laws are in place to ensure that all applicants receive fair and equal treatment. These laws may make it feel as if the entire process is extremely cumbersome, but it also ensures that the best qualified candidate gets interviewed based on job-related criteria.

Excepted Service agencies: These agencies set their own qualifications and requirements. They are not subject to the appointment, pay, and classification rules found in Title 5, US Code, which outlines the role of government organization and employees in the United States Code. However, they are subject to veterans’ preference. Some Federal agencies, such as the Federal Bureau of Investigations and the Central Intelligence Agency, have only excepted service positions. You will find that many other agencies may have some divisions or even specific jobs that may fall under the excepted from civil service procedures. These job postings should be clearly marked for the job seeker. To understand your own eligibility for Competitive Services jobs, you should understand the basics that these agencies usually choose from. The foundation of competition starts with a competitive list of eligibles. This record lists the applicants (in their rank order) who meet the qualification requirements for a specific vacancy announcement. You’ll always find a detailed list of qualifications under the “Qualifications & Evaluations” tab in job postings on USAJOBS. If these aren’t clearly defined in your application, you will most likely not make it to the top of that rank order.

Finally, agencies in the competitive service are required by law and OPM regulations to post vacancies with OPM whenever they are seeking candidates from outside their own workforce for positions lasting more than 120 days. These jobs are posted on USAJOBS.gov. Excepted agencies are not required to post their job announcement in USAJOBS. To learn about these job opportunities, you must go to their individual websites.

We’ll devote more articles to just how you can make your application rise to the top of that competitive list of eligibles.

Meanwhile, if you have specific questions, email debby.kratky@twc.state.tx.us and we’ll try to direct you to the best source for your answer. Good luck with your job hunting!

Summer Jobs with Delta

Tell your friends and family about Delta's Summer Airport Customer Service program. Delta is looking for people who want to work full-time during the summer months only. They are seeking people who are committed to providing exceptional front-line service - assisting customers at check-in and baggage handling. Employees will receive $10.82 per hour as well as worldwide travel privilegesthat enable them to fly on Delta. Applicants must be at least 18 years old, able to lift at least 70lbs, authorizedto work in the US, have a H.S. diploma/GED equivalent as well as a valid driver’s license and the ability to pass an extensive background check and drug test. TELL YOUR FRIENDS & FAMILY TODAY! Go to http://www.deltajobs.net/ Select Apply Now, and then select either Airport Customer Service Ticket/Gateor Ramp Operations/Baggage Handler. Happy hunting!

More Programs for Homeowners in Trouble

On May 14, the Treasury Department and the Department of Housing and Urban Development expanded the $50 billion Making Home Affordable (MHA) program, announcing foreclosure alternatives for homeowners who may not qualify for other assistance. These new initiatives are intended to streamline the process of selling homes worth less than the mortgage or facilitate transferring ownership to the lender. Neither option helps the homeowner's credit score, but it beats foreclosure. On May 14th, the Secretary of Treasury announced new details on the Making Home Affordable program: Foreclosure Alternatives provide incentives for servicers and borrowers to pursue short sales and deeds-in-lieu (DIL) of foreclosure in cases where the borrower is generally eligible for a MHA modification but does not qualify or is unable to complete the process, which helps prevent costly foreclosures and minimizes the damage that foreclosures impose on borrowers, financial institutions and communities. Home Price Decline Protection Incentives will provide lenders additional incentives for modifications where home price declines have been most severe and lenders fear these declines may persist. To encourage the modification of more mortgages and enable more families to keep their homes, the Administration, building on insights pioneered by Chairman Bair and the FDIC, has developed an innovative payment that provides compensation based on recent home price declines. These kinds of programs are great for everyone concerned but, like most programs from the government (or financial institutions, for that matter), they tend to be extremely difficult to understand. To help make this process easier to digest, the new Administration has constructed a new consumer website, www.MakingHomeAffordable.gov, to provide homeowners with detailed information about these programs along with self-assessment tools and calculators to empower borrowers with the resources they need to determine whether they might be eligible for a modification or a refinance. Through this website, borrowers can also connect with free counseling resources to help with outstanding questions; locate homeowner events in their communities; find a pretty neat checklist of key documents and materials to have ready when making that call to their servicer. There are also a FAQ section that is updated often.

Prescription Assistance through Phfizer

Article from Journalnews.com May 15,2009 By Tiffany Y. Latta Staff Writer http://www.journal-news.com/ FRANKLIN — Pfizer is offering a prescription to help its unemployed customers struggling to make ends meet in this economic downturn. The pharmaceutical giant, which has a plant in Franklin, announced this week plans to distribute more than 70 of its medications free to customers who meet certain requirements, including a job loss since Jan. 1 and lack of prescription drug insurance. The drugs will be made available free through a program called MAINTAIN or Medicines Assistance for Those who Are in Need. “We all know people who have been laid off recently and have lost their health insurance, making it difficult for them to pay for health care,” said Dr. Jorge Puente, Pfizer’s regional president of Worldwide Pharmaceuticals. “We thought there must be some way we could help recently unemployed people who are taking Pfizer medicines to continue treatment during these challenging economic times.” The program officially begins July 1. People in need before then may call (866) 706-2400 for help. The application is available at Pfizerhelpfulanswers.com. Applicants must attest to their financial hardship and have been prescribed Pfizer medications for at least three months to be eligible for the program. Eligibility requirements of the new program include: • Loss of employment since Jan. 1, 2009 • Prescribed and taking a Pfizer medicine for at least three months prior to becoming unemployed and enrolling in the program • Lack of prescription drug coverage • Can attest to financial hardship People who qualify will receive their Pfizer medicines for free for up to 12 months or until they become re-insured, whichever comes first.

A SPECIAL WEBSITE AND SEARCH ENGINE JUST FOR INFORMATION AND TECHNOLOGY

Dice is one of the most popular job search engines on the Web for technology professionals. Dice was designed to help employers find and hire the most qualified technology and engineering professionals and to provide those professionals with the best job opportunities in their respective fields. Dice.com is designed for the specific needs of technology professionals, enabling them to perform highly targeted job searches based on specific criteria, including location, type of employment, skill set and keyword. Dice.com also provides job search tools such as search agents, resume posting and career-related content. The job postings available in the Dice.com database, from both technology and non technology companies across many industries, include a wide variety of technology positions for software engineers, systems administrators, database specialists and project managers, and a variety of other technology and engineering professionals. For the beginner, the website and the search engine can be intimidating. Learn how to search Dice more effectively with these four tips on how to make the most of Dice’s search options from Ask.com: 1. Use the basic search: Dice has a simple yet effective search feature front and center. Type in a cursory search here for the job you're looking for and where you're looking, and your search results will come back with more options: keyword refinements, radius options, sort by relevance, and sort by date, and more. 2. Check out the Dice RSS feeds: The sheer number of Dice's RSS feeds is amazing. You can subscribe to any of these to get job results right in your feed reader. 3. Search by occupation or location: If you'd like to see all of Dice's locations in one place for easy browsing, you can: check out the locations page or browse by skill.

4. Browse the site map: Dice's site map is a bit tricky to find, but it's a great way to get an overview of the entire site to see where you will start your search first.

Making Home Affordable Program Now Includes Assistance with the Second Lien Program

Today the Obama Administration provided a press release announcing details of new efforts to help bring relief to responsible homeowners under the Making Home Affordable Program, including an effort to achieve greater affordability for homeowners by lowering payments on their second mortgages as well as a set of measures to help underwater borrowers stay in their homes. A segment of that press release is below: WASHINGTON – The Obama Administration today announced details of new efforts to help bring relief to responsible homeowners under the Making Home Affordable Program, including an effort to achieve greater affordability for homeowners by lowering payments on their second mortgages as well as a set of measures to help underwater borrowers stay in their homes. "With these latest program details, we're offering even more opportunities for borrowers to make their homes more affordable under the Administration's housing plan," said Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner. "Ensuring that responsible homeowners can afford to stay in their homes is critical to stabilizing the housing market, which is in turn critical to stabilizing our financial system overall. Every step we take forward is done with that imperative in mind." "Today's announcements will make it easier for borrowers to modify or refinance their loans under FHA's Hope for Homeowners program," said HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan. "We encourage Congress to enact the necessary legislative changes to make the Hope for Homeowners program an integral part of the Making Home Affordable Program. "The Second Lien Program announced today will work in tandem with first lien modifications offered under the Home Affordable Modification Program to deliver a comprehensive affordability solution for struggling borrowers. Second mortgages can create significant challenges in helping borrowers avoid foreclosure, even when a first lien is modified. Up to 50 percent of at-risk mortgages have second liens, and many properties in foreclosure have more than one lien. Under the Second Lien Program, when a Home Affordable Modification is initiated on a first lien, servicers participating in the Second Lien Program will automatically reduce payments on the associated second lien according to a pre-set protocol. Alternatively, servicers will have the option to extinguish the second lien in return for a lump sum payment under a pre-set formula determined by Treasury, allowing servicers to target principal extinguishment To read the entire press release and view other documents that will help you understand these new programs, go to: https://sites.google.com/site/survivingalayoff/housing-assistance

Special Column from the Social Security Administration

DON’T BE AN APRIL FOOL WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR ECONOMIC RECOVERY PAYMENT By Tom Clark Social Security Public Affairs Specialist No one likes being the target of an April fool’s prank. If you’re receiving Social Security or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits, don’t let anyone fool you regarding your special one-time recovery payment of $250 from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

To make sure no one does, we’ll state this as clearly as possible:

All Social Security and SSI beneficiaries who are eligible for the special one-time recovery payment will have their payment issued in May;

• The payment is automatic; no action is required on your part; and there are no requests to make, no applications to complete and no fees to pay.
• If you receive a visit, call or email from anyone claiming to want to help you obtain your payment, be skeptical.
• Do not pay anyone to help you receive your payment.
• And do not reveal any of your personal information to them, such as your full name, date of birth, or Social Security number. If someone requests this information for this purpose, it’s more likely they’re “out to get you” than out to get your payment for you.
• In addition to people who receive Social Security and SSI benefits, people who receive benefits from Veterans Affairs and the Railroad Retirement Board will receive one-time payments of $250.

Note, however, that only one payment of $250 will be made per person, regardless of any combination of benefits that may be received.

How will your recovery payment be made? The same way that your regular monthly payments are made. People with direct deposit will receive their payments electronically. Those who receive paper checks will receive their payments in the mail. People who receive regular payments through the new Direct Express debit card will receive their one-time payments through the card. We will send your one-time payment separately from your Social Security or SSI benefit. To assist in processing the payments as efficiently as possible, please do not contact Social Security — unless you have not received your payment by June 4. More information is available at www.socialsecurity.gov/payment and will be updated as needed. Rest assured that your special one-time recovery payment will be sent to you automatically. And if it’s not received by June 4, there’s only one place you need to contact: Social Security, at your local office, or 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778). To learn more about the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, visit www.recovery.gov. To learn more about Social Security, visit www.socialsecurity.gov.

Federal Stimulus funds bring increase in benefits for SNAP program (Food Stamps)

SNAP food benefit amounts to increase in April

Texans receiving SNAP food benefits, formerly known as food stamps, will see an increase in their monthly allotments beginning in April as a result of the federal stimulus package. The federal stimulus included a 13.6 percent increase in the monthly benefits for people getting SNAP food benefits. Currently, the average SNAP benefit is $276 a month. The stimulus will increase that by $38 a month, raising the average monthly benefits to $314. When the increase is applied to the state’s more than 1 million SNAP cases, the result is an additional $43 million a month in benefits for Texans. The stimulus also lifts the limits on the amount of time a childless adult ages 18 to 50 can receive food benefits. Under current federal rules, those adults are limited to getting benefits for no more than three months in a three-year period unless they meet strict work or job training requirements. Individuals and families needing help in purchasing food can apply for SNAP benefits at any HHSC benefits office in Texas or through a network of community organizations and the Texas Food Bank Network.

Avoid Foreclosure Scams!

Twenty-four hour news channels and Internet information at a click of the mouse can be a double-edged sword, especially if you are behind on your mortgage and worried about losing your home. We know that there is funding through recent legislation that is designed to help homeowners keep their investment. But who can you trust? The Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas wants to help you understand the complexities of the foreclosure crisis and provide solutions for community recovery, rebuilding and preparing for the future. Their website at: http://dallasfed.org/ca/foreclosure/index.cfm provides a variety of helpful, easy to read articles that could make this road a little less treacherous. One great example comes from The Federal Reserve Board at: http://www.federalreserve.gov/pubs/foreclosurescamtips/default.htm They list of 5 simple tips that if taken, could avoid disaster: 1. Work only with a nonprofit, HUD-approved counselor. If you are looking for help to prevent foreclosure, be sure the counseling agency is on the Department of Housing and Urban Development's list of approved agencies. Visit HUD's website for an easily searchable list of HUD-approved housing counseling agencies, or call 877-HUD-1515 (877-483-1515) for more information. If you are approached by foreclosure counselors--by mail, phone, or in person--make sure the counseling agency is HUD-approved before you do business with them. 2. Don't pay an arm and a leg. You should not have to pay hundreds--or thousands--of dollars. Most HUD-approved housing counselors provide no-cost counseling services and many more provide low-cost counseling. Do not agree to work with a counselor who collects a fee before providing you with any services or who accepts payment only by cashier's check or wire transfer. In general, do not pay money to anyone unless you know exactly what services you will receive. 3. Be wary of "guarantees." A reputable counselor will not guarantee to stop the foreclosure process, no matter what your circumstances. Working with a legitimate counselor can certainly increase your chances of keeping your home--but be wary of people who promise a sure thing. Again, get the details of your transaction, along with any promises, in writing first. 4. Know what you are signing--and be sure you sign it. Don't let a counselor pressure you to sign paperwork you haven't had a chance to read through carefully or that you don't understand. Don't sign any blank forms or let "the counselor" fill out forms for you. Be sure to talk with an attorney before signing anything that transfers the title of your home to another party. 5. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. If you feel you may be the target or victim of foreclosure fraud, trust your instincts and seek help. For tips on spotting scam artists, visit the Federal Trade Commission's web page on foreclosure rescue scams. Report suspicious schemes to your state and local consumer protection agencies, which you can find on the Federal Citizen Information Center's Consumer Action Website This is just one article in this excellent series. You’ll also find information about the Federal Reserve’s Homeownership and Mortgage Initiative, which is a comprehensive strategy across the Federal Reserve System to provide information and outreach to prevent unnecessary foreclosures and to stabilize communities. Help is out there, just do your homework and these websites are a great place to start!

Are you considering a "work from home" job? Consider this first!

What are Work-at-Home Jobs really all about? If you truly interested in this kind of work and are willing to do your homework and use common sense, you can find real work -from-your-dining-table jobs, ranging from telemarketing and virtual assistance to software development and graphic design. If you look, it will take only a few clicks to see SCAMS worthy of the best smooth talkin Nigerian prince. "Any kid in his basement can make a decent-looking website," warns Alison Southwick of the Better Business Bureau (BBB). Industry observers currently place the ratio of scams to legitimate jobs at an astonishing 54 to 1. The BBB also states that no one should send money, banking account numbers, or your Social Security number (SSN) until you've researched every aspect of that business and you're well along in the hiring process. There are some notable websites that provide employment information on Homeshoring, Virtual Call Centers, and Work From Home opportunities. A few notables are: Arise.com, workingsolutions.com, liveops.com, alpineaccess.com, and westathome.com specialize in outsourced call center jobs that can be done from home and generally pay $7 to $14 an hour. But READ THE FINE PRINT! Some pay only per minute you're on the phone (like LiveOps, which takes calls for infomercial customers), while others guarantee an hourly rate. Some upfront costs might be for things like charges for a background and credit check (not unusual in this industry) as well as training, incorporation, and equipment fees: a headset ($75 or so), high-speed Internet access, a dedicated landline, and current software. Then there are some sites such as virtualassistants.com and tjobs.com, that charge a FEE for access to listings. Don't be automatically turned off by these sites because the up-side can that be that you don't have to weed through postings to find ones geared toward home workers and there are fewer scam listings. For someone who enjoys the reseach, most of these virtual jobs can be found through free job search engines. Just remember, it's up to you to do the homework! There are even speciality sites like, Momcorps.com, which is a free site geared toward talented stay-at-home mothers as well as a staffing service that lets you post a detailed profile. Pay $9.95 a month and your profile jumps to the top of an employer's search. Then there are virtual marketplace sites like odesk.com which states "oDesk is the marketplace for online workteams, with the best business model for both buyers and providers. Our unique approach guarantees that an hour paid is an hour worked while also guaranteeing that an hour worked is an hour paid." And guru.com, who states on their website, "Guru.com provides the world's largest online marketplace for freelance talent. Today Guru.com is a leader in its industry with more than 1 million registered members and 100,000 active freelancer profiles. lThese companies attempt to link freelancers who have specialized skills (like video editing, blog writing, or Web developing) with employers who need these freelance skills. This concept can be effective but understand that candidates ususally bid for these jobs. Some users indicate it can be hard to compete with offshore workers who give lowball figures to win assignments. Others love the whole concept. This is another area that can work well but research is always your best option. Finally, some interesting work-at-home jobs can be found at vipdesk.com, which hires virtual personal assistants for clients. If you think this might be worth considering, understand that you need to submit a résumé and writing sample, agree to a background and credit check, interview by phone twice, train for ten days, provide references, and be available to work nights, weekends, and holidays. And you may have to wait. Hourly pay is $14 to $20. If you're serious about working from home, it's very possible! Just go into it with your eyes wide open and your research completely done!

Jobs with the Federal Government Remain HOT!

Last month we opened with an entry about jobs with the government. This concept is catching on nationwide and jobs with the federal government remain the hottest! The benefits are great, the salaries are competitive and even the Washington Post agrees. Here's a slice of a recent article:

How to Ride the Federal Hiring Wave By Lily Whiteman

Special to the Washington Post

Wednesday, March 25, 2009; 7:00 AM

There is little doubt that the planets have aligned to make federal employment the new hot property in the job market. The excitement over the new Obama administration, spiking unemployment and an exodus of retiring baby boomers from government ranks all have combined to boost the appeal of federal jobs. To read the rest of the article, click the link below: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/25/AR2009032501827.html?wpisrc=newsletter&wpisrc=newsletter&wpisrc=newsletter Another article from the Post specifically addresses the jobs at the federal level that are catching on with young adults across the nation:

More Young People Lining Up for Government Jobs Career Specialists Cite Growing Interest, Driven by Dismal Economy and Desire for Public Service

By Steve Vogel

Washington Post Staff Writer

Thursday, March 26, 2009; Page A19

The lines for the CIA were out the door at the spring career fair last week at George Mason University in Fairfax, and the Environmental Protection Agency and various Defense Department booths were doing booming business as well. Two months after President Obama took office vowing to make federal service cool again, career services specialists report an increase among college students who want to work for the government. "Lots and lots of students lined up for the federal government," said Alan C. More, employer in residence for U.S. government programs at GMU. "What we've seen across the board is an increased interest in government," said Tim McManus, vice president for education and outreach at the nonprofit Partnership for Public Service. "We're hearing from schools that they see government as an employer of choice. Government has been the afterthought option. It's no longer a second choice." To read the rest of the article, click on the link below: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/25/AR2009032503068.html?wpisrc=newsletter&wpisrc=newsletter&wpisrc=newsletter

Beware of UI Rip-offs!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MEDIA CONTACT: Ann Hatchitt DATE: March 13, 2009 PHONE: (512) 463-8556 TWC Cautions UI Claimants to Avoid Fee-for-Filing Scams AUSTIN —The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) warns Unemployment Insurance (UI) claimants to be aware of unscrupulous business operators who may try to charge as much as 30 percent of unemployment benefits to process UI claims. UI filing through TWC is, and always has been, available at no cost to claimants. “While the Texas Workforce Commission is very busy helping people navigate the filing process, there is no need to pay someone to file your claim,” said TWC Commissioner Ronny Congleton. “Unemployment benefits claim filing, job-search assistance and all the services TWC provides are always at no cost. We want to ensure that deceitful businesses do not take advantage of people during this difficult economic time.” TWC is concerned claimants may sign up for such services only to later discover unemployment claims were never filed on their behalf and that they may have given their Social Security numbers to these businesses believing they were dealing with state agencies. Claimants may receive UI information online through www.texasworkforce.org or by using our e-mail form at UI_Info@twc.state.tx.us. A TWC staff member will call back within 48 hours. Claimants may also contact a UI Tele-Center listed below.

A Career in Workforce Development

Have you ever considered a career in workforce development? There's more to it than you might think. In each career center in Tarrant County, you'll find staff who are trained to conduct workshops, work in the Resource Rooms, work with employers, and do in depth career consulting, and case management. It is rare for all of these positions to be open for job applicants but this is also a rare time in our country. With more people receiving unemployment benefits than anytime in recent history, our local workforce centers are hiring for all positions. If you think you might be interested, Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County is hosting a job fair on Saturday, March 14th, at the Eastside Workforce Center at 4701 E. Lancaster from 9:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. Since some interviews will take place on site, make sure to bring: •Drivers License • Social Security Card • Proof of education •Voided check • Proof of auto insurance Good luck, we hope to see you there!

Career Centers offer on-site job fairs during the last week of February

Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County is hosting several on-site employer job fairs. Here is a list of several of the employers and the time and location of each event:

Employers On-Site Week of February 23rd – 27th Westside Workforce Center Wednesday, February 25, 2009 2 pm – 3:30 pm ResCare Homecare Thursday, February 26, 2009 10 am – 2 pm Omni Hotel (must do Presreening) Friday, February 27, 2009 10 am & 1 pm U. S. Census Bureau Mid-Cities Workforce Center Thursday, February 26, 2009 1 pm Chrysler Financial Friday, February 27, 2009 9 am – 12 pm Home Depot Northside Workforce Center Monday & Wednesday February 23 & 25 2009 9 am & 1 pm U. S. Census Bureau Tuesday, February 24, 2009 11:30 am Race Trac Thursday, February 26, 2009 2 pm Race Trac Friday, February 27, 2009 9 am & 1 pm U. S. Census Bureau Eastside Workforce Center Thursday & Friday, February 26 & 27, 2009 9 am & 3 pm U.S. Census Bureau Arlington Workforce Center Monday, February 23, 2009 9 am – 11am Metroplex Sportservice Monday, February 23, 2009 9 am – 11 am Race Trac Tuesday, February 24, 2009 1 pm – 3 pm Weiser Security Wednesday, February 25, 2009 9 am – 11 am Snelling Personnel Friday, February 27, 2009 9 am & 1 pm U. S. Census Bureau Alliance Opportunity Center Tuesday, February 24, 2009 10 am – 12 pm Snelling Tuesday, February 24, 2009 10 am – 12 pm Staffmark Resource Connection Wednesday, February 25, 2009 11 am – 1 pm Home Instead Senior Care Mansfield Workforce Center No employers scheduled at this time Speak to the Resource Room Specialist or Recruitment & Placement Specialist for more information. Subject to change without prior notice.

For locations and phone numbers of these career centers, click here: http://www.workforcesolutions.net/center_locations.html

Unemployment Insurance Benefits Get Stimulated

Some immediate relief is coming to the residents of Texas who rely on Unemployment Insurance after being laid off. Our friends at TWC tell us that The new Federal Stimulus Package authorized an increase of $25 to the weekly unemployment benefits if you are currently receiving benefits. TWC will begin adding the $25 to payments in mid March. Staff tells us that claimants do not need to take any additional action to receive the extra funds. However, the stimulus package did not include additional weeks of unemployment for individuals who have already exhausted their emergency benefits. We'll keep you posted on additional funds that The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 that come to Texas.

SNAG A JOB ACTUALLY LIVES UP TO ITS’ NAME!

At 36, Shawn Boyer was working hard as a transactional lawyer for a Washington D.C. law firm. A friend of his asked him for help in looking for a summer internship. After searching on-line, Shawn was surprised when he failed to find many job search sites that were geared toward internships or hourly wage jobs. That’s when he came up with the idea for SnagaJob.com. Shawn researched the concept of the business in a way that lawyers do and finally left his job as a lawyer and started the company from the ground up. The business started in 2000 with two full-time employees crammed into a 1,000-square-foot space in a medical office park. It took off in a way no one could have expected and in the first two years, it received a million job applicants looking for hourly wage positions. Today it boasts 110 full-time "snaggers" in a 35,000-square-foot SiliconValley-like facility overlooking a lake in Richmond. Revenues have grown each year, and the company became profitable after its fourth year. Yet Shawn's passion goes beyond the bottom line, leading him to a level of volunteerism and community involvement that has become a big part of the drive behind his company's success. The people who know him, trust him and he has become a champion for “blue collar” workers across America. SnagAJob.com is now America’s largest hourly job Web site and has helped connect hourly workers with quality full-time and part-time work in a wide range of industries. It also provides both job seekers and employers with valued insights and a cutting-edge interface that are unique to hourly employment. That, combined with more than 130 million annual searches, 9 million registered job seekers and 100,000 active job postings, makes SnagAJob.com exceptionally qualified to share the experiences of the hourly workforce with the rest of the country. Current clients include The Home Depot®, Target®, FedEx®, Boston Market®, Chick-fil-A®, Bed Bath & Beyond®, T-Mobile®, Michaels® and Jiffy Lube®. Mr. Boyer’s success culminated in The National Small Business Person of the Year Award for 2008. He was honored by President Bush this past year as part of National Small Business Week. The winners are selected on their record of stability, growth in employment and sales, financial condition, innovation, response to adversity and community service. At a time when the economy is struggling, business at SnagAJob.com remains solid. With the low price of advertizing for employers and more computer savvy job seekers, SnagAJob continues to grow. Features for employers include an integrated management candidate system called Smart Employer Center. With this feature, employers can organize resumes of promising candidates. Employers can post a job ad at $129 for 30 days and can reach potential employees nationwide, something local newspapers and job boards just can’t provide. For the job seeker, SnagAJob offers Job Basics, which is an entire section filled with advice and tips on everything from filling out an application to searching for the right career and how to get the most out of your job seeking experience. In addition, the job seeker can receive a detailed description about specific job requirements and the qualities the ideal employee might possess. One of the best features of the site is the search engine by zip code. I put in 76036, which is in Crowley. I got 48 job opening within a 5 mile radius and 110 more within a 10 mile radius. There are many more ways to creatively use this tool, the job seeker just needs to fill out their profile and get started. For step by step instructions on exactly how to fill out an application on SnagAJob.com, go to http://www.ehow.com/how_2004005_search-job-snagajob.html and follow the steps provided. To listen to an recent interview with Shawn Boyer on Fox Business News about job trends in the hourly wage market, click on http://www.snagablog.com/snag-a-part-time-job-online.php

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Hot Jobs Page

We've added a section to our website that gives you a taste of some of the jobs that come across our informal network of service providers. You'll find a variety of jobs posted, everything from social workers to cooks! The jobs will stay up for about a week so check often and save any that you find interesting. Please pass this on to other people you know are job hunting and if you find jobs that you think would be appropriate, please email me at debby.kratky@twc.state.tx.us The webpage for hot jobs is: https://sites.google.com/site/survivingalayoff/Home/hot-jobs

SNAP - A new name for Food Stamps

The food stamp program (now known as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP) is designed to enable low-income families (with gross income at or below 130 percent of the federal poverty level—about $23,000 for a family of three in 2008) to buy the food they need. In Texas, recipients use the Lone Star Debit Card to access their benefits after eligibility is determined. Many low-income individuals who are eligible for food stamp benefits do not participate. Approximately 15 million people who were eligible for food stamps did not participate in 2004 nationwide. In Texas, only 58 percent of those eligible participate, leaving millions of dollars on the table. Myths and stigma are powerful barriers preventing access to nutrition assistance to those who need it most. We'd like to give you the facts so that you can decide if this program is for you.

Here are some basic facts about Food Stamps in Texas:

The Food Stamp Program helps people with low incomes and resources buy the food they need for good health. Food stamps are given to a single person or family who meets the program’s requirements. HHSC sends a renewal application to a family getting food stamps before the end of each benefit period. Most benefit periods last for 6 months but some can be as short as 1 month or as long as 3 years.

For most adults between the ages of 18 and 50 who do not have a child in the home, food stamp benefits are limited to 3 months in a 3-year period. The benefit period can be longer if the adult works at least 20 hours a week or is in a job or training program. Some people may not have to work to get benefits, such as those who have a disability or are pregnant. HHSC gives food stamp benefits through the Lone Star Card. This is a plastic card that is used like a credit card at the cash register to pay for purchases. Each month, the family’s approved monthly food stamp amount is placed in the card’s account.

Emergency Food Stamps Emergency food stamps are also known as expedited food stamps because the benefits are given faster to those in an emergency situation, such as:

• A family with resources worth $100 or less, and monthly income less than $150.

• A family with resources and monthly income that are less than the most recent monthly expenses for rent/mortgage and utilities.

• A family that includes a migrant or seasonal farm worker who has $100 or less in resources and very little income.

To apply for emergency food stamps, visit a HHSC benefits office or call 2-1-1.

On a personal note, going through the application process can be frustrating. Be prepared for long waits and lots of questions but don't give up. Educate yourself. We've published necessary forms and desk aids to assist you in the process. If your family needs food, your patience will pay off. Just go to:

Resources to help you in Surviving a Lay-Off

Angel Food Ministries - Answers to a prayer!

Angel Food Ministries is a non-profit, non-denominational organization dedicated to providing grocery relief and financial support to communities throughout the United States. The program began in 1994 with 34 families in Monroe, Georgia (between Atlanta and Athens), and has grown to serve hundreds of thousands of families every month across 35 states. Angel Food Ministries crosses denominational lines and provides much needed food regardless of religious belief. Angel Food is available in a quantity that can fit into a medium-sized box at $30 per unit. Each month's menu is different than the previous month and consists of both fresh and frozen items with an average retail value of approximately $60. Comparison shopping has been done across the country in various communities using a wide range of retail grocery stores and has resulted in the same food items costing from between $42 and $78. Generally, one unit of food assists in feeding a family of four for about one week or a single senior citizen for almost a month. The food is all the same high quality one could purchase at a grocery store. There are no second-hand items, no damaged or out-dated goods, no dented cans without labels, no day-old breads and no produce that is almost too ripe. In speaking to staff from Episcopal Church of St. Peter & St. Paul in Arlington, we learned that many faith-based organizations have been accessing food through Angel Food Ministries for several years. They are delighted with the service and use the non-profit for many of their congregants who are elderly or who have fallen on hard times. Since Angel Food Ministries accepts Food Stamps, members are able to make their food allowance go even further.

Consider WIC as a suppliment to your family's food allowance

WIC Eligibility Who is eligible and who can apply?

Pregnant women Women who are breastfeeding a baby under 1 year of age Women who have had a baby in the past six months Parents, step-parents, guardians, and foster parents of infants and children under the age of 5 can apply for their children If you have a job or if you have private health insurance, you can still apply for WIC. You do not have to be married to apply for WIC. For more eligibility requirements, see below.

What about fathers?

Fathers of children under the age of 5 are encouraged to enroll their children in the WIC program. Just like any other parent or guardian, fathers can bring their children to appointments, attend nutrition classes, and receive and redeem benefits for their children. Active participation by fathers is a great help in keeping WIC children healthy.

Are services free?

Yes! All WIC services are free to those who are eligible.

Who provides the services?

The Department of State Health Services runs the Texas WIC program and provides funds to agencies across the state who run local WIC offices. All kinds of agencies offer WIC services such as local health departments, county and city agencies, migrant health centers, community action agencies, and hospitals. Many local offices are open in the evenings and on Saturdays so that clients do not have to miss work. There are over 300 full-time, permanent WIC offices and more than 200 other part-time satellite sites, so finding a WIC clinic close to you shouldn't be a problem.

Eligibility Requirements Meet the income guidelines. Households with incomes at or below 185 percent of the federal poverty income level are eligible. WIC determines income based on gross income. WIC counts all of the members of a household, related or unrelated. WIC counts an unborn baby as a household member.

WIC clients receive an initial health and diet screening at a WIC clinic to determine nutritional risk. WIC uses two main categories of nutritional risk: (1) medically-based risks such as a history of poor pregnancy outcome, underweight status, or iron-deficiency anemia, and (2) diet-based risks such as poor eating habits that can lead to poor nutritional and health status. Clients will be counseled at WIC about these risks and the outcome influenced by nutrition education and nutritious foods provided by WIC.

WIC clients usually receive services in the county where they live. U.S. citizenship is not a requirement for eligibility. Clients must apply in person except in certain limited cases.

How to Become a WIC Client: Are you a pregnant woman, breastfeeding a baby less than one year of age, a postpartum woman (one who had a baby within the last six months), or have an infant or a child who is less than 5 years old? If yes, call 1 (800) WIC-FORU [1 (800) 942-3678] Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to obtain the telephone number and address of a WIC clinic that is close to where you live.

Call or go by the clinic to make an appointment for a pregnant woman, breastfeeding woman, postpartum woman, infant, or child less than 5 years of age. At the time of your appointment, bring documentation of your household's source of income or wages. This applies to all members of the household. Some examples of documentation include a paycheck stub, a current tax return, a letter from an employer, a Social Security check, a child-support check, or self-employed accounting records. Applicants and certain family members who receive Medicaid, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, or Food Stamps automatically meet income eligibility by bringing acceptable proof of their participation in one of these programs—they do not have to bring other income documents.

At the time of your appointment, bring documentation of where you live with your current physical address, such as a utility or credit-card bill, rent receipt, or business letter. At the time of your appointment, bring one document of identification for each person applying for WIC benefits and the adult responsible for the benefits. Examples of acceptable identification documents are a birth certificate, a driver's license, an immunization card, an employee or school identification card with picture, a Social Security card, or hospital records.

During the appointment the applicant will undergo a simple health screen including height and weight measurement, a finger stick to screen for low iron, a medical and health history and a diet recall and history to determine nutritional risk.

At the end of his or her appointment, an applicant will receive counseling and referral to appropriate health and human services, if applicable. WIC Program eligibility will also be determined. Food benefits will be provided to those eligible.

If you have any questions about the above information, lack some item above, or have a special situation, call or go by the clinic before your appointment so the staff may assist you with your situation. Not bringing in all the documentation at the time of your appointment may delay eligibility determination and benefits. A complete screen must be done before eligibility can be determined.

What does WIC provide and who receives the benefits?

WIC provides nutrition education, nutritious foods, referrals to health and human services, breastfeeding support, and immunizations (at some clinics). Food benefits are issued for each client. Both fathers and mothers can receive and spend the benefits for their children. WIC Nutrition Education Clients receive individual nutrition counseling and nutrition classes. Many clinics offer classes especially for children. Men who have family members participating in the program are welcome to attend nutrition classes.

Some of the topics clients can learn about: Eating healthfully during pregnancy for mom and baby Infant and child nutrition — healthy foods for happy children, picky eaters, watching your child’s weight, and lots more How to get the most out of their food dollars Valuable parenting skills Stages of child development The importance of childhood immunizations Tips for pregnant teens Common infant problems, such as colic, constipation, and crying Breastfeeding Support - Clients receive encouragement and instruction in breastfeeding. In many cases, breastfeeding women are provided breast pumps free of charge. WIC helps clients learn why breastfeeding is the best start for their baby, how to breastfeed while still working, Dad’s role in supporting breastfeeding, tips for teens who breastfeed, how to pump and store breastmilk, and much more.

Nutritious Foods WIC provides benefits each month which are taken to grocery stores and used to buy nutritious foods. WIC foods include iron-fortified infant formula and infant cereal, iron-fortified adult cereal, vitamin C–rich fruit and vegetable juice, milk, eggs, cheese, beans, and peanut butter. Different food packages are issued to different clients. For example, mothers who are totally breastfeeding their babies without formula are issued tuna and carrots in addition to other foods.

Referrals WIC refers clients to a variety of health and social services agencies and programs. WIC staff can help clients find these services. Some examples are: Medicaid Food Stamps Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) Child health insurance Family planning Migrant health services Prenatal care Texas Health Steps (EPSDT) Medical and dental services Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) The School Lunch / Breakfast Summer Lunch Program Food Pantries Literacy Services Job Banks Housing Services Parenting Classes Drug and alcohol abuse programs Child care Child support enforcement Immunizations

Many Texas WIC clinics provide immunizations free of charge to WIC clients. Those clinics that do not provide immunizations will check immunization records and make referrals to clinics where shots are given.

Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program: Some WIC clinics also provide vouchers for clients to shop at farmers’ markets to buy fresh vegetables and fruits — usually during the spring and summer months. This service is not available statewide, due to limited funding.

Health Benefits of WIC Studies show that WIC plays an important role in improving birth outcomes and containing health-care costs. WIC has a positive impact on children’s diets. WIC improves infant-feeding practices by actively promoting breastfeeding as the best method of feeding infants. WIC clients have improved rates of childhood immunizations and a regular source of health care. Improved infant-feeding practices Premature births reduced Fetal death rate reduced Low birthweight reduced Long-term medical expenses reduced Improved dietary intake Improved cognitive development Fewer premature births

To see if you might be income eligible click here: WIC Income Questionnaire for Customers‎

To know what you might need to bring to your WIC appointment, click here: What to bring to a WIC appointment

To additional information about WIC click here: Supplemental Information Form

Faith-based organizations step up to the plate to assist job seekers

Many churches and faith-based organizations have stepped up to the plate and are offering on-site job fairs for their community. One such job fair will be at First Baptist Church Euless on Wednesday, April 1, 2009 at 1000 W. Airport Fwy - Campus West Euless, TX 76039 from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm. In the past, this job fair has attracted dozens of businesses and service providers. We'll post reminders of the job fair as it gets closer. For more information watch this site in future months.

Answering questions about your unemployment benefits

The Texas Workforce Commission has created an on-line request form that claimants can use to contact TWC’s UI Department if they cannot get through on the telephone. TWC is asking claimants to use this on-line form rather than sending emails to TWC. Just go to: https://services.twc.state.tx.us/UIEV/email/email.do Claimants submitting a request will be asked to select a subject from the following options: · File a new claim · Questions about existing claim · Address change · PIN change/reset · Other TWC staff will get back to the claimant within 48 hours. Try using this format when you have questions. The end result is hoped to answer questions and reduce the wait time for people filing claims on the phone. If you have questions about the status of your on-line claim, you'll find a neat desk aid at: on-line desk aid

A Job With the Government

Sound interesting? Did you know that the federal government currently employs 2% of the nation's workforce? Well, according to FederalJobs.net, the federal government is the largest employer in the US today. So, it might be an exciting idea to consider the government as a possible employer for you! Remember, there are several levels of government and each has its own methodology in posting, interviewing and filling their vacancies. Your first step might be to find actual job openings. In order to help you through what could be a daunting ordeal, we've tried to customize and simplify your job search. Check out this new web page for job seaching on-line with the federal, state, and local government at Surviving a Lay-Off in Tarrant County

On January 29, 2009 Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County hosted the 1st annual New Directions Job Fair at the Salvation Army. Well over 100 customers from the Community of Hope attended.

Remembering old lessons

As the ecomony worsens, we all get a little afraid. Finding ways to cope becomes even more important. After 9-11, this community came together and faced the fear after that event head on. This quote from Bob Ray Sanders and R. J. Rabbe, both journalists for the Star Telegram at the time, rings true today, just as it did back then. All of us in Tarrant County are in this together and the best way out continues to be together. This booklet contains some great resource information so we've posted the entire document on the resource page of our website.

"The community organizations which developed this guide are committed to helping each of us move beyond the tragedies which have consumed our attention over recent months to see the possibilities for the future. There is no denying that lives have been shattered, but we must not let despair drive our decisions. We have heard commentator after commentator proclaim that our lives will never be the same again, but that does not mean that our lives have to be forever worse. For many, this period of seeking to understand what has happened in our world has also led, perhaps for the first time, to serious introspection. Hopes, dreams, priorities have been re-evaluated. It is not just a new year, but a new world for us, and it can truly be a time of starting over, of focusing on what really matters to us now. Opportunity calls. Just as businesses are devising new strategies to achieve success despite the economic downturn, so can families and individuals. The information presented on the following pages is designed to do just that—to help you discover ways that you can turn the tide in your own life and in your community."

Click here to review the entire document: https://sites.google.com/site/survivingalayoff/resources-to-help-you-during-your-lay-off

More Ways to Get Your Resume in Front of an Employer

There are many different tools available on-line to assist you in your job search. But, as in dating, beware! If it costs money, don't make it your first choice. After doing some serious on-line research, I've found many sites that offer free assistance with preparing and submitting your resume. Of course, the most obvious for those of us in Texas is WorkinTexas.com. We'll be posting a lot more information here about WorkinTexas and other services offered on-line from TWC later. Another on-line resource that TWC provides a link to is GadBall. What is GadBall? According to their website, "GadBall is a free service to job seekers brought to you by Data Frenzy, the world's largest job distribution company. This site utilizes the advanced technologies, Job Board Partnerships and Employer relationships of Data Frenzy to provide a comprehensive free resume distribution site. GadBall is a Career Portal designed to give you, the Job Seeker, the tools to evaluate your career path and connect with Employers who can hire you." If you know of other free sites for posting your resume, please let us know in the comment section.

Using key words in your on-line job search

Other advice comes from Darlene Zambruski who is a Certified Resume Writer and Managing Editor of ResumeEdge.com.in her online column for the online candidate. She says, "Keywords can include industry-specific jargon or acronyms, such as the following: Generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), for accountants Series 7 licensing, for brokers Initial public offering (IPO), for investment bankers At-risk child, for social workers Level 2 Training, for physicians Intellectual property law, for attorneys Triage, for nurses You should employ other nouns or phrases that indicate your qualifications and knowledge of required tasks. Such words might include: General ledger, word processing, contract negotiations, benefits, payroll, closing (for sales people) Catering services, new menu items, capacity planning (for chefs) Logistics, quality assurance, advertising campaigns, product launches, staffing, training, orientations (for a marketing position) Companies that employ scanners require a set number of hits on keywords before the hiring manager will personally review a resume. For that reason, it is always wise to incorporate as many keywords as possible into your resume. By deciding what you want, and crafting your resume appropriately to reflect your goal, you will find that perfect job. Make sure to start by getting clear on what you want to achieve and review the qualifications that are required for a particular opening. Develop your resume around your particular wants and the needs of the hiring manager. You'll be glad you did!"

Featured Video for your career | DFW Metroplex, Texas

Featured Video for your career DFW Metroplex, Texas

Two ways to apply for Unemployment in Texas

The Texas Workforce Commission offers two basic ways to apply for Unemployment Insurance. You can apply by phone or on-line. If you apply by phone, TWC lists the following numbers to call: Austin local: (512) 340-4300 Dallas local: (972) 339-6200 El Paso local: (915) 832-6400 Fort Worth local: (817) 420-1600 Houston local: (281) 983-1100 McAllen local: (956) 984-4700 San Antonio local: (210) 258-6600 Others call toll free: 1-800-939-6631

To avoid busy signals and long waits on hold, filing on-line could be a solution. Our companion website contains instructions and information about the on-line process. We will also post some "insider" tips on the process on that website. So, if you are just starting the process, click on this site before you begin: https://sites.google.com/site/survivingalayoff/Home/applying-for-unemployment-on-line