Find a Better Job. Michael Dolan

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СКАЧАТЬ staying in the same company isn’t an option, will you look for a position in the same field or a different one? Will you handle your job search on your own or seek professional assistance?

      Perhaps you want to start your own business. If you have the experience, the determination and the money to start and run your own business, find and consult qualified professionals-real estate agents, lawyers, accountants, public relations experts and consultants-to help you make the best decisions. Contact your local Chamber of Commerce and Small Business Administration (SBA) for assistance.

      Help Is Available

      To help increase your job opportunities, you can enlist the services of one or more professional organizations. If you do seek professional assistance, schedule free sessions with reputable agencies that specialize in your field. Find out their job placement procedure and who pays their fees-you or the employer. Some options:

      •State employment agencies

      •Private employment agencies

      •Executive recruiters

      •Temporary help organizations

      •Career counselors

      The National Board for Certified Counselors will provide a listing of certified career counselors in your area. You can contact the board at 3D Terrace Way, Greensboro, NC 27403, (910) 547-0607.

      America’s Job Bank, operated by the U.S. Department of Labor, lists three quarters of a million job openings throughout the country, and can be accessed on the Internet at www.ajb.dni.us. You also can post your resume on America’s Talent Bank, a new on-line service of the Labor Department that employers can tap into, on the Internet at www.atb.org. In addition, assistance is available at the growing nationwide network of One-Stop Career Centers, funded by the Labor Department, which provide help with finding jobs and training, career counseling, and other employment services.

      See “ORGANIZATIONS” in the reference section at the end of this brochure. Regardless of the number of agencies and organizations you’re working with, don’t sit back and wait for the phone to ring. It’s your responsibility to take control of, and manage, your own job search. You owe it to yourself to explore every possibility and to create your own opportunities.

      Persistence Pays

      It’s often said that timing is everything, and while you can’t control timing, you can identify a place where you would like to work, then be persistent in your attempts to make yourself known there. When a position opens up, the company may call-or it may even create a job for you. To identify prospective employers, you’ll want to be creative in your search. Following are some hints to get you started:

      Check newspapers, business periodicals, industry publications and employment reference guides at your local library.

      If you want to pursue opportunities in another city or state, check out the America’s Job Bank listings on the Internet, at a One-Stop Center or one of the Employment Services Offices throughout the country.

      Talk to people working in the field that interests you. Or, talk to people at the company where you’d like to work. Don’t be afraid to ask for guidance, many people will be flattered that you’re interested.

      Use the Internet, where you can find websites that offer both job openings and job-finding tips.

      To hook up with others in your field, you can attend job fairs, and find and use resources such as networking groups and professional seminars. To locate these sources, check your telephone directory and the events calendar in the current issue of National Business Employment Weekly at your library. You can also contact your local Chamber of Commerce, Small Business Administration, community college career placement center, your college alumni association, and any professional organizations to which you belong.

      Attend resume-writing workshops.

      Establish a mass mailing campaign. Make a list of possible employers, send them a cover letter and your resume and follow up with a phone call.

      Let Others Know You’re Looking

      While you’ll want to conduct your job search quietly, you will have to let prospective employers know you’re looking. Put the word out among friends, family and fellow members of professional organizations. Most people prefer to hire someone personally recommended or known by someone they trust and respect. And if you’re persistent, when a spot opens up or a new one is created, your name may come to mind.

      If You Leave…

      Get What You Have Coming

      When your job hunt pays off, be sure to schedule an appointment with your company’s benefits coordinator. If you’re moving into another department within the same company, you’ll likely have no interruption of benefits.

      Arrange Insurance Coverage

      But if you’re moving to a new company, you’ll want to make sure that you’re covered by health insurance until your new company’s policy takes effect, that you receive payment to which you may be entitled for any unused vacation, and that you receive any retirement funds to your tax advantage. Be sure to take advantage of any “use it or lose it” benefits that are still available, such as tuition assistance programs, legal benefits or other employer-specific offerings.

      Under a federal law called COBRA-Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act-your employer is required to extend your health and dental insurance, for up to 18 months. Find out whether you are covered by your new employer’s health insurance right away, or if you have a waiting period. If necessary, you may be able to continue your health and insurance benefits from your previous employer until you’re covered by the new employer.

      You’ll also want to make sure you continue to have life, disability, and long-term care insurance coverage, since these benefits may also be lost in the job change.

      Usually your health insurance coverage ceases on the day you quit working. However, there is a chance it may vary from employer to employer. You should check with your employer or personnel office about the exact date your health care coverage ends.

      If you will have to pay for your own health insurance under COBRA for a while, you will need to know the date when you are no longer covered by your former employer’s health plan. In most cases, you have 60 days from the last day of work at your old job to elect COBRA and an additional 45 days before you must pay a health insurance premium. While you may have to pay for Cobra coverage, it can prove valuable while you are unemployed or until you are covered under a new employer’s health plan.

      You Can Take It With You

      When you leave a company, you may be entitled to money from the employer’s pension, 401(k) or some other form of employer-sponsored retirement savings plan. That distribution, paid in one taxable year, is called a lump sum distribution.

      But be careful: When you receive a lump-sum distribution from your 401(k), for example, all of the money you receive from the СКАЧАТЬ