I found a great website where you can get free education! Of course, you won’t get credit or a degree but you can increase your knowledge and improve your job qualitifications. If you already have a degree, this is a great way to keep current and learn new skills at your own pace. And we are taking Yale, Harvard and Stanford classes. Check out www.academicearth.org. There are classes on many different subjects. It is a great resource. Let me know if you found anything helpful.
Archive for the ‘Job Loss’ Category
Free Education!
Friday, November 13th, 2009What is your role in life?
Tuesday, September 22nd, 2009I ran across a website that has a test for people to take in 15 – 20 minutes and it gives you immediate results on your main role and supporting role. It asks what you would do in certain circumstances – how you relate to people, etc. The author of the website was on Dave Ramsey recently. The site is http://www.stronglifetest.com/. Check it out.
Work From Home
Friday, August 21st, 2009
It is so hard when you try to find work from home income. There are so many scams out there. You don’t know where to turn to for legitimate work. I found a story on the ABC News website concerning this topic and thought I would share the link. The article has quite a few different ideas and links to places to go for more information. Here is the link. I hope you find something that you enjoy and brings in some extra cash.
How Does Your Salary Compare?
Wednesday, August 12th, 2009There are several websites you can go to in order to find information on how your salary compares to others or how much to ask for if you are asked your salary requirements for a new job.
Check out http://www.salary.comfor average salaries for each of about 3,700 job categories. You can search for free. If you want a more personalized report based on your experience and education they also offer reports for a fee.
Another option to check out is www.payscale.com. Here again there are free searches or a premium membership for $19.95 which may be worth it if you can get a higher salary out of it.
There is also www.jobnob.com which is a newer site but is totally free as the site makes money from job listings.
Check these out before your next pay increase or job application.
Protect Against the Unexpected
Friday, July 10th, 2009Life happens! Many times we are faced with the unexpected – accidents, injuries, job loss, disabilities, death, etc. You should plan ahead for the unexpected. A great way to start is to have at least 6 – 8 months in an emergency fund. But there are other things you can do to protect you and your family from unexpected events. Here are a few of the events you should develop strategies for:
- disability – disability insurance
- illness – health insurance
- car accident – auto insurance
- premature death – life insurance
- nursing home care – long-term care insurance
- living longer than expected – annuities
- long-term inflation – stocks or stock mutal funds
- falling rates – bonds or bond mutual funds
Do you have a strategy for each of these possible events? You should think about and plan for what you will do in each of the above situations.
Lost Your Job, What about Health Insurance?
Saturday, May 9th, 2009Have you lost your job and now you are wondering if you will lose your health insurance also? If you are in that bind, maybe these hints will help.
If you just recently lost your job, ask your boss for more benefits. It doesn’t hurt to ask.
If you have an employed spouse, sign up for coverage through their employer. A job loss is a special circumstance and you can be added even if the benefit enrollment period is in the past. But act fact, you have only 30 days from the end of your coverage. This is probably the least costly alternative if it is available to you.
Check if you are eligible for COBRA. If your employer has at least 20 employees they must give employees the option to extend coverage 18 months. Your state may also have a continuation plan for employers with even less employees. Find out at www.naic.org. With the new government subsidy plan, your employer may pick up 65% of the bill for 9 months if you have been laid off. If the company went under this wouldn’t apply. You have 60 days to take COBRA and it is retroactive. So if you need to see a doctor on day 35 you can file a claim still get covered as long as you elect coverage prior to the 60 days.
Find insurance on your own. Is their a trade group your are a member of (or could join) that offers insurance. Shop www.ehealthinsurance.com.
You want to aviod any gaps in coverage to avoid exclusions on pre-existing condditions in your next plan.
Do You Have A Solid Plan In Case of A Crises?
Friday, May 1st, 2009There are several things you should have in place in case of a crisis such as a job loss, divorce, death or disability.
- Make sure you are saving for your future. By the time you retire you should have enough to live off of about 4% each year of what you have saved.
- Do you have enough insurance? Do you need more life insurance? Do you have disability insurance? Should your purchase long-term care insurance?
- Make sure you are diversified. Spread your risks around – not all in stocks, your company stock, your home equity, etc.
- If you are in a crisis, think about it objectively. Think of if a friend of your was in the same situation. What advice would you give them? Think apart from your emotions. Avoid impulsive decisions.
You never know when a crisis will come your way. Being prepared and having a plan helps to lessen the blow. Do you have any other hints?
Find A Good Credit Counselor
Tuesday, April 14th, 2009Are you in a credit crises? Do you need a credit counseling service? Make sure you don’t get ripped off. They are a lot of scams out there for credit counseling and debt settlement. A legitimate agency will educate you about budgeting and how to use credit and help you set up a debt-management plan, if you need one.
Remember, that NO ONE can get accurate, negative information off of your credit report. If it is accurate it will not come off except for a short period of time. Some scams promise to get it off but they can only "dispute" it and get it off temporarily until it is verified as being accurate and then it will be back again. If there is inaccurate information on your report you can get that off yourself without paying someone else to do it.
To find a legitimate credit counseling agency, check out the National Foundation for Credit Counseling at www.nfcc.org or the Association of Independent Counsumer Credit Counseling Agencies at www.aiccca.org. Only legitimate firms can join either of these organizations. Run the agency’s name through the Better Business Bureau at www.bbb.org. Find out if there have been any complaints against the agency and whether they were resolved.
Ask the agency about fees. If they won’t talk about fees, find someone else. The initial session should be free or cost very little, maybe $15. If you sign up for a debt management plan, the average fee should be about $28. An extended debt-managment program may cost you $23 a month. If they ask you to stop paying your creditors, that is a bad sign.
Don’t get caught in a scam and end up in further debt. If you need help, get good legitimate help.
The Taxman Cometh
Wednesday, March 18th, 2009April 15th is quickly coming. But there is good news for hard times. The IRS can make it easier for you to pay your federal tax bill. If you owe back taxes and have been hit by a recent job loss, illness or another financial hardship, the IRS can adjust your payments, postpone collections and garnishment of wages, or settle your debt for less than the full amount. You should still file by April 15 but contact the agency to discuss you options. IRS agents have been instructed to be sensitive to taxpayers in hardship situations and work with them. This doesn’t mean that they are walking away from taxpayers’ responsibility. For information call 1-800-829-1040 or visit www.irs.gov.
Career Survival Guide
Friday, February 20th, 2009What strategies can you use to help ensure that you don’t get involved in cutbacks at the office? Here are are few important tips:
- Don’t be invisible. Stand out and step up. Arrive early and stay a little late at least once in awhile. Volunteer for things no one else wants. Devise plans to meet big challenges. Make sure you are memorable. Complete assignments on time.
- Make money for the company. Devise ways to create new revenue streams or bolster existing ones. Try to be part of the solution, not the problem. Make yourself irreplaceable. Be proactive with cost-sutting ideas.
- Don’t be a complainer. If you make life difficult for others, you me be one of the first to go. Have a "can do" attitude. Mind the company you keep. Don’t hang out with those with bad attitudes. Change the subject or keep away. Associate with the people the boss respects.
- Keep on top of advances in your field and expand your expertise beyond your core area. Gain a true competetive edge. Increase your value.
- Be a team player. Go beyond your job desription. Look for trouble spots you can help fix. Pitch in when extra help is needed.
- If you are well compensated and suspect your position is in danger due to costs, offer to give up a bonus or take a cut in base salary in exchange for stock options or a temporary cut in hours. If it helps to keep the company afloat, you may look like a hero.
I hope you can use these tips to survive in your career!
