Welcome to Ask an Expert
When we launched the Unemployment LifeLine, it had information about more than 50,000 resources for unemployed people. Since then, the LifeLine has kept growing—we've added more than 10,000 food banks, health clinics, senior centers and aid organizations. Now we're adding a whole new kind of resource—live people.
Every day, the Unemployment LifeLine's "Ask an Expert" will feature a community services staffer visiting the LifeLine's discussion forums to answer your questions and give advice for your situation. We know that's important because everyone's situation is unique; there are no one-size-fits-all solutions.
Today's expert is Steve Rajewski.
Steve's Bio
My title is AFL-CIO Community Services Director / United Way of Bay County. I have been the "labor staff" here for the past 23 years. I am a member of USW local 5187 and have been a member of the USW for 42 years, and have been an officer of the Bay County AFl-CIO Central Labor Council for the past 15 years. I have over 40 years in the community services field.I am responsible for information and referral services, case management, advocacy, follow-up for the clients contacting our United Way through our AFL-CIO First Call for Help program. Through that program we assist an average of 15 people each day, and we also offer a pager system allowing us to respond to emergencies 24 hours a day.
I also volunteer as the Emergency Services Coordinator for the Pinconning Area Emergency Food Pantry, providing the same I&R, case management, advocacy, etc to that community.
Unfortunately, in our community we have had to develop and implement programs for 25 plant/business closing over the past 24 years, but on the other side of that we have developed a valuable and effective program to address the needs of those losing a job whether it be temporary of permanent.
If you have a unemployment related question you need answered—ask Steve! He's today's expert. Post your questions below.
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Hello, Brothers and Sisters
Welcome to our Unemployment Lifeline. We're here to help you, so if you have a crisis, a question, concern ask us and we'll do everything possible to help you through it.
Steve
I have been unemployed for 6 months now and have sent over 150 resumes to 7 different states. I have had my resume reviewed by 2 different career counselors and a career marketer. Everybody has different opinions about whether my resume is too plain, too long, too short etc. I have about 10 years experience in nonprofit and over 10 years in for profit. I have made myself geographically flexible but still no job offer. When I apply for jobs in other states I'm told they won't pay for relocation. When I offer to pay my own relo I'm told they want people familiar with the area. I have followed every piece of advice, read every article, networked, and followed every job site. What else can I do?? I'm almost wiped out financially and I'm very frustrated. I don't care if the job is in for profit or nonprofit. AND I am eager to travel. What more can I do?
I am been unemployed for more than 8 months and till now no reply from companies which i applied for...
I send across my resume to different states at different location...and till now no reply from them...
I am a student and i have to pay for my tuition fee...and my bills..and i am not staying with my parents..and now I have to pay for my room rents too...
its a disaster...i tried each and every tips and advices and also also maintained networks to find a job..but it seems no use at all....
I am ready to travel any place in US to whoever find me a job..I just need to get paid for what i am working for...
I am so frustrated that i cant even take care of myself....I JUST NEED A PAID JOB TO SUPPORT MYSELF....
WHAT CAN A PERSON WANT OTHER THAN A JOB...
I've been out of work for about 7 months now. I graduated from college with a BA in Political Science at the end of 2005 and I haven't been able to use my degree yet. My situation is rather odd because I have lived abroad in Chile 2 different times since graduating because my wife is Chilean; I am currentely living abroad. Basically, I moved to Chile right after graduating and lived here until 2007. My wife dropped out of college and I was upset with my job situation, so I moved back to the US with her. I worked a few jobs that didn't end up working out for me. Finally I started working in Petition Managment again, which is a seasonal job that I've done for every election since 2004. While I was working in Petition Management, my wife decided to return to Chile and continue studying. By the time my job had ended, the economy was already in bad shape, so I decided to return to Chile for the time being. I'm not having any luck finding employment here in Chile and am considering moving back to the US. However, I am reluctant to come back to the US without getting a job first because I know that, while it'll probably be easier than in Chile, it will be difficult to find a job in the US. I have a history of being involved in political activism in paid and volunteer positions. I'd like for my next job to be something meaningful that will help me advance my career as a political activist, but I'm also worried about just being able to get by. Do you have any advice for me?
Hi, It seems as though you ARE doing everything that you can to find a job. Some of the problem is that there are not a lot of "good" jobs available right now.
You describe your resume. Your resume should be the ticket that gets you into the interview, I haven't seen it, but the key to getting that interview is to catch the attention of the person reading it, make it as interesting / informative as you can.
Keep it short, list your most valuable assets and try to remain positive. It took me almost a year to get a good job when my plant closed in 1983 and I empathize with you. Keep on working at it. Expand your job search area, network with people you know, volunteer, volunteering can lead to a great job, especially in the non-profit world.
There are resources in your community that can help with things if that becomes necessary. Good Luck and don't give up.
Steve
This message is for npoqueen. I know of a professional resume writing service that is pretty good. I had them do my resume and I've had people comment on it and tell me it's good. I'd be happy to give you advice on your resume. Also, since we're both unemployed and both have some experinece in the non-profit sector (although mine is minimal) I'd be happy to chat with you online and network with you. Who knows, mabye the first one of us that suceeds in finding a job will be able to help the other one out with a referral. My name is Jonathan and my email and MSN messanger address is jfields1117@hotmail.com; feel free to contact me. Good luck with your job search.
Hi Steve
I have two weeks remaining on my unemployment extension. There are no jobs available to me in my field of design engineering. I have been doing this for 25 years and there are some machine operator positions available,. but I am so far out of touch with this area that I never get called back after the interview! I apply for a minimum of two jobs a week, sometimes 2-3 a day!! Most of them are in other states. I did not get called on a few because they wanted someone local and did not want to wait for me to move there. I get places wanting me to pay them hundred of dollars to re-do my resume. I just barely pay my bills! The local unemployment, ODJFS, is not well equipped for this type of work. They tell me to go find someone. I am 61 and have not had any problems until this year. Any suggestions?
Thanks
Dan
Hi,
Let me ask you, How far from graduation are you? What field are you in? How far are you from your parents?
Have you tried to get a job at your school, as a work study? Or possibly start as a volunteer with a firm that works in the area you are studying in
I ask because if you are close to graduation, you really want to finish and there are so many grants available to help with education. Have you taken advantage of any of them so far?
If you are faced with not being able to pay rent, you may want to consider moving back in with Mom and Dad if possible, and going to school until you can find suitable employment. I understand that is not a very popular suggestion, but it may be a temporary solution to your housing problems.
Your frustration is very understandable. Please know that you are not in this alone. There are many people out there who you can lean on, family, friends, even our community services network. I am not sure where you live, but you very well could have a community services liaison in your area who could prove to be a valuable resource for you.
There are many social programs that may be able to help you with necessities, food, utilities, etc. Your liaison, as the 211 program in your community.
can help you with those.
Please keep sending out your resumes. Try to keep them accurate, short, and easily readable as they are the key to opening the door to an interview.
You are not doing anything wrong, its just that times are very tough right now and so many people are looking for work. The important thing is to not give up, to keep networking and actually expand your network. Keep the resumes going, utilize your local unemployment services, volunteer. Some times that volunteer opportunity can turn into a wealth of contacts which can lead to a job.
Also remember that we are here to help as much as we can. Our community services network may be able to do a lot for you. Use it.
I hope that this is of some help, we are seeing so many people with the same issues that you are facing and it is very hard for everyone. All most people want is the ability to take care of themselves, to have a job that they can go to and be productive and earn a living. I
Best of luck and remember to contact your local liaison for any help they may have available for you..
Steve,
First, thank you, and all the other folks/experts for taking the time to do this for us.
My question is about unemployment insurance. I understand that the initial claim can go for 6-months, and that the bi-weekly amount is based on your income from the previous working period. I have been on unemployment now for almost 6-months, and I'd like to know 1) if there is still an extention of benefits; 2)what do I need to do to get those benefits (if I need them); 3) will it be the same as I was getting these last 6-months or are they adjusted down?
George
Hi,
Your choice of finding something meaningful as your next job is admirable. I assume that you refer to work in the human services world.
Unfortunately, at least in the area of Michigan we are in, we are seeing a significant number of college grads with BA's and Masters in Social Work, either unemployed and looking, or are working at jobs paying not a lot above minimum wage, especially in the non profit world here.
I wish I could say come back to the US and I wish I could say stay where you are, but I can't say either. I don't know the job market where you are but i wonder if it is better than what we have here, especially in Michigan.
Its a significant decision and I wish you luck making it. I'm glad that I am not faced with the choice.
Steve
Steve:
My niece has been suspended from work to permit her employer to investigate whether there was an action they should discipline her for. She applied for unemployment compensation but the employer told them there was an investigation of a "separation issue" and the UC office is withholding her UC claim. The investigation is going nowhere and they are trying to starve her into submission. Does she have a good claim? What can help resolve this?
Hi Dan,
FIrst, DON'T spend those hundreds of dollars to re-do your resume. There are many resources out there to help you do that and they don't cost anything. Contact your AFL-CIO Community Services Liaison or 211 program, in your area and have them help you find a resource to do that.
Have you looked at retirement at 62? I don't know if that is an option for you but you can take retirement and still earn some money.
Here we have a Federal program called Experience Works, which assists people over 55 with suitable employment, providing training in other fields. Your Liaison or the 211 call center can help you locate similar programs if they are available.
As with others I have worked with today, volunteer if possible. Its a great way to network and find opportunities in your community.
Best of luck to you.
Steve
Hi George,
The EUC program includes up to 20 weeks of federally-funded extended unemployment benefits in all states, and because of Michigan’s high unemployment rate, a second tier of EUC, providing up to an additional 13 weeks of benefits, are payable in the state.
I am not sure about additional extensions in your state. I would assume that you would use that same process to access them as you did filing for your orginal U/I benefits if they are available.
Here in Michigan we have a system called MARVIN. which is an acronym for
M ichigan's A utomated R esponse V oice I nteractive N etwork, a system that allows you to communicate with the UIA's computer by using a touch-tone or a push-button telephone with a tone/pulse switch.
Check the Unemployment LifeLine, or your local Unemployment agency. I am not familiar with the guidelines where you are and do not want to give you the wrong information.
Good luck
Steve
Greetings, Mr. Rawjewski,
I have been searching for full-time work for over seven months. I applied for unemployment benefits in the first week of March 2009. Since then, I received a denial for which I subsequently appealed. I now have an appeal hearing scheduled for June 1, 2009. The time it has taken my state's unemployment office to get to this point is appaling. By the time the administrative judge renders a decision, I will have waited over three months.
I was denied unemployment benefits because I voluntarily terminated my position with my last employer. The unemployment office stated that I did not leave for "good cause." In my state, New Mexico, there are several exceptions that allow one to receive benefits for voluntarily terminating one's employment. One of the exceptions is being a victim of domestic violence/abuse.
I left my last employer for a similar reason: I was a victim of a crime. Last year, my neighbor tried to run me over with his car following a few months of noise complaints directed towards him and his family. At the time I had just started a new temporary employment job; the job began on the same day the incident took place. The next day, I went to work and was unable to perform my job. The emotional distress I was under was awful. To add to my stress, I found out that my neighbor had been released on bail the next day and that he was a convicted felon and had a firearm on his person when he tried to run me down.
My wife and I could not go back to our apartment for fear of being confronted, or worse, by this man. The property management company that managed my neighbor's unit would not evict him, my landlord's hands were tied, and the manager for the apartment complex would not move to keep him from the property.
I ended up resigning from my position and only worked for approximately one more week before leaving.
I do not know how I will fair in this hearing. From what little research I have done, it appears that being a victim of a crime is not enough to warrant voluntary termination.
Have you run across any situation such as mine in the past? Do you know anything about unemployment appeals hearings and what will be expected of me?
Thank you for your time.
Regards,
Raymond
Hi
This happens often. U/I claims denied, and the claimant is caught in the middle.
First, I'm not able to reply regarding if her calim is "good". That is something that she will have to determine through either an attorney, her union rep if she has one, someone qualified to make that determination.
How can she resolve this? She will need to have someone act as an advocate for her, an attorney familiar with the U/I laws in her state. Here we can appeal through a process that has been established for that purpose.
I would contact the UC office to find out what their appeal process is and then proceed as needed from there.
Good Luck
Steve
I am an older middle aged professional with 30 years experience working in the fields of education and mental health. I am about to loose my current position. There are only a few suitable jobs I have applied for and fear the economy is working against me. I have a master's degree and with all my experience I would probably qualify for suitable jobs outside my areas of experience and training. Trouble is, I have no clue who to enlist to help find "matches" in other fields. Funds are low and I will likely need to move out of my home which is most likely headed for a short sale. Where could I look to find someone who could review my background and point me to other suitable job possibilities?
Scared in Seattle
Raymond,
First, wow, what a thing to happen.
I wish I could put your mind at ease regarding the hearing but from my exprience, those hearings can go all over the map. The best advice I can give you is to find an advocate to go with you, take as much documentation as you can get your hands on regarding the situation that led you to your decision to quit, and speak directly to the point.
I have seen similar things and some have been awarded and some denied. Be prepared!
Steve
Scared in Seattle,
You can start with this help line, use the online resources and follow the prompts.
There must also be some sort of state employment service there that can assist you in your search.
As for your home, there are probably resources out there that could help you. It would probably be worth the time to check.
Good Luck
Hello Steve,
#
I'm in California and I can't get a grasp on the extensions and needs some help. Here's my story:
December 2007 i was laid off for the first time.
September 2008-November 2008 I worked and was laid off again.
Right now my claim balance shows approximately $2200 left.
My question is after that is gone or do i get an extension for another few months? I'm confused, i think this much time out of work has made me dumb!
thanks again for your help in advance!
mike
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To jfields1117@hotmail.com
I would like that information about the resume help. please comtact me with this info. my email address is red53ed@aol.com
I look forward to hearing from you soon.
I've been hearing about all the so-called Government Grants you never have to pay back, but I can't find any "free" information on what grants I qualify/can apply for. Can you help me out?
Hi npoqueen
I interviewed for an Executive Administrative position in Dublin, Ohio and they wanted someone with nonprofit experience (which I do not have). I am not sure the position is still open, but if, you email me. I will give you the information -helent8@msn.com.
Mike
Hi, I'm following up for Steve today. I'm the Community Services Liaison in the SF Bay area.
The best way to get absolutely clear on your claim is to call EDD. 1800-300-5616. I know the phone wait can take awhile. They starting expanding the service to six days, you may want to try on Saturday if the phone traffice is too intense during the week.
Tom
Usually information on grants is organized by categories (school, small business etc.). There are many government grant sites listed if your search the internet. Money is pretty tight everywhere, it's best to make sure you know what the terms are before you sign anything.
If you need income to help with basic services you might check the In Your Town resources on this site, 211 and your local Community Services Liaisons.
Tom
Dear Sir:
I am a 40 year old wife of a active duty Navy man. He just signed up in January 2008.
While he went to basic training and specialized training, the kids and I stayed in Utah and I worked until he got his permanent duty station - Washington DC. The kids and I came to be with him in December of 2008.
The company in Utah for which I worked allows remote work for several of its employees, and approved it for a few that actually moved out of state. I asked that they allow it for me when I moved, since I have always received high employee reviews but management had changed and they wanted things working from the office.
When I moved, they presented an opportunity to work remotely for the first quarter, to be reviewed (or so I understood) the end of March. When the end of March came, they again stated that they wanted it to be only from the office but have since allowed someone else, who moved to Arizona, to work remotely. She, however, is salary so that made it different.
Anyway, I applied for unemployment in Utah but it was denied because Utah actually has a clause that says if you terminate employment voluntarily to follow or accompany your spouse, it's for "no good cause" and it's automatically denied.
I asked for an appeal but haven't called to verify that because I'm not sure if it's worth the time and I can't afford an attorney to help me get the money. The thing that I'm debating is that they allowed me to work remotely and that was working for me - it was the company that it wasn't working for so, in essence, they fired me. But, since they had me put in an addendum to my resignation to extend to the end of March, they're calling it voluntary termination.
Can you offer any guidance?
Thanks,
A Navy Mom and Wife who's nearly to the point of desperation..
Dear MLYamasaki,
My best advice for you is to contact your AFL-CIO Community Services Liaison in the DC area. You can call Kathleen or Sylvia at 202-974-8223 and ask if there are any Legal Services that can assist you through this.
Please post all new questions on the forum for that day. To do this, simply click on "Talk With Others" and under Ask The Expert, you will see forums for each day.
Thanks!
My husband had to close his business (mobile home sales) in May 2008. He has yet to find any job. We are living on just my income and are falling so far behind. I have stopped paying our credit cards because I can barley make the mortgage payments ( 3 months behind now on 1 and2 ) and trying to keep my truck payments ( now 1 month behind). We have seeked assistance with food ect but because my income and the vechile we have we do not qualify. I have filed with an attorney to try and get a remodification on our mortages but not sure how long that will take and in the mean time they are telling me not to make any payments. I am worried that this is not the right way for this to go. any suggestions would be greatly appericated.
thanks
maryanne puckett .
local cwa 3176
I am a stay at home mother. I have a fiance who has been laid off for 3 weeks. They lay him off for 3 weeks and they bring him back for one week and its been going like this for 3 months now. It is impossible for us to stay afoat when this is happening. I have recently had an interview and possibly could be starting work soon but the crisis we have now is we are facing eviction and havent had the money to pay rent for May and now June is approaching and we dont have money to pay rent for June. I have tried to get help everywhere including churches, different organizations and everywhere else you can possibly imagine. I need to know where i can get help to prevent us from loosing our home. ther is lots of help for people who own there homes but no help for people who rent them. I got a little help from a county assistance office but that really didnt do nothing. We have a 1 year old daughter and i am afraid for her, it would be different if it was just me and my fiance but i dont want my child to be without or have to live out on the street. Do you know anywhere i can get help for this type of situation? Please respond as soon as possible
Please view my response to "puckettm" on the Thursday, May 14 Forum.
Alan Vandersloot
Please view my response to "shnook09" on the Thursday, May 14 Forum.
Alan Vandersloot
Can I start classes and still collect unemployment in Ohio