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Social Media and Reemployment

With U.S. unemployment hovering near 10%, jobseekers are increasingly turning to their social networks for job leads, employer information, and moral support. A brief scan of the blogosphere results in wealth of advice for the unemployed, with topics ranging from a grounding in social media etiquette to the tangible steps jobseekers can take to create a strong brand using web 2.0 technologies. In his Personal Branding blog for Business Week, Dan Schawbel, author of Me 2.0: Build a Powerful Brand to Achieve Career Success, argues that LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and blogging are much better tools for finding jobs that speak to a jobseeker's unique passions and interests as compared to the traditional job board. Skip Job Boards and Use Social Media Instead by Dan Schawbel http://www.businessweek.com/managing/content/jul2009/ca20090728_587107.htm

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NAWB Forum Information

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Health Coverage Tax Credit and Reemployment: The View from Colorado

My name is Shannon Gutheil and I was asked to highlight the experiences I have had working with trade-affected individuals first-hand and how the HCTC Program has helped them. Over the last 6 years working with trade-affected workers there have been many challenges they face and health care is one of the biggest. The HCTC program and benefit has been able to help alleviate some of the stress that comes with layoff. When people find out about HCTC I see the light go on in their eyes and a smile emerge on their face. They sometimes can’t believe what they are being offered. The details and process are sometimes hard for them to grasp, but once they understand what steps they need to take to access HCTC benefits you hear a sigh of relief. For many workers, continuation of health care is an option they grapple with over and over because of bottom line costs. They are trying to answer the questions “How am I going to keep health care with COBRA costs being so high? How am I going to take care of my family if they get sick without insurance?” These are questions I hear at my desk almost daily when working with trade-affected workers. A great percentage of workers we serve on the front lines are the sole carriers of health insurance for their families and when they loose their jobs this compounds their stress levels, which in turn can increase their risk for getting sick – thus meaning they need to keep their health care coverage even more. Knowing they have HCTC available to them, as long as they meet all criteria, can help relieve this burden and help them focus on re-tooling their skills and/or gaining new employment. When trade-affected workers utilize and are eligible for HCTC benefits, it is truly a great benefit to have available. Shannon Gutheil, TAA Counselor at the Ft. Collins Workforce Center, Colorado