The Unemployment Safety Net Yes, it can be scary. But, its not
the end of the world! #GAINPlan
Slide 3
Unemployment Insurance Unemployment compensation (or
unemployment insurance - UI) is a way of receiving monetary income
even after losing your job. All states have a UI program. Taking
advantage of UI is a great way to stay on your feet while searching
for a job. You wont have as much income as you did while working,
but it will help you get by in the interim. #GAINPlan
Slide 4
How Much Does Unemployment Insurance Pay? The amount you will
receive is usually based on how much you earned while most recently
employed. You will typically receive a weekly payment for half a
year (26 weeks) as long as you remain eligible. The amount varies
by state and in the District of Columbia and is usually determined
by a formula using amounts based on previous wages. #GAINPlan
Slide 5
Who Can File An Unemployment Claim? Many states have
restrictions on the kinds of job loss that unemployment insurance
protects against. Workers who quit voluntarily without showing
cause, or who are fired from their job for misconduct, for example,
may not be eligible for full benefits (or, in some cases, any
benefits at all). In addition, some states require that you
register in a state job-search database in order to receive your
compensation. #GAINPlan
Slide 6
Unemployment Insurance Resources to Get You Back in the Game.
Democratic GAIN for Tips on surviving unemployment &
State-by-state UI links and info
https://www.democraticgain.org/?page=unempl oymentbenefits State's
department of labor website for: information on training events,
job search advice, & online UI filing
https://does.dcnetworks.org/claimantservices/9 #GAINPlan
Slide 7
What About Your Health Insurance? Continuing some kind of
health coverage is a must! A lapse in coverage can result in higher
premiums and difficulty finding coverage later. As a newly
unemployed person, youll have up to THREE options for health
insurance before you find your next job: COBRAIndividual Health
InsuranceYour Parents Plan* #GAINPlan
Slide 8
Option 1: COBRA COBRA provides temporary continuation of group
health coverage at group rates to certain former employees,
retirees, spouses, former spouses, and dependent children. This
coverage is only available when coverage is lost due to certain
specific events like termination of employment. #GAINPlan
Slide 9
How Much Does COBRA Cost? Group health coverage for COBRA
participants is usually more expensive than health coverage for
active employees, since usually the employer pays a part of the
premium for active employees while COBRA participants generally pay
the entire premium themselves. Depending on the size of your group,
employer contribution, and covered benefits, COBRA coverage can be
more expensive than individual health coverage. COBRA is normally
paid one month at a time so you can sign up for COBRA while you
figure out all of your options. #GAINPlan
Slide 10
How Do You Become Eligible for COBRA? To be eligible for COBRA
coverage, you must have been enrolled in your employer's health
plan when you worked and the health plan must continue to be in
effect for active employees. COBRA continuation coverage is
available upon the occurrence of a qualifying event that would,
except for the COBRA continuation coverage, cause an individual to
lose his or her health care coverage. #GAINPlan
Slide 11
How Do You Elect COBRA Coverage? 1.Your employer must notify
plan administrators of your termination/reduced hours of employment
within 30 days. 2.You generally must be sent an election notice not
later than 14 days after the plan administrator receives this
notice. 3.You then have 60 days to decide whether to elect COBRA
continuation coverage. The person has 45 days after electing
coverage to pay the initial premium. #GAINPlan
Slide 12
Option 2: Individual Health Insurance Depending on your
circumstances, individual health insurance can be less expensive
than COBRA. The best way to determine your costs and compare
benefits available is by working with an insurance broker.
Democratic GAIN offers members access to individual health
insurance support. Compare rates and benefits, determine if
individual vs. COBRA is right for you, and find the best plan to
suit your needs! #GAINPlan
Slide 13
Navigating the Individual Health Insurance Market Getting your
insurance quotes through Democratic GAINs member portal is a quick
& easy process: Open an inquiry through our member portal at
www.democraticGAIN.org www.democraticGAIN.org Youll receive a
response in 24 hours with follow up questions Youll have quotes
from several different plans within 3-5 days (often sooner) Our
insurance broker will help you navigate these options and choose
the plan that best meets your needs #GAINPlan
Slide 14
Option 3: Your Parents Plan* Thanks to Obamacare, if you are
under 26 you are still eligible for coverage as a dependent on your
parents health insurance plan Same Benefits/Same Price. If you are
under 26, you are eligible for ALL of the dependent benefits the
plan offers. You cannot be required to pay more than other
dependents! The catch: the new policy applies only to health
insurance plans that offer dependent coverage in the first place,
there is no requirement to do so. #GAINPlan
Slide 15
How Do You Get On Your Parents Plan? You can join or remain on
your parents plan even if you are: married not living with your
parents attending school not financially dependent on your parents
eligible to enroll in their employers plan There is one temporary
exception: Until 2014, grandfathered group plans do not have to
offer dependent coverage up to age 26 if you are eligible for group
coverage outside your parents plan.grandfathered #GAINPlan
Slide 16
Healthcare.gov (where Obamacare is explained online!) Resources
to Protect Your Health Coverage. US Department of Labor website
for: FAQ to answer all of your questions! A full Guide to Health
Benefits Under COBRA www.dol.gov/ebsa/COBRA.html
www.DemocraticGAIN.org/GAINPlan Resources All of these resources
and more can be found on Democratic GAINs GAIN Plan Resource Page:
www.healthcare.gov/law/features/choices/young -adult-coverage
#GAINPlan
Slide 17
The Job Search Resumes, Interviews, Networking, & more!
#GAINPlan
Slide 18
Basic Resume Content 1.CONTACT INFORMATION Name, Address, Phone
Number, Professional Email Address 2.EXPERIENCE Highlights
Professional Experience Education (Post High School only) 3.SKILLS
Additional Qualifications: Computer Skills, Language Skills,
Research/Writing Experiences, Training/Public Speaking Skills
Trainings: GAIN, Wellstone Action!, etc. #GAINPlan
Slide 19
You Should Tailor your resume to the position/organization Keep
it short 1 page (10 years work experience or less) 2 pages (10-20
years work experience) 3 pages (20+ years work experience) List job
title, employer, dates worked & location Fact check yourself
Keep it clean, concise and reflective of your experience
#GAINPlan
Slide 20
Best Practices Highlight accomplishments vs. tasks you
performed Use action verbs to describe responsibilities &
experience Wrote, managed, researched, directed, oversaw,
coordinated, produced, increased, implemented Use numbers to
quantify experience Managed a team of 3 interns and more than 20
volunteers over a three week period. Directed GOTV effort and
increased turnout by 15% over previous election year #GAINPlan
Slide 21
Getting it Out There Send as a PDF Address to a specific person
at the organization, if possible Include a cover letter Make sure
all of your documents match Name the files appropriately! Good
Examples: Smith_John Resume.pdf John Smith Resume.pdf Bad Examples:
My resume.doc Political resume.pdf Resume12.doc #GAINPlan
Slide 22
Writing A Cover Letter Begin by addressing to someone specific.
Find out who will read your letter. If you dont know, use To Whom
It May Concern. Then, three Sections : 1.Express interest, specify
the job youre applying for and describe how you heard about the
job. 2.Provide professional highlights that are relevant to the
specific job. Dont repeat your resume! 3.Explain why youre
interested in this specific job and why youre the best fit.
#GAINPlan
Slide 23
Application Package Be consistent across all your documents.
Read the requirements before submitting application package. Make
sure you follow all instructions carefully. Double check your files
on more than one system to catch any formatting errors.
#GAINPlan
Slide 24
The Value of Networking YOUR RESUME #GAINPlan
Slide 25
How to Network Build YOUR Network Set up a LinkedIn account
Make sure it matches your resume Make a list of who is in your
network and begin connecting Former supervisors, coworkers,
employees, people youve met at events/meetings, friends Keep
building Go to events that are relevant to your career interests.
Always collect business cards Connect! #GAINPlan
Slide 26
Work the Network The Meet Up Coffees, meetings, happy hours
Learn about the landscape, meet more people Informational
Interviews PREPARE! The Check-In Stay on the radar #GAINPlan
Slide 27
Social Media LinkedIn Excellent way to keep track of and
utilize your network Use the connector tool Request recommendations
Facebook Be careful. #GAINPlan
Slide 28
Preparing for Interviews Learn about the Organization Mission
statement, programs, activities, public image, etc. Learn about the
People Management, your network Learn about the Job Job
description, your network, similar positions elsewhere Know your
questions Substantive questions Dont ask about benefits, salary,
hours, etc. on first interview Treat Informational Interviews like
REAL Interviews. Because they are. #GAINPlan
Slide 29
Before You Start Your Search Evaluate: What did I enjoy about
my last job? What did I hate? What are my skills? What do I need in
my next job? Financial requirements Schedule Location Benefits What
do I want in my next job? More money Additional job
responsibilities A promotion Where do I want to be in 5 years?
#GAINPlan
Slide 30
Before You Start Your Search Research: What is the mission? Who
is the leadership? What is the governing structure? Who makes
decisions and how? What are the benefits? What does the position
entail? Prepare: Resume & Interview Skills #GAINPlan
Slide 31
Finding a Job The professional association for progressives
providing training & support for individuals &
organizations. Join to GAIN access to all the benefits we offer,
including: Job Board & Career Counseling Talent Bank &
Hiring Assistance Training & Certifications Networking
Opportunities Join the free JobsThatAreLEFT listserv for daily job
updates! #GAINPlan
Slide 32
The Timeline December National Conferences: 12.10-12.14 Holiday
Parties: 12.17-12.21 Christmas, et al: 12.24-12.28 January New
Years: 1.01-1.06 Inaugural Events: 1.16-1.21 February GAIN Career
Fair #GAINPlan
Slide 33
Additional Resources LISTSERVS: EMILYs List Tom Manatos
Grassroots Solutions NETWORKS: LinkedIn Facebook Twitter JOB
BOARDS: Idealist.org Unionjobs.com WorkForCongress.com Brad
Traverse HillZoo.com The Hill Roll Call Politico DSCC DCCC DLCC
#GAINPlan
Slide 34
The Lay of the Land Progressive Professional Opportunities in
DC, the states and nationally #GAINPlan
Slide 35
Panelists Alix Dejean, DeweySquare (Moderator) Laura
Capps-Burton, Common Purpose Julie Greene, AFL-CIO Susan Markham,
NDI Mike Masserman, Commerce Department Jen Pihlaja,
McKenna|Pihlaja Jessica Post, DLCC #GAINPlan
Slide 36
Opportunities Nationally & In States #GAINPlan
Slide 37
Some of Your Options Campaigns & Elections All of the
Above: Internationally Issue Research & Advocacy The
Administration & State, Local Government The Hill & State
Legislature #GAINPlan
Candidate Kitchen Cabinet/Donors Campaign Manager Finance
Director Finance Assistants Field Director Regional Field Directors
Field Organizers Volunteer Coordinator Volunteers Administrative
Staff/ Scheduler Administrative Assistants Communications Director
Press Secretary Communications Staff New Media Research Director
Research Staff Trackers Consultants #GAINPlan
Slide 40
Consulting Firms #GAINPlan
Slide 41
Labor Organizations #GAINPlan
Slide 42
Progressive Allies #GAINPlan
Slide 43
The Hill & State Leg Senator / Representative Chief of
Staff / Admin Asst. Legislative Director Legislative Assistant
Legislative Correspondent Intern Press Secretary SchedulerStaff
Assistant Intern District Office(s) Legislative Assistant
Legislative Correspondent Intern #GAINPlan
Slide 44
The Administration CareerPolitical Appointment #GAINPlan
Slide 45
Issue Research & Advocacy Think TanksPublic AdvocacyIssue
Advocacy #GAINPlan
Slide 46
Think Tanks #GAINPlan
Slide 47
Public Advocacy #GAINPlan
Slide 48
Issue Specific Groups Human Rights Women Issues LGBTQ
Development & Education Environmental #GAINPlan
Slide 49
International Work #GAINPlan
Slide 50
Now Hiring! #GAINPlan
Slide 51
Democratic GAIN is the professional association for
progressives. Offering: Premier Job & Talent
BanksIndividualized Career CounselingAnnual Career FairTrainings
& Certifications health insurance support, discounts, &
more! Member Benefits #GAINPlan
Slide 52
The Atlas Project is the central hub for real-time data and
analysis for progressives. Offering: An Institutional Memory
platformData Tools (100 sets to map, graph, chart)State-by-State
Dashboards & Reports OnlineActivity Reports & Media
MonitoringIn-depth ResearchBest Practices & Resources
#GAINPlan
Slide 53
Questions? Learn more about what you can GAIN by joining us!
www.democraticGAIN.org [email protected] #GAINPlan