The unemployment rate is higher than it’s been in more than 26 years. If you’re not already laid off, you may be concerned that your job isn’t as stable as you’d like. Most of the time, you can’t prevent being laid off, but there are some things you can do after you get laid off to help you until you find a new job:

Don’t Burn Bridges

You’re probably going to be angry or upset if you lose your job. The stress can sometimes cause people to freak out and maybe even fight or yell with their boss. Don’t burn bridges with your employer – they will be giving you references when you apply for new jobs and you want them to remain on your side. There’s always a possibility circumstances will change and your employer could bring you back to work, too, but you can be sure that won’t happen if you cause a scene when you’re laid off.

File for Unemployment Benefits

Even if you think you won’t be unemployed for long, make sure you file for unemployment benefits. Usually you can do this online or by phone. File as soon as you are laid off, since receiving benefits can take several weeks. If you happen to land a new job before then, even better.

Prepare Your Resume

Make sure your resume is updated to include the skills and experience you’ve gained from your most recent employer. Update the entire resume as it is the key to getting interviews with potential new employers. Make sure it’s a reflection of who you are as a person and your abilities as an employee.

Apply for New Work

Don’t just sit back and collect unemployment, hoping someone will come to you with a job offer. The increased number of people unemployed means higher competition for every job opening. Start applying. Use job search sites like careerbuilder.com, and your local newspaper. Apply to anything you are qualified to do. If there are particular companies you would like to work for, check their website to see if they have any job openings advertised on it. Many times, they will list job openings on their website long before they advertise them on job search sites or the newspaper, so you increase your chances of being hired if you apply to them early.
Reduce Living Expenses

Even with unemployment pay, you’ll want to make every effort to reduce your living expenses until you are employed again. Turn off or reduce your cable television package, avoid eating in restaurants or getting take out, avoid using credit cards or taking on new debt. The more you do to live within your means, the better you’ll be once you’re employed again.

It isn’t bad enough that dealing with debt can contribute to physical and emotional problems, it can now impact your chances of being offered a job in the future. More specifically, the impact debt has on your credit report will play an important role in whether or not you are hired for certain jobs. In a struggling economy, more and more employers are running a credit check on potential employees before offering them job positions. Ironically, people in debt need a job in order to get their finances back on track, however many employers are not willing to risk hiring an individual who appears to have difficulty managing money. The reasons are obvious if the position you are seeking involves money management, but other job offers can be lost that don’t revolve around money. Traditionally, credit checks have been done to gauge a potential employees reliability and responsibility. The theory is this, if you can’t be counted on to pay your bills on time, what other areas will you be found lacking in?

Of course the danger of employers using credit history to determine whether or not a person gets a job, is that a downward spiral of indebtedness will ensure. Without employment, a person struggles to pay bills, which in turn affects their credit history, which in turn is used again in the future to determine if they qualify for a job. With more companies requiring a credit check on potential employees, the 6.4 million Americans who are currently unemployed face a stark future, especially if they have fallen behind on their bills.

Another concern is the fact that many people who have not missed a payment are also seeing their credit score decline as a result of decreased or canceled credit card accounts. In this instance, an employer could actually decline a position based on a credit history that is not showing the big picture. The same can be said if there are errors on a credit report which could take up to two months to correct. In that time, the decision has already been made and the damage done for the job candidate.

To minimize the chances of having your credit history reduce your job opportunities you must pay close attention to the information provided there. Review your credit report three times annually (free of charge) to spot inaccurate information and correct it as soon as possible. If debt is impacting your credit, take every available step to reduce debt or work with creditors to lessen the impact on your credit report.

The battle of stay-at-home parent versus working parent has been around for longer than anyone cares to remember. There are a great deal of modern parents that will swear that they HAVE to work in order to make end meet. This is a highly explosive statement because of the expense that is incurred with working outside of the home. The question is no longer “How can I afford to stay home?” but “Can I afford to work outside the home?”. This is where the true measure of expenses comes into play. What does it truly cost for both parents to work?

Childcare Expense

What you pay for childcare will vary according to what part of country you live in, how many children you have and the age(s) of the child/children. Childcare costs vary from $400-$1000 per month for one child. This means up to $12,000 per year in childcare alone.

Food and Drinks

The likelihood of bringing your lunch and drinks everyday is remote at best. Just two take-out meals a week for the price of $5 is $600 a year. Another consideration is that with both parents working it is highly likely that more take-out meals will be eaten at home. One take-out meal a week for a family of four ranges from $30-$50. This results in $120-$200 a month which equals 1-2 utility bills.

Commuting

The price of commuting is a factor when both parents work. The price of gas or subway prices can average anywhere from $25-$50 a week. This adds up to almost $2400 a year. Don’t forget to factor in the wear and tear on the vehicle being used. This increases the expense with the maintenance costs.

Work Clothes and Dry Cleaning

Depending upon the job each parent has, you must factor in the cost of clothing and dry cleaning. These can reach a high price tag if the parent needs new clothing to even start the job. Hundreds of dollars are spent on ‘office attire’ and on the dry cleaning bills acquired to keep them looking their best.

Sick Time

What money sacrifices are being made when a child is sick? If the parent available to leave work to retrieve a sick child is on an hourly wage, what does the lack of work do to the family budget? The childcare expenses must be paid whether the child is there or not. The bills still have to be paid whether the income is there or not. What happens when the income isn’t there because of sickness of a child or the working parent?

All of the this comes down to “what does it cost for both parents to work?”. Adding up just the basics of childcare, food, transportation and clothing we come up with annual costs of $7920-$17640. This is for one child and not taking additional restaurant meals into consideration. If you eat out more than once a week then the number goes up. Does the money the job brings in outweigh the expense? Determine your numbers and find out.

There are many reasons a person may relocate throughout their life. Certain occupations or careers require individuals to move regularly. Other individuals may move out of their apartment or even their city in a quest for better opportunities or to follow personal goals. Regardless of the reason behind your relocation, there are a few things that should be considered before packing up the moving van.

• Location, location, location- There is a reason why real estate agents preach the importance of location. Paint colors can be changed, flooring materials can be upgraded but you cannot change the physical location of your future home. Look for a place that reflects your personal needs, for example close to public transportation or within walking distance of shops and restaurants. If you are determined to live in a very popular location, understand you will be paying for that zip code.

• Create your new budget before moving- As many people learned during the recession, sometimes numbers do not work out in real life as they do on paper. Even so, it would be unwise to move without first looking at your income and expenses (including moving costs) and creating a budget for the first few months. Of course no one can anticipate all expenses however certain costs are standard when moving. Security deposits, down payments, hook up fees for cable, Internet and phone services are all normal expenses people expect when moving. It is important that you can afford the initial costs as well as long term costs before you make your move.

• Employment opportunities- If you are relocating in search of better employment opportunities or if you are moving for your current job, it is important to first check out employment statistics in the area you are considering. There have been occasions where a person transfers to a new location for work only to find a month or year later that their job is not longer secure. If that happens, are their other opportunities in the area? If you are moving to improve your employment situation, have you researched available jobs before making your decision? You should spend some time reviewing salaries, turn over, and opportunities for growth for the area you are moving. This increases your chances of securing or remaining gainfully employed.

• Protect credit and identity- Credit card fraud and identity theft are no longer considered isolated incidents that happen to “other” people. When you relocate there are dozens of opportunities in which your personal information could be compromised. All personal paperwork should either be packed (securely) or destroyed (shredded). Do not leave any identifying items behind and make sure all utilities are paid in full and taken out of your name. You do not want to get a past due cable bill forwarded to your new residence six months after you have moved.

Americans will relocate an average of eleven times in their life. Ideally each move will offer new and exciting opportunities for personal and professional growth. Ensure your future growth by carefully considering your new location. Financial missteps can be avoided with a bit of planning and forethought. Prepare in advance and eliminate the stress of moving to a new location.

Those who have found themselves out of a job and in need of income often look for anything that they can find from a job standpoint to bring in money. That is not a bad thing to do when money is scarce and bills are going unpaid.

However, if you are in a position to be able to consider this, it might be a good time to make a career change. Many people who feel trapped in their current career positions, may never make the effort to try something that they would rather do. But, as long as your financial situation is stable, this could be the best time to try.

Prepare Financially

Before considering such a move, examine the financial implications. If you will be experiencing a drop in income because of your choice, then you should have enough money set aside to finance your venture for a period of time. This will help you be able to give it a go without having to worry about money for expenses. Avoid raiding your 401k or other retirement funds.

Eyes Wide Open

Be sure that you set realistic expectations for yourself in your new career. You cannot expect to be at the top earning level when you just start out so, watching for opportunities to advance as openings come up. Or, if you are not able to advance because of the type of career, then set expectations accordingly. If you are taking a severe cut in pay, you might have to take a part-time job to make up the short fall. And, a reduction in expenses can help, too.

Give Yourself Time

Set a realistic time-frame to make the new career work. Success does not happen overnight but you should not continue to drag out your attempt if there are clear signs that it isn’t going to work. Add to this the realization that economic forces sometimes have an influence on business success.

Obtain Advice

People who consider career changes are wise when they seek the advice and input from those who are already in the positions that they are seeking. If you can find a mentor or one who is willing to give you instruction on what to do and how to do it, then your chances for success will be greatly increased.

No Regrets

Whether you fail or whether you are a success, determine that you will have no regrets in your decision.

Jobs are difficult to come by, right?  So they say, but one of the good things about living in the day and age that we do is that technology has made it easier to connect with others.  And that goes for those who are looking for employment.  With many jobs posted online, you can search for a job with just a few clicks of a mouse.  And you do not have to have your own computer; you can go to the local library and use a public computer.

But before you begin the process, look at ways to use your existing skills to land you a good job.  Here is what is meant by this.

Personal assessment.  What skills do you have that you can use to make you a valuable employee?  These might be things such as your organization skills, your ability to perform certain tasks that others might not be able to – for example if you are a plumber or an electrician.  You might find that your career experience has helped you become good at managing others.  Your skill set is one of the things that makes you valuable for employment.

Get linked.  Now, using that list of skills, begin to get yourself linked to people and groups to which your skills can help.  Use the Internet to connect to people via social networking sites such as facebook.com, twitter.com and even linkedin.com.  These are sites that can help you build a network of people who might know of where to apply for jobs that are available immediately.  But, be sure to heed these suggestions.

Be professional.  Use proper “netiquette” in contacting people and adding them to your circle of contacts.  In other words, build up a rapport with them in casual conversational communications.  Do not be demanding or demeaning.  Never say things that might cause irritation or might be construed as harassment of ANY kind.

Be in interview mode always.  You never know who might be a potential employer or who might know someone who needs an employee.  Treat contacts with strangers as an opportunity to learn about them and then present yourself in a positive way just as if you were being interviewed for a job.

Update your information.  Keep your profile on all social networking sites up to date.  Your contact information is especially important if people are going to contact you about a job.

Recommend and be recommended.  Be generous with recommendations of those you know and have worked with.  Ask them to do the same for you.  These can help you get your foot in the door and give the potential employers a small picture of what kind of worker you can be for them.

Spend a short amount of time every day looking for jobs.  Most places have email alerts about openings and that can help.  Check those out and see if the openings are right for you.  Use your online information and persona to create your resume and information with which you can look for local jobs, too.

Get your mindset right and watch as job openings and even offers come to you.

While some people are just happy enough these days to get a decent new job, there are many more of individuals who need a new job but can not afford to take one without a proper salary to go with it. Especially during these tough economic times when layoffs are frequent and the job market it tough, there may be times when you are essentially receiving a salary that is just way too low for the job.

If you are approached by a potential employer with the opportunity for a good job but a not-so-great salary offer, there are some tactics you can try to up the ante so you don’t have to miss out on a good job. Try some of the following moves and see if it helps you get the money you need to survive financially without insulting anyone involved in the process:

Talk About Salary Upfront
If it all possible, broach the topic of salary should you be called back for a second interview. If you are unable to come to terms on the subject of money then you can walk away without having to invest much of your time or effort into working a job that is not worthy of your talents.

Be Honest with Human Resources
If you get a call back and a salary offer that is much too low, approach the hiring manager and be appreciative of the offer. Mention your enthusiasm over the potential job but that you don’t feel the salary is commiserate with experience in your case. Provide them with a salary range you are willing to accept and even inquire if other positions in that range are available. You may not get far but it definitely be worth your time, effort and honestly.

Suggest Alternative Arrangements
If you are really digging the potential job, perhaps you can inquire about taking on the position in a part-time capacity to prove your worth. Some employers will not be flexible about hours, duties or salaries. If you there are no alternatives worth pursuing, bid adieu and get back to networking.

The one thing you want to remember is to not burn any bridges or insult any one that may be a potential lifeline in the future for you. There is also a good possibility that the candidates left or the one subsequently hired will not fit the bill and your resume may get revisited. Be polite and gracious when refusing a job offer. Alternately, if your salary negotiations do work in your favor, be sure to thank your new employer and prove your worth to the company.

You may feel your salary can be flexible just to get a good job but there is no reason you need to accept a lowball offer without trying for better. It is your income that pays your bills and you must consider before even an interview how much you are willing to take and how much you really need to be making to do more than survive week to week, otherwise you are subjecting yourself to debt problems and personal finances troubles instead of focusing on your new job.

As of April of 2009, the unemployment rate is officially sitting around 8.5%. Some would argue that the methodology used by the Department of Labor to calculate those statistics is flawed and the true unemployment rate is much closer to 13%. Whatever the case somewhere between 1 and 8 and 1 and 12 American workers are without jobs. Others are forced to take part-time work or two-part time jobs instead of getting one full-time job.

We will probably see some sort of economic turnaround during the second half of 2009, but that doesn’t give much comfort to those who are currently unemployed. If you are currently without a job, there’s one employer that’s hiring all around the country that you might not have considered, and it really shouldn’t be much of a surprise at all. It’s the Federal Government.

As the size of the government grows, there will be a need for more federal employees. There are also going to be a lot more federal employees that retire in the near future as the baby-boomer generation retires. Many of these employees were first hired back in the Great Society Initiatives that President Johnson started back in the 1960′s. Since federal jobs can often be very lucrative, many of the people that started working for the federal government never quit their jobs. Since many of these people will be retiring in the next decade, there will be some great jobs to be found.

Currently the federal government has a cap of 2 million non-military civilian federal employees. This was placed hen the United States had a population of 200 million. Currently to get around that limit, the Federal Government has been using a large number of contractors to do the work that it can’t hire the people to do. It’s anyone’s guess as to whether or not that limit will be lifted in the near future, but if it is, there will likely be a surge in federal hiring.

If you’ve applied for work in the private sector before, you’re going to find that navigating your way through the hiring process with the Federal Government is extremely confusing. If there’s anyone you know, whether it be a friend, a family member or a member of your local church that’s already in the local system, it would be well worth your time to sit down with them and ask them how the process works.

To look at federal job postings, checkout http://www.usajobs.gov/

Financial Aid.  Financial aid basically is found in grants and federal subsidy programs.  Information on these can be found in the admissions office of colleges and universities around the country.

Student Loans.  Stafford loans are available to students to help pay for their college related expenses and are federally backed loan programs.  These are low-interest and deferred plans that give students a way to finance their education and not have to begin the payment process until after they graduate.

Bank Loans for College.  Parents can take out loans specifically set up for their college-bound students.  These loans are commercial in nature, but offer good rates and terms for repayment.  Satisfactory credit ratings apply to these loans which might keep some out of these plans.

Scholarships.  There are a myriad of scholarships available.  Checking with the admissions office is a good start to see what programs they have available.  But also, a good exercise would be to check the Internet for scholarships that are independent of a specific school.  Some are community based and can be accessed by checking with local business organizations in your area.

Employer-based reimbursement programs.  Some companies provide 100% reimbursement of tuition upon the successful completion of a semester with passing grades.  While you have to front the money when you sign up for classes, you can get your money back at the end when your final grades are published.  Even if your company does not pay 100%, any percentage is better than shouldering the full amount on your own.  If you are pursuing a health science related field, you will find many hospitals and medical businesses that are willing to help financially while you work with them or sign a commitment to work for them fulltime for several years after you graduate.

Tax Relief.  There is tax relief available for higher education expenses offered in the recently signed economic stimulus bill.  The American Opportunity Tax Credit is worth up to $2,500 for tuition paid out in 2009.  This credit is also available in 2010 as well.  The restriction is that the student cannot be past the first four years of post-secondary education.

Old-fashioned way.  Many students still find it necessary to work their way through college.  It makes for a very busy life, but in the end result provides a very fulfilling pathway.  Those who scrimp and save every little penny to pay for tuition and other expenses related to higher education are more likely to appreciate the effort that it took to obtain the degree come graduation day.

Starting your career off to the right start means much more than going to college for four years. Companies do not want to hire you simply because you have a college degree, but rather because you learned something while you were in school and gained some sort of experience while you were there. Having a college degree is simply not enough to start your career in high gear, rather you need to gain experience, network with industry professionals and maximize your educational experience while you are in school. If you want to maximize your potential income after you graduate college and get the job that you really want, you’ll need to do much more than the bare minimum to graduate.

Here’s how to maximize your future career opportunities while in college:

Do Freelance Work – With the economy facing a severe recession, small businesses are looking to cut costs across the board. If you have design or technical skills, you should leverage them in the marketplace while in school. This will help you gain valuable experience and help demonstrate to companies that you can “make things happen.”

Do Extra Learning - Having the same educational baseline as your peers will not cause you to stand out from the crowd. In addition to taking the classes that are required of you and reading the textbooks from those classes, you need to do independent learning as well. This could mean reading additional industry-related books. It could also mean learning additional technologies or working with professors on various projects.

Attend Industry Conferences – Most professional industries have some sort of annual conference, some of them have several conferences per year. As a web developer in college, I attended Microsoft’s MIX conference. There were several other smaller conferences I attended. During these conferences, I learned about what technologies are coming down the pipe and had an opportunity to meet many industry professionals.

Get a Job or an Internship - Companies almost always prefer to hire college graduates that have had work experience over those that don’t. This is because students graduating with experience typically require less training and do better quality work than those that do not have experience. For many industries, there are all sorts of internships available and companies that will hire student employees to do industry-related work that might not necessarily be labeled as an internship. If you’re looking to get a job after graduating, getting work experience while in college is probably the most important thing to do.

Prepare for the Interview Process – The semester before you plan on graduating, you should get into high gear to be ready for job interviews. Get your resume in order, look over common interview questions, get your dress clothes in order and work on your people skills. You should also consider targeting companies that you want to work for rather than simply wait for on-campus interviews to come around.

Many people falsely believe that “there just aren’t any jobs available right now.” This is simply not true. Although the U.S. and the rest of the global economy are facing a recession right now, there are jobs available. Maximize your career opportunities later by gaining experience now.