In many places, unemployment insurance provides some assistance with those who are recently unemployed, provided the circumstances of their unemployment fit within their guidelines. While the money that comes from unemployment is typically less than you made at your job, for most it is enough to get by for a while, even if it requires some belt tightening.

However, if you begin to work at your own business, money you bring in from there will often be deducted from your unemployment payment. On the surface this may not seem like a problem, but if you have business expenses that must be paid and this takes away from the bit of money that is coming in, you may find yourself struggling far more than you were previously.

Additionally, the average business takes some time before it is profitable. While not true of all businesses, it is not uncommon for a business to take two years or more before seeing a profit. While this doesn’t mean the owner is not taking home any money from the business, it may not be regular and may not be as much as a job had provided.

In addition to the financial hardships you will be facing, there is the added emotional toll that a business can exact. Becoming unemployed is often an emotional roller coaster as it is, and starting a business under the best of circumstances can be stressful and emotionally exhausting, but when you couple these together it can be a recipe for disaster. Your once supportive spouse may loose patience when there is less money coming in, and your friends and family will probably tell you to go back to work. While they all mean well, you will find your support structure was already under strain from the lay-off, and the added stress of a business can be enough to break it.

While you are considering the possible negative outcomes portrayed above, you should also be considering why you want to go into business in the first place. If it is something you’ve wanted and you think this is the best opportunity, you may find success. However, if you are looking at starting a business as something you can fall back on because you can’t find a suitable job, you are likely to be very disappointed with the results. Starting and running a successful business requires dedication and motivation, and if you are missing either you will not succeed.

One last think you should consider while thinking about starting a business now is how it will affect your ability to get suitable employment in the future if you choose to go back. Although many hiring managers will understand the attempt to run your own business, especially considering the economy, when things turn around and companies are hiring again, the people who have continued to network with recruiters and the people in their field may find themselves with an advantage. If you think you may end up going back to a job when things get better, at least do yourself a favor and keep in contact and keep putting yourself out there for positions.

While many people successfully start their business, especially in a time like this, it is still not a decision that should be made lightly. Consider your options and be certain this is what you want to do. You’ll be glad that you did.

One type of business you can start while laid-off that will allow you the flexibility and freedom to still search for a job, and continue building it if you find one, is internet marketing. Many people have built up very successful businesses doing this part time, so it is definitely something you may want to consider.

According to the bureau of labor Statistics, the unemployment rate rose from 9.8 to 10.2 percent in October, and nonfarm payroll employment continued to decline (-190,000).  The largest job losses over the month were in construction, manufacturing, and retail trade.

President Obama held a job summit on Thursday in which he pledged to take “every responsible step to accelerate job creation.”

At the brainstorming summit, president Obama added,”This has been a tough year, with a lot of uncertainty,” and said, “There’s no question that it’s difficult out there right now.”

The summit shows that the Obama administration understand that action is required but the figures for November will probably show the need for action which will involve more than a job summit.

• Keep at least three months worth of paychecks in savings at all times, if possible. Pretend that money doesn’t even exist. That’s your emergency fund.
• If you don’t have three months worth of savings, cut back all nonessential expenditures as soon as you learn of your lay off. Cable TV, book clubs, entertainment, clothes shopping: All are possible places to cut back.
• Apply immediately for whatever government assistance is available: unemployment compensation, food stamps, retraining programs. Don’t be proud or stubborn and don’t put off applying.
• Talk to your creditors. If you have charge cards or other recurring bills that might be hard to pay on time, let each creditor know your situation and ask them to work with you.
• Take a lesser job temporarily if you can. Even a small weekly income can help you get through until you can find another good full-time position.

Surviving a lay off requires you to keep you spirits up while paring back drastically on your expenses and looking for work every day. Make sure you take good care of yourself and enlist the emotional support of friends and family.

A lay off is also a good time to reevaluate your future goals. Check out new career directions and retraining opportunities. You could discover an even better job than the one you lost is just around the corner.

Here are some of the most common reasons companies lay off workers:

• Departments become obsolete. If you work in a niche within the company that no longer exists at comparable organizations, you may want to consider a transfer to a more needed department.
• Departments become unprofitable. If your specific job supports a portion of the company that is losing money, you are more vulnerable than a person working in a profitable department.
• You’re brand new or you’re nearing retirement. Companies often pare the newest or oldest workers first. Workers near retirement are sometimes offered incentives.
• Your performance is less than stellar. Performance-based layoff decisions are common. If you’re not great at what you do, you might want to try harder.

Sometimes no matter what you or don’t do you can still be the victim of a lay off. Companies lay off workers for lots of reasons, but not all of them are reasons you can control. If the company itself is losing money, you may not be able to save your job no matter what you try.

Knowing some of the more common reasons companies lay off workers can keep you on your toes and maximize your chances of staying employed. If you do lose your job anyway, at least you’ll know you did everything you could to keep it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sK28hlbZ7kI

Once you’ve watched the video, click here to read how you can recession proof your career in 7 easy steps.

If you’re back on the job market, now is the time to get your interview technique into shape and be prepared for the types of questions you will need to answer to get your next job. Questions will be asked, and some are fairly predictable, but here’s a view of what to expect in a touch interview.

More Questions? Questions are the name of the game in interview sessions. One type is the “mirror question”. You make a statement such as, “I turned out 30% profit that year”. The interviewer then replies, “Profit?” The interviewer is mirroring what you said, inviting you to explain. He wants to assess how you answer under pressure. He’s testing you within the interview situation to see if you can handle the job pressures.

Open Questions. The interviewer might ask, “Why didn’t you receive a promotion during the past 8 years?” or “Why have you worked for so many different companies? These interview questions are meant to filter out those who accept responsibility from those who don’t. If you can explain: “I spent the past three years studying for by Business M.A. I refused promotions until I had more time,” you will pass this kind of test with flying colors.

Prove It Questions. This type of interview question asks you to provide concrete proof of the claims you make. The interviewer might ask you if you can perform a skill he needs. Bring facts and figures, paperwork and certifications with you that document that you can do the tasks required.

Gain Credibility. Another way to prove your skills are applicable is to repeat the same facts you have given, but in a different way. If the interviewer keeps coming back to the same point, something must be bothering him. You probably will have to explain it again, or elaborate. If all else fails, simply ask, “What are you looking for?” Then listen carefully so you can answer well.

Salary and Benefit Questions. You may be anxious to ask about these in the first job interview, but don’t. Your first interview is your chance to sell yourself to the company. Once they have decided they want you, you can negotiate the salary, benefits, and perks you need to accept the position. Until you’ve been offered the job, you have no bargaining power at all.

Tap the Internet. A myriad websites offer interview questions and good answer, as well as solutions to other job-hunting problems. One good site is www.businessballs.com/interviews.htm. Businessballs.com gives free interview answers and lots of other helpful interviewing advice.

Keep Learning. One way to learn how to handle interview questions is have a friend who is an executive (preferably in Human Resources) fire questions at you based on the facts you present in your resume from every different angle possible. Practice makes perfect! Anticipate questions, rehearse answers, and build your confidence, and you will be well on your way to a successful interview and a new job.

For more strategies on ho to deal with touch interviews, Click here to download Killer Interview Strategies.

Finding the perfect career is a matter of finding the right match between your skills and an employer’s needs.

Here are a few useful tips that will help you accomplish just that:

• Use the Internet. Search engines like Google can provide a wealth of information instantly. Search job databases and job boards and make use of any free resources the offer. Talk to people in web forums who actually work in professions that interest you. Do a search for companies in your locale that employ people with your specific talents and skills, and send a resume and a meeting request to the HR departments of each one of them, then follow up.
• Set goals. Pick the top careers you believe allow you to utilize your strengths and talents. Think from the top down. Talk to people who have succeeded in you chosen field and learn what steps you need to take. Make a list, and then set goals for one week, one month, one year and five years.
• Talk to winners. Everyone is busy these days but most people will be flattered by a request for five to ten minutes of their time, especially if you make it clear that you admire them and are interested in their secrets for success.
• Ask hard questions. It’s easy to see the bright side of a career path, especially if it’s a lucrative one. Always ask about the down side too. Talk to people who have succeeded but also to people who have failed or given up. Ask about what is most difficult and what tends to drive people away.

Once you are ready to take action to move from where you are to where you want to be, keep good habits and best business practices in place. For example:

• Network constantly. Only a small percentage of the job opportunities appear in newspapers or the Internet. Most key positions are filled from within before an ad is ever necessary. The best way to find out about unadvertised openings is to cast a wide net and talk to lots of people often.
• Keep learning. Technology is changing so fast and consumer demands are so unpredictable that the successful career person today must constantly update their skill set just to stay current. Accept the fact that you will be constantly training and retraining and adjusting to changing conditions will help you move ahead and keep your career path exciting and alive.
• Consider the road not travelled. Even the best career choice can become stale over time. Sometime a lateral move is a great way to reenergize and renew waning enthusiasm. Author John Grisham switched from lawyer to writer in midlife and made millions. Stay flexible and imaginative and be on the lookout for unconventional ways to use your skills and make your mark. Taking a risk can pay off big, so be prepared to jump when the time is right.

Once you’ve watch the video, click here to read how you can recession proof your career in 7 easy steps.

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Since the economy is in a downward motion, the job market is more competitive and altough there are jobs available but you have to be diligent and creative to find one. What job seekers need today, are new techniques to find the job they want. The tried and true methods will no longer work in the same way they did in the past but by changing little things they will find employment. Here are some tips to help you find new employment quickly:

Change Your Resume

Instead of using an old and tired resume, prepare one that speaks to your talents. Résumés are the first impression that someone has of you and it should only include your talents, how you match the job they are advertising and how you are most qualified for the job.

Leave out your personal objectives or career goals because they make you look self centered. Be as specific as possible and give them direct information about you. If you need more than one page to tell about you then add pages as needed.

Use Your Contacts by Advertising Your Loss of Employment

Losing your job is nothing to be ashamed of in today’s employment market. Advertise your job loss to your network because there are many people who may know how to match you specifically with someone who needs your talents.

Meet with people on a daily basis. This may mean people who are friends who have a large contact base or it can be several job interviews. Face to face meetings increase your chances of finding the best employment quickly.

Hold your own special event. Have a small dinner party at your house and invite business contacts. Invite people who are managers also. This will help you create contacts, opportunities and leads for new employment.

Use social networking as a way to generate leads. Websites like LinkedIn, Facebook and others can help you come together with people who are knowledgeable about the job market in your area of expertise.

Conduct lots of Interviews

You are the one who is in charge of your interviews and the more you do the more chance you have of getting new employment.

Talk to the person in charge of hiring rather than the HR department.

Be flexible when you meet with an employer and let them know that you will work into their schedule for an interview.

Don’t use the holiday as an excuse not to interview. Employers hire all the time and they do not worry about holidays if they like the candidate. All of these techniques can make sure that you put yourself into a position to have employment and not become an employment statistic.