The Unemployment Problem
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People are hurting into today’s economy, with massive layoffs and unemployment. Before I list the major Chicago area players (free/low-cost help), let me say a few words. I’ve taken part in many of these resources, since I have been laid off Motorola.
- One resource (which I will not name, as they might be flooded with requests), offers a free green belt training program.
- L.D.S. (i.e. Church of Latter Day Saints) offers a great two-day employment training workshop, where they actually tape a before and after job interview. In addition, they offer a wonderful (half-day) self-employment training.
- Our Savior Lutheran Church in Naperville has a series of employment training workshops, pioneered by David Cox.
- J.V.S. (i.e. Jewish Vocational Services of Chicago) offers the Core Four Self-Employment training every quarter.
- My Own Business has a great, free online course, geared towards self-employment.
- The small business development groups and S.C.O.R.E., offer free consulting, at any stage of self-employment.
- Utilize local (in-district) junior college, career placement/transition services (i.e. Harper College or College of DuPage).
- The state-run work-net program has training and job clubs. The Illinois work-net has an employment-search boot camp.
- If you do a search at http://www.google.com for “small business forums”, you find online resources to discuss problems and issues, related to running a small business.
- You can receive help with resumes, hand bills, etc., from many secular and religious organizations. They also have job clubs with speakers.
- Check out the websites http://www.layoffmoveon.com/ , http://www.outofworkchicago.com, and http://blog.spinstrategy.com/.
Unemployment Help
Like the famous hair club for men, I have been a user, of most of the following groups. Now there are other groups catering to the unemployed and self-employments. These are only the more established, and they (or your local public reference librarian), can steer you towards others.
The Buddha once offered a story, about a person shot with a poison arrow. Rather than ask about where the arrow came from, who shot the arrow, etc. – let’s treat the injury. It doesn’t matter if the free help is Latter Day Saints, Catholic, Evangelical, Jewish, Secular, etc. Let’s heal the wounds of unemployment.
Perspective and Quality
What about employer sponsored and paid options? Go for it! I used Right Management for two months, when Motorola paid for it. Then I used other services. What about quality and perspective? Let’s answer this with some real world examples.
- Can a professional J.V.S. or L.D.S. counselor, which worked with thousands of resumes and job candidates, offer me perspective?
- Can a S.C.O.R.E. counselor who build a 20 million dollar business from scratch offer me perspective?
- Can the director of a small business institute, who started several businesses herself, offer me perspective?
Job Clubs:
As a service to those unemployed, in the Chicago area, I offer these free (low-cost) resources:
- Career Transition Center of Chicago – http://www.ctcchicago.org/
- Barrington Career Center – http://www.barringtoncareercenter.com/mc/page.do
- Naperville Career Center – http://www.communitycareercenter.org/
- St. Hubert – http://www.sainthubert.org/
- St. Thomas – http://www.stapostle.org/index2.php
- L.D.S. Employment Resources (I.E. – Naperville, Illinois) – http://tinyurl.com/dyjg6t
- J.V.S. Chicago – http://www.jvschicago.org/
- Our Savior Lutheran Church - http://www.oursaviours.com/
- Congregational Church of Batavia – http://tinyurl.com/lfpcw5
- There’s a good online site at http://www.e4myjob.com/
Self-Employment Resources:
- USA Small Business Development Center Network – http://www.asbdc-us.org/
- Illinois Small Business Development Center Network – http://tinyurl.com/cmouu4
- S.C.O.R.E. – http://www.score.org/index.html
- Virtual Six Sigma – http://virtualsixsigma.com/
- My Own Business – http://www.myownbusiness.org/
- L.D.S. Employment Resources (I.E. – Lisle, Illinois) – providentliving.org/em…
- J.V.S. Chicago – http://www.jvschicago.org/
- Congregational Church of Batavia – http://www.ccobnetwork.com/
- Great non-profit website talking about the plight of US unemployed at unemployedworkers…
If you live outside of Chicago, contact the following, for religious and secular organizations providing unemployment help:
- Your local public library reference librarian.
- Local churches and places of worship (I.E. – Roman Catholic Churches, Latter Day Saints, or Salvation Army)
- Local charities like the United Way
- Local (in-district) junior college, career placement (transition) services.
Small Business Planning
If you plan on starting a small business, I recommend the following (WARNING: This requires some time and effort on your part – but it’s well worth it):
- Taking the free My Own Business course at http://www.myownbusiness.org/
- Sign up for http://www.makepeacetotalpackage.com/, and follow the daily articles.
- Study at Inbound Marketing University at http://www.inboundmarketing.com/
- If you can find the Core Four (corefouronline.co…) training cheap/low-cost – take it.
- A great e-book for a marketing plan is found at bigbusinessstrate….
- Cool – yet useful – website: “The Business Channel” yourbusinesscha….
- Take the free SEO training course seo-training-co…
Then map out a business plan. If you are in the US, get help from the following resources:
- Small Business Development Center Network – http://www.asbdc-us.org/.
- S.C.O.R.E. – http://www.score.org/index.html.
Interviewing
http://www.collegegrad.com – Negotiating your value
Resume Writing
http://www.ProvenResumes.com – Resume tips and proven formats
http://www.jobstar.org – More tips on writing that perfect resume
http://www.quintcareers.com – Resume preparation
Salary Information
http://www.salary.com – Guideline to salaries
Patent Searches
- Free patent search – SumoBrain.com…
- Free patent search – FreePatentsOnli…
Translation
- Free Translation – http://www.freetranslation.com/
- Google Translate – http://translate.google.com
Notes to Potential Guest Bloggers
I’m always open to guest bloggers. In exchange, I’ll include a brief bio and a link to your website. Please send me in potential contributions to my contact page information. If it’s something I can use, I’ll contact you.
Note to comment posters
I try to approve all legitimate comments. What I don’t approve is the following:
- Comments with links to pornography.
- Any URL reference the Web of Trust website (http://www.mywot.com/) flags as untrustworthy. I have the FireFox, IE and Google Chrome WOT plug-ins.
- Anything with links to merchandise embedded within the comment, rather than the website URL going with the email. So please don’t embed anything selling “Cat-in-the-Hat” SEO techniques, dehydrated water in a can – just add water, left-handed monkey wrenches, or special priced time machines.
- Anything asking obvious questions, like how can I follow you on Twitter, subscribe to RSS feeds, contact you, etc. This is self-explanatory on this website.
- Comments in a foreign language, where the free translation services give nonsense English translations.
- Anything that resembles a word per word translation of an earlier comment.
- Anyone is free to share stuff I write, as long as a back link is made to my site, and proper credit is given.
- The feeds are standard WordPress and Google output, which just boils down to XML docs. If you put my website URL, followed by /feed into w3 Feed Validator, it comes up valid.  Unless you give me an Iphone, Blackberry, etc., I can’t tell what feeds might not show up for you.
- All comments not flagged as spam, go into an approval queue. Remember the old saying, “When I see a bird that walks like a duck and swims like a duck and quacks like a duck, I call that bird a duck?“ You can substitute the word spam for duck.
- WordPress.com support had concerns about some comments Akismet flagged as spam being approved.  I’m now going through and trashing all comments it flagged as spam – whether legitimate or not.  Please forgive me if I trashed any real comments.  In order to satisfy WordPress support, I’ll only approve comments that Akismet doesn’t flag as spam.
Randy Kemp
Hi — I am reading your blog/site with great pleasure. I am so glad to hear the experiences of an experienced-job-seeker!
I am a long time recruiter, corporate based, who worked in seriously high volume high turnover industries. I started my business 10 yrs ago +, and work mainly on a contracted basis (rarely contingent recruiting unless HR focused). I provide other HR professional services as well.
Due to the job market and lightened recruitign assignments, i’ve decided to pay forward a bit and do something I’ve always wanted to — work in an outplacement arena providing perspective to individuals from a corporate recruiters’ perspective. So, I started a job club in December, with the intention of only doing it for those 4 weeks. It is end of March, and I am still doing it. The club has grown and it is taking up quite a bit of my time. I’ve created a site on Yahoo Groups for people (invited only) who’ve attended at least two of our meetings. I feel that the only way I may continue with this is to become fee-based. Here are my current options, and I would love to know your thoughts, if you don’t mind sharing:
1) Currently held in a library; they are not paying a programming fee, however I have proposed a 4 week program at other librairies. Acceptance is pending.
2) Promote to area employers as an outplacement option; less formal but likely more productive and friendly.
3) Charge a small fee per meeting attendance… 1st meeting complimentary.
4) Charge a membership fee (either one time only, or annually) and gain access to the webpage and the continually updated information, links and resources, as well as regular meetings.
5) Pending…
Thank you for your time thus far.
Donna:
It’s good you are doing some great work pro-bono. There’s both a need for free and fee based services. Perhaps you can do a bit of both. Have some free stuff, which also promotes your services. Then offer other premium services for a fee. While I do refer folks to free job clubs, I can also refer them to career coaches, if they request it.
Randy
Donna:
In fact, you might consult S.C.O.R.E. and the Small Business Development Center Network, to discuss your fee based initiatives and ideas.
Randy
I always read blogs in similar topic, but I never visited your blog. bookmarked and i’ll be your constant reader. Thanks
Small Business owners are largely forgotten. Thats why I only focus on them. I have experience several members of my family file bankruptcy due to small business failures. I also I suffered through 2 destroyed businesses due to failure however, in my failings I have learned some of the secrets to success. (Who can say they know it all?)
What I like about small business owners is that they are not afraid to take huge risks and lay it all on the line. But, I agree they do need a lot of help with their marketing. I think having them go the social media and email route is not only the least expensive but its also the most effective. Thanks for the stats!
I would be cautious regarding gurus claiming to have all the answers – for a price. Directing traffic to blogs is really utilizing tried and true methods, such as article marketing, white hat SEO, relevant comments on popular blogs, viral marketing, etc. The surest way is just to provide relevant and useful content.
Oh My God, I don’t know how I missed this blog. Really informative, and some articles written here are really good. Hats off..
I can see where you’re going with and it’s pretty good, I hope you have a nice day!
You can quote anything here in accordance with copyright fair usage rules.
This is really something I can understand. Thanks for the article I have subscribed to your rss.
Could you go into more detail on this? Btw, the advice you gave me is really good.
What additional details would you like to see?
Randy
I Will have to come back again when my class load lets up – nevertheless I am taking your RSS feed so I can read your site offline. Thanks.
You have a new fan! I love your stuff here and will be back again.
I do listen to and watch the “experts” on TV and radio news casts. It seems they can’t agree among themselves. But if you have a flood, what’s the best course of action? Isn’t it to help the people, then figure out what caused the floor afterward?
Randy
I host my blog on http://wordpress.com. If you host your blog via http://wordpress.org, then it will be dependent on the reliability of the hosting company. A couple to look at is http://hostgator.com or http://godaddy.com, for using http://wordpress.org.
Randy
Sure! Be my guest!
Randy
I use http://wordpress.com.
Randy
Click Subscribe to my feed found in the left hand side widgets.
Randy
Nancy:
If we look at any known religious figure – whether the Old Testament prophets or Christ – or other religious traditions (i.e, like Mohammad or Buddha), there is one common thread. At some point, they tried to help others. It’s expressed in the Love Christ embraced and the compassion Buddha embraced.
But – that being said – much got returned to them in life. It’s something that is “missing” from contemporary philosophies, like “the Secret”.
Randy
Pretty good post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wanted to say that I have really enjoyed reading your blog posts. Any way I’ll be subscribing to your feed and I hope you post again soon.
Heya! Can easily I upload your information in Pdf file structure? I seek it in my group.
I would use PDF software, such as a PDF writer driver.
Randy
Greetings! Our staff members are longing for potential future internet writers, might you be curious? This in turn isn’t going to render you lush yet somehow there is an attractive payment and if you fairly cherish writing then this process gig is for you.
Contact me via my contact link and let’s chat.
Randy
Sorry. Since it occurs on your end, I would need access to your applications. Please ask someone in your tech support arena.
Randy
Hi! Your text allow me personally procure an eye-popping mark and I be grateful for you for that. Do you own methods kind of gift box where I should direct donation in PayPal?
No donation is needed – consider any help rendered a gift.
Randy
Not really.
Randy
No predictions. I’m not a government employment politician, academic professor, or professional psychic – ask one of them.
Randy
Yo, just came here to say what’s up, cos the title Chicago Job Resources B2B-TechCopy Technology Marketing Blog truly made me quite impressed. I wondered if you could recommend a course that may help me to post stuff like you. Thanks.
Briana:
If you are looking for writing courses, I would suggest checking out your in-district junior college, if you live in the US. Your local public library reference librarian can help you locate them. I did this for several years – I took creative writing courses at the College of DuPage part time. Having said that, let me add this – there have been writers who won the Nobel prize for literature, yet never took a writing course.
Randy
You would make a perfect Buddhist – following the Buddha’s own words.
Randy
Anyone can have permission to share anything I write about – as long as the appropriate credit and link is included.
Randy
You certainly have some agreeable opinions and views. Your blog provides a fresh look at the subject.
I just sent this post to a bunch of my friends as I agree with most of what you’re saying here and the way you’ve presented it is awesome.
One of my favorite books on Buddhism is entitled Buddhism For Dummies by Jonathan Landaw and Stephan Bodian. There’s also a book entitled The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Buddhism, 3rd Edition by Gary Gach. These are available at http://www.amazon.com, along with reader reviews. Your local US public library can also obtain copies. Keep in mind that Zen is just one form of Buddhist meditation. Insight meditation is also very popular with westerners.. Others are exploring various forms of Tibetan meditation.
Randy
Another Idiot’s guide worth looking at is the Complete Idiot’s Guide to Understanding Buddhism, Second Edition by Gary Gach. Isn’t it funny how they have an Idiots or dummies guide, for every topic under the sun?
Randy
Ever hear the Buddhist story of the man, shot by a poison arrow? It’s quoted at http://is.gd/eQ89u: “Suppose a man is struck by a poisoned arrow and the doctor wishes to take out the arrow immediately. Suppose the man does not want the arrow removed until he knows who shot it, his age, his parents, and why he shot it. What would happen? If he were to wait until all these questions have been answered, the man might die first.”
Let me be the pragmatist and offer people a way out of unemployment. Let the academic professors, politicians, historians, economists, philosophers, etc., find a theoretical framework why the problem occurred.
Randy
Incredible Article Maki. Like Reading through copywriting Guide from Joe Sugarman or Dan Kennedy. Now I just have to apply the
This informal article assited me a lot! Bookmarked your site, very great topics just about everywhere that I read here! I appreciate the info, thanks.
Yikes this definitely takes me back, i’ve been wondering about this subject for a while.
Sorry! This is a http://wordpress.com blog and NOT a http://wordpress.org blog. Their rules won’t allow any ad space.
Randy
In WordPress, one name for templates is theme. So I do have a template, in that I have selected a particular theme. The stuff on the side is done via Widgets (another WordPress term), with images stored on http://www.flickr.com/ (A Yahoo owned company).
Randy
Wonderful and helpfull guide
Thanks for this post! Then again, I had a hard time viewing this article in IE 6. Just wished to convey that to your consideration! Thanks.
Actually, most comments get trapped by software and I try to delete what is not a legitimate comment, or something about a technology topic. However, I’m human and may fail to be 100% accurate.
Randy
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It’s WordPress. I believe you can create the same look and feel, for any website, with Joomla, WordPress, Drupal, or compatible tool. It’s only what happens behind the scenes that’s different.
Randy
Kredit:
I have seen popular blogs do it both ways. Some have lots of images, while others have little to none. Images do take up considerable bandwidth, so I prefer to keep images to a minimum. Personal preference, mind you!
Randy
I’m going to write about this same thing on my blog. Thanks!
Thanks for posting and sharing with all – Cheers
“What is captcha code?, pls provide me captcha code codes or plugin, With thanks upfront.”
Paula:
Wiki talks about Captcha code at http://is.gd/fIjNn. It depends on your website platform, whether it’s HTML, WordPress, Joomla, Drupal, etc. If it’s WordPress, you just go to Plug-ins-> Add New and do a search for captcha.
Randy
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Natasha:
I appreciate the offer and gesture. I feel that our blogging topics are different. You appear focused on violin and I’m more about technology and marketing. I think you would be best suited to find blogs about classical music, or music in general. Just as I’m better situated to exchange links with marketing and technology blogs. I hope you understand.
Randy
Thank you for enriching the On the web entire world with this write-up!
My insight is to provide resources for the unemployed, just as it’s the doctor’s insight to provide medicine, in the Buddhist story (in this string of comments). I leave it to the academic professors, politicians, economists, etc., to provide the “ultimate insight.” If you listen and watch the US political ads, from now until Nov 2, you will see much talk about the economy. But I think you will become more confused then ever.
Randy
Sorry. If I do any link exchanges at all, it will be for related sites devoted to technology and marketing topics. I hope you understand.
Randy
“I have been perusing your posts in the course of my smoke break, and I have to admit the complete article has been quite educational and quite very well written. I believed I would allow you realize that for some reason this website does not exhibit nicely in IE eight. I hope Microsoft would cease upgrading stuff. We’ve a query for you personally. Would you mind swapping blog site roll links? That might be truly neat! “
Note sure! Since I don’t have an IPad, I’ll have to bug one of my friends.
Randy
I do subscribe to my own RSS feeds and receive them problem free. I assume it is a problem on your end.
Randy
Actually, I’m using WordPress myself – the hosted instead of the self-hosted. Self hosting allows you to add plug-ins and advertising – plus you have a larger selections of themes.
WordPress has “matured” with its latest 3.01 version. It’s probably compatible with other platforms, like Joomla and Drupal.
I did everything myself, from the custom graphics to the writing. Custom colors are done via CSS.
Randy
Why not be a guest blogger here. Send me something I can check and I may publish it, as a post?
Randy
It’s the school of hard knocks. Since my layoff from Motorola, I have been involved, either directly – or indirectly – with the groups mentioned in this post, during my first few post-Motorola months.
Randy
Your weblog is fine. I just want to touch upon the design. Its too loud. Its doing manner an excessive amount of and it takes away from what youve bought to say –which I think is basically important. I dont know in case you didnt suppose that your words might hold everyones attention, however you had been wrong. Anyway, in my language, there are not much good supply like this.
Tim:
I appreciate your point of view. I’ll take it into consideration and look forward to other suggestions on design changes.
Randy
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Tim:
I’ll look into it for future pages. I now am using images with the Zemanta software (available as plug-in, for self-hosted sites. I also suggest the “After The Deadline” plug-in, for self-hosted sites. Neither has anything to do with video clips.
Randy
I would like to thank you for the efforts you have made in composing this article. I am going for the same best work from you in the future as well. In fact your fanciful writing abilities has prompted me to start my own blog now. Actually the blogging is spreading its wings rapidly. Your write up is a fine example of it.
My platform is http://wordpress.com. This means WordPress hosts it for me vs. running a self-hosted WordPress site.
You can achieve the same effect with content management systems, such as Drupal and Joomla. The look and feel can be set up anyway you want.
If you are using self-hosted WordPress sites, you can use themes like Thesis, Genesis, etc., to control the look and feel.
Deanna:
Basically, I advertise it via social media. I publish links to new posts to Twitter, which in turn feeds my Facebook, FriendFeed, Google Buzz and LinkedIn accounts.
Randy
Excellent tips .I really appreciate all these points, and I agree completely…
tr.
Great tips! I will try to use them. Why not hold some sort of contest for your readers?