Best Practice Self-Assessments for Job Search & Reemployment Planning

The U.S. Department of Labor has just awarded $68,745,912 to states and territories to implement or continue reemployment and eligibility assessments for Unemployment Insurance (UI) beneficiaries.

“Offering newly unemployed Americans access to a full array of job training and placement services will help to reduce time spent between jobs,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez. “These federal grants will also strengthen the integrity of the UI program by preventing improper payments so that it remains available for those who truly need it.”

The funding will be used to conduct in-person assessments at American Job Centers. The assessments include the development of an individual reemployment plan for each claimant; the provision of labor market information that is appropriate to the claimant’s location, job skills and employment prospects; a review of the claimant’s eligibility for UI benefits; and referral to reemployment or training services provided by the American Job Center.

In research for the US DOL, the Layoff-to-Employment Action Planner (LEAP) assessment, published by Career Action Resources, is identified as an innovative workforce development best practice for REA programs. Specifically, the study explains how the LEAP is used to assess UI claimants in the nation’s most-effective reemployment program. The research found Nevada has the most effective REA program of the states studied. The study explains the LEAP is useful to claimants participating in REAs by helping them identify their needs. The report also states the LEAP is useful to REA staff by helping them better refer claimants to much-needed services. A follow-up IMPAQ study found Nevada’s REA participants had 3.13 fewer weeks on UI compared to individuals in the control group, saving $873 in benefits payout per REA participant. This amount exceeded REA costs by more than 4 times.

Colorado is receiving a first-time grant to implement an REA program while the other states, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia are being awarded additional funds to continue their programs. This brings the total number of states that have offered reemployment and eligibility assessments to 44. This is the 10th year that the department has awarded grants through the REA initiative.

Here are the states and territories receiving the 2014 REA grants:
Arizona $138,623
California $5,211,049
Colorado $227,971
Delaware $206,208
District of Columbia $661,870
Florida $4,933,760
Georgia $301,387
Hawaii $855,485
Idaho $333,933
Indiana $3,225,985
Iowa $759,892
Kansas $273,173
Kentucky $1,558,925
Louisiana $2,059,493
Maine $1,493,763
Maryland $547,982
Massachusetts $4,582,706
Montana $111,287
Minnesota $1,598,840
Mississippi $759,072
Missouri $611,887
Nebraska $244,158
Nevada $1,543,703
New Hampshire $929,832
New Jersey $1,965,447
New Mexico $136,452
New York $18,061,968
North Carolina $2,244,876
Oregon $3,147,793
Puerto Rico $25,685
Rhode Island $701,363
South Carolina $1,354,859
South Dakota $330,647
Utah $1,094,632
Vermont $1,047,893
U.S. Virgin Islands $304,849
Virginia $980,811
Washington $3,111,757
West Virginia $191,863
Wisconsin $874,033
Total = $68,745,912

The information in this post is adapted from a recent US DOL news release, with additional information on the Nevada REA program added by Career Action Resources, based on IMPAQ International studies for the U.S. Department of Labor.
 

Most people make assumptions about careers. These assumptions often hold back job seekers. Do you recognize your job hunters in the following career myths?

• MYTH: There is one right job for me. HOW TO RESPOND: There are many jobs you would enjoy and do well in. Focus on work that suits your interests and skills, but don't restrict yourself to one job.
• MYTH: No one will hire me because I lack experience. HOW TO RESPOND: If you need experience, get it! Volunteer, work in a related or entry-level job, or take classes. Also consider whether you have done work-related activities, such as caregiving or blogging, that may be appropriate to add to your resume.
• MYTH: I’m too old to change my career. HOW TO RESPOND: Workers who change careers come from many age groups and backgrounds. To make change easier, "transfer" your experience to other jobs. Start at www.myskillsmyfuture.org.

Do you need help getting your job hunters past career myths? Consider Your Employment Search (YES), a quick and easy career assessment tool that covers career direction, attitude, and much more.

If you are a workforce development or career services professional, please request your complimentary YES sample from the publisher, Career Action Resources.
 

Image courtesy of Stuart Miles/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net

 

Today's job search is, of course, a complex process. But often you don't have the time, opportunity, or staff to educate job seekers on the best job hunt methods. When you do have the chance to impart job search guidance, perhaps during workshops or REA meetings, here are the tips we suggest. Feel free to share these tips with your staff and your job seekers.

• Focus on employers, not on yourself. Employers hire you to meet their needs, not yours. A job seeker's main mission is to prove how he or she will help employers run their business efficiently, serve customers well, and grow.
• Think differently about getting a job. Avoid spending all of your time applying for jobs online. Research employers who can best use your skills and contact these employers. Reach out to everyone you know who can connect you with employers. Try to find a back door into the hiring process by calling employers who are growing but not running job ads. Or ask for an interview even if no jobs are open at the moment.
• Keep going. Make active job searching your daily focus, be prepared for rejection, and find ways to stay positive.

Want to beef up your job hunt guidance? Consider Your Employment Search (YES), a job search assessment and reemployment planning tool in one, published by Career Action Resources. YES is full of reemployment and job search tips and strategies but takes just a half-hour to complete. Workforce development and career practioners can request a complimentary YES sample.