1. Nuts & Bolts of Unemployment

2. The Unemployment Safety Net
Yes, it can be scary.
But, it’s not the end of the world!

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 won’t have as much income as you did while working, but it will help you get by in the interim.
Unemployment compensation (or unemployment insurance) is a way of receiving monetary income even after losing your job. All states feature an unemployment insurance program.

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.

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.

6. Unemployment Insurance Resources to Get You Back in the Game.
Nebraska’s department of labor website for:
information on training events,
job search advice, & online UI filing
mantLogin.jsp
Democratic GAIN for
Tips on surviving unemployment &
State-by-state UI links and info
mentbenefits

7. What About Your Health Insurance?
Continuing some kind of health coverage is a must!
As a newly unemployed person, you’ll have up to THREE options for health insurance before you find your next job:
COBRA
Individual Health Insurance
Your Parent’s Plan*

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.

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.

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.

11. How Do You Elect COBRA Coverage?
Your employer must notify plan administrators of your termination/reduced hours of employment within 30 days.
You generally must be sent an election notice not later than 14 days after the plan administrator receives this notice.
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.

12. Individual Health Insurance
Option 2:
Individual Health Insurance
Healthcare.gov
Visit to find out your options for enrollment in a state-based exchange or the federal exchange
Open Enrollment for 2015 begins November 15, 2014

13. Individual Health Insurance
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!

14. Navigating the Individual Health Insurance Market
Getting your insurance quotes through Democratic GAIN’s member portal is a quick & easy process:
Open an inquiry through our member portal at
You’ll receive a response in 24 hours with follow up questions
You’ll have quotes from 3-5 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

15. Option 3: Your Parent’s Plan*
Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, if you are under 26 you are still eligible for coverage as a dependent on your parent’s 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!
Visit for more information

16. How Do You Get On Your Parent’s Plan?
You can join or remain on your parent’s plan even if you are:
married
not living with your parents
attending school
not financially dependent on your parents
eligible to enroll in their employer’s plan

17. 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
Healthcare.gov
All of these resources and more can be found on Democratic GAIN’s GAIN Plan Resource Page:
lanResources

18. The Job Search

19. 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 & Talent Bank
Career Counseling & Resume Resources
Calendar of Trainings & Networking Opportunities
Join the free JobsThatAreLEFT listserv for daily job updates!

20. 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?

21. 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

22. Resume +
Cover Letter

23. Basic Resume Content
CONTACT INFORMATION
Name, Address, Phone Number, Professional Address
EXPERIENCE
Highlights
Professional Experience
Education (Post High School only)
SKILLS
Additional Qualifications: Computer Skills, Language Skills, Research/Writing Experiences, Training/Public Speaking Skills
Trainings: NOI, PCCC, Mid-West Academy, EMILY’s List, etc.

24. 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

25. 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”

26. 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

27. Writing A Cover Letter Begin by addressing to someone specific.
Find out who will read your letter. If you don’t know, use “To Whom It May Concern.”
Then, three Sections:
Express interest, specify the job you’re applying for and describe how you heard about the job.
Provide professional highlights that are relevant to the specific job. Don’t repeat your resume!
Explain why you’re interested in this specific job and why you’re the best fit.

28. 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.

29. Networking

30. The Value of Networking
YOUR RESUME

31. 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 you’ve met at events/meetings, friends
Keep building
Go to events that are relevant to your career interests.
Always collect business cards
Connect!

32. 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

33. Social Media
LinkedIn
Excellent way to keep track of and utilize your network
Use the connector tool
Request recommendations
Facebook
Be careful.

34. 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
Don’t ask about benefits, salary, hours, etc. on first interview
Treat Informational Interviews like REAL Interviews.
Because they are.

35. Additional Resources LISTSERVS: EMILY’s List Tom Manatos
JobsThatAreLEFT
NOI
NETWORKS:
LinkedIn
Facebook
Twitter
JOB BOARDS:
Idealist.org
Unionjobs.com
WorkForCongress.com
Brad Traverse
HillZoo.com
The Hill
Roll Call
Politico
DSCC
DCCC
DLCC

36. How to Get the Right Job

37. Lay of the Land

38. Issue Research & Advocacy
Some of Your Options
Campaigns & Elections
The Administration
The Hill
Issue Research & Advocacy
All of the Above:
Internationally

39. Campaigns & Elections Candidate Campaigns Party Committees
Consulting Firms
Labor Organizations
Progressive Ally Organizations

40. Candidate Campaign Manager
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
Staff
Trackers
Consultants
Mention Targeting Director for large campaigns

41. Consulting Firms

42. Labor Organizations

43. Progressive Allies

44. The Hill Senator / Representative Chief of Staff / Admin Asst.
Legislative Director
District Office(s)
Legislative Assistant
Legislative Assistant
Press Secretary
Legislative Correspondent
Legislative Correspondent
Scheduler
Staff Assistant
Intern
Intern
Intern

45. Political Appointment
The Administration
Career
Political Appointment
State department
HHS
DOL
DHS
Usajobs.gov

46. Issue Research & Advocacy
Think Tanks
Public Advocacy
Issue Advocacy

47. Think Tanks

48. Public Advocacy http://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/top.php?indexType=l
Examples include:
Patton Boggs
Akin Gump
Ernst & Young
Ogilvy

49. Issue Advocacy Environment and Climate Good Government Women’s Health
Human Rights
LGBT
Voting Rights

50. International Work
Foreign Service
USAID

51. Democratic GAIN
The professional association for progressives providing training & support for individuals & organizations.
Join to GAIN access to all the benefits we offer, including:
Job Board & Talent Bank
Career Counseling & Resume Resources
Calendar of Trainings & Networking Opportunities
Member Discounts

52. Learn more about what you can
Questions?
Learn more about what you can
GAIN by joining us!
@DemocraticGAIN