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How To Write A Termination Letter

DeShuna Spencer — 2010-05-08T15:56:00+00:00

Letting people go is never an easy task. But during some point in a supervisor's career, you will eventually have to do the unpleasant job of writing a termination letter.

Termination letters are legal documents that state in writing why an employee is being fired. Letters of termination usually are a result of poor performance, company policies being broken or multiple probations that did not result in improvements.

Alternatives to the Mad College Grad Rush for Entry Level Part Time Jobs

DeShuna Spencer — 2010-05-06T13:27:00+00:00

It's two weeks before graduation. You have two internships under your belt and a stellar grade point average. But despite submitting your résumé to 80 companies throughout the country, you still have not landed a job. What's a recent college grad to do?

Lately, the trend has been to take part-time internships or fellowships until a full-time gig becomes available. For some recent graduates, taking on a low paying, part-time job is hard to swallow when student loan payments are just six months away. However, staying employed in your field -- even if it's part-time -- will eventually help you land a full-time job once the economy turns around.

Laid Off Versus Getting Fired When Collecting Unemployment Benefits

DeShuna Spencer — 2010-04-11T16:31:00+00:00

Whether you're laid off or fired, the pain of getting let go from a job carries the same weight. But the unemployment relief you can receive afterward differs.

The money used to fund unemployment benefits comes from a federal unemployment insurance tax that employers pay into. There are legal differences between getting fired and laid off in regards to unemployment benefits.

Health Care Options for The Unemployed

DeShuna Spencer — 2010-04-04T13:25:00+00:00

It's Friday afternoon at 4:45 p.m. Your boss calls you into his office and closes the door. He tells you that the company has to make cuts due to the recession and your job has been eliminated effective immediately. You're given a month's severance pay and a box to pack up your office.

As you drive home, first you begin to question how you will find another job to stay current on your bills. Then, you wonder how your daughter will get her much-needed braces, or how your wife will keep receiving her monthly heart medication. This scenario is what thousands of Americans face each week as companies continue to find ways to decrease deficits and stay in business.

Spring Break Internships: 3 Tips for Securing the Perfect Interim Job

DeShuna Spencer — 2010-03-28T16:57:00+00:00

After a week of pulling "all-nighters" to ace mid-term exams, it is natural for many college students to spend the following week unwinding at a tropical oasis for Spring Break.

However, some students are starting to forgo the week at the beach. Instead, they are getting valuable experience in their respective fields at Fortune 500 companies and at non-profits abroad through spring break internships. Being an intern for a week not only allows students to get hands-on experience in their major, but it also allows them to decide if they are going in the right direction.

Acing a Phone Interview in 5 Steps

DeShuna Spencer — 2010-03-26T10:58:00+00:00

With a higher applicant pool these days, many employers are conducting phone interviews to weed out people who might not fit in well with the company.

Love them or hate them, phone interviews have their place in the job market. It gives employers an opportunity to get a feel for an applicant without them even stepping foot into their office.

Census Test Taking Tips

DeShuna Spencer — 2010-03-19T20:05:00+00:00

Are you considering applying for a job with the U.S. Census Bureau? If so, you might need to brush up on your basic math and reading skills. In order to be considered for a census-taking position, you must complete a 30-minute census test.

Although I don't plan to apply for a census job, I hopped online this morning to the U.S. Census Bureau's website to check out the practice test. The practice test is in downloadable PDF form, and can be found on their website. With pen in hand and my stopwatch ready, I began my test.

The 411 on Census Bureau Jobs

DeShuna Spencer — 2010-03-16T10:59:00+00:00

As the 2010 census forms hit 120 million American mailboxes this week, the U.S. Census Bureau is currently looking for part-time, temporary employees to help them collect information.

With the existing climate of the job market, many anticipate that 3 million to 4 million applicants will apply for one of the 700,000 census taker positions. For many out-of-work Americans, a census job means steady income between the spring and summer months. But while we've heard about the influx of temporary census jobs, many of us don't know exactly what that encompasses.

Résumé Mistakes to Avoid

DeShuna Spencer — 2010-03-16T06:33:00+00:00

With resumes outrunning job postings by literally several hundred to one, employers don't have to be very forgiving of resume mistakes, and they're not. These days, it's one strike and you're out.

Unemployment Extension -- A Filing "How To" Guide

DeShuna Spencer — 2010-03-04T12:46:00+00:00

Now that Kentucky Senator Jim Bunning has finally relented and allowed the Senate to pass unemployment extension benefits, many out-of-work Americans can breathe a sigh of relief.

When there's a high volume of unemployment -- like we have with our current economic recession -- the federal government typically extends unemployment benefits to individuals who have exhausted their unemployment compensation. Usually benefits are continued for at least 13 weeks; some states even provide up to 20 weeks.