Unemployed and Looking for Answers

Unemployed and Looking for Answers Presented by: Kathleen E. High, M.Ed. Independent Education/Career Consultant Dream Chasers & Goal Setters Sponsored by: Living Beyond Work Loss (Unemployed Support Group) VCF - Anaheim

Receive helpful and practical information and resources for: · Job Search—Where to find information, resources, and support · New Career — How to transition into a new direction · Education — How to address educational needs and questions · Personal — How to meet financial, personal, and emotional needs · Priorities—How to discern where your priorities should be Overview

Why Are You Here today? WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? WHAT ARE YOUR EXPECTATIONS?

Why This Workshop? • MY LIFE EXPERIENCE: • Laid off of nine-year position • went to school to finish my degree • From: Secretary – business world (1997) • To: Counselor/professor – Higher Education (the process: 13 + years) • Wanted to make a career change • No one could answer my questions • Through this journey, found my life calling

Why This Workshop? (Cont’d) TODAY’S ECONOMIC CONDITIONS: • Too many are unemployed and lost • They often don’t know what to do • Their learning is often distracted “by life” • Difficult to stay focused on learning new skills when worried about meeting needs • Access to education is now limited due to the budget crisis • Colleges/Universities and Unemployment Offices are swamped

What The Unemployed Need:

What You Will Get Today: INFORMATION • To help you figure out what to do next • Change your expectations and perspective: • Today’s Reality • Setting Goals • Meeting Your Needs

Education • How to set appropriate educational goals • How to achieve desired educational goals Information: • Work • How to identify jobs that will help you achieve your goals (now and in the future) • Needs • How to provide for various needs without a regular paycheck

INFORMATION:(Assignments Recommended) • TODAY’S REALITY: • Rapidly-Changing World • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMcfrLYDm2U • The world is changing – how should you respond? • Generational Values • Your generation affects your worldview • Discerning Seasons • Life is like the weather: Seasons change • End of a season: Not the end of the world • Paradigm Shifts • When “reality” is shattered

INFORMATION:(Assignments Recommended-cont’d) • SETTING GOALS: • Dream Chaser’s & Goal Setter’s Journey • A visual of what affects your success • Reaching Career Goals • Career Changes: A two-step process • Types of jobs: Survival, Entry-Level, Transition, Dream Job • Importance of Missions/Values Fit • Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs • Managing multiple needs • Priorities • Identifying what is important and what is not

INFORMATION:(Assignments Recommended-cont’d) MEETING YOUR NEEDS: • Managing Finances • Lessons learned the hard way: • Change Your Perspective • Establishing a Source of Income • Lowering Your Financial Obligations • Strategies and Tips for Reducing Expenses • Solutions for Emergency Situations • Unemployed Resources • Meeting needs through alternative resources: • Federal and state government, non-profit,and others

Resources:

RESOURCES: • On Most College Campuses • CAREER CENTER • One-On-One Career Counseling • Career Assessments (Personality, Interests, Values, Skills, etc.) • Workshops (Resumes, Interviewing, Studying, Success, etc.) • Handouts (Labor Market Trends, Goal Setting, Choosing Majors, etc.) • Career Research Resources (Online programs, books, etc.) • Computer Lab • COUNSELING DEPARTMENT: • One-On-One Counseling • Counseling Classes (for academic/career success) • Disabled Student Services • Vocational Counseling, Accommodations, Resources, Support • TRANSFER CENTER: • Help/Information for Transfer Planning (future school research) • SEE “UNEMPLOYED RESOURCES” FOR MORE

RESOURCES: • Non-College Campus Resources • IF YOUR PRIORITY IS TO OBTAIN GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT ASAP: • Sign up with your Local “One-Stop” Center • (Unemployment Office) • Their objective is to get you back to work ASAP • SEE “MANAGING FINANCES” • For non-traditional solutions for meeting your needs • SEE “UNEMPLOYED RESOURCES” • For Resources: • State Government • Federal Government • Community/Non-Profit/For-Profit organizations

Support:

SUPPORT: • On Most College Campuses • CAREER COUNSELING • Career Center • ACADEMIC COUNSELING • Counseling Department • PSYCHOLOGICAL COUNSELING • Student Health Center • DISABILITIES (Physical, Learning, Etc.) COUNSELING • Disabled Students Programs & Services • FOR VALIDATION OF YOUR JOURNEY • Handouts Mentioned Earlier • Often validate what individuals are experiencing • Often leads to healing of some unresolved issues • “UNEMPLOYED RESOURCES” LISTS MORE

SUPPORT: • Off Campus • SEE: • “Managing Finances” • “Unemployed Resources” • Check your church – What resources do they offer? • YOUR OWN PERSONAL SUPPORT SYSTEM • (See “Dream Chaser’s Journey”)

SUPPORT:Wish to follow up with me? • You have four options: • Living Beyond Work Loss • Unemployed Support group offered here at VCF - Anaheim • Mt. SAC: Enroll in my STDY 80 class • http://elearn.mtsac.edu/khigh/stdy80/ • Cypress: • Career counseling through the Career Planning Center • Workshops offered through the Career Planning Center • http://www.cypresscollege.edu/ad/adjunct.aspx?ID=khigh • Dream Chasers & Goal Setters: Individual consulting • http://www.dreams-goals.com/index.html • See “Introduction Letter” for more details

Wrap Up – Answer the Following • What are your needs? • Where are your priorities? • Which resources presented today can help? • What to do next? • REFLECT: What is your “inner voice” saying to you right now?

Wrap Up – Help Us to Help You • Let us know what additional information you need • What workshops do you want? • Please fill out the survey

Unemployed and Looking for Answers