Keeping Skills Sharp Through A Long Layoff
赋闲在家已有数月？通过采取一些措施自我提高，你可以避免职业技能出现退步。7月份，美国有500万人被视为长期失业，这意味着他们失业已经27周甚至更久。职业顾问说，随着从失业数周变成失业数月，找工作的人需要不断完善更新自己的技能，以免落伍。他们应该在自我提高的同时想办法建立关系，还要避免花很多的钱。新罕布什尔州职业教练奥唐纳(J.T. O'Donnell)说，你要少花钱，多办事。以下介绍一些策略：--与行业协会保持联系。查查你在行业组织或工会的会员权利。很多情况下，当你失业的时候，可以免费或以折扣价格继续保持自己的会员身份。新泽西州企业招聘咨询公司CareerXroads的创始人之一克里斯宾(Gerry Crispin)说，这就意味着你能得到一些小册子杂志，上面会有各种可以帮助你保持与时俱进的信息。--参加会议。查询协会网站和Facebook等社交媒体网站上的信息，参加行业或职业大会。协会常常会免除会员或失业者的会议费用。--加入当地的利益团体。商会等地方组织会提供很好的社交机会，有时还开设技能课程。请求参与项目委员会的运营，为演讲者和各项活动安排议程。这样你能在邀请哪些人参加上享有发言权，并可以和客人结识。--上课──面授课程。奥唐纳说，参加网络课程很容易，不过这样做会失去面对面结交的机会，而这种机会这常常能让你找到一份工作，或为你打开一扇大门。她说，你需要亲自去听的课程。--考虑初级课程。奥唐纳的一位从事银行业项目管理的客户被裁掉了。他想成为一家软件公司的项目经理，不过却不懂这一行业的术语。他上了网络设计基础课，比他年轻的同学教了他行业术语。奥唐纳说，他很兴奋自己能够了解一个新的行业，对面试的准备也充分多了。--增加高级技能。获得一项证书能给你的简历增色不少。在本地大学旁听一门高阶课程能提高技能，帮助你及时了解行业最新进展。查阅大学信息，看看学校是否对失业者开设免费或折扣价格的课程。--看看你的州为失业者提供了哪些培训项目。新泽西州对罗格斯大学(Rutgers University)无学位商业课程提供资金，此外，如果有空位的话，还开设免费社区大学课程。密歇根州的“不落下一个工人”计划为失业及未充分就业的工人提供在州立大学系统免费学习不超过两年的机会。--写写你的行业，更多地进行网络交流。开始写博客讲讲你的行业。或是找五个你一直想采访的人，为当地出版物或行业博客写篇文章。奥唐纳说，这样，你的名字就会经常出现在那里，你可以建立新的关系网，继续学习。Dawn Fallik
Out of work for months? Prevent your professional skills from atrophying by taking steps to brush up. In July, five million people in the U.S. were considered long-term unemployed -- meaning they had been jobless for 27 weeks or more. Career counselors say that as weeks turn into months, job-hunters need to polish and update their skills to stay current. They should look for ways to network while they do so, and avoid spending lots of money. 'You want to get the biggest bang for your buck,' says J.T. O'Donnell, a career coach in North Hampton, N.H. Here are some strategies: -- Stay connected to industry associations. Check out your membership rights with trade groups or unions. Many times, you can continue your membership for free or at a reduced rate if you're out of work. 'That means you get booklets, magazines, all the information that will help keep you up to date with what's going on,' says Gerry Crispin, co-founder CareerXroads, a Kendall Park, N.J., consulting firm that helps companies recruit.-- Hit conferences. Attend industry or professional conferences by checking out association Web sites and groups on social media sites like Facebook. Often, associations will waive or reduce conference fees for members, or for those who are unemployed.-- Join local interest groups. Local organizations like the chamber of commerce provide good networking opportunities and sometimes offer skills classes. Offer to help run the program committee, which sets the agenda for speakers and events. You'll get a say in who is invited and network with guests.-- Take classes -- in person. Taking an online class is easy, but it eliminates that face-to-face networking that often lands jobs and opens doors, says Ms. O'Donnell. 'You need something where you physically show up,' she says.-- Consider entry-level coursework. One of Ms. O'Donnell's clients was laid off from a project management job in banking. He wanted to become a project manager at a software company, but didn't know the lingo. He took a basic Web design class; his younger classmates taught him industry terminology. 'He came back so excited about learning a new industry and was much better prepared for interviews,' she says.-- Add advanced skills. Getting a certification can boost your resume. Auditing a high-level class at a local college can improve skills and help you keep up with new developments. Check colleges to see if they offer free or discounted rates for unemployed people.-- See what training programs your state offers to the unemployed. New Jersey offers grants for non-degree business classes at Rutgers University as well as free community college classes if there are open seats.In Michigan, the state's 'No Worker Left Behind' program offers up to two years' worth of free tuition in the state university system for unemployed and underemployed workers.-- Write about your industry and connect more online. Start a blog about your industry. Or find five people you always wanted to interview and write an article for a local publication or industry blog. That way you keep your name out there, make new connections and continue to learn, Ms. O'Donnell says.Dawn Fallik
Out of work for months? Prevent your professional skills from atrophying by taking steps to brush up. In July, five million people in the U.S. were considered long-term unemployed -- meaning they had been jobless for 27 weeks or more. Career counselors say that as weeks turn into months, job-hunters need to polish and update their skills to stay current. They should look for ways to network while they do so, and avoid spending lots of money. 'You want to get the biggest bang for your buck,' says J.T. O'Donnell, a career coach in North Hampton, N.H. Here are some strategies: -- Stay connected to industry associations. Check out your membership rights with trade groups or unions. Many times, you can continue your membership for free or at a reduced rate if you're out of work. 'That means you get booklets, magazines, all the information that will help keep you up to date with what's going on,' says Gerry Crispin, co-founder CareerXroads, a Kendall Park, N.J., consulting firm that helps companies recruit.-- Hit conferences. Attend industry or professional conferences by checking out association Web sites and groups on social media sites like Facebook. Often, associations will waive or reduce conference fees for members, or for those who are unemployed.-- Join local interest groups. Local organizations like the chamber of commerce provide good networking opportunities and sometimes offer skills classes. Offer to help run the program committee, which sets the agenda for speakers and events. You'll get a say in who is invited and network with guests.-- Take classes -- in person. Taking an online class is easy, but it eliminates that face-to-face networking that often lands jobs and opens doors, says Ms. O'Donnell. 'You need something where you physically show up,' she says.-- Consider entry-level coursework. One of Ms. O'Donnell's clients was laid off from a project management job in banking. He wanted to become a project manager at a software company, but didn't know the lingo. He took a basic Web design class; his younger classmates taught him industry terminology. 'He came back so excited about learning a new industry and was much better prepared for interviews,' she says.-- Add advanced skills. Getting a certification can boost your resume. Auditing a high-level class at a local college can improve skills and help you keep up with new developments. Check colleges to see if they offer free or discounted rates for unemployed people.-- See what training programs your state offers to the unemployed. New Jersey offers grants for non-degree business classes at Rutgers University as well as free community college classes if there are open seats.In Michigan, the state's 'No Worker Left Behind' program offers up to two years' worth of free tuition in the state university system for unemployed and underemployed workers.-- Write about your industry and connect more online. Start a blog about your industry. Or find five people you always wanted to interview and write an article for a local publication or industry blog. That way you keep your name out there, make new connections and continue to learn, Ms. O'Donnell says.Dawn Fallik