DeBerry said he had some warning about the impending job loss, so he started his job search early, networking with old friends from the military and attending job fairs. On the day he was to leave his state job, he got a call offering him an office assistant position with a federal agency in the area for about the same pay.
But the federal job wouldn't start for four or five months. Still, with unemployment payments coming in for six months, DeBerry felt fairly secure.
Ultimately, DeBerry had to wait nearly nine months for the new job to start.
The delay many people experience in getting a new job really puts them in a bind, said Earthale Barnes, coordinator of the Workforce Investment Act program.
"From the time you start the job search, it's usually about four months on average before you actually get a job," Barnes said. "There may be training you have to go through. There may be an interview process, lots of things that have to be done by human resources departments.
"They can find themselves taking two or three McDonald's-type jobs just to make it after their unemployment runs out."
Things weren't quite that bad for DeBerry. He's divorced with no minor children to take care of.
"I had a little money from my Air Force pension coming in," he said. "Plus I was settling my mother's estate and had a little money from the sale of her house to keep me going."
While waiting to go to work, DeBerry took advantage of classes arranged by Montgomery County's Job Center to update his computer skills.
Barnes and Woodall said most of the employees who lose jobs they've had a long time, particularly manufacturing jobs, must be retrained to compete for available jobs.
In many cases, they can go through short-term training programs that prepare them to work as truck drivers, nurses, medical billing clerks or other jobs in medicine. Most take a substantial pay cut.
"We show people the labor market information on what jobs are available and how much they usually pay," Barnes said.
"Plus we counsel them on how you make adjustments when you're making $10 less an hour."
If you hear you're going to be laid off ...
Don't postpone looking for a new job. Regardless of how long your unemployment benefits will last, the benefit might run out before you find a job, complete required training and go through the pre-employment process.
Take advantage of the job-search help available to you. County Job Centers can assist you in identifying available job opportunities, writing resumes and so on. The employer you're leaving may also offer transition assistance.
Shore up your basic skills. Reading and basic math skills are critical in today's job market. If you have deficiencies in those areas, job counselors can steer you to appropriate education programs. You'll also need to learn job search skills.
Assess your personal skills and interests. You don't necessarily have to look for a job like the one you're leaving. Do you have skills from a volunteer setting that might lead to a job? Do you have degrees or training you've never used?
Expect change. The economy has changed, and jobs that used to be plentiful may no longer exist. You may need to train for an industry totally different from the one you're leaving.
Source: Dayton Daily News. Powered by Yellowbrix.
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