Applying for unemployment benefits in Georgia

So, you are unemployed and you are in Georgia. Never despair when you are down on bad times. Take stock of the situation and move on. There is a lovely saying for this,'When everything is lost, there is the future'. So let us see what you can do. First of all get the picture of the place, if you don't already have it.

The five major employment opportunities come from:

• 1. Health sector - with an annual turn over of more than 3160 jobs. This is a great line to work in if you have the requisite qualifications, i.e. you will need to have an associate degree for this.
• 2. Customer service - annual turn-over of approx 3020 jobs. For this job, you need the gift of gab (if you have on-the-job training is great) and a lot of attitude and personality.
• 3. General & Operations Managers - annual turn over of 2900 jobs. You will need to have a degree to be eligible for this type of jobs
• 4. Sales Representatives - annual turn over of approx 2480 jobs. Here you will need some on-the-job training/ experience
• 5. Elementary school teachers - annual turn over of 2320 jobs. You will need to be qualified with a Bachelor's degree or higher for this purpose

In case you come from any of the above lines, then by all means start applying left, right and centre because in these five industries, they are always looking for people; and you may just be in luck and land yourself a job within no time. However, in case you do not find any of the options attractive, then you can file for http://www.cvtips.com/usa_benefits_on_internet.html unemployment claim online (and this is the best possible option and the one most followed) at http://www.dol.state.ga.us/js/unemployment_benefits_individuals.htm . Alternatively, you can contact the Georgia Department of Labor in the area you are based:

Albany (229) 430-5010, Americus (229) 931-2520, Athens (706) 583-2550, Atlanta-North Metro (404) 679-5200, Atlanta-South Metro (404) 699-6900, Blairsville (706) 721-3131, BainBridge (229) 248-2618, Blairsville (706) 745-6959, Blue Ridge (706) 632-2033, Brunswick (912) 264-7244, Cairo (229) 377-6526, Camilla (912) 522-3630, Carrollton (770) 836-6668, Cartersville (770) 387-3760, Cedartown (770) 749-2213, Clayton County (678) 479-5886, Cobb-Cherokee (770) 528-6100, Columbus (706) 649-7423, Cordele (229) 276-2355, Covington (770) 784-2455, Dalton (706) 272-2301, Dekalb County (404) 298-3970, Douglas (912) 389-4254, Dublin (478) 275-6525, Eastman (478) 374-6994, Elberton (706) 213-2028, Gainesville (770) 535-5484, Griffin (770) 228-7226, Gwinnett County (770) 840-2200, Habersham Area (706) 776-0811, Hinesville (912) 370-2595 , Houston County (478) 988-7130, Jesup (912) 427-5842, Kings Bay (912) 673-6942, Lafayette (706) 638-5525, Lagrange (706) 845-4000, Macon (478) 751-6164, Milledgeville (478) 445-5465, Monroe (770) 207-4111, Moultrie (229) 891-7147, Newnan (770) 254-7220, Northwest Georgia (706) 861-1990, Rome (706) 295-6051, Savannah (912) 356-2773, Statesboro (912) 681-5156, Sylvester (229) 777-2120, Thomasville (229) 225-4033, Thomson (706) 595-3665, Tifton (229) 386-3322, Toccoa (706) 282-4514, Valdosta (229) 333-5211, Vidalia (912) 538-3231, Waycross (912) 285-6105.

Eligibility
In order to be eligible for the unemployment scheme, you need to fulfill the following criteria: You must have

• 1. earned sufficiently during the base period (base period in Georgia is four of the last five calendar consecutive quarters - in respect to the time you are filling up your claim)
• 2. lost your job for no fault of yours
• 3. the will and put in the effort to constantly seek a job
• 4. a social security number (no claim can be accepted without a SS No)
• 5. and provide information about your previous employer (in the last 18 months), with address and phone numbers
• 6. if possible, the separation or termination notice from your employer
• 7. proof of your immigration status if you are not an US citizen

The claim will always be effective post the application date. Under no circumstances can the claim be filed retrospectively. Hence, you should file for your claim as soon as it is possible - and the easiest and most convenient way is to do it online. Please, keep in mind that your minimum benefit that you can receive is and the maximum is per week, in Gerogia. This amount is determined by the total and thence the average you have earned during the base period.

The minimum period of time that a claim will be valid will be for eight weeks while the maximum is for 26 weeks.

This is what you can do immediately. Then, you can start looking for jobs depending upon your qualifications, experience and time available. For example if you are a single parent, you need to look for part-time jobs or for jobs that have flexi-hours or tele-commuting jobs. In this case, you can also look up the Net for opportunities to work from home. Beware though that very few who promise you a get-rich-quick career are really true. Do not be tempted there, rather look for sites which promise to pay in return of your hard work. Freelancing is one such type of work - and depending upon your talents you can work freelance in almost all spheres - you can be a virtual assistant, PR officer, marketing officer, computer programmer, writer, ghost-writer, etc.

For those who can work regular hours or more, there are a few things that can help fight-the-fire of getting a job:

• 1. network yourself with the local people in the community
• 2. place ads in the local newsletter highlighting your abilities and slightly undercharging (you need to get the people's attention and tempt them to offer you a job)
• 3. search local ads in the local newspaper/ newsletter
• 4. visit the neighborhood and diligently seek employment in the local stores, business houses and entertainment houses (clubs, discotheques, beauty parlors, etc)
• 5. ask for favors - if you have anyone who can put in a good word or refer you to someone influential who can be instrumental in your getting a job - by all means use him/her now
• 6. enlist your name in minimum three good placement agencies (preference is on the local ones because they can offer you a job faster, but you should also apply with other agencies for jobs outside Georgia, or may be even USA)
• 7. apply, apply, apply, - to all ads that have an opening and do not be disappointed if you do not hear from them; remember, with every 'no' you receive, you are closer to 'yes'
• 8. ask your last employer, if you parted on good terms, to recommend your name, if possible, to someone who may profit out of your talents, experience and qualifications
• 9. try to become a consultant in the area you are an expert in - conduct workshops, seminars, in-company training, etc
• 10. freelance in the area - visit the local colleges or any educational organization and offer your services - for tuition (if you like teaching), for teaching any extra-curricular activity (karate, music, dance, foreign language, etc); for teaching the students as visiting faculty/ instructor
• 11. offer to baby sit, walk pets, do odd jobs around the house - when you do it, even of pains your dignity, do it as you enjoy it. Not only you will look better doing so, but also the sunny disposition and capacity of being humble, will warm people to you and some odds and ends will keep coming your way
• 12. start a business online with the lowest capital possible - you may make a website with photographs of items from different shops (attractive and as unique as possible) and quote a price lower than the market (you will get your profit in shipping & handling which is charged extra)
• 13. change your hobby into a job - do you like cooking - start a small catering centre or a fast food joint; you love painting, start painting custom-made portraits for birthdays, wedding anniversaries and other great days; do you like to tinker with your car - open a garage.. the list is endless. Check what you love and turn that into a money-making option; you will not feel that you have worked any day in your day after that
• 14. check out seasonal jobs (when tourists are in) and be very diligent if you land one; many times a seasonal job becomes a permanent one, if you are seen as an exceptionally good candidate

Do not be fussy about what job you are taking when you out of a job. Take up anything that comes your way (only legal ways, of course) and be sincere and hard-working. Making a name is extremely important - and once you have that it is very easy to land a good job.