Fired in Kentucky?.- What to do ?

You find yourself unemployed and in Kentucky - first thing you do before even feeling sorry for yourself is to file for unemployment benefits. You may do so over the phone at 859-547-3362 (to request for bi-weekly check you can call at 866-291-2926) which is toll-free. Or you may do so online at https://uiclaims.des.ky.gov/ebenefit/ . Keep in mind that if you want to use the phone for applying for the claim, the phone needs to be a touch-tone phone. An assistant from the local unemployment office will call on you to complete the claim form, after taking the main details from you over the phone.

When you apply for the benefits you will need to cover the eligibility criteria required:

• 1. You need to be an US citizen or a registered alien
• 2. You need to have a valid social security number or a registration number (if non-US citizen)
• 3. You need to have lost you job for no fault of yours
• 4. You need to be available to take up a job immediately
• 5. You need to be medically fit to take up a job immediately
• 6. You need to have worked for a sufficient time under the insured employed wages (that is the base period - which is calculated as the first four quarters out of the last five quarters before the filing of the claim)

Along with it you will need to have the following information ready:

• 1. You PIN (personal identification number) which will be given to you at the time you first register for unemployment benefits
• 2. Information of your last employer(s) - address, phone number, duration of employment, etc
• 3. Number of dependents including your non-working spouse (as they will also be eligible for payment)
• 4. A second positive identification such as driver's license, photo credit card, etc

Please be informed that you will be disqualified if:

• 1. You are not available to join new employment
• 2. You are medically not capable to join new employment immediately
• 3. you lost your job because of misconduct
• 4. you quit your job
• 5. you were involved in any type of labor disputes
• 6. you are on type of recessional payment (teacher on school vacation, leave of absence, etc)
• 7. you refused any employment opportunity

NB: Please note that none of the above lists are exhaustive, but only cover the main important points

The trends in Kentucky are a good indication of what types of jobs are available and what chances you have to land a good job in your line:

• 1. The highest opportunities you will get from the line of Registered Nurses which have a demand of 1420 annual jobs. For this job you will however, need to have an associate degree
• 2. The next in rank is Truck and heavy machinery drivers with an annual turnover of 1210 jobs for this job you will a moderate on-the-job training.
• 3. The third in rank is the line of General and Operations Manager with 1120 jobs demand per year. For this type of job, you will need a bachelor's or higher degree.
• 4. Close to the heels, in the fourth rank in popularity is the Customers Service which has an yearly demand of 1010 jobs. You will need some on-the-job training fro this type of job
• 5. There are two contenders for the fifth position that is First line Supervisors/Managers of Retail Sales Workers and Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing with 930 jobs turnover per year.

Once this job is done, you need to concentrate to help yourself get proper employment. Besides the help and opportunities offered by the State, you can also do your bit to search for a suitable opening.

• 1. Check out the local advertisements/classifieds and local notice boards for jobs
• 2. Make a list of preferred areas you would like to work and look up the directory or yellow pages for listings of companies you seek
• 3. Advertise on the local notice boards, community newsletters, etc
• 4. Enroll in a couple of good placement agencies who deal with local placements
• 5. Offer yourself as a consultant and offer whatever service that your soft-skills specialize you for (and then visit those organization which would benefit from your services)
• 6. Check out the Net for earning cash online (and offline with the help of the computer):

• a. Freelance - you can freelance in everything under the sun. Just check out your strengths and then check out the freelancing sites over the web - choose those which offer free listings for job seekers; if you are diligent, you can earn as much or more than your job wages right from the Net sitting at home
• b. Affiliate - you can always use the net to promote products through affiliation program which pay handsome commissions. I know people who have some 70-80 affiliation memberships and who draw four figure monthly income just by doing this
• c. Set up an online business - in the same you would do in the physical world. The only difference that when you are on the net you cater to a global market. If interested you can go on the net for 'how-to' - will require some investment
• d. Complete surveys for cash - is an okay occupation if you like this type of stuff and you have free time; there are many genuine sites on the Net which will give you a good amount of income
• e. Set up a virtual office on the net - the same way you would offer consultancy services to the physical world - such as financial consultation - tax, accounting, audit; computers - security, web-designing, programming, etc

NB: Be careful when you deal with the Net - if you are a beginner and you are not sure - keep the following points in mind:

• 1. if it looks to good to be true - it is; do not touch it
• 2. if it asks you money upfront before disclosing any information; do not touch it (check the name of the site + scam on the search bar for the real picture)