If You Are Unemployed !!

I have just read an article, that in some states the unemployed are just giving up.

That is just so totally absurd. There is just so much still available to you.

I, myself, have been hit two times in the last 2 years with unemployment over our economic times. In January of 2007, I lost my job because the company I was working for just closed it's doors and went bankrupt. It took me until September of 2007 to find a replacement job, but it was making a 1/3rd of what I was making.

Then in January of this year, I was laid off again because our business had slowed down to a dribble and we were closed more than we were open. By May of this year, I still had not found a replacement job and it was looking very bleak, as every job I applied for there were 200+ applicants for the same position. A new Wal-Mart SuperCenter was opening in our town, in fact it opens next week, it promised the opportunity of 235 full time jobs and another 50 part-time jobs for the area. When I applied over 6000 online applications had already been received.

I am still unemployed !! Sure I supplement my income by writing opinion articles and children's books, but I still draw that little unemployment check, that doesn't go very far. I could have just given up, but I refused to let this beat me. So what did I do?

I found out that since I lost my job (twice) due to economic stress, I was eligible for re-training in a different field. Plus if I entered a re-training program, no matter how many unemployment tiers I went through, I would be able to still collect my unemployment check until I finished the training program.

But how to pay for such program ? That was the question, well that was easy as pie. Here in Georgia they have the HOPE scholarship program, which pays your full tuition to any state college. This is funded through the lottery program, so most other states will have a similar program, it just might be named something different.

Then there is the PELL Grant, which is a Federal grant based on income and can be as much as $5350.00 per year, which can be used on books, fees, living expenses. Trust me, if you are on unemployment, you will be awarded the full PELL Grant of $5350.00, so now you have your tuition , books, fees and some living expenses covered.

Now there is also WIA (Workforce Investment Act), which now give you $6.00 per day for you lunch, $12.00 per day for your gas money and will pay any day-care or child-care costs you might have. So now you also get your meals, gas and child-care costs covered.

WHY shouldn't you go back to school and re-train ??

I did a search, and I applied and entered our local Technical College in the Machine Tool Technology and CNC Programming, Associates Degree program. I did a search just on monster job board using the search words ~ CNC Programmer ~ Machinist ~ Tool & Die and I came up with 305 job listings nation wide paying anywhere between $18.00 and $35.00 per hour. All with full benefits, medical - health, prescription, dental, vision ~ life insurance, 401k programs, 2 week vacations, and much more.

With President Obama pushing for more green-energy programs this field is only going to open up more and more.

There are several other Technology fields that are growing and have a need for people, but if you don't have the knowledge to perform the job you will not be able to get the job. So while the government is willing to pay and you have the time, why not go back to school and re-train.

Take command of your future, don't sit back and give up. Opportunities are out there, but they will not come to you, you will have to put some effort in and go search them out.

I did, and now I am coming up on the mid-term of my 1^st quarter of my program, well on my way to a new career.

Just one man's opinion. As always, put the wind in your hair and keep the sun to your back. Be good and stay safe. Peace, Love and prosperity to all.

Good Journeys !!!

Frank WOLF TM © 2005

Watchdog taking a BITE out of corruption!

Copyright© Frank J. Ball Sr.

Friday July 24^th 2009