RE: Being Laid Off

["Johnson, Tom" <TJohnson -at- starcutter -dot- com>]

For the record, Michigan unemployment checks max out at about $360 per week. Some people are able to get by on that for a while. From personal experience, although the checks were a blessing, it was barely sufficient with a wife and children. Those that "live off the system" often work seasonal jobs and have off times during the winter. More than a few work for extra cash income without reporting it. Benefits are limited to six months, generally.

Now for a tie-in to technical writing. Sometimes it takes a while to find a job. There's no guarantee you'll land a job within a month, but you could do it tomorrow. Use the down-time to learn new technical writing or software skills while you are job hunting. Instead of spending the whole day job hunting, dedicate a portion of your day to learn about video production, photography, audio, html, FrameMaker, Data Flow Diagrams (well maybe), or Flash. You can go crazy spending your whole day job hunting, especially if you do it for weeks. If you learn a new skill, you'll have accomplished something you can put your hands and that make you successful at something. That's the point. Avoid depression and discouragement by making your situation better. Control the things you can control and don't sweat the things you can't control. 

Tom Johnson
Technical Writer
tjohnson -at- starcutter -dot- com 

-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+tjohnson=starcutter -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
[mailto:techwr-l-bounces+tjohnson=starcutter -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com]On
Behalf Of Morton, Christopher
Sent: Friday, February 24, 2006 12:06 PM
To: Martinek, Carla; techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: RE: Being Laid Off



>  Here's my two cents:  the day after you're done at work, go file
for unemployment--immediately.  

Depends on the state. In AZ, it wasn't worth one's while to waste the
gas, then jump through their myriad of hoops only to learn they'd send
me about $25 a week. I told them not to bother and left.

In Michigan, on the other hand, apparently several of my wife's
relatives do quite nicely living off of their unemployment checks, thank
you.

> Chris
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