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Welcome Charmaign!

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We would like to welcome Charmaign Lomastro to the Human Solutions team!  As most of you know, we work closely together on the team, and you may be meeting Charmaign during your journey with us!

Charmaign is a seasoned professional with extensive experience in career development, including program development, professional development, and training. She has advised, coached and trained professionals and students on career exploration and career readiness. She is a certified Global Career Development Facilitator and holds a Master’s degree in Intercultural Relations with a focus in Human Resource Training and Development from the School for International Training Graduate Institute.

Charmaign is an energetic, dynamic and skilled Career Specialist with a passion for assisting clients in making powerful career changes. She partners with clients to discover what is, what can be and together, design actions to meet these goals and sometimes dreams. She asks questions to guide and help clients identify their goals and take ownership over navigating their career search to get the position that feels like a fit on a professional and personal level.

Charmaign’s specialties include career development assessments, resume writing, interview coaching, soft skills training, contemporary job searching skills, and career transitions. She has a keen ability to recognize personal excellence in others and help translate these into opportunities. She believes in supporting and guiding clients as they strive to open doors to new opportunities to propel them forward as they meet and exceed their career goals.

While Charmaign is enthusiast and eager to help clients grow both professionally and personally on their career journey, she also makes time to spend with her husband and rat terrier. After braving the winters of New England for several years, they feel very fortunate to live in Roseville, CA where the sun shines a majority of the time and is within driving distance of Lake Tahoe, Yosemite and the Bay Area. Charmaign spends her personal time doing yoga to support her belief in work-life balance.

4 Easy Steps to Score Your Resume!

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Written by: Juan Llamas, Career Specialist

Do you have a winning resume? Most would answer, “Yes, I do!” That’s great, and I love the confidence, but what if there was a way to accurately assess your resume and really find out how great your resume is compared to the jobs that you are seeking? We recently discovered a resource that can assess your resume and let you know how close you are to the job you’re targeting. Best of all this site and service is 100% free.

I must admit that I was a little skeptical at first when this site was brought to my attention. But, I decided to try it. Here are the steps I took:

  1. Clicked onto the site: onetsocautocoder.com/plus/onematch
  2. Under the Job description text box, I copied and pasted my entire resume (excluded my name and address heading)

AutoCoder

 

 

 

 

 

3. I clicked search

4. Boom! Results

AutoCoder Results

 

 

 

 

It was that easy. I was able to see right then and there if my resume was customized enough to apply for a job in my field. The results were easy to read and understand, and included a list of job titles from the highest score to the lowest score. It also provided clickable links to view the job titles that were the closest fit to my resume.

If you resume is below 80% for the job or type of job you’re applying for, it may need some additional work to get your key words lined up with the job description. I was a little shocked to find out that my resume was at an 83%. While that is a good score, I know there is room for improvement. Improving your resume with this tool is simple.  Once you have made changes, you just go back and do it again (and again) until you achieve a higher score. I would suggest you keep making changes until you reach the 90 percentile range.

Take a few minutes to check your resume and see if it truly is that winning resume or is it needs a few slight improvements. If you need additional assistance, please reach out to your Career Specialist. We are here to help!

Have You Met Todd?

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The idea of returning to work can be daunting. Worrying about how and when your medical and cash benefits will be impacted, can make it seem scarier than watching Friday the 13th…Part VIII!

Todd ShirkWe have the perfect remedy for you.  Let Todd Shirk, our Work Incentive Counselor Extraordinaire, come to the rescue! He will shed light on everything you need to know, every step of the way!

Todd has been providing work incentives counseling since 2009, and is thrilled to be part of the Human Solutions team. He is looking forward to providing you with superior work incentives counseling services. If you are ready to return to work, or are already working, Todd can help you understand the employment supports that are available to you, enabling you to make informed choices about work.

During your enrollment with Human Solutions, he is always available to help you:

  • Analyze how work and earnings may impact your Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), health care, and other public benefits
  • Review the rules of specific Work Incentives and how they apply to your situation
  • Determine the potential benefits of employment as a person who receives Social Security disability benefits while dispelling the myths about working

You can schedule a time to speak with Todd about your unique situation by using our Setmore Appointment Calendar located at: https://humansolutions.setmore.com/bookappointment.

New Service & April 2016 Success Challenge!

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Your April Success Challenge is here…should you choose to accept it! Well, why wouldn’t you?

Human Solutions offers a new service - FeeTrader!

Fee Trader Logo

FeeTrader is a paid subscription service that allows us to market our candidates (you!) to potential employers or recruiters. There is no cost to you! We have this covered.

Why participate? FeeTrader allows us to:

  • Connect with the best specialty recruiters for your career aspirations
  • Gain access to unpublished and confidential job openings
  • Confidentially market your profile
  • Be a matchmaker for you!

It’s easy to participate!  Follow these four steps:

  1. Go to youremploymentnetwork.com, and log into the client portal
  2. Using the blue navigation tabs on the right, click on Employment Opportunities
  3. Download and complete the FeeTrader Consent Form and FeeTrader Profile (we need both)
  4. Email completed forms to your career specialist along with a current copy of your resume

We will do the rest!

When a recruiter or company shows interest in your profile, they will contact Human Solutions to discuss next steps in facilitating a possible job match!

Your April Success Challenge is to get your completed forms and current resume to your career specialist by April 29th!

Please don’t hesitate to talk with your career specialist or email me (christina@human-solutions.net) with any questions or concerns.

Trash it, Organize it, or Use It!

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By: Karen Forbis, Creative Achievements

Many of us really struggle to get and stay organized. When looking for a job, your ability to organize plays a major role in your success. We've jotted down some common issues and tips that may help you get over the hump and get that job!!

  • Are you checking your email frequently for any job related responses? Check at least twice per day.
  • Is your Job Search Log complete? Are you using it to record online and paper applications? It will save you lots of time. It goes without saying that you'll be more accurate, as well.
  • Are you keeping track of passwords to websites that you're applying to? If not, you're probably wasting time. Use the Password Journal (not sticky notes!). You can find many different types for smart phone platforms as well as for a desktop computer.
  • Some clients benefit from having an email set up that is exclusively for employment. There's less chance of important information getting lost with the latest Subway specials!
  • Do your references know what type positions you are applying for? Have you reminded them recently? A little bit of prepping on your part, can help them put you in the best light when they get a random call.
  • Organize your thoughts on those tough-to-answer questions, such as why you left your last job. Using well thought out bullet points will keep your answers on topic and concise.
  • Have you taken an honest look at the times of day that you are most focused and energetic? Is your job search organized around that time? Ask you Career Specialist to help you plan your job search activities using the Activity Calendar.
  • Are you connecting with your Career Specialist on a regular basis, or do they have to seek you out? For optimal support you should be connecting with your Career Specialist ever 2-3 weeks.
  • Are your Social Security documents organized in a binder, so you can find anything that you need? We can help you understand and work with Social Security, but it helps us if you have everything together.
  • Do you have a working list of people that should know you're looking for a job? We are continuously surprised that some clients remain shy on this issue. Don't miss any chance at all to network. You never know where your next job could be waiting. Use the Four Networks worksheet to help brainstorm potential contacts!

Testing 1… 2 … 3 …

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finger tapping microphone

Okay, folks, we’re doing a re-start here. Last month our newsletter kicked off the Human Solutions 2016 Success Challenge! And the response was… underwhelming? Where are all our peeps?

We are launching some new programs to encourage you to reach out to us and WIN prizes! So PLEASE join us in taking things up a notch and trying something new. Trust us, you won’t be sorry!

Our first article of every month, for the rest of the year, will feature a challenge. It is up to you to accept the challenge and decide if you are willing to take your goals to the next level. The goal is to layer each month’s challenge with the next months’ and so on. By adding these new habits each month, you will be able to focus on short term goals that will build long term success! For completing each monthly challenge your name will be entered in to a drawing for that month.

To kick off our 2016 Success Challenge, we want your weekly WINS!! A WIN is any action you accomplished that moves you towards your career goal, no matter how small. We believe a series of small successes make the biggest difference in the end. An example of a WIN could be sending out 5 resumes for the week or attending a local business networking activity.

So, please send us weekly WINS to wins@human-solutions.net.

Do You Remember Having “First Date Jitters”?

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By Juan Llamas, Career Specialist

Congratulations! You just received a call, and you now have an interview for that position you’ve always wanted. Now what?

Most people go through a variety of emotions ranging from excitement, relief, nervousness, anxiety, worry, etc. So how do you handle all of those feelings so you can stay cool, calm and collected at the interview? The simple answer is practice, practice, and more practice. The more you practice, the more confidence you develop, and the more comfortable you will become.

In order to better understand interviews, think of them as a first date. When you look at first dates, what are you trying to accomplish? The logical response is a second date, or better yet, starting a new long-term relationship. The same philosophy applies with job interviews.

Now that you’ve managed to get a date with that person you’ve had your eye on, what’s next? What do you do? First thing is practice proper hygiene habits: shower, brush your teeth and make sure your hair looks perfect. Next, it can take a few hours to pick out the perfect outfit right down to the shoes. But, do not forget to do a quick trial run. Nothing ruins an otherwise lovely date than wearing clothes that feel uncomfortable. Do not forget to keep track of the clock. Ensure that you leave with plenty of time so that you do not arrive late. Nothing makes you look worse than tardiness and disregard for the other person’s time.

In order to avoid awkward moments of uncomfortable silence, try to find out what your date likes and talk about those things. Be on your best behavior and focus solely on what your date is talking about. Don’t forget to turn your phone off. Even if it’s on vibrate, it can be distracting.

At the end of your date, be sure to thank the other person for a lovely time and on the way home, reflect on what happened…good or bad. Then, in a day or two, call and see how the person is doing. And, if you genuinely want to create a relationship, ask them out again, and hopefully they say yes.

Let’s take all of the above and duplicate it when getting ready for an interview. Practice proper hygiene habits: shower, brush your teeth and make sure your hair looks great. The night before your scheduled interview, pick out your outfit and have it pressed and ready to wear the next day. Remember, it’s an interview and not a date, so leave your trendy clothes in the closet. Make sure your shoes are nice and clean.

Do your research on the company you are interviewing with, including what the position entails. This way, you will be prepared to answer any questions the employer may have. Arriving to an interview late will almost guarantee that you won’t be seen, and there goes your opportunity. Rule of thumb is to arrive at least 15-20 minutes earlier than your scheduled time.

During the interview, be on your best behavior and remember that your interview begins the moment you walk in their door. Make sure to greet the person who receives you (usually a receptionist).

At the end of your interview, thank the interviewer(s) for their time, give a good firm handshake, and on your way out, thank the receptionist for their time as well. Most people don’t know this, but the receptionist plays an integral part in the interviewing process, and in some cases, they could be the deciding factor on whether or not you are hired.

On your way home, reflect on the interview and write down any question(s) you remember and how you answered. Go through those notes and critique yourself and make points so that you can improve for the next interview. Then, in a day or two, call the interviewer and ask if they have made a decision in filling the position. Hopefully it will be YOU!

Let’s compare:

First Date

  • Take a shower
  • Groom yourself (teeth, hair)
  • Perfect Outfit, including shoes
  • Plan the date
  • Find out what your date enjoys
  • Best behavior
  • Thank them at the end
  • Reflect on the date
  • Check-in with them in 1-2 days

Interview

  • Take a shower
  • Groom yourself (teeth, hair)
  • Perfect Outfit, including shoes
  • Prepare for the interview
  • Research company and position
  • Best behavior
  • Thank them at the end
  • Reflect on the interview
  • Follow-up with them in 1-2 days

 

Compare those side by side, you can see how the two are related. Both require your very best if you want to achieve the next step, one being a new job and the other being a new relationship. Go out to your interviews with the same confidence and positive mindset you have when going on a first date.

 

YOU ONLY GET ONE CHANCE TO MAKE A GREAT FIRST IMPRESSION!

Resolutions: Did you Make Them AND Keep Them?

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It’s already close to mid-February and it seems that the winter holidays and New Year’s was several months ago. If you’re part of the 45% that makes New Year’s resolutions, kudos to you! According to Statistic Brain, 2015 statistics of the top 5 resolutions made are:

  1. Lose Weight
  2. Get Organized
  3. Spend Less, Save More
  4. Enjoy Life to the Fullest
  5. Stay Fit and Healthy

Do those sound familiar to you? I can identify with several of those, myself. But, keeping these resolutions isn’t easy. Only 64% of those that make resolutions reportedly keep them for one month! This is understandable since we usually only think of the end goal, but not the daily and weekly habits that will get us there in the long run!

Do you have a goal of getting a job, obtaining a better job, or getting a raise this year? (I hope you answer “YES!” to that question!) Then, we are here to help! But, are you ready to commit?

Most of the time we find ourselves going through the same motions…send out a resume, follow up, interview, repeat, and we reach a “plateau” just like someone who’s trying to lose weight. So, it’s time to shake it UP!

Our first article of every month, for the rest of the year, will feature a challenge. It is up to you to accept the challenge and decide if you are willing to take your goals to the next level. The goal is to layer each month’s challenge with the next months’ and so on. By adding these new habits each month, you will be able to focus on short term goals that will build long term success! For completing each monthly challenge your name will be entered in to a drawing for that month.

To kick off our 2016 Success Challenge, we want your weekly WINS!! A WIN is any action you accomplished that moves you towards your career goal, no matter how small. We believe a series of small successes make the biggest difference in the end. An example of a WIN could be sending out 5 resumes for the week or attending a local business networking activity.

So please send us weekly WINS to wins@human-solutions.net.

Work Incentive Counseling: A Job Placement “Must” for Anyone Receiving Social Security Benefits

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By: Lisa Jordan, Human Solutions LLC

If you're preparing to go back to work or have recently started a job, connecting with a Certified Community Partner Work Incentives Counselor should be at the top of your list. It’s that simple. Unfortunately, in my years as a service provider, I have repeatedly run into situations where a client doesn't receive the proper information about how to report their income to the Social Security Administration (SSA). Several months down the road, the client finds him or herself in a situation that is often the biggest disincentive for keeping a job - overpayment. The fear of losing the benefit, for many, often outweighs the benefits of working.

An overpayment results when you either don't report your work income or report it improperly to SSA once you begin working. Overpayment, put simply, means that SSA paid you too much money and they now want you to pay the overage back. Unfortunately, it’s never a "gift" when SSA pays you more than they should. Depending on the type of benefit you receive (Supplemental Security Income - SSI or Social Security Disability Insurance -SSDI), and the available work incentives being utilized, the timeframe for when a person may end up in an overpayment will vary. The good news is that this can be easily avoided.

The following are four key strategies you can utilize to avoid an overpayment situation and keep more of your earned income!

Get Informed

Before you go back to work, make sure you understand the process for reporting your income to SSA. For reporting wages, SSA requires you to submit proof of income (e.g. paystubs) monthly. While some offices prefer you to deliver the information in person, others would rather the information be faxed or mailed. To determine the preferred submission method, contact your local SSA office. Be sure to make copies of everything submitted in the event the information is misplaced or lost. This will allow you to easily resubmit. If you bring your paystubs into an SSA office, be sure to obtain a time-stamped receipt.

Since you’re also required to submit your paystubs to us, we also keep copies of your paystubs in your file. However, they are not automatically reported to SSA. We report your wages to Maximus, the entity administering the Ticket to Work program. If you’d like Human Solutions to submit your pay stubs to SSA for you, please contact us so we can provide you with the appropriate forms to complete so you can utilize this service.

Lynda, Habash, our Administrative Specialist, works with all of our clients who are currently employed. She handles everything “pay” related, including submitting your pay stubs to Social Security if you have requested this service. She will also route any questions you may have to the right person on the team if you’re not sure who to go to. She is our resident “expert” on all questions related to Ticket.

To submit your paystubs to Human Solutions LLC, you have three options:

  1. Fax: 877-567-8003
  2. Mail: Human Solutions LLC, 8251 La Palma Avenue #202, Buena Park, CA 90620
  3. Email: Ticket@human-solutions.net (password protect the document with the last 4 numbers of your SSN)

Understand Available Work Incentives

By using available work incentives, you reduce the amount of countable income when SSA determines your monthly payment. You can learn about SSI and SSDI work incentives by meeting with our Certified Community Partner Work Incentives Counselor. The Social Security Red Book, a general resource about SSA work incentives, is also a great place to start.

You can access the online version by visiting: http://www.socialsecurity.gov/redbook/index.html

As your Employment Network, Human Solutions is here to assist you in navigating through available work incentives. You can schedule a Quick Coach call where we’ll review your case and determine what work incentives might be available.

Connect with a Local Work Incentive Counselor

Some states for have different rules or resources available to beneficiaries. If we're unable to answer your benefits question, we'll connect you with a resource in your local area to do that.

For those of you in Arizona, California, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, and New Jersey, if you want to get started right away, you can also utilize the free benefits calculators available on the Disability Benefits 101 (www.db101.org). The Benefits and Work calculator is for job seekers 8 to 65 years of age.

Talk About Next Steps First

Thinking about next steps before you go back to work is the best approach to take. Two questions you should ask yourself are:

"How much money would I like to live on?" and "How will making that much money impact any benefits I’m receiving?" Getting the answers to these questions first will help alleviate some of the concerns you may have about going to work. Not only will you start a new job well informed about how work will impact your benefits, but also you'll increase the possibility of a successful outcome for yourself. A definite win-win situation!

Resource: Teledyne Technologies, Inc

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We have some very exciting news to share with you! Human Solutions has been contacted by a very large and world-renowned company, Teledyne Technologies, Inc. You may have heard their name in relation to instrumentation devices or aerospace and defense but they do so much more! Many of their technologies have applications in environmental, marine, government and medical fields as well. Read more about them here.

Since Teledyne receives federal funding they are part of Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act. They are taking a proactive approach to recruit, hire, train, and retain qualified persons with disabilities by reaching out to organizations like Human Solutions who can support their hiring goals.

What does this mean for you, and what are the next steps?

  1. If you are interested in career opportunities with Teledyne, I encourage you to visit their Career page.  Currently, they have positions all over the United States, and while our contact is specifically looking to fill positions here in the Los Angeles area, qualified applicant information will be forwarded to the appropriate recruiter.
  2. Please read through the complete job description fully! This is important! Some of the job titles look highly specialized, but you may find your skills match perfectly. Teledyne has entry level as well as degreed positions!
  1. If you feel you feel you qualify for a posted position, please forward your resume directly to Christina Harrington, Ticket to Work Program Coordinator, at Christina@human-solutions.net. We will schedule a time for an initial screening interview to determine next steps.

I hope this excites you like it does us! We look forward to growing more of these relationships with employers to bring you quality career opportunities next year!

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