Jobs and Careers

Name

This usually means first, middle, and last names. A job application form may ask you to designate whether you are Ms., Mrs., or Mr. In a resumé, don’t add these honorifics to your name.

Mailing Address

Street and number, city, zip code, and state. Remember to put an apartment number if you live in an apartment, and “c/o” if you are staying with someone whose name is different from yours; otherwise, the mail carrier might not deliver it.

Email Address

Though not absolutely essential in all walks of life, an email address is important to facilitate communications in many lines of work. If you have access to a computer (see The Public Library), you can subscribe to one of the several free email services, such as Gmail, Hotmail, or Yahoo Mail.

Phone Number

If you don’t have a phone, try to find a friend or relative whose number you can give a prospective employer, so you can receive phone messages.

Social Security Number

Most job applications will request this information, but protect your confidentiality by leaving it off your resumé. Circulation of job applications is controlled within a company, while your resumé may go off to dozens, if not hundreds of unknown people and places. If you don’t have a Social Security card, see Documents and Papers for information about getting one.

Photo ID

If you are asked to submit a photo with an application, get a small “passport” photo taken at a camera shop, unless “ID” is specifically requested. You are more likely to need the ID at a job interview or just before you are actually hired. Information about getting a photo ID is in Documents and Papers.

Proof of Eligibility to Work

Employers must confirm that their employees are legally in the country and entitled to hold a job. U.S. citizens can use a passport, birth certificate, or naturalization certificate. Non-citizens must produce an authorization to work. You can find details in Documents and Papers.

Education

On job applications, enter the highest level of education you have attained, whether high school, college, or occupational certification.

• • Some job applications will ask you to list every institution of post-secondary education you attended. This means anywhere you studied after high school.

  • Some application forms will also ask the major topic of study and any degree or certificate you received. The format on a resumé is usually to list the credential first, then the institution, then the area of study.

  • If you have lost a high school diploma, consider replacing it.

Certificates And Credentials

These include

• • professional or occupational licenses,

  • course or specialty certificates, academic degrees, or

  • any other documentary evidence of your qualifications.

If you list them all when you are preparing for a job hunt, you can then select those that are useful to a given employer for each application.

Work History

This is the place for everything you have ever done that translates into work experience, both paid and volunteer—babysitting, mowing lawns, harvesting tomatoes, even handing out leaflets or cleaning houses (your own doesn’t count). Write them all down on a background sheet, along with approximate dates when you did them.

If you have left a cult or high-demand group,

• • You may have marketing and sales skills, an unusually good memory, or other skills arising from your experience in the group, even though you don’t have a credential for them.

  • For the sake of simplicity, it’s best to designate unpaid work as “volunteer,” even though it may have been coerced.

You may be asked if you were ever fired from a job, and, if so, to explain. Since most job applications also ask you to sign a statement that all the information you have given is true, lying will expose you to immediate dismissal if it is detected.

• • If you were fired from a job for an extraneous reason like personal grudges or favoritism, try to say something general, like

  • “There were some personal difficulties on that job, although I’ve gotten along with everyone in every other job I ever held”; or “To this day, I’m not sure why—it was never clearly explained to me.”

  • Detailed explanations, like “My employer took a dislike to me because I spilled hot coffee in his lap,” or “My supervisor wanted the job for his nephew” tend to sound like whining or outright misstatements.

  • If there is a straightforward explanation, like “I was struggling with serious health problems and I missed a lot of days,” you are probably best off telling the truth and adding a reassurance that the problem is resolved and you are now able to work full time without difficulty.

Awards and Achievements

In preparation for resumés, applications, and interviews, it’s good to be as inclusive as you can by making notes of every certificate of achievement or award you can remember. Achievements include

• • occupational success, such as making 150% of a sales goal

  • improving productivity

  • implementing an award-winning program

  • publications

  • innovations

Later, if you are preparing for a particular opening, you can select which of these is meaningful for the job in mind.

Objective or “Career Objective” 

Employment experts no longer advise that this should be a prominent part of your resumé. You may be asked for this information on an application form.

• • Whether or not you list it on a resumé, thinking through the question of why you are interested in a given job will help you focus on whether or not you are a good match for the job.

  • It’s helpful to be honest about this. Your goal may be to find shift work that leaves critical hours free for school. You don’t need to tell a prospective employer that you enjoy chopping onions or hauling heavy cartons; but it makes sense to say that the work hours fit well with your schedule, or that you’d like to learn about a particular business or occupation from the ground up.

Fitness for Job Tasks

Prospective employers are legally allowed to describe the tasks and chores required by the job and ask whether you have any health problems that interfere with your ability to perform them, but that’s about all. For more about this, see Listening in the section on the interview.

You are not required to share specific information about illnesses or health problems, although for some positions, employers are allowed to require a physical exam by a company-authorized physician after they hire you.

• • For some positions, you will be required to consent to drug tests on an irregular basis without advance notice.

  • It is against the law for employers to discriminate against a job applicant because of a handicap that does not materially affect job performance. For example, a person confined to a wheelchair is not disqualified from a job that can be done sitting down.

Payment Expectations

Prospective employers for some jobs, especially those paid by the hour, simply state up front what they will pay. Others offer a range of pay, depending on qualifications; and the prospective employer may ask you to state your payment expectations, either in an application, or in person. If you do some homework, you can find the average pay in your area for a particular position. This will tell you whether or not you are getting a fair offer. You will also be able to negotiate realistically with a prospective employer if you think an offer is low.

To find out what other employers in your area are offering for comparable positions to people with comparable qualifications, you can look on the Bureau of Labor Statistics web site of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Outlook Handbook, which lists average earnings for hundreds of occupations nationally and shows differences by state.

If you check the federal government’s job openings you can learn exactly what the government pays for a given job in a particular location, if it happens to have an opening in your field.

• • The reference librarian at a local public library can suggest other resources for your area.

  • You can also discuss this issue with friends in the same occupation, and with a job counselor if you are working with one.

Then you will know if a prospective employer’s offer is low, average, or high. If you want to negotiate for higher pay, you can explain why you think the offer is low. You might not get the increase requested, but if you state your case politely and respectfully, you are not likely to lose by the attempt.

Involvement with the Law

For many positions, this topic will come up either in a job application or an interview. A truthful answer is advisable, since many prospective employers will eventually require a police, FBI, or other clearance. However, it’s not necessary to disclose run-ins that did not result in formal charges, traffic offenses (unless relevant to the position), or other trivial citations, such as jay-walking.

References

A job application may ask you to list as references the names and contact information of two or three people not related to you, who can attest to your qualifications and competence.  

• • Remember to collect this information and have it with you when you are filling out an application or appearing for an interview.

  • References’ names and contact information are not listed on a resume, though you should note that they are available on request.

  • It’s important to get permission beforehand to use the names of people you list, and

  • Verify your references’ contact information, such as whether they prefer to use their home or work phones.

  • If you are applying for different kinds of jobs, you might want to offer different sets of references.

  • When you give out reference information, contact your references to let them know to whom you gave their names and contact information.

  • Thank your references afterward.

Resumés and Cover Letters

Once you have all this information collected, the next step is to compose a resumé (pronounced REH-zuh-may).

• • A resumé is a marketing document that you send, usually by email, to try to persuade prospective employers to interview you.

  • Your resumé needs to be clear, specific, and easy to read.

  • The resumé is a general document that you can send to dozens of prospective employers, although you might want to modify it slightly for different types of jobs.

A letter, called a cover letter, goes with the resumé. The cover letter is personalized. It’s addressed to a specific company, and it states briefly why that particular company should consider you for a specific opening.

Resumé. This is a critical element of your application. A human resources person will check it over to see if you meet the company’s needs and, because there are usually many applicants for each job, to see whether there’s an easy and obvious reason to eliminate you. A disorganized appearance, mistakes in spelling and grammar, or difficulty sorting out your experience and qualifications will count against you. Therefore, you need to work very carefully in putting together your resumé.

• • Keep in mind that the resumé is about your future, not your past. You need to show a prospective employer how you would fit in that company.

  • Try several different drafts to decide which you like best.

  • Review the resumé repeatedly before you send it out.

  • Focus on getting the information down in clear language, in order of importance.

  • Be especially careful about grammar, spelling, punctuation, and typos.

  • If at all possible, have someone else review the resumé for content, organization, and appearance.

For examples to help you understand how important this is, and for laughs, check out this compilation of typos and other errors. 

Resumés generally have a straightforward set of contents:

• Heading: Your name and contact information (address, phone number, email).

• Key Qualifications: Credentials like licenses or certificates and experience that matches the prospective employer’s requirements. Individualize this section as needed to emphasize how your skills fit the job description.

• Experience: Jobs you’ve held that demonstrate your fitness for the position you are applying for. 

  • You might want to vary this section to focus it tightly on one type of work, or

  • You might want to spotlight what a variety of skills you have.

  • People generally list the beginning and ending month and year for each job, beginning with the most recent job and going backward to the first.

• Education: If you have completed formal education after high school, note

  • the name of the institution,

  • the degree or certificate you received, and

  • the year you received it.

• Accomplishments: Awards, certificates of specialization, publications, and other information that reinforces your skills and qualifications.

References are not usually listed on resumés.

For detailed information and guidance, you might look at

• some tips and resumé templates.

• a Web site with sample resumés and detailed advice about how to organize a resumé for different kinds of jobs lists dozens of formats.

• a series of steps to compose a resumé.

If you select a prepared electronic format, it’s best to avoid unusual or elaborate fonts and formats, which may not transmit accurately to other—especially older—computers.

Describing time in the group

If you were in a high demand group for a year or more as an adult, and did not hold a paying job, received only nominal wages, or were paid in kind (like room and board), you will need to account for that time. It’s simplest to list such work as “volunteer,” and give it a reasonably accurate title and task description. For instance:

• Household manager: Responsible for maintenance, cleaning, shopping, and meal planning and preparation for household of x persons, including part-time supervision of y children. [Replace x and y with appropriate numerals.]

• Missionary: Traveled to (or worked in) x countries performing outreach activities, assisting individuals with social (or medical) needs, and providing religious instruction when invited to do so.

• Fundraiser: Skilled at one-on-one personal solicitations. Planned and prepared solicitations, identified and developed relationships with prospective donors, and trained others in fundraising skills.

• Agricultural assistant: Worked in all areas of agriculture, including soil preparation, planting, tending plants, harvesting, marketing, and care of cows. Operated and performed maintenance on farm machinery.

You can expect to be asked about these details at an interview. See the section Preparing for an Interview for suggestions about how to answer these questions.

Cover Letter

A cover letter accompanies all resumés transmitted by email or postal mail. The purpose of the cover letter is to introduce yourself to the person addressed and get him to look at your resumé. Cover letters are written in business format, no longer than a single page, and consist essentially of three paragraphs:

1. Why you are writing;

2. How your skills and qualifications fit the company’s needs; and

3. A thank you for the prospective employer’s consideration, and any follow-up you intend.

You can find dozens of sample cover letters online. Here is a good basic template.

• Cover letters work best if they are individualized, with a different letter for each prospective employer. It’s important to show that you know something about the company’s products or services;

• A cover letter can be more personal and immediate than a resumé; and

• Taking the time and effort to individualize your letter is likely to pay off.

As with resumés, take care to be sure your cover letter is free from typos, and spelling and grammatical errors. Try reading the letter aloud to help you notice overlong, unclear, or repetitious sentences.

Preparing for an Interview

A job interview is a personal encounter that determines whether or not you move forward to the next step of the process—a job offer, testing, or another interview. The better prepared you are, the better your chances of moving to that next step. Some employers may ask for a phone interview instead of, or in addition to, an interview in person. Preparation for either of these opportunities is the same.

Dealing with stress and anxiety

The more important the job is to you, the more likely you are to feel stressed and anxious about the interview. In addition to all the usual things you do to reduce stress—exercise, relaxation, social activities (see the section on Stress)—preparation will help. If you are prepared, you will have good reason to think the interview will go well. The elements of preparation are

• Information gathering,

• Information processing, and

• Practicing.

Information gathering

Information gathering involves learning about both the company or organization and the job. Even if you are applying for an entry-level job, or if you think the job is yours and the interview is merely a formality, it makes sense to learn what you can about what you’re getting into. If you jot down notes as you explore, both about what you find and what you are looking for, it will be easier to organize and remember what you learn.

• You can get information about a prospective employer by visiting the organization’s Web site,

• checking local newspapers and magazines,

• searching online (see Getting Information), and, especially,

• talking to present and former employees if you can find them.

For information about a type of job, google the job title, followed by “job description,” (for example, “server job description.”) Go to several of the sites that come up to get a rounded sense of the work involved.

Here are some of the topics you are seeking information about:

• The organization

  • Is this a well-established organization? a risky start-up? a family business?

  • What are its products or services? Are they useful? practical? Have you ever used them? If so, what impressions do you have about them?

  • How many people does the organization employ?

  • What are the chances for advancement?

  • Is there a lot of employee turnover, and if so, why?

  • Do you personally know anyone in the organization, at any level?

  • Might there be conflicts (i.e., your spouse works for a competitor)?

• The job

  • What are the tasks and activities?

  • How well and in what ways do the tasks and activities match your qualifications and experience?

  • What is clear about the job description and what is unstated or vague?

  • Is the pay offered about right, unusually high, or unusually low? (If the pay is not within the average range, you will want to know why.)

  • What are the work hours? Will overtime be required?

  • Where is the work located? Will it involve travel?

Information processing

Once you have information, you can think about how it applies to you.

• Start with the practical issues:

  • Is this organization financially sound? Can you count on getting a regular paycheck?

  • Are you comfortable with its goods or services? (For instance, a devout Catholic might not want to work for a company that makes birth-control devices.)

  • Do present and former employees recommend it as a place of work?

  • Are there elements in the job description you don’t understand or are unsure about?

  • Do the work hours fit with your availability?

  • Can you readily and reliably get to the workplace at the times required?

• Qualitative issues. Practically everyone at one time or another has taken a job simply to put a roof over her head and food on the table. But the more the job fits your abilities and personality, the more likely you are to do well and succeed. And the more realistic you are about what you’re getting into, the better your chances of coping well with even uncongenial situations. So it’s worth your while to think about the qualitative aspects of the job:

  • If there are areas where your qualifications are weak, what can you offer as a balance? (for instance, “I don’t know classic shorthand, but I’m proficient at speedwriting.”)

  • How would you feel about spending the required hours each week working at these tasks and activities (for example, do you enjoy interacting with people, or do you find it difficult and tedious)?

  • What might be the physical, mental, and emotional challenges for you?

  • Which of the tasks required for this job do you like best? least?

• Your questions list. Now that you’ve learned as much as you can about the organization, turn to your notes to sort out unanswered questions. This is a good time to make a list of questions about the job and divide them into categories:

  • Questions that you need to answer for yourself, such as

    • Whether the work hours fit your schedule;

    • How convenient it is for you to get to the workplace;

    • How you would manage any difficulties; and

    • When you could start work if you’re offered the job.

  • Questions you can’t answer until you are actually on the job. If you’ve identified this kind of question, you won’t expect it to be answered during the interview.

  • Good questions to ask during the interview include

    • Aspects of the job not covered in the job description, such as the team you would be working with;

    • Training and supervision;

    • Opportunities for advancement and promotion;

    • Questions that show you have learned about the organization and thought about what you might bring to it.

Practicing for a job interview

Anticipating the interviewer’s questions, thinking up good answers, and practicing those answers are major parts of preparing for an interview. Expect questions such as those below, depending on the nature of the job and personality of the interviewer. 

The sample answers given here may help you get a sense of what the interviewer expects. It’s advisable to adapt and personalize your answers, rather than memorizing and reciting them word for word.

• Why are you interested in working for X Company?

Try to show some of the things you’ve learned about the company in your answer:

• • “X company is a leader in Y (field), and I want to work for the leader.”

or

• • “I’m looking for a smaller company where I can work more independently.”

or

• • “X seems like a well-run company with a good working environment.”

• How do your training and experience qualify you for this job?

Repeat specific points from your resumé, and briefly highlight less obvious advantages:

• • “I also learned a lot about working with the public from my job as a server.”

or

• • “As a missionary, I learned how to make my way in new places.”

• What strengths do you bring to this job?

Describe personal characteristics:

• • “I’m neat and punctual. I understand how important it is to abide by the safety rules.”

or

• • “I persevere. I’m not discouraged by difficulties and objections.”

or

• • “I’m an ideas person. I enjoy starting something new.”

• What weaknesses do you think will get in your way?

Some people recommend answering this one with a covert self-compliment, like

• • “I get over-involved in my work and it hurts my social life.”

Another possibility is to state honestly a shortcoming evident from your resumé and explain how you plan to remedy it:

• • “I haven’t had the formal education that most people in this job have had. That’s why I’m in school now.”

• What are your career goals?

The truth, including

• • “I’m interested in exploring [career related to opening you’re applying for]. I think I would really enjoy it.”

or

• • “I want to use my [skills, experience, talents] in [this career area].”

or

• • “I just want a good, steady job that I can do well, with a good employer.” 

If your resumé shows many job or career changes, expect questions about why you left or changed career directions. If cult activities underlie these switches,

• • “I was traveling a great deal—I wanted to explore the world, but everywhere I went I had to earn my living doing what came to hand.”

or

• • “I was volunteering with a [church, spiritual group] and doing whatever needed to be done.”

If there’s a straightforward reason, explain:

• • “There was a recession, and I just had an epidemic of being laid off because I was always among the most-recent hires.”

If there are gaps of several months or more, expect questions about the gaps.

• • “I was taking care of my sister’s children when she was fighting cancer.”

or

• • “I was very interested in Buddhism, and I was studying at a Buddhist monastery.”

• Were you ever fired from a job?

If the answer is “yes,” it’s advisable to say so, adding why the circumstance isn’t likely to recur in the case of the present company:

• • “I had a lot of absences. I was struggling with an undiagnosed illness that since has been diagnosed and cured.”

or

• • “I wasn’t able to handle the changing shift work. I know now that I have to work regular hours.”

[After describing physical demands, or particular working conditions of the job, such as irregular hours or the need to wear a uniform:]

• Are you able to meet these requirements?

Take a few moments before you answer, so the interviewer will know you’re really thinking about this. Especially if you’ve learned something new about the job during the interview, actually do think about it.

• Do you have any questions for me?

This is the time to take out your list, review it to see what questions remain unanswered, and ask them. Remember, an interview is a two-way street. In addition to persuading the interviewer that you would be good for the job, you need to find out whether this job would be good for you.

• The interviewer will have a copy of your resumé or application and will run through it, asking questions along the way: This certificate in Building Maintenance—what kinds of plumbing repairs did you learn? Or I see you taught in India—what was that like?

• Review your documents for openings like these, and practice answers to them.

Practice actually asking and answering interview questions, if possible, with a friend acting as the interviewer.

• If you don’t have anyone to help you, practice by yourself, actually speaking the questions and your answers. The difference between your intention and the impact of the spoken word or tone of voice might surprise you.

• Also, the repetition of speaking, rather than just thinking, your answers will help you remember them and make you less likely to forget a prepared answer during the interview.

Final organization

• It helps to plan ahead. Make copies of any documents you’ve been asked to bring to the interview: certificates, driver’s license, references, and so on, so you don’t have to give up the originals.

• Also make two extra copies of your resumé, one for you to consult and one in case the interviewer has misplaced his (it happens).

• You might want to make a checklist for yourself of everything you need to bring.

• Collect all the documents in an envelope the day before your interview. Put the envelope where you can’t forget it as the result of haste or nerves.

The Interview

Your resumé and cover letter, and perhaps a phone conversation have shown there’s a reasonable match between the employer’s need and your abilities. Now the interviewer wants to check you out personally. Interviews can last anywhere from five minutes to more than an hour, but experts say the interviewer makes a preliminary decision about you in the first few seconds after meeting you.

Phone interviews

• Since the prospective employer can’t see you (unless you’re on Web cam), you need not worry about being properly dressed. However, it’s important to treat the phone call like an appointment, dialing punctually at the time requested. If the interviewer initiates the call, be ready to pick up the phone.

• Remember that, since you’re unseen, you’re entirely dependent on your voice to sell the interviewer. Lying down or lounging makes it harder to project, so plan to sit upright in a comfortable chair, or stand.

• Be extra careful not to interrupt while the interviewer is speaking.

• Take as much time as you need to compose your answers.

• If you are on Web cam, dress as if you were interviewing in person, right down to the shoes. Should you need to get up or move around for any reason, everything on view should fit the occasion.

With these exceptions, the guidelines below apply.

First impression

Experienced interviewers can learn a lot just by looking at you. Here are the things they will look for:

• Punctuality. It’s important for most employers that employees arrive on time. Job coaches recommend that you arrive about ten minutes early for a job interview.

  • Arriving much earlier suggests over-anxiousness or poor planning.

  • Arriving on the dot suggests too much dependence on good luck.

  • If your bus schedule or other transportation system requires a very early arrival, you can find a place outside the business, like a shop or newsstand, where you can linger until close to the appointed time.

• Neatness and cleanliness. No one wants to hire a slob. Is your hair combed? Your shirt tucked in? Have you bathed recently? If possible, check your appearance while you’re waiting. Travel to the interview may have caused buttons to come undone, smudges to accumulate, or hair to blow the wrong way.

• Appropriate dress. For an interview, correctly dressed is best, but over-dressed is better than under-dressed.

  • Applicants for office jobs, sales and marketing jobs, and professional jobs should wear suits—men with ties and dress shirts, women with business shirts or blouses—and dress shoes, not sneakers or flip-flops.

  • Applicants for jobs focused on physical activity should wear neat tops and pants.

  • Tight shirts and pants are not appropriate for the workplace. Baggy shirts and pants look sloppy on men and women alike.

  • Unless you are specifically instructed to wear them, blue jeans, tee shirts, torn or ragged clothes, nose rings, do-rags, and counter-culture paraphernalia do not warm the hearts of most human resources personnel.

  • If it’s “Come ready to work,” check ahead and wear whatever the correct work apparel is, including safety boots, if needed; or, for jobs such as waiting table, the requested color and style of top and pants.

• Attitude and manner. Your body language—how you sit and stand, how you greet the interviewer, your facial expression—can convey confidence, competence, timidity, hesitation, interest, impatience, and a host of other qualities. If you are asked to sit and wait, try to display calm and readiness. Watch yourself for signs of tension, such as fidgeting, frowning, and wringing your hands. Stand to greet the interviewer, smile, introduce yourself, and shake hands.

• Readiness. Turn off your cell phone while you’re waiting. Have your list of questions ready, as well as paper and pen to make notes.

You also will be getting a first impression about whether or not you want to work at this place.

• • Is the place clean? orderly?

  • Is a receptionist or other greeter friendly and polite?

  • Is the interviewer prompt to greet you, or are you left sitting for half an hour without explanation?

Listening

Let the interviewer take the lead. 

• Some interviewers like to start with a few minutes of small talk—the weather, recent news, a sports event. Others will plunge right in: “Tell me why you think you should get this job.”

• Listen carefully to questions. Try not to compose an answer in your head while the questioner is still speaking, because you might miss an important part of the question.

• Feel free to take a moment and think before you answer, especially if the question is not simple.

• If you’re not sure, clarify: “I’m not sure I understand the question—are you asking about what I would bring to this job from my years of teaching?”

• Questions about your personal life should have a direct bearing on the tasks required, such as ability to lift heavy weights, or to work night shifts.

Even in a job interview, the only personal questions you need answer are those with direct bearing on the job you are interviewing for.

An interviewer should not ask, “Have you any health problems?”

Should you face this question, you can counter with a request for details:

“Could you describe the kinds of problems that might interfere with doing a good job in this position?”

An interviewer is entitled to list the tasks called for and ask,

“Do you have any health problems that would limit your ability to carry out the demands of this job?”

If you don’t understand the relevance of a personal question, follow up:

“I’m not sure how my marital status relates to this job?”

and then address only the relevant issue:

“I have reliable child-care arrangements, and I’ve arranged an emergency backup plan for working hours.”

Conclusion and follow-up

When the interview is over, thank the interviewer and leave.

“Thanks for seeing me. It’s been very informative and I appreciate your time.”

The interviewer may be on a tight schedule and may not appreciate being delayed with last-minute questions or effusive gratitude. However, it is not out of place to ask when you might expect to hear from the company if the interviewer hasn’t mentioned it before.

Send a follow-up letter thanking the interviewer in writing, and mentioning the highlights that are most likely to distinguish your candidacy. 

Follow-up letter example

Make a note of the date when you expect to hear from a prospective employer, and when that date passes, feel free to call or email and ask if you are still under consideration. If for some reason you don’t have a firm date, wait at least a week before inquiring.

If You Are Laid Off: Unemployment Insurance

If you lose your job through no fault of your own, you may be eligible for government payments called unemployment insurance. These are state programs that provide some income to tide you over until you find another job. The amount you receive and the length of time you are eligible differs from state to state. You can find basic information at the federal Department of Labor site. Although some people hesitate to apply for this coverage, thinking that they will find another job before things get desperate, it makes more sense to apply immediately, in case things do get desperate. It takes two to three weeks for the payments to start, and you can always cancel if you get a job in the meantime.