Portland APICS helps in a Tough Economy

Portland APICS knows things are getting tough out there.

Employers are tightening their belts, looking for any way to cut costs. Lay-offs are occurring and the local unemployment rate is over 9%.

While we have no classes in how to get the economy rolling again, the Portland APICS chapter has compiled a list of things which can help our members cope during this trying time. We will update this page as new information becomes available so check back periodically.

Online resources

• Our own jobboard, free to job hunters and employers for posting open positions.
• Portland APICS group on LinkedIn, an online resource for networking - search for Portland APICS under groups.
• Career Advice Topics for global sourcing careers written by the president of a VA APICS Chapter who is also the owner of a executive recruiting firm, Palladian Intl.
• Watch a video of Dr. Eli Goldratt, an internationally recognized leader in the development of new business management philosophies and systems. The video link is a taped conversation on "the current economy and what we can do immediately to improve the situation", given at Pacific Lutheran University on February 16th.
• APICS National Career Center. Log in and you can post your resume, search for jobs, and review a whole list of other tools and documentation, including:
  - Resume writing guidelines
  - Cover letter tips
  - Interview advice
  - Review the APICS Salary Survey results
  - and a lot more!
• Keep your job-search momentum throughout the summer to avoid frustration in the fall. Written by Deborah Walker, CCMC. Submitted June 09.
• Free Geek is a local organization offering free laptops in response for 24hrs of time volunteered. You work with their group tearing apart PCs and Laptops into reusable or recyclable parts. After 24hrs of time, you receive a refurn laptop loaded with freeware software (Linux, etc). You are likely to learn new skills while benefitting the community, both of which looks good to hiring managers.

Membership

• Unemployed Membership Extension Application. Membership fees can be deferred up to six months due to unemployment. Please review the attached document for requirements and directions on how to apply.

Education

• Take APICS classes and earn a new certification. You become more employable while increasing your value to any current organization. A recent study of APICS members reported they earned an average of $8,000 more annually when certified.
• Department of Veterans Affairs Certification Test Reimbursement. APICS certifications qualify for benefits.
• Unemployement Education Benefits. You can attend school and receive benefits if you are in an approved training program. APICS courses have recently qualified for benefits. Unemployment Insurance claimants are required to contact the Employment Department about school participation as soon as they have committed themselves to attending school. They need to call the Unemployment Insurance Contact Center before they start school to provide information. The UI Contact Center for the Portland Metro area is (503) 451-2400. Please also refer to the Oregon Employment office website and the Training Unemployment Insurance Program web page for more information.