ResuMAYDAY

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Low-Cost Job Search Classes for Older Workers

We’re happy to report there are a lot of low or no-cost resources for job seekers in the Chicagoland area. College of DuPage contributes to this bounty with their Plus 50 series of classes taught by local experts, including Lauren Milligan, of ResuMAYDAY. These classes are part of the Continuing Education curriculum, which means you don’t have to pay for credit hours. It’s all very simple and budget-friendly.

The upcoming classes are:

The ‘Career Readiness’ class is a 5-week series that includes resume writing, LinkedIn, interviewing skills, ageism in the workplace, and negotiating skills.

The ‘Self-Discovery’ class is a 3-week series full of self-assessments, writing exercises, group exercises, all geared towards helping you discover your most fulfilling path in your career or volunteer hours.

The ‘Job Search Websites’ class provides a whole catalog of great websites to utilize in your search, and also steers you away from the time-wasters.

Later in the year, the ‘Networking’ class and ‘Negotiation Skills for Women’ class will be added to the roster.

Here’s a screenshot of the catalog and schedule. For a better view, head over to page 33 of the College of DuPage Continuing Education catalog, here.

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Job Search Deductions…2018

Big changes for the tax year 2018! Job seekers, the federal government has ended job-search related expense deductions. You’ll definitely want to talk to your tax accountant if you spent money looking for a job in 2018. Perhaps she’ll find some kind of loophole in your favor, but most people will experience a three-prong loss: no income; job search expenses; no deduction relief. Ouch.

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Unsolicited Guest Bloggers and Web Marketers, This Is For You…

Guest Bloggers and Web Marketers: By proposing to write a guest blog post for ResuMAYDAY or soliciting your web services,you have agreed to donate $35 to Bridge Communities at THIS LINK. Your donation won’t result in a blog post or a sale, but it will provide a homeless child with one night of a safe and warm place to sleep.

Likewise, the moment I get this: “Hey Lauren, I sent you an email last week about our web development services but never heard back from you…” you also have obligated yourself to donate $50 to Bridge Communities (same LINK.) because these emails are especially annoying. Seriously, do these emails EVER result in a sale? Leave me alone and do some good in the world.

Bye Felicia.

Do YOU want to learn more about the good that Bridge Communities does in the world? (It’s a lot.) Visit www.BridgeCommunities.org.

 

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Deductions for 2017 Taxes, Specific to Job Seekers:

In 2018, tax day falls on April 17th (the 15th is Sunday and the 16th is Emancipation Day). That allows for 48 extra hours to figure out your taxes. Here are THREE important deductions that specifically help job seekers:

Did you look for a new job in 2017?

As long as you searched for the same type of job you last held, your job search expenses are deductible…even if you didn’t land a job in 2017. These expenses include:

  • Car transportation ($.535 per mile, and tolls and parking)
  • Food and lodging for out-of-town interviews
  • Taxis and other transportation fare
  • Professional fees such as industry association annual dues, networking group dues, and online subscription/membership fees (LinkedIn premium)
  • ResuMAYDAY’s services, such as resume writing and coaching, and the services of a career counselor
  • Costs of printing business cards, postage and other self-marketing fees

(Note: If you voluntarily changed your career industry or this is your FIRST job, these deductions DO NOT APPLY TO YOU.)
(2nd Note: The above job search deductions were eliminated in the new tax law. 2017 is the last year to claim them.)

Did you move more than 50 miles away for a job?

Deduct those expenses! Even if you moved for your first job or for a voluntary career transition, those fees can be deducted.

Back to School…

Rodney Dangerfield did it, and so can you. The Lifetime Learning Credit offsets higher education costs for courses relating to skills improvement. Eligible institutions include 4-year colleges, community colleges, and vocational schools. (The IRS links to a list, and advises you to check directly with the school.) The tuition credit maxes out at $2,000 a year with specific income limits. (Sadly, the IRS won’t give you extra deductions for mastering the Triple Lindy.)

This information was provided by ResuMAYDAY for informational purposes only. It does not replace professional tax advisement. To find out if these deductions and credits apply to you, see www.irs.gov and talk to your tax accountant.

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