1. Studies have shown that engaging individuals in work-search activities soon after a job separation leads to an earlier return to work. The longer a person remains unemployed, the harder it is for those individuals to find work. We believe you will benefit from additional support throughout your job search. This Workforce Orientation focuses on connecting you with reemployment services soon after a layoff or job separation. In an effort to help you find employment more quickly, the Division of Unemployment Insurance (UI) has partnered with local Workforce Centers across the state to coordinate services that will assist you with reemployment and work-search strategies. Both agencies will provide you with information and suggestions on how to improve your work-search so you can be back to work as quickly as possible. You recently received a notice to attend a mandatory workforce services orientation. During this orientation, you will learn about the programs, services and resources available to you while you look for work. This website will help you prepare for your orientation. Welcome to the Workforce Center Get Started!

2. You will attend a mandatory orientation to learn about workforce center services and helpful work- search strategies. In addition, you will meet with a workforce representative one-on-one to develop your personalized reemployment plan and to review the weekly work-search requirements that the Division of Unemployment Insurance has established. You will learn about ways to improve your job search, resume, and interviewing skills, all while you are requesting Unemployment Insurance benefits. Our goal is to assist you in developing 21 st Century workforce skills, so that you can return to work as quickly as possible. Mandatory Orientation & “One on One Career Counseling” Photo Continue

3. Letter Template, clickable link to generic form PDF that opens in a new tab Keep an eye out for a letter that looks like this We will Contact You by Mail You may have received a letter in the mail that looks like the one to the right. This letter contains information about your orientation time and location. If you have listed email as your preferred contact method, we will send you an email notification to expect this letter. When you receive any notice from the Division of Unemployment Insurance or your local Workforce Center, read it immediately, as it may contain time-sensitive information about your benefits. Continue

4. If You Need to Reschedule Your Orientation Rescheduling or missing any appointment with a WFC may have an impact on your claim and whether you are eligible to receive a payment for that specific week. Please make every effort to keep your original orientation date and make sure you have completed all the activities in advance of your orientation. If there is a conflict with the scheduled orientation, your Workforce Center may be able to reschedule, but only with advance notice. Please let the workforce center know as soon as possible if you will not be able to attend your scheduled orientation. The workforce centers will refer any rescheduling or conflicts with the originally scheduled orientation to the Division of Unemployment Insurance (UI) for review. UI must review the situation and determine if there was a good reason for the reschedule. Continue

5. Preparing for your Orientation 1 Create or Update your Connecting Colorado Account 4 Assemble your completed Weekly Work Search Logs 3 Complete an Online Assessment 2 Review Local Labor Market Resources The Division of Unemployment Insurance requires that you complete a series of activities before attending this mandatory orientation. These steps promote a proactive approach toward getting you back to work. In order to be eligible for and continue to be paid unemployment insurance benefits, you must complete these activities in advance of the scheduled orientation. Click each step below to complete these activities. You can also progress through the steps without returning to this page, or learn more about what happens in Orientation. I want to learn more about what happens in Orientation I want to learn more about what happens in Counseling I have completed all four steps – take me to the review

6. Continue to Step 2Return to Step List Step 1: Create or Update your Connecting Colorado Account Connecting ColoradoConnecting Colorado is a job search engine that connects Colorado job seekers to employers. Upload your resume and regularly update the information in your profile by adding new experience, skills, educational credentials, and any other information that apply to the jobs you intend to target. You can search the database for positions throughout Colorado, and the system will search for resumes that match an employer’s needs. Make sure your information is current, as the system will send you information on local hiring events and jobs that match your skills. Connecting ColoradoConnecting Colorado also communicates with the Division of Unemployment Insurance (UI) about work-search registration requirements and continued eligibility for benefits. Local Workforce Center representatives are available to guide you and answer questions.

7. Continue to Step 3Return to Step List Step 2: Review Local Labor Market Resources This is a starting point for you to access online labor market and career exploration tools. These tools will help you to identify your skills, learn about jobs that may suit you, and give you information on wages and in-demand employment projections. Review the links below to access information about job-search tools, in-demand occupations and industries and view information on the services available at your local Workforce Center: Colorado Department of Labor and Employment Veterans Services Colorado Workforce Centers Job Openings in Connecting Colorado Labor Market Information Labor Market Career Information Resources

8. Continue to Step 4Return to Step List Step 3: Complete an Online Assessment Self-assessment activities will help you explore your skills, interests and experience. They will help you consider jobs that are a good match for your skills. Some assessments may also provide you with suggested additions to your resume or portfolio based on your previous experience, to better market yourself to employers. Complete one of the linked assessments before the orientation. Print your results and bring them to the orientation so that your counselor can review the information and assist you with work-search and career goals during the one-on-one session. Career InfoNet and Skills Profiler MySkills MyFuture My Next Move Choose the assessment that will best suit your needs – your local workforce center may have suggested the most appropriate assessment for you to take.

9. Tips for completing your logReturn to Step List Step 4: Complete and Print your Weekly Work-Search Log Maintaining a complete work-search log is required to continue receiving Unemployment Insurance benefits. The Division of Unemployment Insurance may request a copy of your work-search log as part of an audit for up to two years from the start of your unemployment claim. Your counselor will review your work-search log during your one-on-one session and may make suggestions to improve your work- search, present additional positions and job opportunities for you to consider, and help you overcome barriers to finding and accepting your next job or career. Bring in a copy of your most recent work-search logs (covering at least the four weeks prior to your orientation) to the Workforce Center on the day of Orientation.

10. What Happens During Orientation Return to Step List Tips for Completing your Weekly Job Search Log Tips for Making Your Job Contacts Get the name of the person you spoke to about a position Talk with those in charge of hiring decisions when reaching out to potential employers Contacts made to employers who are not hiring should only be included on the work-search log one time Bring in a copy of your most recent work-search logs (covering at least the four weeks prior to your orientation) to the Workforce Center on the day of Orientation.

11. What Happens During Orientation The orientation is designed to acquaint you with the reemployment services available through your local Workforce Center. Workforce Centers will help you develop your job- seeking skills and can help you find work before your unemployment benefits end. You will learn about: Services available through local Workforce Centers Using Connecting Colorado to find workConnecting Colorado Online labor market and career exploration tools Online skills assessments Individualized work-search plan Unemployment work-search and eligibility requirements Items to bring to your one-on-one career counseling session Next steps Return to Step List What Happens During Counseling

12. What Happens During Counseling Your Local Workforce Center will set up a one-on-one counseling session to discuss your reemployment strategy. All required activities must be completed prior to the orientation so that your counselor can review them with you. Workforce Centers will notify the Division of Unemployment Insurance of anyone who has not participated or completed all the required activities. Generally, the one-on-one session occurs the same day as the orientation. Be prepared by bringing in all the required documents: The results of your online skills assessment, so your counselor can make additional job recommendations to you Your complete job search log, so your counselor can give you tips on contacting companies about employment opportunities UI Eligibility Review Checklist Work Search Development Plan Return to Step ListAn Important Reminder

13. A Reminder from the Division of Unemployment Insurance 1.Actively engaged and registered in Connecting ColoradoConnecting Colorado 2.Physically and mentally able to do the work you are seeking 3.Available for work: a) Available for job interviews and job offers b) Have no barriers to your availability such as travel or child-care restrictions 4.Search for suitable work a) Seeking work that is appropriate for your skill level b) Seeking jobs you would accept if offered the position 5.Actively seeking work a) Applying for your required number of job contacts each week Return to Step List Are You Ready for Orientation? In order to receive Unemployment Insurance Benefits, You Must Be: During the orientation, the workforce center will provide you with more information on what these requirements mean, and can help answer any other questions you have.

14. Are You Prepared for Orientation and Counseling? Have you: Created or updated your Connecting Colorado account?Connecting Colorado Reviewed the Labor Market and Career Information Services?Labor MarketCareer Information Services Completed an online skills assessment? Printed your skills assessment results to bring with you? Completed your weekly work-search logs for (at least) the past 4 weeks? Printed your work-search logs to bring with you? I’m not ready, back to step listI’m ready, click to finish The day of your appointment, you will:  Attend Orientation.  Discuss the online Labor Market Resources links and any questions you have about how these resources can help you find work.  Review the results of the online Self-Assessment and discuss what you need to reach your reemployment goals.  Discuss UI Eligibility requirements.  Review the Work-Search Log results for additional job matches and receive feedback on ways to improve your work-search log documentation to avoid delays in unemployment insurance benefits.  Develop an Individual Reemployment and Work-Search Plan that will help organize the steps you should take to reach your employment goals.