The unemployment fund trial: In a job after just three months

"It's a great scheme. I wish all unemployed people would be offered a program like the one I've experienced." These are the words of our member Diana Nørregaard, who lives in Kastrup and has participated in the unemployment fund trial - a political experimental scheme that gives the unemployment fund responsibility for the unemployed member during the first three months of unemployment. With sparring and support from Min A-kasse and new knowledge about job search and IT gained on an AOF course, Diana is now back in work - just three months after becoming unemployed.

- I really felt that I was met at eye level and that the focus was on my person, my skills and my development. I started to calm down, so we could focus on what we thought would help me best - a course in IT and job search," says Diana Nørregaard.

If, like our member Diana, you've worked in the same permanent position for over 15 years, it's hard not to feel a sense of identity when your job is suddenly gone. The laboratory company Diana had worked for so faithfully faced stronger and stronger competition from abroad, the company lost customers - and suddenly Diana's job was gone too.

- It was a very strange feeling. My job is my identity. I thrive on being employed and having a career. Now I was suddenly at a complete loss and had no idea how to approach the application process. The last time I sent an application it was in an envelope with a stamp on it. The time is completely different now with digital applications etc. I'm a craftsman and not used to working on a computer. It stressed me out a lot," says Diana.

Focus on the best way forward
Shortly after Diana registered as unemployed, she received a call for a CV interview with Rikke Deepthi, a job and career consultant at Min A-kasse

- I was a little worried about being met with prejudice. Would I be perceived as lazy because I now had the title of unemployed? What would the unemployment fund throw me into? Would I be allowed to influence my own unemployment process? I had a lot of worries about that," says Diana. But she didn't have to.

- You're just so cozy and nice. There's room to talk about rules and cake recipes, laughs Diana.

- I really felt that I was met at eye level and that the focus was on my person, my skills and my development. I started to calm down, so we could focus on what we thought would help me the most - a course in IT and job search.

Applications and CVs started to take shape - also thanks to support and sparring from Rikke. And the invitations to job interviews also started to arrive. On June 1, Diana accepted a permanent position as a laboratory dental technician with a dentist.

- I can only recommend that all unemployment fund members get to experience the very close contact with the unemployment fund during the first period of unemployment. It meant that I could focus on improving my IT skills and looking for a job at the same time," says Diana.