My mom always pushed the word "benefits" when we talked about my job hunt. (She still does even though I'm married now!) But she instilled in me something very important that helped me get through my 20s a little easier: Get a job with benefits. This isn't always easy, nor do company's have wonderful benefits packages. But I think it's important for 20-something job seekers to make this an aspect of their job hunt.
At the time mom was pushing me to get a medical plan, I hated doctors. Even the thought of going gave me goosebumps. I hear many grads say they're healthy and don't want to spend more money on a health plan. But if you can get a basic health plan, it's worth it. Why? Because you never know what could happen. Something devastating to your body could also devastate you for years if you incur thousands in medical bills and have no one to help pay for it.
Besides, those routine exams that your mom used to schedule for you--no one does that after you get out of school. You'll have to stay well on your own. I once got socked with about $800 in dental bills from not hitting the dentist for two years. You can bet I am there (iPod in hand and growling, but there) every six months now.
You've heard stories where people are in random accidents right? I don't want to be a doom-and-gloomer, but stuff like that happens. And if you're unexpectedly sick, that can cause havoc on your checkbook. That's precisely why taking your employer up on their healthcare is worth it. Or if you can still get in on your parents plan, go for it. The point is to have some sort of coverage.
I'm curious to know if you have placed an emphasis on this--employed or not. Are people so concerned about getting jobs that they'll forfeit having coverage? Have you taken a job based on the coverage? Leave a comment!
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Moving Home after Graduation: Making it Work
The last thing I wanted to think about when I graduated was where I would have to move. I had no choice--I had to move home. With no job lined up and no plans on where I wanted to settle, it was the easy fix and gave me time to get my head together.
But moving home if you've spent four years away at college is never easy. (And it's not any easier after you still live at home after during so while completing your degree.) Boomerangers know that it's different moving home after college, even if you've spent summers there for the past four-plus years. There's something else there; whether it's your lack of a bedroom because it's now a sitting room or storage closet, or whether there's an underlying tone that you don't belong there anymore.
Here are some tips to keep in mind if you're planning to move home:
It's your parents' house. Even if you're used to staying out at all hours of the night on campus, you've got to keep a sense of respect when you move home. One way to do that is to respect your parents' rules. Some parents treat boomerangers as adults and let them come and go as they please; others set a curfew. Whatever your parents wish, try to work with them to set reasonable rules and stick to them. You'll be able to have free reign again when you move out.
Communicate. Things may be uncomfortable when you move home. If you're job hunting, your parents may have different expectations of how you should do it, or how long it will take to find a job. Your goal is to keep the peace and communicate with them in a non-defensive way. In addition to respecting their rules and working with them if they're open to letting you set them, you should talk to them about what your plans are. You'll also need to discuss what you're expected to do to contribute around the house, and if your parents want you to pay rent. Some students who are close to their families loved moving home because they were able to help out with the bills and were grateful for their parents' hard work taking care of them over the years. It varies per person.
Plan to move out. You don't have to start looking at apartments, but it's always good to have a targeted move-out time in your head. Do you want to stay for a year to adapt to your job? Do you want to move out ASAP? If you're miserable at home, a target date will remind you it's only temporary; if you have an awesome relationship with your parents, it's still a good idea to plan your next move (even if it's off to grad school!) You can't live at home forever, so think of your ideal situation. (Hint: If your parents rock, consider moving nearby. You'll have your own independenace but still have access to shopping in mom's pantry.)
It'll hit you. There is nothing wrong with moving home after college, but everyone I've spoken to that had to move home soon after realized that they didn't feel like it was their home anymore. Your parents will likely reassure you that their door is always open, but you may find yourself wanting to carve out your own niche. You may not want to talk to your parents about how you're feeling, which is likely exciting and scared at the same time. That's okay; take advantage of the benefits of living home (saving money) and plan and approrpiate move-out time if you think that's what you want to do. You may want to get settled into your job first.
Save, save, save. One of the biggest advantages to moving home is being able to save. While your other friends are dumping all of their newly earned money into expensive apartments, you'll be able to pay mom and dad a fraction of the cost (if you have to pay rent) and save. Try to be frugal. By the time you're ready to move out, you'll have more than enough for the deposit, which will make things much less stressful.
It's always hard for me to give advice on this topic because your time back at home is dependent on your relationship with your parents and your career goals. Some people do fine moving home for a few years before venturing out solo. Some don't have great ties with their families and want to sleep in the garage. Whatever you choose, be respectful and remember that you're in control of your future--just be practical about it.
Are you moving home after you graduate? Why or why not? Have you already done this? What was the outcome?
But moving home if you've spent four years away at college is never easy. (And it's not any easier after you still live at home after during so while completing your degree.) Boomerangers know that it's different moving home after college, even if you've spent summers there for the past four-plus years. There's something else there; whether it's your lack of a bedroom because it's now a sitting room or storage closet, or whether there's an underlying tone that you don't belong there anymore.
Here are some tips to keep in mind if you're planning to move home:
It's your parents' house. Even if you're used to staying out at all hours of the night on campus, you've got to keep a sense of respect when you move home. One way to do that is to respect your parents' rules. Some parents treat boomerangers as adults and let them come and go as they please; others set a curfew. Whatever your parents wish, try to work with them to set reasonable rules and stick to them. You'll be able to have free reign again when you move out.
Communicate. Things may be uncomfortable when you move home. If you're job hunting, your parents may have different expectations of how you should do it, or how long it will take to find a job. Your goal is to keep the peace and communicate with them in a non-defensive way. In addition to respecting their rules and working with them if they're open to letting you set them, you should talk to them about what your plans are. You'll also need to discuss what you're expected to do to contribute around the house, and if your parents want you to pay rent. Some students who are close to their families loved moving home because they were able to help out with the bills and were grateful for their parents' hard work taking care of them over the years. It varies per person.
Plan to move out. You don't have to start looking at apartments, but it's always good to have a targeted move-out time in your head. Do you want to stay for a year to adapt to your job? Do you want to move out ASAP? If you're miserable at home, a target date will remind you it's only temporary; if you have an awesome relationship with your parents, it's still a good idea to plan your next move (even if it's off to grad school!) You can't live at home forever, so think of your ideal situation. (Hint: If your parents rock, consider moving nearby. You'll have your own independenace but still have access to shopping in mom's pantry.)
It'll hit you. There is nothing wrong with moving home after college, but everyone I've spoken to that had to move home soon after realized that they didn't feel like it was their home anymore. Your parents will likely reassure you that their door is always open, but you may find yourself wanting to carve out your own niche. You may not want to talk to your parents about how you're feeling, which is likely exciting and scared at the same time. That's okay; take advantage of the benefits of living home (saving money) and plan and approrpiate move-out time if you think that's what you want to do. You may want to get settled into your job first.
Save, save, save. One of the biggest advantages to moving home is being able to save. While your other friends are dumping all of their newly earned money into expensive apartments, you'll be able to pay mom and dad a fraction of the cost (if you have to pay rent) and save. Try to be frugal. By the time you're ready to move out, you'll have more than enough for the deposit, which will make things much less stressful.
It's always hard for me to give advice on this topic because your time back at home is dependent on your relationship with your parents and your career goals. Some people do fine moving home for a few years before venturing out solo. Some don't have great ties with their families and want to sleep in the garage. Whatever you choose, be respectful and remember that you're in control of your future--just be practical about it.
Are you moving home after you graduate? Why or why not? Have you already done this? What was the outcome?
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Tweet Me Your After-College Questions TODAY!
I'm taking questions on Twitter all day about life after college. If you're on there, feel free to "tweet" me and I'll respond.
And I promise the next post will NOT be about Twitter!
And I promise the next post will NOT be about Twitter!
Monday, March 16, 2009
Career Resources on Twitter
I know you're probably sick of hearing "how cool" Twitter is. But even if you don't use it for business, you can still find some pretty neat job organizations there.
Alison Doyle, About.com's Job Searching Guide, listed some fabulous job sites using Twitter. Just by subscribing to them, you can hear about opportunities in 140 characters or less--one at a time.
Some of the job sites include:
Alison Doyle, About.com's Job Searching Guide, listed some fabulous job sites using Twitter. Just by subscribing to them, you can hear about opportunities in 140 characters or less--one at a time.
Some of the job sites include:
- About.com Job Searching
- About.com Health Careers
- CareerCast
- CollegeRecruiter.com
- EntryLevelJob
- GradtoGreat
- GreatPlaceJobs
- Idealist
- Indeed.com
- JobAngels
- JobDig.com
- Job-Hunt.org
- Jobnob
- Jobshouts
- Myfirstpaycheck.com
- OneDayOneJob.com
- Quintessential Careers
- Risemart.com
- SimplyHired.com
- SpinStrategy
- VisualCV.com
- YourOnRamp
- YSN
Saturday, March 14, 2009
BlogTalkRadio Inty: Ask your college questions!
I had the chance to speak with Faten and Raina on BlogTalkRadio's show, Connecting Women. The interview went great and these girls really know a lot about the issues that college students and college graduates face.
One thing I mentioned during our discussion was taking questions from blog readers. If you have a college-related question, feel free to email me Here . I'd love to hear from students, grads and parents!
One thing I mentioned during our discussion was taking questions from blog readers. If you have a college-related question, feel free to email me Here . I'd love to hear from students, grads and parents!
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Free Resume Printing Today at FedEx Office
FedEx Office (formerly FedEx Kinko’s), will host “FedEx Office Free Resume Printing Day” today, and is offering to print up to 25 copies of each customer’s resume for free. For more information, visit www.fedex.com.
Call-backs: The Art of Second Interviews
We talk a lot here about getting jobs. Namely, creating that strong foundation: getting internships, crafting a resume, dressing right for the interview...that sorta thing.
But what happens when you get called back for a second interview? What can you expect? And how can you prepare to "wow" the company?
There are plenty of great tips in Heather Huhman's latest article, "Nailing the Second Interview." Check it out!
I was a bit on the fence when offering up information on this because second interviews are all over the board, I think. After all, I've been through second interviews that were nothing more than getting toured around the office or going through the entire first interview process, but with someone new. Then there are those grueling interviews where the original interviewer goes in depth and if you haven't done your homework on the company, it shows.
I'd love to hear your experiences with second interviews: What mistakes should you avoid? What are they like? Do they almost always guarantee that you get the job? What do you think?
But what happens when you get called back for a second interview? What can you expect? And how can you prepare to "wow" the company?
There are plenty of great tips in Heather Huhman's latest article, "Nailing the Second Interview." Check it out!
I was a bit on the fence when offering up information on this because second interviews are all over the board, I think. After all, I've been through second interviews that were nothing more than getting toured around the office or going through the entire first interview process, but with someone new. Then there are those grueling interviews where the original interviewer goes in depth and if you haven't done your homework on the company, it shows.
I'd love to hear your experiences with second interviews: What mistakes should you avoid? What are they like? Do they almost always guarantee that you get the job? What do you think?
Friday, March 6, 2009
The Importance of a "Foundation Job"
I got this letter from Tara and asked if I could respond publicly, here. So here goes!
I just graduated in May with a degree in Communication, specifically Advertising and PR. I had a four-month temp job as a Marketing Communications Consultant, which I liked, but have since had a horrible time finding anything else... and am now a nanny. Needless to say, it has taken a toll on me; who would have thought I'd go through five years of school to watch someone's kids? But I digress...
I was wondering if you could share with me how you worked your way up, have been a freelance writer seemingly throughout your career, and even have written two books? I have actually done some freelance work since being unemployed, just from posting ads on craigslist, but how did you make your freelance career what it is today? How many years were spent mostly depending on office-type jobs?
Did you always want to write a book? How did you come to write these two books? As someone with way less experience, I would love to write a book, but it just seems like a lofty kind of goal, so correct me if I'm wrong! Does your freelance career provide a steady source of income? Is it comparable to other position within other companies?
Tara,
First off, thanks for being a blog guinea pig.I wanted to answer your question here because I think so many people are in your shoes and can benefit from hearing about your situation, and hopefully some of my advice.
Here's how my career went: I graduated from college with a BA in Environmental Studies and started feeling like I didn't want to use it around three weeks before graduation. From there, I started job hunting and went back to my college job (coincidentally, as a nanny). I held that job for six months and was tortured feeling stupid for getting a science degree when all the jobs offered were nothing of what I wanted. I didn't want to do field work and get in the mud. I excelled at my writing/speaking courses in college and thought about environmental law, but felt a move to D.C. wouldn't work for me. Throughout my life, I enjoyed writing and always wanted to write a book.
I got my first writing job as a reporter because I figured it was something I was good at and could pay the bills and get benefits. I worked as a reporter for a year and a half and then started torturing myself for not using my degree. So I went to an environmental company and spent two years there--never in the mud, instead writing corporate reports. During my final months there, I discovered copywriting and decided to make a go of it. I had a few gigs lined up and a very supportive boyfriend I was living with (hey, I married that guy!) I knew I couldn't just quit my day job, so I got a part-time gig editing at a newspaper. Then I worked my tail off and worked days and edited nights. I loved that job but the hours were brutal (5 p.m. to 1 a.m. shifts!) so I lined up another part-time gig. That fell through and I had nowhere to go--so I kept building my freelance business.
I would say it's great to freelance, but I strongly recommend getting a full-time corporate job. this way, you'll get decent pay and benefits. More importantly, choose something in the field you like so you can get a foundation. Want to write? Work at a newspaper or handle corporate communications for a company. Try not to put too much pressure on yourself to nail the perfect job. And don't just look at ads--target the companies you want to work for and send on your resume.
In your case, I would leverage leverage leverage your experience as a marketing consultant. I'm assuming you want to do something in the marketing/advertising arena. Look outside of marketing firms and consider marketing for specific companies to get a good foundation job--most companies have a marketing person. I think the secret to my success is that even though the jobs I didn't love gave me a good foundation. I now use my journalism skills in book and magazine writing. My technical experience gives me a great background in copywriting. The rest was marketing, taking on a lot of jobs, networking, being polite and professional, and most importantly treating my writing career like a business. This meant dealing with things I hated, such as accounting. I despise it--but no job is perfect!
I self-published my first book and secured a publisher for the second. It took years of getting rejected to build up the tough skin needed to enter the publishing field. But again, once I had my first book, it gave me that foundation to publish the next. I'm still building my foundation. The key to doing it is to determine the advantages of that first job and leverage it so employers see that your skills are transferable. So get into the field you want (it's wonderful that you already know what you want to do!) and work your way up. Within a few years, you'll gain traction with what you want to do. And start writing that book now--why wait? If I thought I'd publish two books by the time I was 30 and have my dream job when I was 21, I'd think it was a dream. But you work your way up. The key is to spend your time climbing the ladder doing something you want to do. Being a nanny may be a temporary fix; keep your eye on the prize and keep applying to jobs...you'll get there.
I think the important thing is to get that foundation job so you don't have to fret about money. It may not be the best, but if you're writing and doing freelancing on the side (get a website, start a portfolio) you'll still be doing what you love. Read up on the industry at sites like FreelanceSwitch.com, MediaBistro.com and JournalismJobs.com. You'll know that you're working towards what you want!
I admire your honesty and think you have a fabulous career ahead of you! If you have any other questions, I am here to help!
Best,
Kristen
I just graduated in May with a degree in Communication, specifically Advertising and PR. I had a four-month temp job as a Marketing Communications Consultant, which I liked, but have since had a horrible time finding anything else... and am now a nanny. Needless to say, it has taken a toll on me; who would have thought I'd go through five years of school to watch someone's kids? But I digress...
I was wondering if you could share with me how you worked your way up, have been a freelance writer seemingly throughout your career, and even have written two books? I have actually done some freelance work since being unemployed, just from posting ads on craigslist, but how did you make your freelance career what it is today? How many years were spent mostly depending on office-type jobs?
Did you always want to write a book? How did you come to write these two books? As someone with way less experience, I would love to write a book, but it just seems like a lofty kind of goal, so correct me if I'm wrong! Does your freelance career provide a steady source of income? Is it comparable to other position within other companies?
Tara,
First off, thanks for being a blog guinea pig.I wanted to answer your question here because I think so many people are in your shoes and can benefit from hearing about your situation, and hopefully some of my advice.
Here's how my career went: I graduated from college with a BA in Environmental Studies and started feeling like I didn't want to use it around three weeks before graduation. From there, I started job hunting and went back to my college job (coincidentally, as a nanny). I held that job for six months and was tortured feeling stupid for getting a science degree when all the jobs offered were nothing of what I wanted. I didn't want to do field work and get in the mud. I excelled at my writing/speaking courses in college and thought about environmental law, but felt a move to D.C. wouldn't work for me. Throughout my life, I enjoyed writing and always wanted to write a book.
I got my first writing job as a reporter because I figured it was something I was good at and could pay the bills and get benefits. I worked as a reporter for a year and a half and then started torturing myself for not using my degree. So I went to an environmental company and spent two years there--never in the mud, instead writing corporate reports. During my final months there, I discovered copywriting and decided to make a go of it. I had a few gigs lined up and a very supportive boyfriend I was living with (hey, I married that guy!) I knew I couldn't just quit my day job, so I got a part-time gig editing at a newspaper. Then I worked my tail off and worked days and edited nights. I loved that job but the hours were brutal (5 p.m. to 1 a.m. shifts!) so I lined up another part-time gig. That fell through and I had nowhere to go--so I kept building my freelance business.
I would say it's great to freelance, but I strongly recommend getting a full-time corporate job. this way, you'll get decent pay and benefits. More importantly, choose something in the field you like so you can get a foundation. Want to write? Work at a newspaper or handle corporate communications for a company. Try not to put too much pressure on yourself to nail the perfect job. And don't just look at ads--target the companies you want to work for and send on your resume.
In your case, I would leverage leverage leverage your experience as a marketing consultant. I'm assuming you want to do something in the marketing/advertising arena. Look outside of marketing firms and consider marketing for specific companies to get a good foundation job--most companies have a marketing person. I think the secret to my success is that even though the jobs I didn't love gave me a good foundation. I now use my journalism skills in book and magazine writing. My technical experience gives me a great background in copywriting. The rest was marketing, taking on a lot of jobs, networking, being polite and professional, and most importantly treating my writing career like a business. This meant dealing with things I hated, such as accounting. I despise it--but no job is perfect!
I self-published my first book and secured a publisher for the second. It took years of getting rejected to build up the tough skin needed to enter the publishing field. But again, once I had my first book, it gave me that foundation to publish the next. I'm still building my foundation. The key to doing it is to determine the advantages of that first job and leverage it so employers see that your skills are transferable. So get into the field you want (it's wonderful that you already know what you want to do!) and work your way up. Within a few years, you'll gain traction with what you want to do. And start writing that book now--why wait? If I thought I'd publish two books by the time I was 30 and have my dream job when I was 21, I'd think it was a dream. But you work your way up. The key is to spend your time climbing the ladder doing something you want to do. Being a nanny may be a temporary fix; keep your eye on the prize and keep applying to jobs...you'll get there.
I think the important thing is to get that foundation job so you don't have to fret about money. It may not be the best, but if you're writing and doing freelancing on the side (get a website, start a portfolio) you'll still be doing what you love. Read up on the industry at sites like FreelanceSwitch.com, MediaBistro.com and JournalismJobs.com. You'll know that you're working towards what you want!
I admire your honesty and think you have a fabulous career ahead of you! If you have any other questions, I am here to help!
Best,
Kristen
Monday, March 2, 2009
Should You get a Green-Collar Job?
Thinking of exploring a new career? You may want to go green.
I liked this CNN article, Growing excitement, expectations for green jobs corps. It talks about how many people are seeking jobs in the "green" (that used to be environmental) industry. While not all companies are flourishing, this is a huge market. And with all the stimulus money being siphoned into it, working in the environmental field may be worth it.
Where should you look? Thank the Environmental Defense Fund--they've mapped out more than 1,200 firms from 12 "heartland" states that stand to benefit from Barack Obama's proposed cap on carbon emissions. (See if your state is included by clicking the link at the bottom right side of the page.)
If you decide to look for a "green-collar job" remember that you don't need an environmental degree for all of them. Environmental companies hire all types of professionals--from human resource managers to accountants.
More resources:
Yahoo Green Jobs
EnvironmentalCareer
EcoJobs
E Jobs
GreenBiz
Green Sage
Have you thought about a career in the environmental industry? Do you think the growth of this arena and the investment in it will help boost the economy?
I liked this CNN article, Growing excitement, expectations for green jobs corps. It talks about how many people are seeking jobs in the "green" (that used to be environmental) industry. While not all companies are flourishing, this is a huge market. And with all the stimulus money being siphoned into it, working in the environmental field may be worth it.
Where should you look? Thank the Environmental Defense Fund--they've mapped out more than 1,200 firms from 12 "heartland" states that stand to benefit from Barack Obama's proposed cap on carbon emissions. (See if your state is included by clicking the link at the bottom right side of the page.)
If you decide to look for a "green-collar job" remember that you don't need an environmental degree for all of them. Environmental companies hire all types of professionals--from human resource managers to accountants.
More resources:
Yahoo Green Jobs
EnvironmentalCareer
EcoJobs
E Jobs
GreenBiz
Green Sage
Have you thought about a career in the environmental industry? Do you think the growth of this arena and the investment in it will help boost the economy?
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