Dress for Failure

Dress for Failure Youve read the dress for success stuff, right?   You know the top 10 things you need to do to dress for success, for an interview, network event, one-on-one meeting, etc? Well, I am absolutely, 100%, categorically not qualified to write a post on how to dress for success.   But I figured I could write a post on how to dress for FAILURE. Please understand that my younger brother got the gene to know how to dress for success.   I got the gene that makes me socially backwards. One thing I should note, the more offensive things (like #1) are not expensive to fix. I realize if you dont have the cash to dress appropriately, you are stuck between a rock and a hard spot, and even Will Smith in Pursuit of Happiness pulled of an interview in horrible attire.   But please, dont break my #1 rule below ?? Top 10 Things a Guy Can Do To Dress For Failure Wear white socks with your suit pants. This really is the funniest combination Ive seen, and continue to see.   In all age groups.   Im not too surprised when I see a 13-year old kid with a suit and white socks but when I see an adult sport the white socks I wonder if this is the only time they are wearing something other than jeans or shorts in this next five years.   My favorite dress socks are either black or dark gray. Wear Dickies pants. These are work pants.   If you are trying to impress someone, and this is your idea of dressing up, you probably ought to be applying for a position where you need to wear a hard hat.   If its an office spot, Dickies looks like interesting jeans, and I doubt youd interview in Jeans (even really nice, overpriced $250/pair jeans). Dont align your GIG-line. This refers to the line that your shirt buttons and pants zipper make.   Imagine you take your shirt, and pull it far to the side, so if it were to keep going the line went to your foot, instead of straight down the zipper.   The zipper and the buttons should align in one straight line. (thanks to Jonathan David, whom I dined with in Silicon Valley, and his Navy training, to set me straight it is not a jerk line, it is a gig line you can see a bunch of results on a google search for gig line) Tie your tie so the front, fat part is HIGHER than the back, skinny part. I was taught your tie (the front part) should fall a few fingers below your belt.   Not higher than your belt, and not much lower.   Definitely NOT higher than your belly button.   Bonus, have the front fat part higher than the back skinny part. My seven year old son has to tuck the back part of his tie into his shirt, because the tie is to long for him but the point is, the back part is supposed to be out-of-sight. Wear your pants too high or too low. No waders I dont really want to see your socks when you are standing.   And, dont let your pants hang below your hips, like you just got back from the skate park.   Im not interested in seeing your boxers, or tighty whities. Wear a short-sleeved shirt with a suit jacket. No problem until everyone takes their jacket off and you want to, too.   It just seems stupid.   Maybe Im wrong on this one but Ive been embarrassed when Ive done it. Wear a brown belt with black shoes. Your shoes and belt should somewhat match.   Black goes with black, brown with brown, etc. Walk into the room with the back of your shirt untucked. Ive seen this happen when someone has been working, bending over, or just getting out of the car.   Before you are on, check to see you are tucked in nicely all the way around. Dont wear a full undershirt. I dont want to see aspects of your body through your white shirt.   Im not talking about those sleeveless undershirts, Im talking about a white shirt that looks like a t-shirt. NO LOGOS, or other artwork, either! Whats your number 10?   (or number 1)? Id like to do a Top 10 Things a Woman Can Do To Dress For Failure, but I only got three.   What are you Dress for Failure tips (for men or women)? Dress for Failure Youve read the dress for success stuff, right?   You know the top 10 things you need to do to dress for success, for an interview, network event, one-on-one meeting, etc? Well, I am absolutely, 100%, categorically not qualified to write a post on how to dress for success.   But I figured I could write a post on how to dress for FAILURE. Please understand that my younger brother got the gene to know how to dress for success.   I got the gene that makes me socially backwards. One thing I should note, the more offensive things (like #1) are not expensive to fix. I realize if you dont have the cash to dress appropriately, you are stuck between a rock and a hard spot, and even Will Smith in Pursuit of Happiness pulled of an interview in horrible attire.   But please, dont break my #1 rule below ?? Top 10 Things a Guy Can Do To Dress For Failure Wear white socks with your suit pants. This really is the funniest combination Ive seen, and continue to see.   In all age groups.   Im not too surprised when I see a 13-year old kid with a suit and white socks but when I see an adult sport the white socks I wonder if this is the only time they are wearing something other than jeans or shorts in this next five years.   My favorite dress socks are either black or dark gray. Wear Dickies pants. These are work pants.   If you are trying to impress someone, and this is your idea of dressing up, you probably ought to be applying for a position where you need to wear a hard hat.   If its an office spot, Dickies looks like interesting jeans, and I doubt youd interview in Jeans (even really nice, overpriced $250/pair jeans). Dont align your GIG-line. This refers to the line that your shirt buttons and pants zipper make.   Imagine you take your shirt, and pull it far to the side, so if it were to keep going the line went to your foot, instead of straight down the zipper.   The zipper and the buttons should align in one straight line. (thanks to Jonathan David, whom I dined with in Silicon Valley, and his Navy training, to set me straight it is not a jerk line, it is a gig line you can see a bunch of results on a google search for gig line) Tie your tie so the front, fat part is HIGHER than the back, skinny part. I was taught your tie (the front part) should fall a few fingers below your belt.   Not higher than your belt, and not much lower.   Definitely NOT higher than your belly button.   Bonus, have the front fat part higher than the back skinny part. My seven year old son has to tuck the back part of his tie into his shirt, because the tie is to long for him but the point is, the back part is supposed to be out-of-sight. Wear your pants too high or too low. No waders I dont really want to see your socks when you are standing.   And, dont let your pants hang below your hips, like you just got back from the skate park.   Im not interested in seeing your boxers, or tighty whities. Wear a short-sleeved shirt with a suit jacket. No problem until everyone takes their jacket off and you want to, too.   It just seems stupid.   Maybe Im wrong on this one but Ive been embarrassed when Ive done it. Wear a brown belt with black shoes. Your shoes and belt should somewhat match.   Black goes with black, brown with brown, etc. Walk into the room with the back of your shirt untucked. Ive seen this happen when someone has been working, bending over, or just getting out of the car.   Before you are on, check to see you are tucked in nicely all the way around. Dont wear a full undershirt. I dont want to see aspects of your body through your white shirt.   Im not talking about those sleeveless undershirts, Im talking about a white shirt that looks like a t-shirt. NO LOGOS, or other artwork, either! Whats your number 10?   (or number 1)? Id like to do a Top 10 Things a Woman Can Do To Dress For Failure, but I only got three.   What are you Dress for Failure tips (for men or women)? Dress for Failure Youve read the dress for success stuff, right?   You know the top 10 things you need to do to dress for success, for an interview, network event, one-on-one meeting, etc? Well, I am absolutely, 100%, categorically not qualified to write a post on how to dress for success.   But I figured I could write a post on how to dress for FAILURE. Please understand that my younger brother got the gene to know how to dress for success.   I got the gene that makes me socially backwards. One thing I should note, the more offensive things (like #1) are not expensive to fix. I realize if you dont have the cash to dress appropriately, you are stuck between a rock and a hard spot, and even Will Smith in Pursuit of Happiness pulled of an interview in horrible attire.   But please, dont break my #1 rule below ?? Top 10 Things a Guy Can Do To Dress For Failure Wear white socks with your suit pants. This really is the funniest combination Ive seen, and continue to see.   In all age groups.   Im not too surprised when I see a 13-year old kid with a suit and white socks but when I see an adult sport the white socks I wonder if this is the only time they are wearing something other than jeans or shorts in this next five years.   My favorite dress socks are either black or dark gray. Wear Dickies pants. These are work pants.   If you are trying to impress someone, and this is your idea of dressing up, you probably ought to be applying for a position where you need to wear a hard hat.   If its an office spot, Dickies looks like interesting jeans, and I doubt youd interview in Jeans (even really nice, overpriced $250/pair jeans). Dont align your GIG-line. This refers to the line that your shirt buttons and pants zipper make.   Imagine you take your shirt, and pull it far to the side, so if it were to keep going the line went to your foot, instead of straight down the zipper.   The zipper and the buttons should align in one straight line. (thanks to Jonathan David, whom I dined with in Silicon Valley, and his Navy training, to set me straight it is not a jerk line, it is a gig line you can see a bunch of results on a google search for gig line) Tie your tie so the front, fat part is HIGHER than the back, skinny part. I was taught your tie (the front part) should fall a few fingers below your belt.   Not higher than your belt, and not much lower.   Definitely NOT higher than your belly button.   Bonus, have the front fat part higher than the back skinny part. My seven year old son has to tuck the back part of his tie into his shirt, because the tie is to long for him but the point is, the back part is supposed to be out-of-sight. Wear your pants too high or too low. No waders I dont really want to see your socks when you are standing.   And, dont let your pants hang below your hips, like you just got back from the skate park.   Im not interested in seeing your boxers, or tighty whities. Wear a short-sleeved shirt with a suit jacket. No problem until everyone takes their jacket off and you want to, too.   It just seems stupid.   Maybe Im wrong on this one but Ive been embarrassed when Ive done it. Wear a brown belt with black shoes. Your shoes and belt should somewhat match.   Black goes with black, brown with brown, etc. Walk into the room with the back of your shirt untucked. Ive seen this happen when someone has been working, bending over, or just getting out of the car.   Before you are on, check to see you are tucked in nicely all the way around. Dont wear a full undershirt. I dont want to see aspects of your body through your white shirt.   Im not talking about those sleeveless undershirts, Im talking about a white shirt that looks like a t-shirt. NO LOGOS, or other artwork, either! Whats your number 10?   (or number 1)? Id like to do a Top 10 Things a Woman Can Do To Dress For Failure, but I only got three.   What are you Dress for Failure tips (for men or women)? Dress for Failure Youve read the dress for success stuff, right?   You know the top 10 things you need to do to dress for success, for an interview, network event, one-on-one meeting, etc? Well, I am absolutely, 100%, categorically not qualified to write a post on how to dress for success.   But I figured I could write a post on how to dress for FAILURE. Please understand that my younger brother got the gene to know how to dress for success.   I got the gene that makes me socially backwards. One thing I should note, the more offensive things (like #1) are not expensive to fix. I realize if you dont have the cash to dress appropriately, you are stuck between a rock and a hard spot, and even Will Smith in Pursuit of Happiness pulled of an interview in horrible attire.   But please, dont break my #1 rule below ?? Top 10 Things a Guy Can Do To Dress For Failure Wear white socks with your suit pants. This really is the funniest combination Ive seen, and continue to see.   In all age groups.   Im not too surprised when I see a 13-year old kid with a suit and white socks but when I see an adult sport the white socks I wonder if this is the only time they are wearing something other than jeans or shorts in this next five years.   My favorite dress socks are either black or dark gray. Wear Dickies pants. These are work pants.   If you are trying to impress someone, and this is your idea of dressing up, you probably ought to be applying for a position where you need to wear a hard hat.   If its an office spot, Dickies looks like interesting jeans, and I doubt youd interview in Jeans (even really nice, overpriced $250/pair jeans). Dont align your GIG-line. This refers to the line that your shirt buttons and pants zipper make.   Imagine you take your shirt, and pull it far to the side, so if it were to keep going the line went to your foot, instead of straight down the zipper.   The zipper and the buttons should align in one straight line. (thanks to Jonathan David, whom I dined with in Silicon Valley, and his Navy training, to set me straight it is not a jerk line, it is a gig line you can see a bunch of results on a google search for gig line) Tie your tie so the front, fat part is HIGHER than the back, skinny part. I was taught your tie (the front part) should fall a few fingers below your belt.   Not higher than your belt, and not much lower.   Definitely NOT higher than your belly button.   Bonus, have the front fat part higher than the back skinny part. My seven year old son has to tuck the back part of his tie into his shirt, because the tie is to long for him but the point is, the back part is supposed to be out-of-sight. Wear your pants too high or too low. No waders I dont really want to see your socks when you are standing.   And, dont let your pants hang below your hips, like you just got back from the skate park.   Im not interested in seeing your boxers, or tighty whities. Wear a short-sleeved shirt with a suit jacket. No problem until everyone takes their jacket off and you want to, too.   It just seems stupid.   Maybe Im wrong on this one but Ive been embarrassed when Ive done it. Wear a brown belt with black shoes. Your shoes and belt should somewhat match.   Black goes with black, brown with brown, etc. Walk into the room with the back of your shirt untucked. Ive seen this happen when someone has been working, bending over, or just getting out of the car.   Before you are on, check to see you are tucked in nicely all the way around. Dont wear a full undershirt. I dont want to see aspects of your body through your white shirt.   Im not talking about those sleeveless undershirts, Im talking about a white shirt that looks like a t-shirt. NO LOGOS, or other artwork, either! Whats your number 10?   (or number 1)? Id like to do a Top 10 Things a Woman Can Do To Dress For Failure, but I only got three.   What are you Dress for Failure tips (for men or women)?

Ask MCG HELP! I Dont Have Cash For The Big Things

Ask MCG HELP! I Dont Have Cash For The Big Things Hi Nicole, I was wondering if you had any advice on how to save money in your daily life so that you have a reserve of money to spend on things that you actually need such as contact lenses, a new phone, pair of eye glasses, etc. I find I rarely have money on reserve for these type of expenses. Help!   -Anna from Chicago Hi Anna, The first question Id ask you is, do you have money for the little things?  For example, are you the type that goes out to lunch during the week, buys a lip gloss after a bad day at work or who just cant pass up a last minute Gilt City deal?  After I racked up some credit card debt myself, I realized that the little things were hijacking my financial situation. Those impulse buys at LOFT (you know, the ones where you leave telling everyone how much you got for $100) REALLY add up over time.  Its ironic, but those of us who get high from a good deal are probably the ones with the biggest problems. Seems counterintuitive, right? My guess is that you have a college degree, a job and good intentions.  Therefore, this is a situation you need to change.  In order to do that though, you have to figure out how you got here in the first place.  Heres what I would do. Step 1: Get a free Mint.com account Dont do anything until you find out EXACTLY where your money is going.  Mint  feeds all of your debit and credit card transactions into one place and creates a pie chart of where your money is going.  You may be shocked.  I know I was Step 2: Adapt the Power of 3.   I learned this trick from Ramit Sethi over at IWillTeachYouToBeRich.com and it has been a life saver.  Why?  It takes the guilt, uncertainty and the shit, did that bill clear yet? out of your financial situation. After finding out how much you spend in different categories, split your money into 3 different bank accounts.  Yes, you heard me right, go to your bank and get 3 accounts. Account #1: Operating Account Account #2: Checking Account Account #3: Savings Account Heres an example of what this could look like for someone who brings home $1,200 per paycheck. Note: this spreadsheet represents a pay check after taxes, benefits and 401k contribution are taken out.  It assumes you are paid on the 15th and last day of each month. Obviously you can play around with these numbers depending on your situation.  Just make sure the bottom number isnt greater than your pay check! In your first paycheck of the month, put money in your operating account to fund the first chunk of your fixed costs: utilities, groceries, credit card payments, student loans.   In your second paycheck of the month, put all of your rent money into your operating account.  Your fixed costs are now accounted for.  No drama mama. Then pick an amount that no matter what you will commit to putting in your savings account.  Start small, even if its $25. It shouldnt squeeze you or cause you to use your credit card. Remember, you can always increase this amount.  Over time this is the account that should fund your new iPhone or glasses. If you have leftover money in one of your other accounts at the end of the pay period, sweep it over to your savings. Note that I added a gifts/weddings/travel line item.  If you know you have lots of extra expenditures coming up this year, make sure youre funding those expenses and putting money aside well in advance.  If you plan ahead you wont have debt problems.  I recommend putting this money in your savings account so theres no chance you dont spend it on an  unusually  high heating bill or another one of those too good to be true sales youre so crazy about. The rest of your money goes into your checking account.  This money is pure entertainment and pleasure.  Do whatever you want with it and dont feel guilty!  Shopping, manicures, drinks, lunch, concerts, whatever.  This bucket funds your fun and should give you a huge sense of freedom no worrying about if your bills cleared or if you saved enough this month.  All that is already taken care of and doesnt affect this account.  Step 3: Decide if you need to make more money. In this example, there isnt much money left over after bills for spending or savings.  It might be time to pick up a side hustle, ref sports games, babysit on the weekends, teach a class or write blog posts for a local business.  Not only will you network, youll develop new skills and be on the road to financial freedom without having to cut lattes and manicures like so many other unrealistic bloggers recommed. Hope this helps and let us know how your journey to savings goes! Nicole

Strengthen Weak Areas to Experience More Victories - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Strengthen Weak Areas to Experience More Victories - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Observation along with good and bad personal experiences shed light on what not to do as well as what to implement in our own style. Self-pity is a huge waste of time. Learn from every experience. They each have something to teach whether not to repeat the same or to continue doing all of it the same. Your best teacher is your clientele. They will let you know where expectations were not met as well as met. Deliberately ask what you can do better in the future to improve. When they see the earnestness in your desire to deliver outstanding customer care, they will take you under their wing. Over time, you will be the one to deliver the outstanding service and become the trusted adviser. It’s doesn’t happen over night but instead it’s a long learning process. The level of customer care from the initial moment of contact all the way through the entire sales cycle and after is what will determine your success. Pick yourself up after a mishap to learn from the lesson and you will be  half-way to success. Customer Care If you are an employee or entrepreneur, it is essential that you continually strive to learn the better techniques for client service. It is what will keep your career or company alive and thriving. Larger companies should seriously consider semi annual or, at the very least, annual training for their employees. The company that suffers the most is the one that does not groom representatives to be well versed in sales and customer care. The reality is turnover costs much more than investment in proper development of employees. Your Story As an employer, ask employees for feedback on the type of training they believe they need. Examine everything you have implemented to date in the form of training. Without the right training much business is being lost without you ever knowing about it. As an employee or an entrepreneur, it is your business to seek out the training you most need. Most companies avoid the expense. If you are the one who desires to be successful, budget for training and research the best there is. Determine which will strengthen your weak areas the most. The point is to become excellent in every regard. In so doing, you will build a highly reputable  personal brand. Investigate the latest training on the market Read tweets and posts regarding the latest success strategies As an employee be fearless in meetings to make suggestions for needed training Sales Tips: Upon first meeting a prospective client ask for their budget Explain what you may and may not provide within that budget Ask if what you are able to provide will suffice; if not is other money available Provide a variety of examples of what may be provided Ask for preferences after all are presented Confirm the monetary investment and delivery timeline Ask for agreement that everything meets expectations Should an issue arise, confirm a date to deliver the answer, and be certain to deliver it. Again ask for agreement and if everything is on track for service delivery. Check in after everything is complete for level of satisfaction. Following these guidelines will lead you to the Smooth Sale!  http://www.smoothsale.net/blog/

A Crash Course in Surviving and Thriving in this Economy - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

A Crash Course in Surviving and Thriving in this Economy - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Today, I spoke with Laura T. Coffey, who is the queen of giving business and personal finance advice tips. She is a writer for TODAYshow.com and MSNBC.com. and is here today to coach you through this recession, give you hope and tips you can use to make smarter decisions before you let the recession cast a dark shadow over your career. Laura is very smart and experienced in this area and has advice for people in all positions right now, including entrepreneurs, people who are unemployed and workers. Laura, I like how you have a short URL for your main advice column on MSNBC.com (long = http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15224522, and short = tentips.org). What was your logic behind doing this and using it to brand yourself in your email signature and email address? Well, basically, several smart and fabulous people at msnbc.com and TODAYshow.com have taken the time to build a home page where my Tips columns would be archived. I was really pumped about that home page, and I wanted people to be able to find it easily and also to identify the “ Tips” brand with me. So I nabbed the www.tentips.org â€" that I use for all column-related correspondence with readers. This helps me stay organized, and it makes it easier for me to connect with readers who send me compelling anecdotes and good tips for saving money. I have a domain name for myself and created a redirect that would take people to that specially built home page for the column. I also created an e-mail address â€" laura@tentips.org. Can you give a few tips on how to get a job, keep your job or start a business in this economy (2 for each)? OK, for starters, let me just acknowledge that this is an extremely depressing subject for many, many people out there. As a columnist, it can be hard to provide advice that’s useful across the board because everyone’s career fields and backgrounds are so different. All of that said, here are some general principles to keep in mind during challenging times like these: When it comes to finding/getting a job: Now is the time to network like you’ve never networked before. It’s always important to make a point of getting to know as many people as you can in your line of work â€" but now it’s more important than ever. By having plenty of friends and contacts in your industry, you’ll stand a better chance of finding work more quickly. Reflect on all the friends, colleagues and contacts you’ve ever made in your industry, and start reaching out to them in a friendly, not-too-pushy way. Ask them whether they know of any openings, opportunities or potentially useful contacts in your field. Don’t turn up your nose at new or different avenues of work. Let’s say for the sake of discussion that you’ve lost your job as a white-collar worker. You can seriously harm your chances of finding employment if you’re only willing to seek out the exact same type of work or the exact same pay. Consider working for smaller companies, and don’t view service-sector or blue-collar work as beneath you â€" especially if money is very tight. After all, no job has to last forever. Also, bear in mind that it’s a buyers’ market out there, and competition is tough for virtually every kind of position â€" from investment banker to pizza-delivery person. Bearing that in mind, remember to: apply for lots of different jobs, not just one or two; offer to be as flexible as you possibly can when it comes to your work schedule; demonstrate a positive, can-do attitude on job interviews; and remember to send handwritten thank you notes to the people who interview you. While seemingly basic, these sorts of steps are absolutely necessary to make yourself stand out from the crowd. When it comes to keeping a job: In his book “The World Is Flat,” Tom Friedman talks about what it takes for individuals to make themselves “untouchable” â€" that is, free from any serious threat of unemployment despite the flattening of the global economy. He’s writing about how workers can insulate themselves against outsourcing, but I think his advice also applies during the current meltdown of our economy. To achieve a measure of security and protection, Friedman recommends that people become “special or specialized,” “localized and anchored” or ‘the new middle.’ Here are his definitions of those categories: If you’re highly “special or specialized,” that means the job functions you perform simply cannot be “outsourced, automated or made tradable by electronic transfer.” Friedman’s examples of special or specialized workers: Michael Jordan, Madonna, Elton John, J.K. Rowling, your brain surgeon and the top cancer researcher at the National Institutes of Health. If you’re “localized and anchored,” you have some protection because your job absolutely must be done in a specific location. This is either because the job involves “some specific local knowledge” or because it requires “face-to-face, personalized contact with a customer, client, patient, colleague or audience,” Friedman writes. Examples of such positions: barbers; waitresses; restaurant cooks and chefs; dentists; lounge singers; masseurs; retail sales clerks; repairmen; electricians; nannies; gardeners; cleaning people; divorce lawyers. If you want to make yourself one of the ‘new middlers’ â€" that is, someone who can snag and keep a modern-day middle-class job with decent wages â€" you have to show a keen ability and willingness to adapt, change, update your skills and learn new things all the time. Gone are the days of doing the exact same job in the exact same way for years on end. Versatility is key. Friedman also says the holders of the new middle-class jobs must have an ability to collaborate, orchestrate, synthesize, leverage and explain the complex in simple, easy-to-understand terms. These abilities hinge on the capacity to stay alert and see the big picture. Granted, all of the above may apply to you and you still may feel threatened in this horrible economic climate. But the traits mentioned above can go a long way toward making you be perceived as indispensible and/or irreplaceable. It also goes without saying that now is the time to play well with others and whistle while you work, so to speak. This is not a good time to be a malcontent in the workplace. As for starting a business in this economy: I can’t really speak to what it would take to start a full-fledged business with multiple employees because that’s outside my realm of experience. What I can speak to is starting a home-based business with just one employee: You. I did this a couple of years ago as a writer and editor, and it is hands-down the best thing I ever did. Some tips: Devise a plan of attack. Before venturing too far down the path toward self-employment, make absolutely sure a market exists for your product or services. Writing up a business plan can help you determine whether your idea is workable. You should prepare a business plan even if you don’t plan to apply for a loan from a bank or the Small Business Administration. You can visit your local library and check out books about how to write business plans for free. Reflect on how easy â€" or how challenging â€" it may be for you to fly solo. If companies in your career field frequently rely on independent contractors to handle certain jobs, perhaps you could become one of those independent contractors and start working right out of your home almost immediately. (This is what I’ve been able to do with both writing and editing.) If the independent-contractor route could work for you, you could do business as a self-employed individual or a “sole proprietor” for tax purposes. For details, visit this IRS Web site. How can someone pay for college (it costs roughly $40,000 per semester for some schools now), while not going broke? OK, for starters â€" and I’m really not trying to be facetious here â€" don’t choose a school that costs $40,000 a semester! That simply isn’t necessary in most cases. This is one of those areas in life where serious bargains and breaks can be found if you invest the time and do some sleuth work. Some ideas: Pick the right school. Sure, the country’s most elite private schools have an almost irresistible appeal, but so many other options exist that will allow you to spend so much less. Remember all those high-caliber private schools out there that don’t have the name recognition of Harvard but still need to fill their classrooms. Many of them offer “tuition discounts” (i.e., financial aid). And of course, you could save a bundle by choosing a public university in your state â€" or, better yet, by opting for a community college for the first two years of that four-year degree. Hunt down scholarships. Scholarships are the best way to go because you never have to repay the money. Contact local organizations in your community about scholarships, and do searches on the Internet through sources such as FastWeb, FinAid and the College Board. Go crazy applying for grants. Grants are great because they don’t have to be repaid either. You can learn about grant possibilities here. Also consider whether these two grants might be appropriate for you: the Academic Competitiveness Grant, which offers up to $1,300 for students who have completed a rigorous high school program; and the National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent, or SMART grant, which offers up to $4,000 for undergraduates majoring in physical, life or computer sciences, math, technology, engineering or a foreign language “determined critical to national security.” If you happen to have a job with a large company that offers a “Corporate U” â€" or with an employer that helps cover education costs at schools in your area â€" tap into that resource so you can improve your skills and bolster your resume. Hundreds of corporate university classes have been accredited, meaning you could get college credit for them if you ever enroll in a degree program. Borrow as a last resort. If student loans are unavoidable, opt for subsidized loans when you can. The federal government pays the interest on such loans while you’re in school and during the grace period before repayment begins. For details, turn to the U.S. Department of Education’s Federal Student Aid Information Center, (800) 433-3243); Nellie Mae, (800) 367-8848); and Sallie Mae, (888) 272-5543). If someone wanted to start a home-based business instead of work for a company, what steps would they take to get started today? I would reiterate the tips I mentioned about home-based businesses in my answer to question #2, and I also would add that the home-based-business route truly could be a serious consideration for you if your job is in jeopardy in this crazy economic climate. You have to know yourself well enough to determine whether you’re a self-starter and you have the initiative and self-discipline to make this work. It’s also important to have a decent work space for yourself â€" a place where you stand a chance of concentrating on your work â€" and to have health insurance if at all humanly possible. If your spouse has a job that provides benefits for your whole family, then you could be in an ideal situation to take a risk like this and start your own business. But even if you don’t have that ideal scenario in place as far as benefits are concerned, you still may be able to find relatively reasonable health coverage through a business or trade organization in your field. At the very least, you could secure a low-cost catastrophic health insurance plan with a deductible of $2,000 or more. As a long time journalist, how have you built your own brand and looking back, what would you change about it (if anything)? To tell you the truth, I never thought much about “branding,” per se … maybe because I got started at this journalism thing in the pre-Internet dark ages of the 1980s! But one thing I did do on an instinctive level, I guess, was keep my maiden name when I got married in 1997. I know that may not sound like a huge thing, but in retrospect I think it made it possible for me to maintain at least a little bit of name recognition. (Not that most readers pay any attention to bylines, mind you!) But anyway. It was really important to my husband that I keep my maiden name for professional reasons … and also because my name contains a built-in joke! (My name has two drinks in it … get it? Laura T. Coffey … Tea Coffee …) I didn’t think much about the importance of branding until the Tips column began to have a real presence online. That’s when I secured the tentips.org domain name and e-mail address. My goal is to use my columns as the basis for a book someday, so the brand matters much more to me now. - Laura T. Coffey writes a column called “ Tips for Keeping Your Money in Your Wallet.” A veteran journalist with 20 years of newspaper experience, she has written and edited for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, The San Diego Union-Tribune, The Prague Post in the Czech Republic, the Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce, the Peninsula Clarion in Alaska and the St. Petersburg Times in Florida.

[Graduation]- What Comes Next - The Top 5 Ways to Increase Your Employability CareerMetis.com

[Graduation]- What Comes Next - The Top 5 Ways to Increase Your Employability Graduation inevitably spells an end of an era for many people, a transition period between study and the world of work. Naturally there is some hesitation that comes with stepping out into the unknown, and making yourself seem employable may present itself as a challenge. Fear not, here are my top 5 tips for making yourself more employable.Firstly, though not one of my five main points, it is important to reflect on your University years and congratulate yourself on successfully graduating. I’m sure that many of you felt a similar kind of trepidation when first embarking on your academic career as you do now, you survived University so I promise you that you’ll conquer this too.1) Be pragmaticevaleval‘Be pragmatic’ by itself is an ambiguous instruction. What is really meant by the phrase is to ‘think sensibly and plan ahead’. There will be many people who have graduated with the same degree as you, what sets you apart after graduation is how effectively you apply yourself to the job hunt.A key way to understand what employers in your field are looking for is to scour job adverts before you even think about applying for yourself.Identify what jobs you most like the look of and evaluate the most commonly mentioned skills. What transferable skillsare most important to the jobs you want to do? Think about how you have previously displayed those skills either in your studies or through other previous experience; make sure to promote these in your CV or on any future cover letter.If you have not previously shown these skills then think about a way to rectify that, either through work experience or enlisting on a course. Even if you do not feel like you are particularly skilled in a certain area when leaving university, that’s not to say that the situation can’t change if you prioritize things correctly.2) Be open minded and challenge yourselfStudying within the confines of a certain discipline can have an effect on how you see the world of employment. It is hugely important that when you are ready to search for jobs that you do not expect to find something custom suited to your degree.Studying more often than not strengthens more than just the ability to research and answer questions. Employers will be looking to see what ‘transferrable skills’ you have developed over your time in academia. These can be many different things, from resourcefulness, the ability to problem solve, or the ability to work well under pressure.Most employers realize that University is not an easy thing to complete successfully; often they will be better at recognizing your potential than you will.evalMore often than not employers understand that graduates still have a lot to learn within the job itself, and they are not looking to hire the completed article. It is important to be brave in new situations, apply for a job you want; even if you do think it might be a bit too far out of your reach. What is the worst that could happen? You might even mak e it to an interview!The situation for an interview is the same, in my opinion you could never have enough practise in an interview environment.If you are offered multiple interviews in the same week, make sure to attend all of them. People often feel pressured to accept jobs because they’ve been successfully interviewed, a job offer is not binding and just because you’ve spoke to the employer face to face it does not mean you have to accept their offer. You decide, if you like the job take it, if there are more interviews and more options available then take your time to pick the one that’s right for you.The best way to overcome nerves is to attend as many interviews as possible, by doing this you will also have experience of holding out for something that you really want. 3) Be proactive and maintain a positive attitudeevalYou may have heard this before, most likely from your parents, but the old adage ‘the world doesn’t owe you anything’ is unfortunately true. For the lucky few a good job may land on your lap, but for the vast majority you’ll have to go out there and work hard to earn one.Being proactive and doing whatever you can to improve on your current situation is bound to have a positive effect on your search for employment. Whether that is checking whether your CV is up to date, and is stylistically correct, or preparing varying cover letters that you can use for different job roles.Be prepared for potential interviews or trial days and make yourself aware of common tactics and questions that are used in the interview environment. The more prepared you are for each stage of the hiring process, the better you are likely to come across to potential employers.4) Leverage counselors and servicesMany people will come out of University without a firm grasp on what it is they actually want to do vocationally. In these instances, it is always better to seek professional advice rather than wandering aimlessly into the job market. Your universit y will have a careers advice servicewhere they will have people who understand employability inside out, find out where they are located and get yourself an acquainted with the service. Sometimes pride can get in the way of seeking advice, and I can understand that as someone who has a degree you feel qualified enough to make decisions regarding your future without any help.However, it is important to remember that careers advice is there to listen and advise you, not to try to force you into anything you don’t want to do.Following on from the previous point, it is always good to maintain an open mind when dealing with careers advice, there might be something that had never crossed your mind before that suits you down to the ground!eval5) Understand rejectionThings don’t always go as planned, and in many instances, you might find yourself receiving a rejection email for a job you really wanted. Now, I understand that rejection can be disheartening but it can also be the key indi cator as to where you are going wrong in your job search.Don’t dwell on what might have been, instead turn your focus on why you were rejected. In most instances a company will highlight why they deemed your application to be below their standards, take note of what is said, it is there to help not to criticize.evalIf a company does not send any information as to why you were rejected, then email them back and ask! It never hurts to enquire, and any company worth working for will send you some feedback on your application.Searching for a new job can be daunting, but the fact you are already looking for advice is a good sign. If you maintain the diligence that you have shown so far by getting here, and follow my advice above, you should be able to work out and plan your next moves forward.Choosing a vocation is something that might take some time, but searching for a new job is something that should be filled with anticipation and excitement, not fear. Never compare your personal s ituation to others, and make sure not to make excuses! Remember that if you work hard enough towards something the likelihood is that you will achieve it.

[Infographic] Google vs Facebook Which Tech Giant Would You Work For - CareerEnlightenment.com

Low Cost Resume Writing Glendale

Low Cost Resume Writing GlendaleMost companies in the world have online application forms. Even though the form can be found through any of the websites, many do not even bother to look for these because they know that if their resume is submitted properly, then there will be no reason why the company would not like to hire them. The chances of not having a professional resume also increases when the company employs a freelancer or a person who is not trained in writing resumes.This is why hiring a contractor or someone who knows how to write low cost resume can be the solution to your needs. If you are really worried about the absence of an efficient paper-based medium for setting your resume, then you should look for an easy way of setting it.Writing a low cost resume is something that you do not have to do on your own. There are several websites, which offer low cost resume writers who would help you get your resume to your target customers in no time. With some guidelines, these people can create your resume in as little as 2 days.Using the services of a resume writer would help you get your resume to customers without facing any difficulty. They can guide you on where you need to edit and how you need to format your resume so that it has a professional look.Some people are afraid that the documents will not look professional or would look too busy, but they are wrong because these writers will find the right wording to use when writing your resume. They can also create an outline that will be followed throughout the entire writing process.You can also ask for a good look at a resume if you do not understand it or do not understand what it is trying to say. In fact, many resume writers have programs in order to provide free resume checking for their clients.You can also look for a person who can help you in writing a low cost resume by searching the internet for it. Most of the reputable websites have good reviews and testimonials of their writers. This wou ld help you find a good writer for your needs.