Archive for March, 2012

A Girl’s 12-Step Guide to Buying a New “Grown Up” Car

Monday, March 19th, 2012 at 4:07 AM  
Comments (3)

Pin It

As you begin your career, you might suddenly realize that your beat up old faithful from college looks a little shabby parked in the company lot. Though I don’t believe a car determines your worth as an employee in any way, it might boost your confidence to have a vehicle to match your new professional image.

Car buying can be a real challenge. If you are anything like me, car buying was uncharted territory. My Dad handled the negotiations for my first vehicle and so I had no idea how this whole car buying thing worked when it was my turn.  Thankfully, after a few days of intensive research on cars / car buying, I gained some great tips from friends and the Internet. The experience was a lesson in negotiation, assertiveness, and stamina. This was not an easy ride, but Roxy (my first new car) was definitely worth it. I thought that I would share some of my new-found car buying wisdom here for those interested.

1. Know that car buying is an endurance sport. Do not expect to sprint through the car buying process! Rushing to a purchase might prevent you from getting the best bang for your buck. If done correctly, the process will take several days – even weeks – so plan accordingly.

2. Determine your budget. This article provides great information on choosing the right car to fit your budget. If you will be financing your vehicle, use this Payment to Income Budget Calculator to determine your recommended monthly payments by gross monthly salary. Read the rest of this entry

Focus Your Online Job Search By Using Niche Websites.

Saturday, March 10th, 2012 at 10:48 PM  
Comments (13)

Pin It

As a Career Counselor, I often have clients who are discouraged and exhausted by the job search process. They complain about the countless hours spent scouring the thousands of jobs listed on general job search websites, while typically finding few postings that are relevant to their specific career goals. With so many hours of job searching and such sincere effort, how is it possible to not have such few viable job leads? It is rather simple, actually: Quantity does not equal quality.  Casting a wide net might actually be counterproductive because you are opening yourself up to thousands of irrelevant and untrustworthy job postings.

If you are experiencing similar frustrations, it might be fruitful for you to redirect your time and attention to industry specific job boards and association websites. These sites will help you to maximize your time and use your online resources more efficiently during the job search process. First, niche job boards are especially helpful because they help to narrowly focus your job search efforts to positions related to your field of study, saving you time and energy. Below are a few websites that offer lists of job search websites by major / industry. As vast as the internet is, I cannot claim that these lists are exhaustive, but I do hope that you find them useful as you move forward in your job search.

Job search websites by field of study:

Additional sources offering extensive lists of job search websites by major: Read the rest of this entry

Career v. Life

Thursday, March 8th, 2012 at 9:27 PM  
Comments (14)

Pin It

Work is part of life; it is healthy and constructive. It pays the bills. It gives the reward of real accomplishment and useful participation in community and society. It doesn’t matter if you are a Career Counselor like I am, a pizza delivery girl, a corporate executive, or an aspiring rocket scientist. Work can be wonderful and fulfilling if the fit is just right. However, as you might have learned, if not managed correctly, a job can also take a toll on your relationships, health, and overall sense of well-being.

The harsh reality of the current economic climate is that most of us are forced to do more with much, much less – both at work and at home. In today’s chaotic world, it is a safe bet that there just isn’t enough time in the average day to meet the responsibilities of work, family and friends. And, since our bosses hold a tight rein on our paychecks, it is likely that our family and friends are the ones who suffer. If you’re anything like me, you probably can’t find the time to return phone calls or remember to send a birthday card to your Aunt Betty. Thank goodness for Facebook! That’s all I’ve got to say about that.
Read the rest of this entry