Archive for January, 2010

You are a Recent College Graduate, Have a Job and Now What?

our financial future after college, through your twenties and beyond.

By Pete Glocker DMCC

A new car is the first purchase most college graduates want to make directly after graduation. You may ask yourself, what is the matter with being rewarded with something nice after completing such a hard task that you have been working towards your whole life? Depending on what your entry-level job pays; it would be wise to spend accordingly with your available income. Many graduates think they are getting better paying jobs than they actually get after college, so they purchase a vehicle way out of their price range. “I know when I graduate in December, it will be nice to get a new car, but I know there will be student loans and other living expenses to pay off first,” says Jayne Santucci, a senior at Florida Atlantic University. “When recent college graduates get their first job, they see their co-workers with brand new cars, so they think they should get one also, not knowing the co-workers experience and salary,” Santucci adds.

If you are going into a career that coincides with your college major, you may want to consider starting with an entry level position rather than taking a higher paying job in an unrelated field. The entry level job will be better for you in the long run because it will give you more opportunities to advance in a field that you were trained in. If you start with a higher paid job in a different career, you might lose interest quickly and have little room for advancement. Stick with your career, and the money will eventually come.

When you get hired for your first job in the “real world,” find out what kinds of retirement plans are available. The majority of employers offer 401(k) plans or other tax-deferred retirement options. With every paycheck you receive, you can contribute money into the 401(k) and many employers will match some part of your contribution. This will help you save for your future. Start your savings account immediately and if at all possible have your money directly deposited into your account. Learn to pay yourself first!

According to CNN Money, college graduates of 2005 are being paid more in starting salaries than the class of 2003-2004. Here is a list of the average salaries for college graduates.

Accounting – $41,039; Management – $35,811;Teaching – $29,733; Sales – $37,130;Nurse – $38,775;Financial /Treasury – $45,596; Software -Design – $53,729; Consulting – $49,781;Source: CNN Money 2005

After obtaining their landing your first job, many college graduates think it may be a good idea to move back home with their parents so they can save money. Saving money is not always the case when moving home. Having the feeling of fewer bills can provide you more freedom for going out and buying an expensive car, stereo or designer clothes. So, instead of saving your money, graduates could be spending it on items they do not really need. It might be a smarter idea to actually stay independent because you will grow and may learn faster what it means to be self-reliant. As a college graduate, you may struggle starting out at first, but it will be beneficial to you in the long run.

The most important word to you, a recent college graduate, should be “b-u-d-g-e-t.” By creating a budget, it will give you the opportunity to design a method to pay your bills and save for something you really want. The better you are at sticking to a budget, the more peace of mind you will have when it comes to your personal finances.

A person’s twenties could be the most important years to start achieving your financial goals. The earlier you invest the better. If a 25-year-old who invests $2,000 a year at a 6 percent compound interest annually for fifteen years and never invests another dollar, after the age of 40, the 25-year-old will earn more by the age of 65 than a 35-year-old who invests $2,000 a year at 6 percent compound interest annually for 30 years, even though the 35-year-old would have invested twice as long.

Last but not least, it is important to identify a short, medium and long-term goal for yourself. A short-term goal may be a new car, a vacation or a television. A medium-term goal could be buying a business, a house or paying for your child’s education. A long-term goal can be retirement and traveling.

Managing money as a young adult can be the most important in terms of your financial situation. It is best to do research and want to learn about how to manage your credit, bills, and any extra expenditure before it is too late. Be smart with your money.

Career Transition – What It Really Means

There are a number of fine reasons to go in for a career transition. At times, family obligations undergo a change, on other occasions skills become obsolete or an employee finds his present work really boring. For a career transition, you need to take decisions that will have a bearing on your way of life as well as on your family and friends.

A career transition, which involves moving from a standard desk job, where the employee does not carry out any physical labor, to an outdoor job will require a health check-up. The employee should take into account his abilities prior to opting for a career transition. This could indicate working out in the gym, or focusing on getting into shape before appearing in front of a potential employer.

In case there are primary health grounds for not undertaking to lift heavy objects, handling demanding physical activity or for spending extended hours standing up, the employee might search somewhere else for a job and a career transition.

Alternatively, a career transition from hard outdoor labor to a cozy office job could be a wonderful way to gradually deal with health-related issues as an employee grows old or his condition deteriorates. If an employee has to contend with sore muscles and fatiguing conditions of work outdoors, then the decision to go for a career transition should be taken into account. At this point, courses that have to do with administration skills and computer skills could be worthwhile.

Opt for a career transition based on your requirements, but prior to sending in your resume and cover letter, make certain that all the essential skills and qualities for this new employment opportunity have been attended to. When deciding which career would be best in case of a career transition, the employee has to assess his likings and aversions, his skill levels and his interests. In case of a disability, a career transition is necessary; when choosing an alternative career, this employee has to carefully weigh the pros and cons in order to find the perfect job for himself.

Before making a career transition, take into account the age, aptitude, interest and the possibility of advancement and job fulfillment. The ordeal involved when an employee considers a career transition can have an impact on his family and friends. Not able to stay in touch colleagues can lead to stress. Putting in unusual hours of work, longer commute times, relocating, or traveling for extended periods can severely disrupt family life. Spouses, partners and children should be sounded out before an employee settles on a career transition.

An employee decides on a career transition in order to lead a better life. He can achieve this by locating a new work place that trains him in the latest skills, draws on the old skills and abilities, and which is conducive to his health and way of life. Before going in for any major career transition, he should consider the negative aspects and make certain his family benefits in the long term.

Now there are numerous ways by which an employee can enhance his lifestyle by way of a career transition. All that is required is for him to search out a fresh career and look for employment in his new preferred area.

Career Transition Coach Or Bio Career Job? Tips To Identify Best Option

The career transition coach jobs and bio career jobs are two absolutely different careers in two completely different subjects. These two jobs convene when you suddenly realize that you are trapped in a bio or medical job and feel unsatisfied with what you are doing. If you do not get pleasure in your current job or just can’t simply find yourself loving what you are doing, then the odds are you are experiencing a mid-career crisis. You are probably one of those people pondering the idea of shifting their line of business, entering a new organization, or establishing a new career but are still confused of whether taking that step or not. When you think about the drawbacks of leaving your present job prevail over the drawbacks of staying in your present job then if that is the case, it is probably the time to approach a career transition coach for help.

Instead of wasting time and effort on the wrong job, wouldn’t it be better to seek advice from a career transition coach now than prolong the agony of working in a job you are not contented with? It is not very odd to shift jobs. People make errors throughout their life; one of them could be in choosing careers. There are people who, in fact, didn’t think much about careers nor how a specific job will work out for them. Perhaps they didn’t realize the significance until they are in the job, bored, stressed, tired and wondering why they ended up there in the first place.

Many people seek the help of both career transition coach and bio career job simultaneously. Medical practitioners and those who have careers in bio fields are like any other person in another profession. Sometimes, they feel like wanting to break free from their present occupations and seek the job perfect for them. It is not always the career itself that is at fault; sometimes it is only a matter of changing the job description. There are people in the medical field who have stayed in their present career for years and years but then realized that it no longer gives them the sense of satisfaction it once provided them. One can think of many reasons for this. That is why it is recommended for one to get a coach to give him the proper career counseling.

Therefore, career transition coach and bio career job join hand-in-hand to help those who are in the maelstrom of confusion. Some career transition coaches are dedicated to helping clients who are presently in the medical and bio field. If you are seeking a totally different career path, then this career transition coach will help you discern the best path that you can take. Usually, they will point you to the occupation that you will really appreciate and will truly cherish for the rest of your professional life. Who wouldn’t want that? Start acting now! Search for Bio Career Job and Career Transition Coach to locate the coaches concentrating in the sphere of your interest.

College Scholarship Funding is Available

So you need funding for college but you have been getting the run around? Sound like your situation? Well there are a few things that you need to look out for to avoid getting the run around from useless websites loaded with useless information. Stay away from a scholarship website that has a pop up immediately asking you to sign up for a free offer, as soon as you visit the webpage. Avoid websites that charge you a fee to access their “College Funding Database” or Scholarship Database. As an educator I feel obligated to provide free information for academic advancement to everyone including my students. I went to college for free and I am currently going to Graduate school for free. I want you to do the same thing without paying one cent for information!

College Funding Available to Employees

Are you currently employed and have plans to go to school? Well you may not know that your employer may be willing to pay for your college with funding that they have set aside. I found this out before I was even hired at my job. My job is under a organization called CREC. My job has a partnership with the college (Saint Josephs College) where I attend grad school. So I get a tuition waiver for courses. However Crec has tuition reimbursement, as most jobs do. The deal is that I have to work for 2 years for CREC and they will pay for my college tuition or reimburse me for it all! Isn’t that wonderful, you bet your scholarship.

Anyhow most employees don’t even realize that their job will reimburse them for going to school. And if you are a teacher you get a lot more tuition breaks and college benefits. There are programs that will pay for your college if you agree to teach for a few years in an Urban School. I currently teach in an urban school and it is wonderful. I actually grew up in the same city where I am currently working and I definitely feel like I am giving back to the community. I feel the same way when I provide this information for anyone who wants to further their education.

Going to college is a big step but going to college for free is a Great Step! Hands down the best way to find college scholarship funding is by researching it. Look inside of books in your public library and local book stores. You can also find good information on reliable websites. How do you know if a website is reliable? You should know within 5 minutes of visiting a website if it is reliable or not!

www.scholarshipsupport.com/unclaimed-scholarships