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Budgeting 2.0

Today’s job market has probably dealt a considerable blow to your paycheck – time to tighten up that belt. Luckily, there are thousands of well-reasoned, well-written budget guides available for free on the Internet, and just as many free software tools to help you follow the budget that suits your needs. You can even keep track of your income and expenses with applications available for whichever overpriced smartphone you may happen to own, so the $500 you spent on it might actually be recovered within a reasonable amount of time! Information technology is a wonderful thing, especially when it’s working to save you money, so fire up those search engines, iPhones, and PDA’s – you’ll have your finances in order faster than you can say “upgrade.”

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Posted by Brian on 6/29/2009 06:34:00 PM
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Just because the economy is in the toilet doesn't mean that you have to be

Having recently discovered the joys of massive corporate budget cuts, I can’t agree more with what Seymour has to say. Before snubbing your nose at a job opportunity because of what you view as an inadequate paycheck, remember to consider the fact that our country’s economy is currently in the toilet – and that you don’t want to be unemployed for so long that you have to start drinking out of one. A few years ago, you could afford to be particular about dots and zeros, but as things stand, you’d be well advised to accept a smaller bottom line gracefully. When things recover, your employer will remember your willingness to take that financial hit when it comes time to consider candidates for promotion. As of this writing, I’m working for a little less – a lot of us are – but keeping that in mind helps to ease the pain. Well, that and the fact that I’ve not yet been reduced to drinking out of toilets in order to survive.

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Posted by Brian on 6/29/2009 01:46:00 PM
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Are You Willing To Work For Less?

Taking a cut in pay in order to remain employed may feel completely unfair, if not downright wrong. But in this nutty economy, you’d be wise to make every effort to have an income – any income. Sometimes, taking less money may be your only alternative. Think about it. Just how important is money to you at this stage in your career? Some might say money is everything. But is it really?

The critical question to ask yourself is which is more important to you right now, working or money? If you have a sure thing – a guaranteed position that is offering you less money than you were making – would you go for it?

As you’ve no doubt heard time and time again, it is easier to get a job when you have a job. If your bills are piling up and you’re beginning to avoid phone calls, you may want to think about taking a position, even if it pays less, in order to seize other job opportunities when they present themselves.

Given the number of people who are currently unemployed, you should expect to find serious competition for jobs at every level of management. As ridiculous as it sounds, even people working at drive-thrus have to worry about their jobs right now, especially if they continually offer poor service. These days, employees who are unwilling to take proper care of customers are finding themselves out of work. Why? Because in this economy, there are plenty of people who will take good care of customers AND work for less.

There’s no shame in accepting a job because you need the money. Lots of people these days are taking jobs that don’t really interest them simply because they need the income. So, if you’re in need of money, try to get a job doing something! After all, work is work. Consider your options, fill out those applications, and get to work! Good Luck!

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Posted by Seymour Jobs on 6/29/2009 09:58:00 AM
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What Does Your Username Really Say?

There are many things in today's job market that you cannot control. You cannot predict which company will hire you. You cannot be sure which job will provide the best benefits. But the things you can control, such as the professionalism you publicly display-- those things should be identified with the utmost attention.

I have multiple e-mail accounts, each with their specific purposes. One is for personal, family and friends communication. One is for my professors and school peers to use. Yet another is for my sorority life. What all of these have in common is that they are linked to me and a prospective employer could easily find my school account just as easily as they could find my "sparkler" account --a product of 10th grade creativity and wanting to honor my patriotic birthday.

In the five years since I created the "sparkler" account, I have been met with plenty of criticism and jeers. I stubbornly brushed these comments off, thinking that I wouldn't need a professional-sounding e-mail domain until my post-graduate life. It wasn't until this past January, when I was elected to a high profile position in my sorority community that I decided it was time to grow up-- even if only in the virtual world.

What does this personal account tell those of you looking to enter the working world? Even if your domain isn't covered with Xx's and "lilcutieangels," consider Seymour's advice. Your name is as professional as you can get and your future employers will appreciate your dedication. Something as small as a simple tool of communication can either help or hinder your hopes for being hired.

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Posted by Amanda on 6/25/2009 06:01:00 PM
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How to be outgoing with going out.

Today's job market has become very progressive and forward thinking. Fortune 500 companies are using twitter and Facebook, job seekers search for posts on Monster.com and have profiles on LinkedIn. But with all this social networking, it is easy to forget good old fashion professionalism. Although it may seem that the "old way" of faxing a cover letter and handing out business cards is as ancient as the dinosaurs, just remember that there are many qualities of that era that should never be forgotten. So while everything is getting more casual - the interview, the dress, the meetings, etc, this does not mean you can be sloppy. Being the "up tight" one may actually be a breath of fresh air because you are seeing the job as extremely important and desirable. So although you may want to come across personable and not just another boring resume, being too flashy can be a turn off. There are other ways to be casual that do not compromise your professional integrity.
Instead of inner-office jokes, send motivation quotes.
Don't abuse casual Friday by wearing flip-flops, but instead wear an unusual hair style.
Don't display pictures of yourself parting on your desk, instead show an outdoorsy or PG fun loving side of you.
And finally, instead of asking coworkers to happy hour where you with no doubt be inebriated, ask if your coworkers want to volunteer once a week.

Posted by Suzanne on 6/25/2009 03:33:00 PM
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Leaving the right message before the beep

While we're on the subject of how your choice of words affects potential employers' perception of you, we should also discuss voicemail messages. If you don't have a dedicated business line, recording a clean, clear, and concise voicemail message can save you a lot of grief. "Hi, you've reached (name) at (number). I can't come to the phone right now, so leave your name and number and I'll get back to you as soon as possible" will do the trick in most cases -- there isn't any need to get creative unless you're involved in a creative industry, and even then, care should be taken to assure that a caller knows who they've reached. I've been greeted by vague, obnoxious, incomprehensible, and non-existent voicemail messages countless times. Not only can these make it difficult for whoever is calling to get back to you, but, depending on the message's content, it may reflect poorly on you in other ways. Just keep it simple, and you'll keep everyone happy.

Feel free to leave responses after the beep.

Beeep.

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Posted by Brian on 6/20/2009 04:58:00 AM
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The Melancholy of Fart_Lord420@aol.com

When I was working as an independent media production contractor, I would network with potential clients and correspond with employers almost exclusively via e-mail. That's the nature of the business -- the movers and shakers' phone lines are perpetually tied up (or at least that's what they'd like you to think). In most cases, they had sensible email addresses along the lines of those described by Seymour in his last post.

Fart_Lord420@aol.com was not one of those cases.

I was introduced to the distinguished Mr. Fart Lord through an old client who would occasionally feed me leads. Apparently, he was an up-and-coming musician (what instruments he played remain a mystery to this day -- though beans, the musical fruit, seem a reasonable guess) looking for somebody to edit videos of his live performances. I reluctantly solicited this, shall we say...unfortunately-named individual, and was met with an unprofessional and uncouth response befitting a man who would deliberately present himself as a "fart lord." While he did express interest in my services, I declined him as a client for the following reasons:

1.) His email account name indicated that he loved farting and was probably perpetually baked.
2.) Assuming the hypotheses proposed in item #1 are true, he was probably on drugs when he composed that e-mail. And farting.
3.) Assuming the hypotheses proposed in items #1 and #2 are true, he wasn't worth dealing with in any capacity, professional or otherwise.
4.) His business e-mail address was "Fart_Lord420." Fart. Lord. Four. Twenty.

My position on e-mail usernames is that of almost everybody else in the professional world -- an immature, crude, incoherent, or otherwise inappropriate name is a likely indicator of an overall lack of decorum on the sender's end.

My tipster now screens email addresses before sending me leads.

Play it safe when it comes to choosing the name that will follow you through your professional career. A Fart_Lord by any other name, in this instance, will smell much sweeter.

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Posted by Brian on 6/20/2009 04:08:00 AM
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What does your email say about you?

When searching for a job, you need to cover all of your bases. Using a professional looking email is one of those tedious tasks that could make a big difference! Using words or phrases (other than your name) does not give off the sense that you are a professional and may lead to discrimination from the employer.

Play it safe and use email addresses with your name only. It may take some time to find an address that is just your name, but it is well worth it. Using your name gives the impression that you’re professional and you mean business. Here are some examples of common addresses you may want to try:

You can obtain free email addresses from websites like gmail.com, yahoo.com, msn.com or hotmail.com. Be careful which you choose, however, because domain names can also say something about you. If you really want to give off that professional vibe, pay for your own domain name ex: Seymour@seymourjobs.com.

Not only is your email address important, you email signature is important as well. The signature allows you to communicate important contact information, such as: name, job title, address, phone/fax and email. This can be very helpful with any follow up communication in the future.
Once you’ve chosen your email address, use it consistently. Make sure you are not moving back and forth between your personal and professional emails. Pick one and use only that when communicating with employers/future employers.

Don’t let your unprofessional email address keep you from getting those jobs you’ve been tirelessly searching for. Cover all your bases and keep it professional! Good luck!

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Posted by Seymour Jobs on 6/19/2009 12:14:00 PM
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Another Economic Crisis?

It has come to my attention that many of my friends are frustrated with their jobs and careers, but are having a hard time admitting it. While the financial situation across America has been grim for the past several months, many employees are suffering themselves from a lack of raises and promotions.

While on the one hand, these workers would like to speak up and ask for their expected or scheduled salary increases, there is a large chance of rejection. They also may feel selfish for wanting more, while the economy continues to struggle.

The fact of the matter is though, that some employees are drawn to certain companies or jobs because of the "promise" of a scheduled pay raise or performance review that could lead to a promotion. When that promise is not fulfilled, it can be frustrating to continue working just as hard without additional financial compensation.

My hope is that slowly but surely, we will all be able to get back on our feet. Money is something that even the "rich" fret over, simply because there never seems to be enough to sustain our desired lifestyles. In the meantime, my advice to those frustrated with a situation like this is to tough it out and eventually, they will hopefully be rewarded.

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Posted by Amanda on 6/18/2009 11:28:00 PM
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Does 9-5 exist online?

By now, everyone knows that what you put on your Facebook/Myspace/Twitter/Linkedin, etc. can be used in evaluating an applicant for an open position or promotion. But can what you publish online get you fired? When a job hunter knows that they are going to be judged for an upcoming job, they iron their clothes, update their resumes and "clean-up" their Facebook because they know employers will look at these. But what happens when you are already an employee and you post or tweet something that leaves a bad taste in your employers mouth? Is that a fire-able offense? (There is a big difference between criteria for not hiring or promoting someone and criteria for firing someone). Recently in the news there have been stories of people being kicked off college athletic teams, dance teams and various other organizations for the content of their online networking profiles. And the reason given for these dismissals has all been the same: these people are representatives of a brand name and how they present themselves online reflects either favorably or poorly on a larger group. These are teams and clubs, but what about salary jobs? Clubs and teams are voluntarily joined, but jobs are not voluntary. Are we free to complain about our boss and coworkers? Are our online profiles considered part of our outside-the-office life or does everything we do reflect on our company? Is your social networking profile by definition social and therefore none of your boss's business? Whats the difference between venting with friends about a bad day and making a status update that you are having a case of the Mundays? Many companies are requiring employees to sign "technology waivers" that make their employees adhere to policies restricting their online activity at work, and some extend to how employees portray themselves online when it can be related to the company's image. On the opposite side of this issue, there have been law cases filed for wrongful termination because no rule existed when the employee put up a Facebook picture or tweeted someone inappropriate and was given zero warning. What direction and precautions do you think companies should take and what rights do employees have?

Posted by Suzanne on 6/17/2009 07:46:00 PM
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Recession Got You Down?

While my graduation date looms over my head [6 months and 1 day-- not that I'm counting], I am definitely worried about what my future career path will entail. Will it even be a career path, or more of a string of part-time jobs until I get settled into something deeper? Will I be happy working within the field I've studied for the past four years, or will I find that it just isn't for me?

Either way, I am certain that I will have to tailor my traits to whichever job I find myself in. As more of my friends are graduating and going on job searches, they have found that they are not necessarily finding work within their intended fields. They are happy, however, to take what they can get and earn a paycheck in order to live.

The recession is something that we are all having to deal with and I think we should be happy to work, if allowed the privilege to do so. While we may not have our dream jobs during this difficult time, we should be thankful to be employed and continue working toward a better, brighter future.

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Posted by Amanda on 6/11/2009 05:22:00 PM
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Jill of all Trades

While I am a senior with my graduation only months away, I feel that I am still not 100% sure what my future holds. I'm not even sure where my career path will take me 6 months from now. I am just hoping for a paid job that I will gain experience or have the ability to move up in the company over time. I find myself surrounded by other seniors and new college graduates who seem to have easily found a job in their field, or are very sure of their path. I do not let this discourage me because I know that the average American changes jobs 3-4 times during their lifetime. I look at my mother as an example of this. She has been a waitress, small business owner, 911 operator and now a real estate agent. Although she has been successful in these jobs, and claims she never got bored, just that a new opportunity presented itself and she took advantage of it. My dad on the other hand has been a production planner ever since he graduated college and although has moved from one company or branch to another, his job description and title have remained relatively the same for almost 30 years. I feel that no matter what life holds, I will always remember that a job is just a job and a means of income. It would be great to hold a position that fulfills my aspirations in life, but I may have to work for years to get to that point.

Posted by Suzanne on 6/11/2009 04:28:00 AM
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Should I Change my Career Plans Because of the Recession?

So, you are not doing exactly what you intended after graduating from college? Welcome to the club. Perhaps you have plans to pursue a different career or go to graduate school, but with the recession in full swing, should you put your plans on the back burner for a while?

First, you should consider your finances. If you want to pursue a new career all together, or just a different position within the same industry in which you are currently working, hunker down. It may take a while given the current environment. Be sure you can pay your bills before making any moves – and having a little extra cushion in your bank account is a good idea too.

If you are thinking about graduate school, well, where there’s a will there’s a way. To lessen the financial burden, begin to research financial aid packages and scholarships. You may even want to consider part-time graduate programs that will allow you to continue working. But, if you are not entirely sure what you really want to be when you grow up, don’t pursue grad school until you’ve made up your mind.

In this tough job market, it may be unwise to give up a decent job. Of course, if being a bartender is sucking the life out of you, then you should probably make a change, even if it means working at the internet café down the street. However, if you are securely employed in a position that you can tolerate, make the best of it, learn as much as you can, and network with your colleagues to build your connections.

Whether you choose to keep your current position for the short-term or not, continue researching the industry in which you’d like to work. Subscribe to professional journals, read relevant blogs, attend networking events and professional association meetings. And, ask everyone you know to introduce you to professionals within that industry who could provide you with some career guidance. Every connection you make now will help you be better positioned to make a good career move when the economy rebounds.

In the meantime, maybe you’ll get lucky and find your dream job, or a way out of a career sinkhole, or maybe win the lottery… But if there was ever a time look before leaping, it's now. Good luck!

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Posted by Seymour Jobs on 6/05/2009 03:56:00 PM
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Take One For The Team

Although I have personally only had jobs that were retail, I have known many people who have jobs in sales. I have always wondered, what type of job prepares you best for managing others? When you work a job, especially in sales, you have goals and quotas to meet. When I worked in retail, I would have standards of customer service that I would have to make sure I achieved. But when you take the step up to the net level and are suddenly in charge of a team of others, how do you make sure they are doing their jobs? It's one thing to hold yourself to certain expectations, it's entirely different to manage other people. It almost seems that your job depends on those below you! And if you are not a well liked boss, your livelihood is in the hands of those who dislike working under you. Well the only answer that I can think of to keep your office successful is to respect your subordinates and this will ensure that they in turn respect you. Make sure you let them know that a high tide lifts all boats and that they will receive the benefit of the whole team's achievements.

Posted by Suzanne on 6/04/2009 10:03:00 PM
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Use Your Resources Wisely

One of the hardest transitions you may come across in your place of work is transitioning from a position in sales to a managerial job. This change is usually a bit unnerving at first, as you may feel like you are not meeting your now lower-ranking employees' expectations.

When making any transition, keep in mind that there will be mistakes made. Nobody is perfect and you just have to keep working hard to make sure that any problems that you do have are met with a solution, as well as a preventative measure for the future.

It is also key to talk to others in similar positions. Anyone who has worked within the company and taken the same steps up the corporate ladder should be able to help you out in guiding you along the right path. Don't be afraid to ask questions, as they can only lead to your benefit and ultimately, your successes.

The job market is scary enough as it is, so ensure your future at your company by being a go-getter and making a step upward as smooth as possible. Good luck!

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Posted by Amanda on 6/04/2009 07:54:00 PM
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Out with the old and in with the new.

When assuming a new leadership role, you must first understand that change is hard for most people to accept. Remember, you were hired for a reason-- the old way that things were handled were just not cutting it anymore.

After talking to your predecessor, figure out the parts of his/her administration that work and the parts that just don't cut it-- use this to your advantage. Don't introduce too much change at once-- people will be hostile. So try to move gradually into your new plan of action. Let everyone know the overall plan before you begin putting into action. Eventually, after a little bit of coaxing, your employees will be saying "out with the old and in with the new!" Mr./Mrs. Wonderful will be a thing of the past!

Posted by Jen on 6/04/2009 05:19:00 PM
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