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It gets better.

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For many college students all over the nation, it is the first day of class. However, for many recent college graduates, it's just another day of naps or watching movies from your couch. 


Some of you may have nine to five jobs already, but the majority is still searching for employment in this new chapter. I come to say my fellow graduates: 

It gets better. 

I can neither confirm or deny this notion because I've only been living the post graduate life for a few months now. I am employed, but not in a position in my field or using my degree. This will be the norm for most of us. At some point, following graduation, we must stop mourning the past and move on to the future. 
It's natural to feel sad and nostalgic at this time of the year. We've been programmed to move in and attend class for the past four years. Now that we've graduated it's almost like well, what do we do now? We live. We now have the power to make our new lives whatever we would like. You find new things to do, new people to hang out with, or new ways to hang out with old people. The best part of finding employment is you now have real income to do things with. You can afford to travel or plan fun activities with friends on the weekends. Yes, there are some elements that are out of our control like WHEN we will find such employment. Nonetheless, the rest of our lives is what we make it. It's just like our college years. College was what we made it whether we choose to make friends, join clubs, go to parties, or go to class. We made choices that made our experience are great as it was. 

It's time to make those choices again. What are you going to do now? What are your goals for the next year? What can you now do that you weren't able to before? 

Personally,every time I begin to mourn the days of old I think about the family I gained from my alma mater. Although my time attending class is over, I always have those connections to fall back on. I haven't lost anything truthfully, only gained some amazing people and experiences that have shaped me. We can only assume it gets better from here because I see graduates living highly fulfilling lives all around me. 

& the best thing about it is they are still benefiting from the relationships and knowledge they built during college. 

-amb 

"10 Things Every College Grad Needs to Know About Money" + budgeting 101

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Click the link below to check it out >>>
Forbes Article

Here's an article from Forbes about money issues that come up after graduating from college. This is extremely timely for me because I'm about to begin my first job as a college graduate working full time in the big girl world. One mistake that young people make is not thinking realistically about money. We don't take into consideration how much it will cost for our daily expenses or living costs.
I know, personally, I didn't realize how much money it takes to live on your own. It wasn't until I realistically priced an apartment that I realized how difficult it would be for me to maintain one directly out of college. Unless you want to live with an apartment and that is all, you will have no money. Sometimes you can have just an apartment and STILL have money. Why? All the hidden expenses. You can't live in an apartment without heat, air, insurance, electricity, or savings. You really need three months of rent saved before you're prepared to move. 
I say all of this to say: as you begin working after college, you need to budget. 
I'm now working on a template for my monthly budget. I have monthly bills for loans, a credit card, and I'd like to purchase a cell phone separately from my parents. I need to record and track these expenses. I need to track my pay checks. It's important to know how much you make, how much is deducted for insurance, and how much you're contributing to your 401K. Some of you maybe thinking: retirement? This early? Yes. The sooner that you start, the more you have. Plus, most companies match your contribution or a portion of your contribution. Why not take advantage of that? 
Outline your expenses. Allot money for EVERYTHING. Not just the big bills, but the small expenses. For example, I can think of something to buy with every paycheck I make lol. So, I'm planning on allotting a certain amount I can spend on the desires of my heart. The basis of my budget is as follows: 

10% to God 
10% to Savings ( for the next couple months before my loan payments kick in, this will be increased)
80% to live on 

The 80% will be divided as well. I'm going to determine how much I think is acceptable to spend on entertainment( movies, dinners, nights out). I also am going to budget for gas and car related expenses  when I start driving at the end of October. There's so much more, but I won't bore you. It is essential to take everything into consideration.

The reality is 70% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck. I have no desire to work 40 hours a week and still be broke. How do we prevent this? Dumb logic would say "Well if you make enough money, you won't be broke" No. If you're a good steward over the money that is supplied to you, you won't be broke. You could be making $80,000 a year, if you don't manage it well you'll be left with zero. Make a plan and work your plan. ( When I find a budget template I like, I'll post it!) 

Be money smart :) 

-amb 

INFORMATION CONNECTION: 2 Articles You Should Read Now + Hot Internships

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 Whenever I see great articles, I love to share them. 


Here's an article from Campus Philly about How to Master a phone interview: 

Click this link to read the entire article ---> http://campusphilly.org/2013/07/25/how-to-ace-a-phone-interview-for-a-job/

Campus Philly is an awesome resource for many things from upcoming job fairs to fun events in the city of Philadelphia.
I often see updates about free concerts and seminars on their site. I really like that they do a list of the top five 
internships in the area.
If you're in the Greater Philadelphia Area,check 
out Campus Philly!

Another great article was on LinkedIn about how to discuss compensation during job interviews, I know a lot of people struggle when it comes to brining up money but, this article gives a lot of wonderful and real tips. The author holds nothing back lol 
Click the link to read ---->>> http://www.linkedin.com/today/post/article/20130731192028-52594-how-to-bring-up-salary-on-a-job-interview?trk=tod-home-art-medium_0&_mSplash=1

Most of us use LinkedIn for a professional online profile, but it's an excellent resource for informative articles.
 I always check the news section when ever I log on. 
Executives from large companies often contribute to the site and write features so, you can get advice from someone 
with experience. 

That's all for today folks! Just sharing some information, remember knowledge is power!! 

-amb 


I GOT A J.O.B

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So ladies and gentleman, I finally found a position. Relax, this doesn't mean I'm leaving the blogging world. I've still got a lot of wonderful posts planned coming up to help you find the position of your dreams. 

I have a confession to make: this job is not the position of my dreams. 

I'm going to be the new food supervisor for a big hospital in my area supervising two staffs at two different locations, a total of 100 employees. It's a job in the food service industry... A place I never thought I'd find myself again. Here's a little background: almost from the beginning of my work experience I've worked in food service. I was a hostess for a fancy restaurant during high school, a food service worker a my college, and worked at a hotel catering weddings during the summer. I served room service and breakfast to guests at the hotel as well. And to place the icing on the cake, for the last two academic years I was a shift supervisor at my college's main dining facility. 

Working in food isn't terrible. It's just a lot of long hours and a very broad job title...your title may say one thing, but you could be doing anything and everything. I wasn't looking for that unpredictability in my new big girl life. I was seeking something more scheduled, predictable to say the least. Something in an office, in a cubicle with air conditioning lol. Life is anything but predictable so, here I am. 

I want to say to all of you that during this job search, you have to start thinking like an adult. By that I mean: making decisions that you can build on that may not necessarily be comfortable. This job was an excellent big girl job choice because although its not in marketing: 

1. It has excellent benefits. 
Coming from class to corporate, college graduates know very little about the importance of benefits. Realize that now, as an adult, you will need medical insurance, a 401k or another type of retirement plan, and other essentials. Your job has to provide these for you or you'll be paying a pretty penny out of pocket. Benefits can add thousands of dollars in value to your salary. Working at a hospital, I can get medical insurance and many other perks for little money. For example, not only is my medical insurance great I get discounts on my cell phone plan and movie tickets. Ask yourself: how much money am I saving or gaining on my salary from benefits? ( You can find this information on sites like salary.com or Monster's salary center) 

2. It provides me with an admirable job skill and experience. 
I'll be managing on a higher scale giving me management or supervisory experience. Even if I do not continue in food service after this, management experience is a great thing to have going into other fields. It shows responsibility, leadership, time management, interpersonal skills, and so much more. I'll get experience with scheduling, budgeting, and everything that goes into running a high volume facility. The position may seem limiting, but in actuality it opens me up to higher positions in other fields. Ask yourself: what skills am I obtaining in this position that other jobs look for? 

3. It can be built upon. 
Your first job is a building block. It's an opportunity to gain experience and build to the next step. You don't want to work somewhere or in something where there's no room for advancement. This management experience can be built upon. I can work in this position for a year or more than rise to a higher position or take this experience to another field. Eventually, I could manage an entire location, a whole region, or be a director. Ask yourself: what does this position build to? What can I use this experience to achieve? 

Overall, this job is a great choice for the present. I'm not saying you should give up on your dreams or seek positions that are not your interest, however you should see the big picture of every job opportunity. Often, we see experienced professionals working in a different industry then their major and sometimes a different industry then their experience. Why is that? They got experience after leaving college, discovered their true interest, and built on that. I have a family member whose background Is in the  biomedical industry, but a strategic management company was interested in them. Don't feel restricted to one industry or one goal. Diverse candidates are treasured like specialized candidates. 

I wanted to share this confession with you because I know that many of you will have the same emotions that I currently have if you take a position that wasn't what you imagined. It's not the end of the world, but the beginning of a new one :) the job title doesn't define you, you define who you are and who you are to be.

-amb 


searching : job sites you can use to find the perfect position

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There are countless sites online where you can search for jobs, but which ones are effective? Maybe you don't know where to start or what keywords to use. Maybe you aren't using as many job sites as you should. In today's post, I'm going to review several job sites that are easy to use and have produced results for me.

read me first....
I suggest that you use every resource available to you in your job search. Majority of these sites are free and allow you to list your resume for potential employers to review. In fact, you can then later use your profile and uploaded resume to quickly submit job applications when you find a position of interest. In today's digital world, your online presence is almost as important as your physical presence. When receiving your application, its not unusual for your potential employer to search Google for personal information, check your Facebook, or review your LinkedIn profile. Consequently, maintaining an up-to-date and positive online presence is extremely important. Review your online profiles often and be sure to post an updates or inquiries you have. Furthermore, use the internet to your advantage. Google search companies you're interested in! Add a recruiter or headhunter on LinkedIn and express your interest!

Jobs, Jobs, and More Jobs: Sites that produce results 


1. Indeed 

Rating: A-
Pros: 
Combines a variety of job posting sites into one simple view 
Opens job postings in a separate window so you don't lose your results 
Provides a review of the company right under the job posting 
Sponsored jobs are revelvant to your search and usual a good fit (in my experience) 
Allows you to save your resume and in some cases offers quick apply option 
Cons: 
Sometimes lists inaccurate locations for companies 
Filters could be improved 
Sometimes lists jobs from paid membership sites that can not be viewed in full 

Overall - I really like Indeed. It was one of the first job sites I used in my job search and allowed me to find many available positions I'd be interested in. I like the simplicity of the format. The site is easy to use and allows you to save positions, keep a record of jobs you selected, and gives you the option of whether to get emails on listings or not. I do not like the filters for this site. It can be really difficult to get a large search down to more specific results with these filters. Watch out for sites like Doostang in results if you're not a member of Doostang. The posting may interest you, but you will be unable to view it without a membership. 




2. Monster 

Rating: B+
Pros: 
Like a Facebook profile for the professional world 
Widely used by employers 
Easy to apply with quick application option 
Variety of job listings 
Email Notifications 
Cons:
Email Notifications (lol)
Inaccurate locations for companies 
Incomplete job listings
Very limited filters 

Overall- Monster is "an oldy, but a goody".  Its been around for quite some time and has built an excellent reputation. Consequently, many employers use and trust this site to post their openings on. I do find a good amount of poor postings on this site though. This isn't necessarily Monster's fault, but the poor employers who decide to list jobs on the site. I love the online profile portion and I do find that potential employers review my monster profile. The biggest con for me is the email notifications. They can be really annoying! Especially since sometimes its not anything new, but just old search results. Sometimes I receive 3-5 emails a day from monster with just search results. In addition to these emails, I receive 'personalized' emails with jobs that a Monster recruiter feels I would be perfect for. These jobs are usually positions I already applied for. I do find that Monster postings often pop up on other sites such as Indeed in search results. 


3. JobFox 


Rating: C-

Pros:
A lot of entry level positions 
Apply to jobs in one click 
Specializes in job alerts via email

Cons: 
Must create an account to receive email job alerts 
Excessive emails 
A lot of sponsored jobs from Vector and another scam-like companies 
I personally haven't had a lot of luck with postings here 

Overall- JobFox kind of comes off as a site where sales companies can pay to have their job listings posted multiple times. 75% or more of almost every email I receive from job fox consists of sales, commission jobs despite what my search asked for. Not my favorite site. 



4. Bright 

Rating: C (updated 7/14) 

Pros: 
Collective search job site (brings all different job sites and postings into one) 
A lot of listings 
Great and reputable companies listed
Extremely easy to use 

Cons: (Updated 7/14)
Filters aren't specific enough, maybe 6,000+ results in one search 
Lots of repeats 
Opens jobs in same tab as search results 
Can't see full job posting sometimes on mobile devices such as iPhone/iPad 

Overall- So far, so good with Bright. I love the layout. Its refreshing because it lists the site on which the jobs were found then the job listings. The listings tend to be spot on to my keywords and they literally search EVERYWHERE. I get Yahoo! results right along with Monster results and company's websites. I definitely will be using Bright in the future. It's a great site along I wish it was more specific with its filters at times. UPDATE (7/14) - used bright more and decided I'm not a fan. If your search is broad, it maybe helpful. It's similar to a search engine in the sense that it pulls all results: relevant or irrelevant, repeat or new. 


5. LinkedIn 


Rating: C+ (Based on its job search only)

Pros: 
Everyone has one, every company has one 
Large exposure 
Great social networking element
Direct contact with recruiters and potential employers 
Networking 

Cons: 
Not a lot of job selection for entry level job seekers 
Not a fan of the search set up 

Overall- I like LinkedIn, but I don't find that it has a lot for those new to the professional world. It's a great tool for networking and connecting with others on a professional levels however, its job search capabilities are limited.  I will say that your LinkedIn profile is still extremely important. You may not find a job with LinkedIn, but you will have your profile reviewed by an employer you may have found someone else. As a result, it is still a crucial step in your job search. Keep your profile up-to-date, you never know who is watching! 
 

6. SimplyHired 


Rating: A

Pros:
All the pros of Indeed :] 
Excellent filters 
Fabulous Results 

Cons: 
I have none so far! 

Overall - SimplyHired is a God send! This is where most of my applications come from. I find that the variety of jobs is excellent. I love the filters which allow me to get straight to jobs that fit my needs. They have unique filters like "New Graduate", "GLBT Friendly", and "Socially Responsible". How cool is that? Sorry, I get excited. I love the set up and options. You can decide whether you want emails or not for the day with one click. You can connect with your LinkedIn profile with one click. You can even get salaries with ease. Awesome site! 

That's all for now :] I've heard things about FlipDog so I will be trying that. If you're looking for hourly wage jobs, check out SnagAJob. It was very helpful to me my pre-graduate job search. In closing, remember to pay attention to everything on the job sites. 

Quick Tips -->>>
  1. Read the requirements over for every posting that you're interested in. 
  2. Cross reference the company's location with Google maps. I find that they're often listed improperly. 
  3.  Make sure the resume you uploaded is the resume you want to use for that particular application
  4. Customize cover letters for every posting 
  5. Pay attention to how you should apply: via email, via the company's website, or via the site the job is posted on 
  6. Make a profile on every site! [Yes, every site] Record all the passwords and usernames in one locations 
  7. Use your professional email 

Happy Job Searching to all my readers! I know you'll be successful with confidence, proper preparation, and faith :] 

-amb




Midday Encouragement 2 : The Purpose of Rest

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 This is an excerpt from a daily devotion from biblegateway.com called Girlfriends In God. This particular posting is from June 26, 2013 and written by Mary Southerland. I highly recommend this devotion for women of all ages who are seeking Christian spiritual guidance. 

However, I believe this excerpt is a important lesson for everyone. I'm not going to lie, lately I've been feeling discouraged in this job search. Although I seem to be finding better job postings everyday and my cover letter writing skills are wonderful, I'm not getting the response I want. I've went on several interviews, yet the right position hasn't came my way. I recognize that I want the right job not just any job. By that I mean, I truly believe that there's a position that God has chosen for me. That position will lead me to my future career, provide me with the finances I need, and develop me. Everyone has a position that is the perfect fit for them. Now perfect doesn't necessarily mean comfortable. It may not be excellent money or glamorous, but its right for you right now. 

As the bills come rolling in for my enriching, yet highly expensive liberal arts education, it's easy to lose hope. I began to lose confidence in my skills and lost faith that a position that will provide would appear. I began to stress as my anxiety about the future built. What I was failing to see was the beauty in waiting or as referred to above: rest. 

If you haven't read the excerpt in the photo already, READ NOW! :) 

The writer uses a story from her childhood about learning to play the piano. Long story short, she wanted to jump to playing and skip all the preparation. Her piano teacher was trying to instill the basics in her: the notes. She was completely uninterested until her piano teacher came to the most important concept in music, a rest. This was so profound to me. The most important step is rest. 

Without rest, we won't be prepared for what God has for us in the future. Rest means preparation, growth, restoration, and dependence. You must prepare for everything you do in life. We can't skip to being CEOs and millionaires without networking and hard work. This is what this time is for. It's important to have a pause where you grow and evaluate. When I get a full time position, I won't be able to sleep all day or paint my nails fun colors or wholeheartedly pursue getting my license. Recognize that just because you haven't found your dream job, doesn't mean that there's not work to be done. What should you be doing today that you haven't done? Do you need to simply rest and take a minute away from your busy schedule? What can you achieve now that cannot be done later? 

Secondly, there's the dependency portion. My mom always used to tell me to pray before the test the following prayer: 
Lord, I did my part by studying now do your part. 
If you prepare, God will do the rest. It's one part preparation, one part dependence. You have to be confident in not only your abilities and work, but also in God's faithfulness. Know that it can and will work out. Your loan bills will be paid. You will get to six figures one day. We spend too much time stressing instead of truly resting. By resting I mean having peace by doing own part then handing it over to God.

This portion of your life right now, let's call it  PRE-EMPLOYMENT is exactly that. It's the PRELUDE for the best portion of your life. It's the calm before the storm, the preparation before the prize. It is not in vain, for it has a purpose. You cannot play piano without learning how to read sheet music. You have to learn every note and practice reading before you actually get to sit down and play. When you start playing, you won't be a star piano player, but the preparation and practice will help you. The more you prepare and learn, the better you will be at playing piano. 

Don't lose hope for God has a plan and it's perfect. The bible says its better that what we've dreamed and imagined. Rest in that today. 


-amb 

INFORMATION CONNECTION: "11 Reasons Graduates Lose Out on Jobs"

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Information connection will be posts linking you (my readers) to resources that maybe helpful to you. I saw this slideshow/article on my LinkedIn timeline today and I thought it was so relevant to my topics lately. This was created by the Managing Director of an international marketing communications firm. It was interesting and informative to say the least. He touched on several elements of the perfect interview and preparation that recent college graduates forget about. Some of these elements I've touched on in posts, but this slideshow drives the point home. I definitely suggest you review this resource and take it into consideration during your job search. I've embedded it for your viewing pleasure.





Congratulations Graduate! Eleven Reasons Why I Will Never Hire You. from Mark O'Toole

Please comment and share your thoughts :]

-amb