Thursday, February 16, 2017

First Job? Time to Manage Your Budget


Getting your first job offer is exciting, it comes with a sense of accomplishment realizing that your hard work at school has finally paid off. Yet, according to the (2016) national statistics the average college student graduates from college with a $37,172 in debt while the average entry level salary is $48,707. These numbers emphasize the necessity of a well-planned budget to account for monthly expenses, debt payments and savings. A good budget serves as a powerful tool to provide an insight as to where your money is invested and setting up large future purchasing plans. Given the breakdown of your spending it may also be easier to see where you may cut expenses to achieve your savings goals.


Creating a Monthly Budget – Income vs. Expenses
  1. Come up with a calculation for all sources of income: this item includes your salary, students’ scholarships as well as financial support from your parents.
  2. Make a detailed list of your expenses: the list should provide a breakdown of all expenditures on a monthly basis. A complete list is made out of your essential items such as housing, food, commute and utilities as well as those items you may consider cutting in case of a need. The more detailed this list is the easier it is to track and make the necessary changes.
  3. Your Cash Flow: The difference between your total income and total expenses serves as an estimate for your cash flow. Using this estimate you may make projections and plan saving accounts for the upcoming year. It is a good idea to go back to your budget every month, make adjustments and make sure you are sticking to the planned budget.
  4. Keep Track: Create a monthly excel sheet to document all your projections
When planning your budget it is important to understand the true after tax value of your salary as well as the tax deductible benefits such as the 401K accounts. The after tax monthly salary value of the national average salary ($48,707) in New York City is: $3000. Every dollar spent towards your 401K account will not be taxed and may be very useful for your future.



Tips for Healthy Budget Management


  • Automatic Savings – It is highly recommended to allocate 10-15% of your monthly paycheck to a saving account.
  • Safe & Liquid Investments
    • Guaranteed Certified Investments – rather than letting your savings sit in your account you may choose to invest in GCI which are slow-growing but very safe and are guaranteed to provide a return for your investment.
    • High Interest Saving Accounts – These accounts do not have any debit card associated with them. However, they are fairly accessible as it takes only few days to transfer money back to the checking account.
    • RRSP – If you are planning on investing towards purchasing your first home you may consider utilizing a Registered Retirement Savings Plan which will allow you to take a tax free loan of up to $25,000 towards a down payment.
  • Build Your Credit – having a credit card can be a useful tool for building your credit by paying your balance regularly and on time. In addition, many credit cards provide users with rewords and points you may use for personal spending.
Sticking to your budget requires efforts and dedication but in the long run it pays off as you plan ahead for the future.


Thursday, February 9, 2017

Work the RUNWAY!


The new year is upon us, and in the fashion world it is the time for New Fashion Trends! Here are few ways to rock the LATEST runway trends to work!

Women










Men





Tuesday, February 7, 2017

It’s Not You, It’s Them: Job Search Tips


There are literally millions of jobs out there. Thanks to the vast never-ending loop that is the internet, searching for a job can feel like a daunting, paralyzing task. Here are a few tips to help you get started on finding the right position, right now.

 

1. Utilize FREE services on Campus

Kingsborough’s Career Resource Center located in room C102 offers FREE services on the following:

  • Resume/Cover letter review
  • Job Search Assistance
  • Career Exploration
  • Job Fair Information
  • Mock Interviews

That’s just a few of the free services available to you on your quest to find work.

2. Create an account on Career Wave


This FREE (see, free again!) jobs board is for Kingsborough students ONLY. Employers who ask to post here understand what and who they are looking for (you, they’re looking for you!) and want our students. This is also a great resource to find internships!

 
3. Be Specific

Ask yourself the following questions:

    • What interests me?
    • How much time do I have to give to a job?
    • Does the job I want now, help me in the future?

Understanding what your goals are when applying to any one job will help guide you to the one that works best.

 
4. Network

The more people who know what your goals are, the better! 85% of the jobs people land are thanks to someone they knew.

  • Get on LinkedIN
      • This site allows you to create professional profile and connect to people in fields of interests, it will even help you search for jobs.
  • Attend a Networking Workshop or Event on Campus
    • Speed Networking on Tuesday May 18, 2017 in Room M-239 will combine the hilarity of speed dating and potential employment at this quirky event! Come meet employers from ALL MAJORS and see WHAT and WHO is out there! CONNECT!
5. Search!

Use these sites to begin your search!

  • Indeed.com
  • Careerbuilder.com
  • LinkedIN
  • SimplyHired

Remember to utilize the staff in C102 to assist you in your search! We are here to support and guide you every step of the way!


                                                                                                                                ~Kristen Fox

Thursday, February 2, 2017

What Makes a Successful Transition from Military to Civilian Life?


Like every new beginning the transition from active duty to the civilian life involves various challenges. Many of these challenges include mental adjustments to the new and perhaps less structured environment of the civilian life. For the first time you are no longer a soldier and your daily schedule is not set for you. More than ever, it is time to take initiative, understand your advantages, acquired skills and look for ways to apply them outside the military. The key point is to realize that this new reality brings about not only challenges but also numerous new opportunities for personal and career growth. Planning your career ahead is never an easy task, especially when joining the work force after years of service. In principle, however, the process is almost the same for veterans and non-veterans.

As a first step, it is important to conduct an in depth research evaluating the market as well as the targeted fields. The goal of the research is coming up with a set of insights including the available job opportunities, the level of education needed and the skill set required for performing the job of interest. (One source for conducting such research is the Occupation Outlook Handbook, www.bls.gov/ooh).  A good rule of thumb is finding a match between your interests, skills and values and your future occupation. The Center for Career Development (C-102) also provides an assessment test meant to help in evaluating your interests and choosing your future career.
Many employers are aware of the exceptional value veterans may add to their teams. They understand that many of the qualities possessed by most veterans cannot be learned in any other professional environment. The good news are many of these qualities can be easily translated into transferable skills that can be used as valuable assets when searching for a job. Thus, as you craft your new resume it is always a good idea to showcase and demonstrate the skills that may be applicable for the desired job.


Some of these skills are:
  • Technical skills – Some of the practical skills learned during military service have their private sector equivalences. These can include specialized machinery application, software development and more.
  • Decision Making – The ability to analyze information and choose the best possible alternative given a number of options.
  • Leadership – The ability to inspire and influence others to work towards the organization’s goal. This is a skill that is normally developed in many military assignments and can be readily applied to other organizations.
  • Organizational skills – Ability to manage projects and assign deadlines based on predetermined priorities. It also requires attention to details in generating quality reports.
  • Cooperation & Team Work – The ability to function as part of a larger group, understand your role in the whole system and contribute your part with dedication to the success of the project.
  • Unique personal qualities: Being able to work under pressure and perform in time sensitive environments, responsibility and hard work ethics.
For assistance in incorporating these skills and others into your resume effectively you may schedule an appointment with a career adviser in C-102.

Resources dedicated to assisting veterans in career development:
As part of the job search it is recommended to lookup the resources available for veterans. Keep in mind that while some of these resources are funded by the government others are paid and unpaid services offered by non-profit and private organizations.
  1. Vetjobs.com - VetJobs is one of the leading jobs boards geared towards veterans’ employment and their families.
  2. The Veterans Employment Center (VEC) is a federal government’s internet source created to help veterans and their families in transitioning to a meaningful career opportunities. The employment center strives to connect veterans with reputable employers from the private and public sectors. Using the online portal a member can create a profile that can be easily shared to employer for hiring purposes. In addition the website offers job listings and Job/career fairs.
  3. www.taonline.com/jobsaurus/ - This website helps describing your military position, skills and experience in civilian terms. You simply type in your position held during service and the website’s generates a job description options that may fit in a civilian job settings.
  4.  www.Vetnet.comProvides training services including resume workshops as well as database of over a million Veteran-preferred jobs.
  5. Federal Employment & Internship Opportunities – The US Department of the Treasury posts jobs and offers non-paid internship opportunities to Veterans.
    Treasury Department Careers,
    http://www.treasury.gov/careers/Pages/veterans.aspx