Need a Resume Boost? Volunteer!

Volunteer work is a great way to give back to your community and explore a personal passion. Plus, it looks awesome on your resume! Not only do employers love to see you as an active member of a community and a dedicated team player, but they also look at the experiences and opportunities volunteer work provides. So, when compiling your resume, model the "Volunteer Experience" section the same way as your "Work Experience" one.

If you aren't already a volunteer, look for ways to get involved. There are literally thousands of ways to give back. Hands on helping is most productive for your resume, though. It also helps if your volunteer work mimics your career field. For example, if you want to be a teacher, try tutoring. Similarly, working with Habitat for Humanity can fit well on an architect's resume while those in the medical profession might help at a local hospital.

Once you start volunteering, look for ways to take on a leadership role. Organize a fundraiser, create a new publicity campaign, or develop an educational program. By seizing every opportunity, you will not only further your cause, but build your own list of experiences.

Need help getting started? You can look at VolunteerMatch.org to search local volunteer opportunities. Also, you may want to check out the United Nation's online volunteer program. You can help others right from your computer!

How to Find a Job

Finding a job is basically a necessity. After all, we all need money to survive. However, most of us don’t just want any job – we want the perfect job. That’s right, the one with the best pay, benefits, atmosphere, and schedule for our lifestyles. So, where do you start the search for your ideal position? Here are the top ways to find a job fast!

The internet
Of course, most people today start their job search on the web. There are literally thousands of sites for searching jobs. So, don’t just stick to the big names like monster.com and careerbuilder.com. Also take a look at sites like indeed.com (see the search tool on the right sidebar). Indeed works by pulling job info from dozens of other job sites. Another great option is idealist.org, which focuses on non-profit sector jobs. You should also checkout industry-specific search engines for your chosen field, usajobs.gov for government work, and any online career tools your college / university may offer. Finally, if you know where you want to work, go directly to the company webpage. They frequently post all positions there and you may even be able to apply online.

Networking
Ask everyone you know (politely) if they can think of any open positions. This includes friends, relatives, professors, former co-workers – whoever you think can help. Also, try getting info from people on social networking sites like LinkedIn. Once the word is out that you are looking, someone is bound to have a suggestion. Plus, it helps if someone can put in a good word for you before an interview.

Attend Job Fairs
The best job fairs will probably be those hosted by your college / university. If you are not currently in school, though, it may seem there are no job fair options. However, many local towns host regular fairs. You can also check out nationalcareerfairs.com for listings of other opportunities.

Employment Agencies
These don’t always work out, but they can be a great option if you are having trouble. Agencies need to fill positions at the companies they work with. So, you are guaranteed to at least have access to some open spots. In fact, some companies hire exclusively though an agency. Need to find a recruiter? Check out this directory.

Need Gifts on a Budget? Make Your Own.

The holidays are right around the corner. That means its time to start budgeting for all those gifts you need to buy. Let's face it, the older you get, the longer the list of people to buy for. That can put a big dent in your wallet. Before you start splurging at the store, though, consider these ideas for making your own gifts. Not only are these well-received, but they wont destroy your finances!

1. Make Chocolate
My mother and I have been doing this since I was a little kid. We buy the molds and chocolate pieces at our local craft store. Then, we melt the chocolate, pour it into the molds, and chill. We've gotten so good at it taht we even use colored chocolate to "paint" the molds and make multi-colored treats! My friends love the chocolates and so do my mom's coworkers.

2. Make a Movie
I love to make photo slide shows for special occasions. If you have a lot of digital photos and a simple program (I use Windows MovieMaker), you can make a DVD show for family and friends. The personal touch is great, and it costs virtually nothing.

3. Knit a Scarf
Sure, this seems old-fashioned, but a lot of my friends actually love to knit. There is nothing quite as satisfying as getting a warm, cozy scarf made by someone who cares about you!

4. Bake Treats
For my housemates, I love to make cookies and other treats. I decorate them and place them in cute containers to pass out. Sugar cookies are a staple, but other treats you can make include peanut brittle, fudge, or even homemade jams!

5. Make Candles
Making your own candles is not as hard as you think. If you need help, take a look at this great tutorial for making peppermint candy candles.

6. Custom Ornaments
Hit up the craft store and get creative! You can use everything from foam balls to wooden cutouts to make amazing, heartfelt ornaments.

Want more ideas? Check out this great, crafty blog!

Start Building Credit NOW!

Your credit score is supremely important. You may not rely on it much now, but very soon it will be a deciding factor in everything from how easy it is to buy a home to whether you get a good job to what kind of rate you pay on a loan. Unfortunately, many young people behave irresponsibly without realizing the impact it will have. Here are the top rules for establishing credit while you are still young:

1. Get a credit card.

The only way to build credit, is to get some. Pick a card you trust and that has the features you want. You may also want to get a gas card and/or store credit card. These provide many benefits and are easy ways to boost your credit. Keep in mind, having more than one card can actually help your score. Just be sure to use them all responsibly (see below).

2. ALWAYS pay bills on time.

Even a single late payment will negatively impact your credit score. To keep yourself on track, use a calendar to track payments or even setup automatic bill-pay online.

3. Pay as much as you can.

Ideally, you should pay off the full balance on your credit card every month. This not only builds your credit, but protects you from getting yourself into debt.

4. Don’t use up your credit limit.

Sure, your new credit card may have a $7,500 spending limit, but using that amount is a recipe for disaster. In fact, top credit scores go to people who use less than 30% of their total credit allotment.

5. Get a co-signer.

A great way to build your credit is to attach yourself to someone with good credit history (like a parent or other relative). This works best with loans, but can also be a good option for your first credit card. Just be sure you are responsible or you could hurt your responsible signer’s credit score as well!

6. Apply for a loan.

Your credit score grows faster if you have several types of credit histories. So, in addition to getting a credit card, you should also get your name on a loan and pay it off regularly. You may already have loans (especially if you just finished college). If not, consider getting a small, low-interest, short-term loan.

How Much is a Serving?

Deciding what to cook when a meal is just for you can be tough. After all, you don’t want to be stuck with massive leftovers that just get wasted. Knowing how much food you need to make can also help streamline your grocery shopping. So, here’s a list of some common foods and what nutritionists consider to be a single portion (this information is also great for watching your waistline). Of course, if you have a big appetite you may eat two at a time, but this should help you realize that a whole box of pasta is way too much for one person.

• Meat / Poultry / Fish – 3 ounces

o This is about the size of a deck of playing cards. For the most part, a whole breast of chicken has two servings of meat in it.

• Cheese – 1 ½ ounces or 3 tablespoons

o If you are shredding it straight from the block, this means using a chunk roughly the size of your thumb. Also, most people don’t need nearly a full serving of cheese to top their pasta or compliment a salad (two teaspoons should be plenty).

• Pasta / Rice– ½ cup cooked

o This is a lot less than most people normally scoop from the pot. Most boxes of pasta contain enough for eight servings. So, make only one or two to save yourself from over-eating. Also, you can bulk up your spaghetti dinner with cooked veggies and meat!

• Fruits / Vegetables – 1 medium piece or ½ cup chopped

o Remember, you need five servings of fresh produce per day. So, don’t sell yourself short at the grocery store. Buy enough fruits and veggies to keep your fridge stocked (after reading this list, though, you can probably cut back on the meat and grains).

Want more info? Check out the chart here.

Build Your Social Network

Once you leave college, it seems meeting new people is quite the challenge. However, there are plenty of ways to make new friends that share your interests. Plus, making contact with other young professionals can expand your career networking skills. So, where do you start? Well, you could simply strike up conversation during happy hour, but there are more proven ways to meet new people. In fact, many areas have their own "Young Professionals" organizations.

Young professional groups do everything from swap business ideas to plan singles nights to go rock climbing. They are great resources for twenty-somethings looking for a good time and new friends. Plus, many offer discounts on services like GMAT and LSAT prep and provide job listings to members

You can probably find a lot of these organizations just by doing a google search, but there are other listings as well. I joined New Jersey Young Professionals after seeing a posting on craigslist! One of the best places to find a young professionals social group is to check out YPcommons.org's directory. Finally, make sure you check out 2Senese. This site is LOADED with resources for young professionals as well as providing a long list of groups you can join.

Save Some Cash this Holiday Season

As the holiday season bears down on us, it's time to start budgeting for all those gifts. For most of us, spending a fortune on holiday goodies is simply not possible. Thankfully, there are many ways to get exactly what we want for less. This great article lists the top sites for finding bargains.



Other ideas to save some money include:

• Searching weekly circulars to find great local deals.
  
• Buy discounted restaurant gift certificates at Restaurants.com
• Plan a Secret Santa event with friends - you only have to buy one gift each that way!
• Check out the dollar store. They usually have fun holiday gifts that don't look like they cost only $1.
  
• Get creative and make gifts yourself.

Graduate School: Now or Later?

One of the major factors in deciding to go to graduate school is whether or not it will help you advance your career. Not every field requires you to get an advanced degree to succeed. In fact, some fields specifically prefer real-world experience to extra schools. Here’s a look at the top careers that DO want to see something more than a Bachelor’s on your resume,

Get the Degree First

1. Doctor, Lawyer, Dentist, Pharmacist, etc.

These are the obvious ones. You can’t get a job in these fields without a specialized advanced degree. So, if you are sure this is the path you want to follow, school comes first.

2. Psychology

Whether you want to be a practicing psychologist or therapist, or simply want to teach and conduct research, graduate school is an important step to a successful career. Many undergraduates in this field go straight to graduate work and may get a research internship at the same time to build experience.

3. History

Unless you plan to teach history at the K-12 level, you probably want to go for graduate work. With an advanced degree, you can get a job working as a museum curator, college professor, archive researcher, and more. However, most of these openings do not accept applicants with only a Bachelor’s degree.

4. Architecture

Most high-end firms like to see the extra education. Ideally, you should look to get an educational working position while you study for your advanced degree. In the end, you will probably need a few years of such practice before you are ready to apply for various certifications.

Work First, Then Learn

1. Teaching

In some states, obtaining an advanced degree in education is required if you plan to be a public school teacher for a long time. Plus, having that extra education usually means a big boost in salary. Hoewver, you do not have to go straight to graduate school for this field. If you go into the teaching field first, you may find that you’re employer will subsidize your master’s education. Many school districts want their teachers to be better-trained. So, they offer incentives to earn a master’s while you work!

2. Business

Sure, getting your MBA is a major step in rising up the business ladder. However, most of the top MBA programs actually expect you to have spent several years in the working world first. Get your feet wet in the industry, make some great contacts, then go back to your schoolwork. In most cases, you can get your MBA while you work. Plus, like teaching, many employers will help you pay for your advanced degree.

3. Engineering

Thoughts about this one vary, but in general experience is more important than a degree. Get your hands dirty in the field before going back for graduate work. Again, many employers may help you pay for your program if you put in some labor first.

4. Politics

There are so many graduate degrees in the political and public poicy fields, and the one you choose to earn depends entirely on the path you want to follow. Get involved with work first and figure out where your interests really lie. This will make it easier to choose the right program for your career goals.

Skim Reading for Success

Ever been stuck with too much reading for classes? If you're like me, you probably have.

Before you pull an all-nighter or skip the reading completely, check out this guide. It will provide you with some valuable tips for skimming a book. Sure, skimming is not quite as good as actually reading, but it can make all the difference in a pinch. Another suggestion that works well: always take notes! It saves tons of time re-reading before an exam.

A Healthier Thanksgiving

It’s just about time for Thanksgiving! For most people, this holiday means football, family, and, of course, food. Unfortunately, it seems Thanksgiving is also tied to a bulging waisteline. Before you pack on pounds gorging on turkey and stuffing (not to mention days of leftovers) consider these tips for a healthier, happier, holiday.

Choose the Best Turkey

When it’s your turn to pick your piece of the bird, go for a cut of skinless white meat (like from the inside of the breast). It is way lower in fat and calories than your other choices.

Gorge on Veggies

Fill up your plate with a great vegetable side dish. Keep in mind, though, that candied sweet potatoes and creamy green bean casserole don’t really count as healthy. If no one in your family brings a less guilty side, cook one up yourself! This year, I am making a lemon-garlic broccoli dish.

Take Your Time

The longer you take to eat your food, the more you will savor the flavors. Plus, you are likely to eat less when you take it slow. Not only does speed eating make it hard to tell when you are full, but it keeps you grabbing seconds and thirds while you wait for everyone else to finish. So, put down your fork between bites, enjoy a leisurely conversation, and drink lots of water (it’s another way to fill up safely).

Avoid Dessert Traps

Dessert is pretty much the best part of Thanksgiving. However, an array of pies can lead to excessive calories. Try to limit yourself to just one piece, and pick pumpkin or apple over pecan (pecan is the highest calorie holiday pie!). If possible, skip the pie entirely and opt for some fresh fruit or low fat ice cream (Edy’s makes great, healthy pumpkin and apple pie varieties).

Do it Yourself

Finally, the best way to have a healthy Thanksgiving feast is to get hands-on with the preparation. Find some tasty, healthy recipes and get cooking. Some of the ones I plan to help my family make this year can be found on HungryGirl’s blog.