<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!--Generated by Squarespace Site Server v5.9.2 (http://www.squarespace.com/) on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:25:23 GMT--><rss xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/" xmlns:itunes="http://www.itunes.com/dtds/podcast-1.0.dtd" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" version="2.0"><channel><title>Real World 101 Blog</title><link>http://www.realworld101.org/real-world-101-blog/</link><description>Explore our many posts about how to easily navigate through the troubled waters of the "Real World". Our blog gives you tips, "how-to"s, insights, guides, and secrets on life in the "Real World".</description><lastBuildDate>Tue, 09 Mar 2010 15:00:36 +0000</lastBuildDate><copyright></copyright><language>en-US</language><generator>Squarespace Site Server v5.9.2 (http://www.squarespace.com/)</generator><item><title>Sticking to Your Budget</title><category>Personal Finances</category><category>budget</category><category>college graduate</category><category>debt</category><category>grads</category><category>graduation</category><category>money management</category><category>personal finances</category><category>planning</category><category>real world</category><category>sticking to a budget</category><category>university</category><dc:creator>Patricia Hudak</dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 09 Mar 2010 15:00:36 +0000</pubDate><link>http://www.realworld101.org/real-world-101-blog/2010/3/9/sticking-to-your-budget.html</link><guid isPermaLink="false">101207:895015:6629300</guid><description><![CDATA[<p><span class="full-image-float-right ssNonEditable"><span><img style="width: 150px;" src="http://www.realworld101.org/storage/budget_travel.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1265754087301" alt="" /></span></span>Your spending habits aren't the same every month, so you need to keep track of your expenses for several years to get an accurate picture of what you're spending over the long term. Keep monthly budgets or spending notebooks from previous years so you can analyze how your spending habits have changed.</p>
<p>As you begin to pay attention to and focus on your spending habits, you will find yourself spending less and saving more. As with anything else, the more concentrated focus you give to sticking to a budget (as a matter of self-affirmation), the more changes there will be in your spending habits.</p>
<p>You need to gain some initial budgeting experience through trial and error, but once you have identified your spending limits and felt the benefits of effective financial control, budget watching can evolve into a healthy, lifelong habit.</p>
<p><span class="full-image-float-left ssNonEditable"><span><img style="width: 150px;" src="http://www.realworld101.org/storage/All_montage_A_NoSchool_Thumb.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1264010424569" alt="" /></span></span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><em>This is an excerpt from </em><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Managing Your Money</span><span style="text-decoration: underline;"> After College Guide</span> which is included in our Real World 101 Care Packages. <span>Visit our </span><a href="http://www.realworld101.org/care-packages">Care Package</a> page to find out how to get one for yourself or for a lucky college grad!</em></p>]]></description><wfw:commentRss>http://www.realworld101.org/real-world-101-blog/rss-comments-entry-6629300.xml</wfw:commentRss></item><item><title>Where to Look for Jobs</title><category>Career</category><category>career</category><category>career fairs</category><category>college</category><category>college grad</category><category>first job</category><category>graduation</category><category>iindustry</category><category>job hunt</category><category>job search</category><category>online job search</category><category>real world</category><category>university</category><dc:creator>Patricia Hudak</dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 08 Mar 2010 15:00:32 +0000</pubDate><link>http://www.realworld101.org/real-world-101-blog/2010/3/8/where-to-look-for-jobs.html</link><guid isPermaLink="false">101207:895015:6428672</guid><description><![CDATA[<p><span class="full-image-float-right ssNonEditable"><span><img style="width: 150px;" src="http://www.realworld101.org/storage/Job Search.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1265686002311" alt="" /></span></span>Knowing where to get started with your job hunt can be daunting. But it&rsquo;s daunting for no reason, because there are plenty of options to help you get off to a winning start.</p>
<p><strong>Career Counseling/Vocational Centers</strong></p>
<p>This resource is richest if you're looking for a calling or hoping to find a job prior to graduation, but it can also come in handy for the alums. They can help polish your r&eacute;sum&eacute;, put you in touch with other alumni in your chosen field, and provide helpful hunting tips and listings of available positions.&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Career Fairs</strong></p>
<p>Most colleges (or college consortiums) offer at least one career fair during the academic year. Even if you are looking for a job in a different part of the country, go to the local fairs and get to know with the recruiters.</p>
<p>Find out how to make the most of any job fair, by visiting <a href="../../Career-Fairs">RealWorld101.org/Career-Fairs</a></p>
<p><strong>Alumni Office </strong></p>
<p>Your alma mater will have a job board that you can usually use if you're a recent alumnus.&nbsp; The advantage to looking at jobs posted on campus is that the employers who placed the ads are looking for graduates of your school. So you&rsquo;re that much closer to convincing the employer to hire you</p>
<p><strong>Industry Publications </strong></p>
<p>Look at trade publications for the industry where you'd like to work and review their lists of entry-level or assistant jobs. Many companies who place ads in the trades don't advertise elsewhere. So the only way to find out about them is to think like an industry insider and read what they read.</p>
<p><span class="full-image-float-left ssNonEditable"><span><img style="width: 150px;" src="http://www.realworld101.org/storage/All_montage_A_NoSchool_Thumb.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1264010424569" alt="" /></span></span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><em>This is an excerpt from </em><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">F</span><span style="text-decoration: underline;">inding Your First Job After College Guide</span> which is included in our Real World 101 Care Packages. <span>Visit our </span><a href="http://www.realworld101.org/care-packages">Care Package</a> page to find out how to get one for yourself or for a lucky college grad!</em></p>]]></description><wfw:commentRss>http://www.realworld101.org/real-world-101-blog/rss-comments-entry-6428672.xml</wfw:commentRss></item><item><title>Reviewing and Adjusting Your Budget</title><category>Personal Finances</category><category>adjusting your budget</category><category>budget</category><category>college graduate</category><category>debt</category><category>grads</category><category>graduation</category><category>managing money</category><category>money management</category><category>personal finances</category><category>real world</category><category>review</category><category>university</category><dc:creator>Patricia Hudak</dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 07 Mar 2010 15:00:43 +0000</pubDate><link>http://www.realworld101.org/real-world-101-blog/2010/3/7/reviewing-and-adjusting-your-budget.html</link><guid isPermaLink="false">101207:895015:6629226</guid><description><![CDATA[<p><span class="full-image-float-right ssNonEditable"><span><img style="width: 150px;" src="http://www.realworld101.org/storage/make-personal-budget-main_Full.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1265753396982" alt="" /></span></span>Always balance your income and your expenses monthly. Are you spending more money than you're making?</p>
<p>If you're able to meet all your expenses, make regular payments on any debt you have, save a portion of your income, and have some money left over for discretionary purposes, good for you. You're in good financial shape.</p>
<p>If, however, you're spending everything you earn without saving anything, or you're spending more than you earn, you must change your ways. If you have credit card debt that never gets paid off, or you're in over your head with car loans or other debt, your financial condition is shaky. If your expenses are higher than your income, you have two options</p>
<ul>
<li>Cut expenses. Visit Identifying needs vs. wants <a href="../../Needs-Vs-Wants"><span style="color: #0017f8;">RealWorld101.org/Needs-Vs-Wants</span></a></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Increase income. Increasing income can be difficult with limited time on your hands, but you might think about what you can do.</li>
</ul>
<p>Remember, if it doesn&rsquo;t work on paper, it won&rsquo;t work in real life.&nbsp; Learning to balance your budget is the most important step on the road to your financial future.</p>
<p><strong>Tweaking and Targeting</strong></p>
<p>After a month or so, you may find that your budget needs some tweaking. Cutting back or trimming expenses can be a lot easier than trying to cut things out completely</p>
<p>If your rent is more than you can afford, you might have to move to a smaller place or get a roommate. You may really like the club you've joined, but if the membership fees are too high, you may have to consider dropping it. If you're spending a lot more on movies than you planned, you'll know where you can cut back. Still, fixed expenses are not the easiest ones to scrimp on.</p>
<p>You can always make adjustments if your budget isn't working for you, but don't abandon ship completely. It's important to remain consistent and committed to following your budget. Besides, if you skip this step now, you will pay a hefty price later.</p>
<p><strong>Adjusting a budget</strong></p>
<p>Your situation can change rapidly. You might decide to get a part-time job or leave a job. Maybe your landlord increases the rent without notice or you have major car trouble. Any of these events will affect your financial condition.</p>
<p>How do you adjust your budget as your money situation changes?</p>
<p><em>Income increase</em></p>
<p>Two healthy budget adjustment decisions to consider if you take on a part-time job or gain reliable new income through some other source include:</p>
<ol>
<li><strong>Increase savings account deposits</strong>: Adding just an additional $100 to your savings account each month will build an additional reserve of about $1,200 over the year. If you do not have a savings account, now is the perfect time to open one. See Chapter 5 &rdquo;Choosing a Bank&rdquo; for more information about savings accounts.</li>
<br />
<li><strong>Make larger credit card payments</strong>: How much faster will your balance shrink if you double your payment? Set an account balance reduction target for the year and call your credit card company. A representative can inform you what your lower monthly interest payment will be based on the reduced balance.</li>
</ol>
<p><em>Income decrease</em></p>
<p>Losing a job or suffering any other reduction in income forces you to control your spending-particularly the purchase of nonessential goods and services. Here's an approach that can help you adjust your budget so you don't have to cut out entire spending categories:</p>
<ol>
<li>List the areas in your monthly spending plan that are not vital to your living situation, such as snacks, entertainment, and clothing.</li>
<br />
<li>Divide the amount of your monthly income reduction by the number of spending categories you selected. In this case, there are three. Dividing a monthly income reduction of $150 by three will give you a spending reduction target of $50 for each category.</li>
<br />
<li>Subtract your targeted reduction from the existing "budgeted amount" column in each spending category.</li>
</ol>]]></description><wfw:commentRss>http://www.realworld101.org/real-world-101-blog/rss-comments-entry-6629226.xml</wfw:commentRss></item><item><title>Getting the Most from Career Services... Even if You're an Alum</title><category>Career</category><category>career</category><category>career help</category><category>career service</category><category>college</category><category>college grad</category><category>counselors</category><category>first job</category><category>graduation</category><category>job hunting</category><category>job search</category><category>real world</category><category>university</category><dc:creator>Patricia Hudak</dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 06 Mar 2010 15:00:15 +0000</pubDate><link>http://www.realworld101.org/real-world-101-blog/2010/3/6/getting-the-most-from-career-services-even-if-youre-an-alum.html</link><guid isPermaLink="false">101207:895015:6428627</guid><description><![CDATA[<p><span class="full-image-float-right ssNonEditable"><span><img style="width: 150px;" src="http://www.realworld101.org/storage/Career Services.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1265685911407" alt="" /></span></span>Don&rsquo;t think that you&rsquo;re all alone in research phase--there are plenty people and resources out there to help. The best place to begin is your career services department. Remember that place they showed you in freshmen orientation? Well, it&rsquo;s probably still there. (You may want to check the campus map, just to be sure.)</p>
<p>Career centers have earned poor reputations, mostly unfairly. That&rsquo;s because graduates who do not get a job while still in college hold them responsible for their failures. But you&rsquo;re going to prove that reputation wrong. So it&rsquo;s time to find out how to make the most of your college&rsquo;s career services department.</p>
<p><strong>On-Campus Resources</strong></p>
<p>Whether you&rsquo;ve got a month, or a year before your graduation, or even if it&rsquo;s months later, you have time to make good use of your college career services center. Find out if you can access the career center online to look at job boards and learn about upcoming career fairs and seminars. Call to see if the career services department offers its services to alumni. Ask specifically if you can participate in on-campus interviews, as some employers are open to interviewing alumni.</p>
<p>Remember that career counselors are not job placement personnel. So don't ever expect a career counselor to find you a job or to tell you want is right for you. Rather, expect to get information, alumni referrals, access to job boards, research guidance, and a real human being to give you feedback and advice about your job search. Your career center will help you develop the skills and contacts necessary to get a job.</p>
<p>Your career services department can only help you with what you bring them. So go prepared.</p>
<p>With that in mind, here are some of the many resources and opportunities career service centers and their career counselors offer to help you find a job after college:</p>
<p><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Practice Interviews</span></em></p>
<p>Career counselors can help you develop and improve your interview skills with practice interview sessions, conducted in-person. When booking your appointment, ask if the career counselor can ask you questions customized for your industry and if you can have your interview video-recorded.</p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>Self-Assessment Tools </em></span></p>
<p>You can increase your awareness of your personality and career interests with a variety of tools that will help you pinpoint a career direction. You can learn plenty from the Myers-Brigg Type Indicator (MBTI) and the Strong Interest Inventory, so meet with a career counselor to determine which tools are most appropriate for your needs. To learn more about available career tests, visit <a href="http://www.realworld101.org/career-tests">RealWorld101.org/Career-Tests</a></p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>Industry Timelines </em></span></p>
<p>Each industry has different recruiting cycles unique to its needs. To maximize both on- and off-campus recruiting opportunities at colleges for different times of the year, you should research the employer to learn about their recruiting timelines and hiring practices.&nbsp; If your current job search is off-cycle with the practices in your industry, you should definitely meet with a career counselor for help.</p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>Career Fairs </em></span></p>
<p>Explore different career fields, employers, and types of employment at a career fair. Try your best to attend all fairs you can, because career fairs provide the opportunity to distribute your r&eacute;sum&eacute; and market your skills, while gathering more information about various companies and organizations, some of which you may not have known about or been interested in.</p>
<p>To learn how to make the most of a career fair, be sure to visit <a href="http://www.realworld101.org/Career-Fairs">RealWorld101.org/Career-Fairs</a></p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>Mailing Lists, Job Boards, and Listservs </em></span></p>
<p>Make sure you're on the mailing list and listservs of both the career center and the alumni association so you stay informed about upcoming events, lectures, and career fairs where recruiters come to campus for interviews. Call to find out what listservs and mailing lists are available to you based on your student status (senior or alumni) and industry. Also, check to see if your alumni association has a mailing list, listserv, or job board for recent alumni.</p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>Networking </em></span></p>
<p>Career Services gives you both formal and informal opportunities to network throughout the year via receptions, employer presentations, industry workshops, and other programs. Don&rsquo;t pass them up, they can lead to a job and may even be fun!</p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>Career Events</em></span></p>
<p>Some career services departments offer specific industry and skills workshops that could make you stand out from the crowd. And many of them are free! For example, a &ldquo;Dining Out&rdquo; workshop could teach you proper etiquette for professional lunch or dinner interviews.</p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>Professional Advice</em></span></p>
<p>The <strong>BEST</strong> service that career service centers offer is professional advice from career counselors, who can give you personal feedback, critique your r&eacute;sum&eacute;, and help you tune up your cover letter. Make an appointment for a meeting with a career counselor so you&rsquo;ll have enough to time to discuss all of your questions without feeling rushed. It&rsquo;s worth the time and effort to carve out some one-on-one time with a career counselor.</p>
<p><span class="full-image-float-left ssNonEditable"><span><img style="width: 150px;" src="http://www.realworld101.org/storage/All_montage_A_NoSchool_Thumb.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1264010424569" alt="" /></span></span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><em>This is an excerpt from </em><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">F</span><span style="text-decoration: underline;">inding Your First Job After College Guide</span> which is included in our Real World 101 Care Packages. <span>Visit our </span><a href="http://www.realworld101.org/care-packages">Care Package</a> page to find out how to get one for yourself or for a lucky college grad!</em></p>]]></description><wfw:commentRss>http://www.realworld101.org/real-world-101-blog/rss-comments-entry-6428627.xml</wfw:commentRss></item><item><title>Why You Should Be Aware of Your Spending Ratios</title><category>Personal Finances</category><category>budgeting</category><category>college graduate</category><category>debt</category><category>grads</category><category>graduation</category><category>money</category><category>money management</category><category>percentages</category><category>personal finances</category><category>real world</category><category>spending</category><category>university</category><dc:creator>Patricia Hudak</dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 05 Mar 2010 15:00:29 +0000</pubDate><link>http://www.realworld101.org/real-world-101-blog/2010/3/5/why-you-should-be-aware-of-your-spending-ratios.html</link><guid isPermaLink="false">101207:895015:6628765</guid><description><![CDATA[<p><span class="full-image-float-right ssNonEditable"><span><img style="width: 150px;" src="http://www.realworld101.org/storage/percentage.gif?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1265751936423" alt="" /></span></span></p>
<p>Spending ratios are used to determine the amount of your income that goes toward a particular expenditure area. They can be used as tools in cutting expenses.</p>
<p><em>To figure out your:</em></p>
<p><strong>Housing Payment Ratio</strong></p>
<p>Add up all of your housing costs (rent, insurance, and so on). Compare that number to your total income. If your housing costs are more than 28 percent of your gross income, you're paying too much for housing and should look for ways to cut your costs.</p>
<p><strong>Car Expenses Ratio </strong></p>
<p>Add up all your monthly insurance, car payments, gas, parking, and tolls. Compare that number to your total gross income. The goal is to spend 15 percent or less of your gross income on everything related to your car.</p>
<p><strong>Total Debt Ratio</strong></p>
<p>Add up all your monthly payments, including car, credit card, rent, and so on. Compare that number to your total gross income. If it's more than 36 percent of your income, these expenses are too high, and you should look for ways to cut them.</p>
<p><strong>Savings Ratio</strong></p>
<p>Compare the amount of money you save each week or month to your income for that period. You should be aiming for 8 percent a year. If you're not saving that much, you should look for ways to cut expenses and save more.</p>
<p>There are other ratios, too, but these are good ones to get you started. Don't get too hung up on these ratios. The problem is that these numbers can vary depending on what city you live in, what your transportation needs are, and what else you have to accomplish within your spending target. But they're a good starting place. If your housing costs are 29 or 30 percent instead of 28 percent, it doesn't mean you should immediately sublet your apartment and move back home with Mom and Dad. But if you find your ratio is closer to 35 or 40 percent, you ought to think about downsizing.</p>
<p><strong>Don&rsquo;t Be Too Hard On Yourself</strong></p>
<p>Everyone has different hobbies, jobs, and pursuits, and there's no reason to skimp on items you know you'll end up paying for anyway.</p>
<p>There's no better way of sticking to the plan than by keeping your lifestyle and preferences in mind. Otherwise, all attempts at budgeting will be doomed to failure. It's important to balance your lifestyle with your finances.</p>
<p>Obviously no one is saying you need to stay home every night to avoid spending money on these things&mdash;they are what make life fun and enjoyable, right? Budgets are like diets: nobody can stick to one that is too harsh. Plan for your essentials and savings, but give yourself a reasonable allowance for entertainment&mdash;and you will be less tempted to cheat!</p>
<p><span class="full-image-float-left ssNonEditable"><span><img style="width: 150px;" src="http://www.realworld101.org/storage/All_montage_A_NoSchool_Thumb.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1264010424569" alt="" /></span></span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><em>This is an excerpt from </em><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Managing Your Money</span><span style="text-decoration: underline;"> After College Guide</span> which is included in our Real World 101 Care Packages. <span>Visit our </span><a href="http://www.realworld101.org/care-packages">Care Package</a> page to find out how to get one for yourself or for a lucky college grad!</em></p>]]></description><wfw:commentRss>http://www.realworld101.org/real-world-101-blog/rss-comments-entry-6628765.xml</wfw:commentRss></item><item><title>Making the Most of Your Network</title><category>Career</category><category>brand</category><category>building network</category><category>career</category><category>college grad</category><category>contacts</category><category>first job</category><category>graduation</category><category>growing network</category><category>job search</category><category>network</category><category>real world</category><category>social networks</category><dc:creator>Patricia Hudak</dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 04 Mar 2010 15:00:23 +0000</pubDate><link>http://www.realworld101.org/real-world-101-blog/2010/3/4/making-the-most-of-your-network.html</link><guid isPermaLink="false">101207:895015:6428603</guid><description><![CDATA[<p><span class="full-image-float-right ssNonEditable"><span><img style="width: 150px;" src="http://www.realworld101.org/storage/people-networking2.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1263224192523" alt="" /></span></span>It takes years to build a quality network, but only moments to destroy it. Read the tips below to find out how to maintain and make the most of your network.</p>
<p><strong>Watch Your Manners</strong></p>
<p>Think before you speak. If it would offend your mom's mom, don't say it. And definitely don't leave it on a voice mail!</p>
<p><strong>Perfect Your Introduction</strong></p>
<p>Have a few great opening lines ready for making new, important contacts. Having a few polished introductory sentences shows you are confident, intriguing, intelligent, and memorable. It also makes it easier to get the other person's contact information.</p>
<p>To create your own introduction, consider what you have to say that would interest other people. Don't just tell them how great you think you are or how much you know. Instead, tell them only enough so that they are intrigued and ask to hear more. Comedy and similarity can be good conversation starters, too, but if you're not funny don't introduce yourself with a joke. The other person may think you're punch line! Lead with your well-rehearsed IM, and you can turn any stranger into your new hottest contact.</p>
<p>Write down twenty-give potentially great opening lines that could serve as your all-important introductory message. Narrow them down to your five favorites. Call three friends whom you respect and ask them which of the five opening lines best introduces you, your strengths, and your ambitions.</p>
<p><span> </span></p>
<p><strong>Keep Your Head Up </strong></p>
<p>People pay attention to how you carry yourself. When you walk is your head up and confident or are you slouching and looking worn out? This is one simple habit reveals much about your attitude. People meeting you for the first time may go so far as to interpret how you carry yourself as evidence of how you might carry them in a time of need. Think about it: Do you want the person with the firm handshake who holds her head high on your team or your opponent's? I want her on my team!</p>
<p><span> </span></p>
<p>Get your image off on the right foot by always offering a firm handshake, making good eye contact, and having decent posture. This goes whether you are a man or a woman, going for a job interview or on a blind date. So, before you go into a meeting or on a date, take a deep breath, collect your thoughts, and then walk in with confidence.</p>
<p><strong>Leave a Paper Trail</strong></p>
<p>Invest $50 in your future. Buy some decent letterhead and envelopes. Print five hundred sharp-looking business cards. You can get all these at your local copy store office-supply store, or print shop. Then keep in mind that your fancy business cards do you no good if they remain in your pocket! If you really want to secure your image, buy your name as a URL address - before someone else does!</p>
<p><strong>Keep Your Ears Open </strong></p>
<p>The fastest way to make a new friend or turn your enemies into allies is to actually listen to what they are saying. This is different from hearing someone's words and nodding along while you glance around the room and wish you were talking to someone else. Actually listening requires paying attention to what the other person says and how he says it. All these signals add up to you getting his point the way he intended.</p>
<p><span> </span></p>
<p>The easiest way to actually listen, instead of only halfway hear, is by adding three simple habits to your plugging-in conversations.</p>
<ul>
<li>Habit 1: Allow the other person to make her key points without interruption.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Habit 2: Summarize her major points back to her. (So I think what you are saying is...)</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Habit 3: Ask specific questions or two about her main point.</li>
</ul>
<p><span> </span></p>
<p>These three habits are so simple, but most people won't add them to their conversations, no matter how important the new contact. The reason is simple: Most people would rather hear themselves talk than really listen to someone else! As a result, they miss out on valuable information and more meaningful connection that could open the door to otherwise unreachable opportunity.</p>
<p><strong>Be Gracious <span> </span></strong></p>
<p>Do not take it personally if people cannot or do not help you. Some people may not see any immediate way they can help you or they may not have the time. In this case, do not discard them entirely. Keep them informed of your on-goings because they may be able to help you in the future. Never discount anyone, you&rsquo;ll be surprised at how people can help you.</p>
<p><strong>Be In the Know</strong></p>
<p>Watch the news more and have your own point of view. It's important to do these things as an adult. Be more educated. The news is a good place to start, and you may find connections with people that way. When networking, you want to</p>
<p><strong>Follow Up on All Exchanges, Resumes, Networking Contacts, Etc.</strong></p>
<p>When someone gives you a referral, an opportunity to send a resume you should follow through immediately. This sound obvious, but people often let days turn into weeks and each day that elapses increases the chances for something to go wrong. Things can change. People leave their positions, the climate of the company can change, the job opportunity can get filled, the person can forget the phone conversation you've just had. Don't miss the boat.</p>
<p><strong>Keep In Touch</strong></p>
<p>Keep in touch with your original contacts, and let them know how things are going. Remember: your contacts have recommended you to their business friends, they are interested in the outcome of your conversations. It is important to maintain regular contact with every member of your network.</p>
<p>Find creative ways to stay on someone's radar screen. Set a search engine alert -- research your contacts and their interests, and stay in touch that way.</p>
<p><strong>Mutually Beneficial </strong></p>
<p>Don't just call contacts when you need something, make sure that you are available to help them as well when you can. Remember that networking is a two-way street.</p>
<p><strong>Do Your Homework </strong></p>
<p>Research industries, organizations and positions before and after your networking meetings.<span> </span>Your meetings and follow-up will be more productive, as your questions will be more informed and the contacts will know you are serious and interested in them and their industry.</p>
<p><strong>Plan Ahead</strong></p>
<p>Make the most of social gatherings by planning in advance. Set a goal to meet, connect with and learn from three to five people at an event. Do your research before going so you know something about those you might meet.</p>
<p><strong>It&rsquo;s Not You, It&rsquo;s Them</strong></p>
<p>Conversations should be focused on the person you're speaking with, not you and your job search. That can come later, after trust has been built. When first introduced to the contact you want to speak with, show genuine interest in their lives, interests and careers.</p>
<p><span class="full-image-float-left ssNonEditable"><span><img style="width: 150px;" src="http://www.realworld101.org/storage/All_montage_A_NoSchool_Thumb.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1264010424569" alt="" /></span></span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><em>This is an excerpt from </em><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">F</span><span style="text-decoration: underline;">inding Your First Job After College Guide</span> which is included in our Real World 101 Care Packages. <span>Visit our </span><a href="http://www.realworld101.org/care-packages">Care Package</a> page to find out how to get one for yourself or for a lucky college grad!</em></p>]]></description><wfw:commentRss>http://www.realworld101.org/real-world-101-blog/rss-comments-entry-6428603.xml</wfw:commentRss></item><item><title>How to Create a Budget</title><category>Personal Finances</category><category>budgeting</category><category>college graduate</category><category>debt</category><category>grads</category><category>graduation</category><category>managing money</category><category>money management</category><category>personal finances</category><category>planning</category><category>real world</category><category>university</category><dc:creator>Patricia Hudak</dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 03 Mar 2010 15:00:33 +0000</pubDate><link>http://www.realworld101.org/real-world-101-blog/2010/3/3/how-to-create-a-budget.html</link><guid isPermaLink="false">101207:895015:6628590</guid><description><![CDATA[<p><span class="full-image-float-right ssNonEditable"><span><img style="width: 150px;" src="http://www.realworld101.org/storage/budgetsheet-main_Full.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1265750939794" alt="" /></span></span>Once you identify your spending habits through a spending notebook, you can get started on creating a budget.&nbsp; It doesn&rsquo;t have to be fancy or an elaborate spreadsheet of numbers and formulas that only an economics major could figure out. In fact, the key to sticking to one is to make sure it&rsquo;s both realistic and simple.</p>
<p>Having a budget helps you discipline yourself in those moments when you are tempted to choose between something you need and something you merely want. Just as a blueprint guides the building of a house, a personal budget acts as a guidance system to steer you away from costly impulses and money-burning behaviors.</p>
<p>Establishing a budget isn&rsquo;t rocket science; it just takes some careful thought and discipline. At the end of the chapter we provide you with a budget template to help get you started</p>
<p><strong>Follow these steps to create your budget:</strong></p>
<p><strong>1. Identify Income</strong></p>
<p>Obviously the first thing that comes to mind is your salary. Anyone who has already been employed knows that your stated salary isn&rsquo;t what winds up in your bank account&mdash;the government takes its share first. Once you get your first paycheck you will know exactly how much the government is going to be taking, but for now an estimate will do. If the average graduate makes roughly $40,000 per year and is a single person with no dependents, assume that the government will be taking about 23 percent of your income each paycheck. That leaves you with approximately $30,000 take-home pay. The more you make, the more they take, so adjust this figure accordingly. Divide by 12, and you&rsquo;ll have a monthly income of about $2,500. Don&rsquo;t forget to factor in reductions for health insurance or a retirement plan if that applies.</p>
<p>Need help with the Math? Visit <a href="../../Calculating-Your-Income">RealWorld101.org/Calculating-Your-Income</a> to calculate your monthly income.</p>
<p>Other Sources of Income</p>
<p>Other sources of possible income include signing bonuses, profit sharing, and any dividend checks you receive from personal investments. Since we&rsquo;re working on a monthly budget here, only include those additional sources of income that you will be receiving monthly. A one-time windfall such as a signing bonus shouldn&rsquo;t be factored in. It&rsquo;s better to calculate your with less money than more.</p>
<p><strong>2. Pay Yourself First</strong></p>
<p>You've probably heard the expression "pay yourself first." This is really a critical expense. If you don't pay yourself, you won't have money for emergencies, money to retire, money to cover times of unemployment, and so on. "Paying yourself first" means allocating money to your retirement and non-retirement investments and emergency funds just like any other bill you need to pay - not waiting to see what's left over in your checking account at the end of the month. There's probably almost nothing left.</p>
<p>When you put together a budget, you can set aside your savings in one of two ways. Either include the money you'll save each month in your routine expenses, or deduct it from your income before you start making your budget. Paying yourself first will reward you greatly down the road.</p>
<p><strong>3. List Your Expenses</strong></p>
<p>Use your spending notebook and any other receipts you've saved to determine your actual expenses. You can create subcategories if you&rsquo;d like to be more detailed. Subcategories can be used to remind you of all the possible expenses. As you write down expenses, you will probably start to see areas of unnecessary spending you can cut back on.</p>
<p><strong>Routine Expenses</strong></p>
<p>Routine expenses include the more obvious expenditures like rent, insurance, food, and entertainment.</p>
<p>To learn more about routine expenses, visit <a href="../../Routine-Expenses">RealWorld101.org/Routine-Expenses</a></p>
<p><strong>Non-routine Expenses</strong></p>
<p>Non-routine expenses are expenditures that people often overlook because they don't have to pay them regularly. They include car repairs or medical expenses.</p>
<p>The way to anticipate non-routine expenses is to list and total all that you've had in the past year. Include car repair bills, big gifts, unexpected medical bills, an unexpected friend&rsquo;s wedding, and any others you can think of. Total the cost of all those things, and then divide the total by 12. That's how much you should set aside each month for non-routine expenses.</p>
<p>If you're just out of college and starting out, estimating your non-routine expenses will be difficult because you probably won't have much of a history of these types of expenses to work from. If that's the case, ask someone to help you. Maybe you have a friend who's been on his own for a few years and can give you an idea about these types of expenses. Or perhaps a family member can advise you on car repairs and other expenses.</p>
<p><strong>Tips For Expenses</strong></p>
<p><em>Plug the Leaks</em></p>
<p>If you know you have certain areas of weakness, like eating out, break those out in more detail (restaurant meals, breakfast at a coffee shop, etc.). This will help you keep a closer eye on the problem areas.</p>
<p><em>Calculate Out Your Expenses</em></p>
<p>Make a list of things you know you'll spend money on every month. Your list will definitely include rent, which is most likely fixed each month. For utility bills you may have to sum a couple months' worth and compute your average for one month. Car payments and insurance payments are set in stone, so they're easy to calculate on a monthly basis. Even if you pay your car insurance twice a year, figure out what it costs you per month.</p>
<p><em>Turn Your Goals Into Expenses</em></p>
<p>They won't pay for themselves, and the sooner you can put some money away for specific goals in the future, the better off you'll be. Once you identify what your goals are, you must prioritize your expenditures to align with them. For example, is your goal to move out of your parents&rsquo; house? Or saving for a down payment on a car by spring? Or maybe you want to buy that special someone a great gift? They're all worthwhile goals, but you need to budget for them! The idea here is that your choices should meet your needs, and you should finance those choices in the wisest possible way. When you know exactly where you want your extra money to go, you'll have all the incentive you need for developing a smarter budget and achieving your goals.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">Tool:<a href="RealWorld101.org/Budget-Worksheet">Budget Worksheet</a></p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">Keeping track of your spending and managing your money is so much easier with a budget. Use our Budget Worksheet to help you make the most of your money.</p>
<p><strong>Budget Online</strong></p>
<p>Social networking financial Web sites like <a href="http://www.mint.com/">Mint.com</a>, <a href="http://www.geezeo.com/">Geezeo.com</a> and <a href="http://www.wesabe.com/">Wesabe.com</a> are made for twentysomethings. You can keep all your finances in one place, manage your budget, check your balances from your cell phone or office and see how much you&rsquo;re spending compared with everyone else. If you do your banking online, you simply link one of the programs to your accounts and the website automatically grabs your spending activity from those sources and categorizes it for you.</p>
<p>There are plenty of websites and software that offer advice on setting up budgets and handling other financial matters, visit <a href="../../Budget-Online">RealWorld101.org/Budget-Online</a></p>
<p><span class="full-image-float-left ssNonEditable"><span><img style="width: 150px;" src="http://www.realworld101.org/storage/All_montage_A_NoSchool_Thumb.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1264010424569" alt="" /></span></span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><em>This is an excerpt from </em><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Managing Your Money</span><span style="text-decoration: underline;"> After College Guide</span> which is included in our Real World 101 Care Packages. <span>Visit our </span><a href="http://www.realworld101.org/care-packages">Care Package</a> page to find out how to get one for yourself or for a lucky college grad!</em></p>]]></description><wfw:commentRss>http://www.realworld101.org/real-world-101-blog/rss-comments-entry-6628590.xml</wfw:commentRss></item><item><title>Hot Networking Zones for College Grads</title><category>Career</category><category>alumni</category><category>career</category><category>college grad</category><category>contacts</category><category>first job</category><category>graduation</category><category>hot spots</category><category>job search</category><category>location</category><category>network</category><category>networking</category><category>real world</category><dc:creator>Patricia Hudak</dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 02 Mar 2010 15:00:39 +0000</pubDate><link>http://www.realworld101.org/real-world-101-blog/2010/3/2/hot-networking-zones-for-college-grads.html</link><guid isPermaLink="false">101207:895015:6428581</guid><description><![CDATA[<p><strong><span class="full-image-float-right ssNonEditable"><span><img style="width: 150px;" src="http://www.realworld101.org/storage/places to network.JPG?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1265682495419" alt="" /></span></span>Whenever and Wherever</strong></p>
<p>Networking is a commitment. You must always be on the lookout for new opportunities. Being prepared to network in even the oddest settings will have you interviewing for more positions than you ever thought possible.&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Hot Networking Zones</strong></p>
<p>Some places are ideal for networking.</p>
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>- Business seminars&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <br /></td>
<td>- Industry trade shows</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>- Fund-raisers</td>
<td>- Professional organizations</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>- Religious institutions</td>
<td>- Conferences</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>- Community Events</td>
<td>- Health clubs</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>- Industry panels</td>
<td>- Networking events</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>- Career fairs</td>
<td>- Employer presentations</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>- Lectures</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><em>Professional Associations</em></p>
<p>As you begin your job search, explore and join the professional associations in your field. Most professional organizations offer significantly reduced rates for students, and the potential benefits of joining certainly outweigh the cost. But for professional associations to function as a networking tool, it is not enough to simply join. You must regularly attend meetings, maybe even become an officer, or volunteer during special events.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
<p><em>Alumni Associations</em></p>
<p>Alumni associations are ready-made networking opportunities where you can connect with professionals who share their alma mater. These networks offer professional development opportunities, mentors, casual and formal networking opportunities, and exposure to various career paths.</p>
<p><em>Attend Events</em></p>
<p>Go to all the conferences, lectures, and events related to your field. When you go to events, force yourself to go alone instead of recruiting a friend. That way, you won't have a crutch to lean on and you'll be forced to talk to people. You can&rsquo;t afford to be shy&mdash;if you see someone you want to meet, approach them, introduce yourself and ask them something about their work.</p>
<p><span class="full-image-float-left ssNonEditable"><span><img style="width: 150px;" src="http://www.realworld101.org/storage/All_montage_A_NoSchool_Thumb.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1264010424569" alt="" /></span></span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><em>This is an excerpt from </em><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">F</span><span style="text-decoration: underline;">inding Your First Job After College Guide</span> which is included in our Real World 101 Care Packages. <span>Visit our </span><a href="http://www.realworld101.org/care-packages">Care Package</a> page to find out how to get one for yourself or for a lucky college grad!</em></p>]]></description><wfw:commentRss>http://www.realworld101.org/real-world-101-blog/rss-comments-entry-6428581.xml</wfw:commentRss></item><item><title>Keep Track of Your Spending</title><category>Personal Finances</category><category>budget</category><category>college graduate</category><category>debt</category><category>grads</category><category>graduation</category><category>money management</category><category>personal finances</category><category>real world</category><category>receipts</category><category>tracking spending</category><category>university</category><dc:creator>Patricia Hudak</dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 01 Mar 2010 15:00:31 +0000</pubDate><link>http://www.realworld101.org/real-world-101-blog/2010/3/1/keep-track-of-your-spending.html</link><guid isPermaLink="false">101207:895015:6628531</guid><description><![CDATA[<p><span class="full-image-float-right ssNonEditable"><span><img style="width: 150px;" src="http://www.realworld101.org/storage/receipts.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1265750388667" alt="" /></span></span>When you were in college and you ran out of money, you might have had to forego a new pair of jeans or miss the next big concert. Running out of money in the real world can have far more serious consequences, like not being able to pay rent or miss a credit card payment. Unfortunately, people are notorious for underestimating how much money they spend. That's because we all spend small amounts of money here and there, and we don't really keep track of it.</p>
<p><strong>Where does it go?</strong></p>
<p>Sometimes money just seems to leak out of your pockets and disappear. Perhaps you start the week on a Sunday with $40 in your wallet, and by Wednesday afternoon you realize its gone-and you have nothing to show for it. Parking meters, tips, coffee, sodas, fast food, gas, magazines, haircuts, all on top of bigger expenses such as student loans and car payments. When you're creating a budget, you need to know where your money is going, and the key to that is to keep track of all your spending, big and small.</p>
<p><strong><em>Watching Yourself Spend: Keep A Spending Notebook</em></strong></p>
<p>A tried-and-true method for tracking spending is the "spending notebook." You can use an actual notebook, a PDA, or whatever you want, just be sure to write down every single penny you spend over the course of several weeks. You'll not only see where your money is going, but you can make decisions about whether all those purchases were wise or necessary. Disappearing cash will cease to feel like something that "happens" to you, and those convenience store sodas and movie tickets you pick up on impulse will be revealed for what they are, just spending leaks.</p>
<p><strong>Do Right Now:</strong></p>
<p>Grab a blank notebook. Write down everything you spent money on today, from the utility bill you paid by check to the bus ride you paid for with cash. Do the same thing tomorrow, and so on, for a full month. That&rsquo;s the only way you&rsquo;ll know where your money is going.</p>
<p><strong>Alternative to a Spending Notebook</strong></p>
<p>If you like the idea of carrying around a little notebook and whipping it out each time you buy a scone, monitoring what you spend cash on, knock yourself out. But a less painful way is to ask for receipts and stuff them in your wallet. Even if you buy a Coke at McDonald's, ask for a receipt. Just pretend it's for business. There are enough people who have to collect receipts everywhere they go that no one will look at you twice if you ask for a receipt. You just have to remember to do it</p>
<p>When you wallet gets full, empty the receipts into an envelope and keep them until you've collected about a month's worth. Most likely, they'll be receipts for food, coffee, drinks at a bar, magazines, parking, and cab, subway, or bus fair. Next, gather together a year's worth of credit card bills, your checkbook register, and a couple of utility bills to use as samples.&nbsp; Then divide them up. Watch patterns emerge.</p>
<p><strong>Where Does Your Money Really Go?</strong></p>
<p>You might be spending too much on items you don&rsquo;t really need. Spending $5 every day on coffee and lattes might seem like a small expense, but it adds up to $150 per month. If you used that $150 per month to pay down your credit card debt, you might actually save $165, because you&rsquo;d be eliminating some of your next month&rsquo;s interest charges. Or, if you took that $150 and saved it in an account, it could earn interest. Maybe $150 per month would be a big chunk of a monthly car loan payment. Seemingly small expenses, like MP3 downloads and ATM fees, can also add up quickly. Your budget will keep you on track.</p>
<p>When you get all your spending patterns down on paper, you have a road map of your financial plan. It helps you see where you are, where you want to go, and how to make the right choices to get you there. Take a good look and decide if this road map is taking you where it should.</p>
<p>This brings us to the bottom line when it comes to spending: Is what you're buying something you really need, or only want, and is it a wise choice?</p>
<p><strong>Separate Needs from Wants</strong></p>
<p>When spending your money, think about what's really important to you and what has lasting value. Considering needs and wants should help you identify ways to save money and meet your goals.</p>
<p>If you need help deciphering a need from a want, read <a href="../../Needs-Vs-Wants">RealWorld101.org/Needs-Vs-Wants</a></p>
<p><span class="full-image-float-left ssNonEditable"><span><img style="width: 150px;" src="http://www.realworld101.org/storage/All_montage_A_NoSchool_Thumb.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1264010424569" alt="" /></span></span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><em>This is an excerpt from </em><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Managing Your Money</span><span style="text-decoration: underline;"> After College Guide</span> which is included in our Real World 101 Care Packages. <span>Visit our </span><a href="http://www.realworld101.org/care-packages">Care Package</a> page to find out how to get one for yourself or for a lucky college grad!</em></p>]]></description><wfw:commentRss>http://www.realworld101.org/real-world-101-blog/rss-comments-entry-6628531.xml</wfw:commentRss></item><item><title>Best Networking Style for Recent Grads - Informational Interviewing (Part 5)</title><category>Career</category><category>career</category><category>career services</category><category>college grad</category><category>first job</category><category>graduation</category><category>job search</category><category>networking</category><category>real world</category><category>research</category><category>success</category><category>thank you note</category><category>tool</category><dc:creator>Patricia Hudak</dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 28 Feb 2010 15:00:18 +0000</pubDate><link>http://www.realworld101.org/real-world-101-blog/2010/2/28/best-networking-style-for-recent-grads-informational-intervi.html</link><guid isPermaLink="false">101207:895015:6424340</guid><description><![CDATA[<h2><span class="full-image-float-right ssNonEditable"><span><img style="width: 150px;" src="http://www.realworld101.org/storage/Info Interview2.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1265680411606" alt="" /></span></span>Follow Up</h2>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Once you've talked to someone, they've already invested something in you: their time. Some people want their investment to pay off and might make additional efforts to make sure you know about job openings. Other people are happy to talk to you but make it clear they can do nothing more to help. Consider their time and advice valuable either way. Ask if you can check back with them if you think of more questions.</p>
<p>Keep a record of your calls, conversations and meetings.<span> </span>Once you begin to contact a large number of individuals, it may be difficult to recall all this information.</p>
<p>Abide by the cardinal rule of informational interviewing: Always send a thank-you note within a week, preferably later that day when you get home. Keep it professional and brief, thanking your interviewer for his or her time and expressing how valuable the information is to your job search. Don't jeopardize what could be a good career relationship by omitting something so simple as a gesture of thanks.</p>
<p>Tool:<a href="http://www.realworld101.org/informational-interview-thank-you-note">Informational Interview Thank You Note.doc</a></p>
<p>If you're having trouble finding the right words to thank someone for an informational interview, use our sample as a guide.</p>
<p>Information interviews don&rsquo;t have to take place only when you&rsquo;re researching. This process can be used through your job search and career. It&rsquo;s a great way to expand your knowledge and network.</p>
<p>Read:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.realworld101.org/real-world-101-blog/2010/2/26/best-networking-style-for-recent-grads-informational-intervi.html">Informational Interviewing - How to Conduct an Informational Interview (Part 4)</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.realworld101.org/real-world-101-blog/2010/2/24/best-networking-style-for-recent-grads-informational-intervi.html">Informational Interviewing - How to Set Up an Informational Interview (Part 3)</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.realworld101.org/real-world-101-blog/2010/2/22/best-networking-style-for-recent-grads-informational-intervi.html">Informational Interviewing - Who to Interview? (Part 2)</a></p>
<p><a href="../../real-world-101-blog/2010/2/20/best-networking-style-for-recent-grads-informational-intervi.html">Informational Interviewing - What is It? (Part 1)</a></p>
<p><span class="full-image-float-left ssNonEditable"><span><img style="width: 150px;" src="http://www.realworld101.org/storage/All_montage_A_NoSchool_Thumb.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1264010424569" alt="" /></span></span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><em>This is an excerpt from </em><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">F</span><span style="text-decoration: underline;">inding Your First Job After College Guide</span> which is included in our Real World 101 Care Packages. <span>Visit our </span><a href="http://www.realworld101.org/care-packages">Care Package</a> page to find out how to get one for yourself or for a lucky college grad!</em></p>]]></description><wfw:commentRss>http://www.realworld101.org/real-world-101-blog/rss-comments-entry-6424340.xml</wfw:commentRss></item></channel></rss>