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As I covered in Part One, it is extremely important to get employment offers in their entirety in writing from any prospective employers. This serves to protect you if they try to change their offer later on and also helps to consolidate all the info in one place so that you can easily review and compare offers. There is another area where it is vital to get obligations in writing and that is when renting an apartment.

Your lease is just as, if not more important than, your employment contract. It contains details regarding what you, the tenant, are responsible for as well as the obligations of the landlord. It will contain your monthly rent payments and the due date, contact information in the event something needs fixing around the house as well as lots of important information regarding the termination of the lease and the needed steps to get your security deposit returned.

Here are some more problems that arose for both others and myself while dealing with landlords and leases and more evidence that you should always make sure to get it in writing.

• Upon reaching the last month of a tenancy agreement, there was dispute as to whether or not last month’s rent had been paid up front. In the lease, it was clearly noted that only first month’s rent and a security deposit had been paid up front, and thus the tenant was responsible for paying that last month of rent. Also of note here, ALWAYS get a copy of your lease after signing – law requires it but you should always take the initiative here to protect yourself.

• A tenant was not given the full balance of their security deposit nor the resulting interest that it gathered over the two-year tenancy. However, after checking the lease, the parameters had been met for full return of the deposit and it mentioned that the interest accrued would be given to the tenant as well and the full amount was eventually returned.

• After a plumbing problem backed up sewage into the showers and toilets on the first level of the building, the landlord was called in to assess and resolve the issue. He tried to force the cost of the plumber’s work onto the tenants, but after conferring with the lease it was written that solely the lessor, not the lessee(s), would handle these types of costs.

• A friend of mine had all the yard work on the property taken care of by the landlord as part of the lease agreement. During the winter months, the walk and driveway had not been shoveled or salted, as had been the case with previous storms. In the lease was the number to call in the event that any work needed to be done, or hadn’t been taken care of, with regards to the property and the issue was quickly remedied.

As we can see through the examples here and in the preceding part to this article it can save you a lot of money if you keep up your end of the lease agreement and have a hard copy to back yourself up with. Additionally, it can just plain make your life easier and make the relationship with your landlord a smooth and pleasant one as opposed to an adversarial one.

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As you use the various resources and tips we’ve provided here for finding a job, odds are you’ll start seeing some job offers heading your way. This is exactly what you have been waiting for, but be careful when negotiating with potential employers that you don’t get taken advantage of. Make sure to always get any and all offers in writing. The following are some pitfalls I myself have experienced, or others I know have had happen to them when negotiating a job. Some of us had protected ourselves by getting things in writing, others hadn’t.

• One of the benefits listed was travel re-imbursement, but it wasn’t specified what travel could be recouped. The intention of the employer was for travel to and from meetings only, while the expectation of the employee was for all work related travel. Given the price of gas these days, that’s a significant difference that ended up costing this employee a lot of money that thought they were entitled to.

• Another employee thought that the weekly deduction for health insurance was structured to provide coverage through the entire year, except it was designed to only cover the school year – a definite issue.

• Everyone likes vacations, so it’s usually a good idea to make sure that the vacation/sick time you are allotted is outlined in your contract offer so that you know how much time off your are allotted and don’t use to much (like someone I know) or not use nearly enough when needed (like someone else I know).

• Start dates and end dates for job are also very important for the numerous positions that don’t run all year long. Being clear with when you are expected to start and when you are expected to finish up can avoid a lot of confusion and getting started on the wrong foot.

photo credit: joebeone

As these examples clearly illustrate, having all the details of your potential employment laid out in advance is not only helpful, but can serve to protect you in the event that your employer tries to change the terms on you. You have every right to ask for these things in writing, so don’t hesitate to do so if you feel that the employer isn’t being up front with you. Additionally, you may want to reconsider working for someone who is exhibiting any of these tendencies.

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This is a guest post by Ronnie Ferez. 

The most common problem with most young professionals or yuppies I know, and those that I counseled, is the lack of career goals and objectives. The result, they jump on the first job offer that comes their way.

While it is true that we work for money as our primary objective, but this should not be the end. Career counselors and Industrial psychologists agree that money is not an excellent career motivator. You should be able to wade through this stage as early as possible. Planning your career path is imperative if you want to succeed in the long haul and earn your mark on top of the
corporate ladder.

So, how do you plan your career? How do you proceed?

Here are 3 surefire steps to take in career planning:

1. Project where you want to be 10 years from now. Set SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-Bound) career goals. If you are currently a Marketing Staff now, you might want to consider becoming a Marketing Manager 10 years from now. Then start setting, and writing, those career goals and objectives.
2. Build your core competencies. Your core competencies are special job skills and knowledge that make you effective and efficient in your job. Develop them. Learn new things about them. Learn new technologies that will make you more competitive. If you are aiming at climbing the corporate ladder, then better start acquiring those core competencies required to be successful in your chosen expertise.
3. Expand your influence. Develop your leadership and people skills because top jobs required these skills.

Plan your career, don’t just take another job! Take heed to what Lawrence J. Peter has to say:

“If you don’t know where you are going, you will probably end up somewhere else!”

Ronnie Ferez is a Freelance HRM Practitoner and Management Systems Consultant. Visit Ronnie’s blog at youngurbanprofessionals.net. 

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.

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With lots of concern about the performance of the economy, job security is something that many people covet these days – even more so than usual. For those of us who have been in the workforce for a little while and are seeking that promotion, with a deteriorating job market that advancement looks a little more tenuous right now.
If this sounds depressing to those of you looking to move up or change jobs in a declining job market, here are some great tips from Newsweek to help you land that newer, better job.

1. Follow the Money

Even in a weak job market there will always be some industries and fields that are actively looking for new talent. This may require you to switch fields and use your crossover skills from previous employment in your new line of work. Now may also signal a time to head back to school and retrain yourself for one of these growing professions. What are those areas that are experiencing growth and looking for employees right now? According to the Labor Department, 3 out of every 10 new jobs will be in health care, social assistance (elder and child care) and educational services. Strong demand also exists in communications, IT and accounting.

2. Use a System

Spamming job boards and general resumes and cover letters all over the Internet isn’t the way to find that new position you are looking for. Career Coach Kate Wendleton with the Five O’Clock Club encourages people to spend some time researching and targeting preferred companies and jobs, even if they aren’t advertising any openings. Make sure to take advantage of any connections you have and request lots of informational interviews. Make sure to check back with companies every six weeks for new openings and make sure never to put all your eggs in one basket. Best case scenario, you receive multiple offers and can negotiate a more lucrative contract offer and worst case scenario having some options can cushion the blow of a rejection.

photo credit: kalebdf

3. Update your approach

We’ve talked about this concept a bit here before, but the standard resume and general cover letter aren’t getting the job done anymore. Customize your resume and cover letter to each job and make sure to highlight action words and accomplishments of yours. Show people what you have done and are capable of doing, and if you are looking to jump into a new field, don’t be afraid to update your skills by taking a course and learning something new. At the very least it shows initiative.

4. Make money in the meantime

While this doesn’t mean applying to flip burgers or bag groceries necessarily, there are lots of ways to make money while still searching for that new dream job or working towards a promotion. You can sell items on eBay, do odd jobs for friends or neighbors or take some part-time work in a field you are familiar with while still leaving time to look for other opportunities. Heck, start a blog or your own part-time business. Doing this will help pay the bills during your search and allow you to take your time in looking for something great instead of feeling pressured to getting a job ASAP to keep up with the rent.

No one said that climbing the corporate ladder would be a cake-walk or be without it’s difficulties, but if you do it the right way then you can often find exactly what you are looking for and do it without losing your shirt in the process.

To read the full text of the article referenced above, “Employers Aren’t Biting”, click here.

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I was reading a blog post yesterday by Jim Chalmers of Chalmers Insurance Group here in Portland and thought the point he was making was too good not to share. Jim was discussing the necessity for Renters’ Insurance.

Many recent grads and first-time renters often over-look this insurance policy, even though it usually costs less than a hundred dollars a year. In fact, as Jim points out, recent grads always accepts benefits from our employers — from 401k, life insurance, health insurance, disability — and of course the financing and insurance for our cars but he goes on to explain that,

The most over looked part of establishing a well balanced personal financial plan is liability protection for those unknowns and accidents.

That’s where Renter’s Insurance comes in. What is renter’s insurance? A Renter’s Insurance policy provides a limit of liability coverage and personal property coverage. Most importantly, your insurance company has the duty to defend you — by providing an attorney and paying for your defense — if you’re responsible for any damage to your apartment or the building as a whole.

For instance, if you cause a fire in your building and are responsible to pay back the building owner for damages to the property and for injuries suffered to individuals, your wages can be garnished until those people are made whole again. Imagine being 35 years old and your wages are still being garnished because of a fire you accidentally started when you were 23.

For a small premium paid each year (again, usually under $100 and available as part of your auto insurance policy from the same companies), a personal liability insurance policy like Renters’ Insurance is well worth it!

source “Renter’s Insurance: Valuable peace of mind” [MaineBusiness.com]

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This is a guest post by Phil Rosenberg, President, reCareered & Rainmakers Global. Visit Phil’s Blog here.

Is it helpful to your job search to rank highly in a resume search? It should be, since only about 2-3% of resumes sent through job boards are actually read by humans.

It’s frustrating, isn’t it? Many take it personally, getting angry or depressed.

But it’s also your best weapon to landing interviews…

LOVE THE PRE-SCREEN:

Computerized pre-screens are a necessary result of the number of resumes that CareerBuilder and other job sites flood companies with. But pre-screens give you a job seeker a HUGE opportunity to stand out from the crowd, if you know how to “rig” your resume.

So how can you get an Unfair Advantage? Do the same thing that SEO experts do to websites – game your resume to show up near the top of searches. It’s a technique called Resume Search Optimization, and the idea is simple.

Use the same words as the job description. Sounds simple, doesn’t it? But you’d be amazed at how few job seekers use this simple method. It pretty much like when you figured out in High School that the more of the teachers vocabulary words you used in your papers and essays, the higher your grade was.

Why do so few job seekers use Resume Search Optimization? There’s a few reasons:
- Takes time – To use Resume Search optimization effectively, every resume must be customized
- Contrary to what you were taught – Still today, colleges, including the nation’s top universities, still teach career skills and resume writing the same way they did 30, 40 , 50 years ago (Static resume, general skills, printed on paper, customized cover letter)
- Misinformation – Many job seekers feel they ARE using Resume Search Optimization, by customizing their cover letters. What these career changers don’t realize is that computerized pre-screening strips your cover letter, and discards it. Recruiters rarely see your cover letter, and they aren’t included in resume searches.

Try Resume Search Optimization with the next 10 resumes you send. Make your resume detailed, and make sure to use the employer’s words.

If you’d like more information, a free 30 minute resume consultation, or some advice about your career transition, just email your resume to reCareered at phil.rainmakers@gmail.com, and we’ll schedule a time to talk.

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.

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As another month on the calendar passes us by, hopefully all of us have climbed a little further out of debt, made strides towards that new job or promotion, or perhaps even graduated from college. With the start of summer upon us and many people looking to take vacations we hope that you all continue to follow all the news here at Real World, Really and appreciate all of you who have been visiting for quite some time as well as those who may have just found us. And now, the top 10 posts for May based on popularity.

1. Gas Strike Today [May 2nd] - Nate brings to everyone’s attention a planned gas strike in protest of the high prices and also mentions several other methods to saving yourself some money at the pump. With no end to the rising costs of energy, these kind of tips will only become more valuable.

2. Job Hunting Tips for the Will-Be Grads [May 5th] - Luke brings soon-to-be grads (and the rest of us working stiffs too) some great tips on finding that first, or better, job. The sooner you start looking and the more resources you tap in search of that job the better.

3. 2008 Student Loan Crunch [May 8th] - Nate informs us all that in the coming academic year student loans may be a little more difficult to come by and that those who will still be in school should solidify their loan status ASAP. Many lenders are tightening their standards or no longer offering loans at all, so borrowers beware.

4. Easing the Pain at the Pump: FuelFrog Track Your Gas Mileage [May 12th] - Luke, as he has a habit of doing, brings to our attention another neat Internet application that tracks your car’s gas mileage from fill-up to fill-up in one place. While most of us have an idea of what our gas mileage is, it’s nice to have the exact numbers all located in on easy to use platform. I know it’s already helped me get those extra few miles out of each tank.

5. Choosing Between Graduate School and the Real World [May 13th] - Nate breaks down both sides of the age old “Grad School vs. Workforce” debate that many recent grads have. He cites a great article that gives examples of the pros and cons of each choice, as well as his own decision.

6. Are Video Interviews Discriminatory? [May 15th] - A guest post by Bill Allred, VP of Sales & Marketing at HireVue, he talks about how the video interview process works and some of the legal ramifications of using this new media approach to hiring. With the changing climate for applying for jobs and reviewing candidates, this was a good read. If you would like to make a guest post here at Real World, Really email Luke at: Luke-at-realworldreally.com with your idea!

7. Huge Sallie Mae Screw Up! [May 14th] - Luke alerts us all that Sallie Mae, one of the biggest student loan distributors in the country, mistakenly reported 10 million borrowers as being delinquent on their payments (they weren’t). If you haven’t already, make sure to contact your loan providers and ensure that you weren’t part of this mishap.

8. Why College is the Perfect Time to Start a Blog [May 17th] - Luke discusses the merits of starting a blog during your college years and the benefits that it can provide you - most notably, as part of your resume. Being the creator of multiple blogs himself, he certainly speaks knowledgeably about the subject, but also provides some great resources for more information or to use to get started with.

9. Successful Subletting [May 20th] - Nate talks about the finer points of subletting your room/apartment/house and provides some great tips on how to beat the rush and get the best value for your place. A must read for anyone looking to sublet their apartment in the near future, or struggling to do so now.

10. Just out of College? Why Not Start Your Own Business? [May 28th] - Luke discusses the pros and cons of starting your own business just out of college and provides some excellent tips for anyone considering doing so. One of the more salient points, in my opinion, was that just out of college most people are at their most flexible - used to living on the cheap, looking for a new place to live, not married or caring for children yet - so why not do something big?

As always, if you enjoyed what you read here at RWR then make sure to subscribe to our RSS feed for more great content and don’t hesitate to share our site with your friends on Facebook, Twitter, StumbleUpon, Digg or whichever site you prefer to use (and make sure to look us up in the social media as well!)

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