Career Archives - Page 43 of 45 - Making Sense Of Cents

Is too LITTLE student loan debt an actual problem?

Last Updated: December 19, 2015 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - 12 Comments

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According to an article, found here, too little student loan debt can be a problem also. Is that even possible? I have posted in the past on how student loans can be seen as “good” and also how they are bad, but how could graduating with absolutely no debt be a bad thing?

The article talks about Jesse who “scrounges for free food at campus events and occasionally skips meals.” He doesn’t exercise, sleeps only 5 to 6 hours a night and takes 21 credit hours. Universities say that there are a lot of students like him.

“Students who take extreme steps to avoid debt at all costs, may get stuck with something much more financially damaging than moderate student loan debt. They may not wind up with a college degree. To pay for college and minimize borrowing, students are working longer hours at jobs and taking fewer credits. They’re less likely to enroll full-time. They’re living at home. They’re “trading down” to less selective institutions with lower prices, and heading first to cheaper community colleges with plans to transfer later to four-year schools.”

Colleges are saying that people like him are less likely to graduate. Universities are saying that everything stated in the above quote is a major risk factor which leads to students not graduating.

WHAT?!?!?

I wish I would’ve done some of that stuff (not the going to a less selective school though), I would’ve saved a lot of money. I could’ve lived at home and attended the community college for the first 2 years.

Data also shows that 86% of students who borrow for college attend full-time, compared to 70% of students who don’t borrow for school. Also to go along with that data, 60% of full-time students receive a bachelor’s degree within 8 years, compared to 25% of part-time students.

I know I’m not the average person, but when I was in college, I often took 21 credit hours and I always worked full-time. It is hard, but it is possible. I graduated with debt, but I do have things and experiences to show for my hard work.

What do you think?

What helps your career?

Last Updated: December 19, 2015 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - 10 Comments

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Savvy Sugar had an article on how golfing helps your career and it’s something that I’ve been wondering about. In my career, golf helps a LOT. My boss has golf clubs in his office and clients always want to meet and talk over golf.

Also, whenever I go to meetings, clients and my bosses are always talking about golf and I just stand there awkwardly because of course I don’t play and I don’t know anything about golf past what I know about mini-golf.

I always think about taking up golf. I have some guy friends who golf ALL the time, so I could just ask them to help me. Here’s how golf can help:

Networking opportunities. As I said above, it would help me a lot. I would have something that I could connect to with my clients about.
Makes a great first impression. I feel that if I knew how to golf, my clients would think a little higher of me. I wouldn’t just be the “girl” in my field. They would be able to connect to me and might then therefore be able to remember me easier.
Relieves stress and is fun. My friends always say how fun it is and how it helps them relax. However, I find this hard to believe. For some reason, I have no interest in it. Anyone have any input? Tell me if you like it or not.

What helps your career? Would playing golf help yours?

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What do you think about tattoos in the corporate world?

Last Updated: December 19, 2015 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - 20 Comments

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I saw an interesting article the other day on Yahoo about tattoos, piercings, and other things that are consider corporate “no-nos.”

A lot of people have tattoos nowadays. I don’t mind them, I like them. The BF has tattoos all over, and so do a lot of my guy friends. I don’t have any though.

Some corporations have policies on tattoos, hair, piercings and other things, but some don’t. However, most managers in businesses and the corporate world want a more “clean cut” employee.

“Top personal attributes that make employees less likely to receive a promotion, according to hiring managers:
• Piercings: 37%
• Bad Breath: 34%
• Visible Tattoo: 31%
• Wrinkled Clothes: 31%
• Messy Hair: 29%”

My work has never stated a policy, but I meet with clients at least once a week, so I know for a fact that I can’t have anything that’s visible. What’s your work’s thought about this?

What are your thoughts on tattoos, piercings, etc?

Figured out my MBA problems

Last Updated: April 7, 2021 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - 7 Comments

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In case you didn’t read my other post the other day about my MBA problems, check it out here.

So I’ve been thinking about what I want to do. Do I just want to get a General MBA and be more rounded or do I want to get a Finance MBA and be more stuck, but be more educated in my job area that I’m in right now.

Well, I’ve decided to graduate in the Fall of 2012 and get my MBA. But I’m still undecided if I want a Finance or General MBA. They require the same amount of credits but I’m afraid that I might be too Finance specific since I’ll have my MBA-Finance, CFA and ASA, and then if I ever don’t want to be in Finance, I’ll be stuck because employers might not be able to look past all of those.

So I figure if I wait until next Fall, then I have more time to decide about what I want to do.

I also talked to my work yesterday, and they didn’t really seem to care either way, and I talked to the BF, and he didn’t really have an input either (he just wants me to do what I want to do). I just wish I had a magic ball to tell me what to do.

Thanks everyone though for your inputs. They have definitely helped!

Ways that you might be stalling your job search

Last Updated: December 19, 2015 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - 4 Comments

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I found a good article here, that some of my friends should proooooobably read. Are you looking for a job? Make sure that you’re not doing these.

Are you too passive? Networking is VERY helpful in finding a job. Most jobs are attained through people you might know. Also, when you do have a lead from a network, make sure you follow up.
- Also, even if you already have a job, make sure you’re still networking and updating your resume. I update my resume whenever I have something to add or change. Also, get a LinkedIn if you don’t have one yet! I’m always adding new people to my LinkedIn. This will keep your networking strong.
Are you holding out for the perfect job? I have some friends who have been unemployed for quite some time, and they aren’t even applying anywhere unless it’s their “perfect job.” What they don’t understand is how much this is probably hurting them. Doing something that is related to what you want to do is just as good to take until you find the “perfect job.”
- You don’t know how long you’ll be waiting for the perfect job, and you don’t want something to pass you up because you thought it wasn’t good enough, and then to only find out that it was.
Do you make the job search all about you? You should learn about the company and position that you are interviewing for and research research research. Don’t make the interview all about you.
- All of the places that I got interviews for said that the main thing that separated me from others was that I knew things about the company and it was obvious that I researched about the position and the company past what the original job application said.
Do you have a bad attitude? This one should be obvious, but a bad attitude is easy to notice, and people will judge you of course if you seem unhappy.

Do you know of any other ways that people might be sabotaging their job search?

What would you do? HELP! Regarding school, time and pay raises

Last Updated: December 19, 2015 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - 11 Comments

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After I posted my GBU for the week, Tanner and Stephanie got me thinking. I posted my “Ugly” in my GBU:

“I can graduate next semester, IF I can manage to take 6 classes next semester. Having a full-time career, taking care of a house and dogs, and taking 18 MBA credit hours might kill me though. But at least I’d be done sooner then later and then have the rest of my life to not worry about homework anymore (that is until I’m 30 and I go back for my Executive MBA ughhhhhhhhh).”

And I posted a rather lengthy reply to them and I’ve been thinking about this for awhile. I want more people to read and see it, so I figured I’d make a post. What would you do? Below is what I said in my comment:

“Thanks everyone. I’m still deciding. I have another meeting with my adviser today. If I switch to just a General MBA, then I will have no problem graduating next semester (because the classes are generally easier and there are more classes offered), but if I stick to my MBA with an emphasis in Finance, then it’ll take longer because the classes are harder and not offered as much. So if I stick with Finance, then I would take 4 classes next semester and 2 in in the Fall of 2012, but there’s always a chance that the classes might not even be offered.

So I’m stuck. I can be done next Spring easily or I can hope that the classes that I need are offered.

And another way that I’m stuck is that I don’t even know if an MBA with an emphasis in Finance is any better than a General MBA. They both require the same amount of credits and employers and clients don’t really care if you have an emphasis or not, because after my name, just the 3 letters would be showing (MBA), so it’s not like anyone would even know the difference. Clients and employers usually care more about designations and licenses. I’m also thinking about just doing a general MBA regardless of the time because it won’t even really matter.

Also, if I wait to graduate until next Fall, then there’s the chance that I’ll get a bigger raise overall because my work is already giving me a big bump in June, and therefore if I graduated in May, I would be afraid that my bumps won’t be as big since they would both be in the same month.

Also also (sorry haha), but if I wait until December, then I can defer my loans for an extra 6 months (this is versus if I graduated in May), and most of my loans are federal loans that don’t gain interest, so I would essentially be saving money as well.”

And for those wondering, I would be able to fit the 6 classes in, because one class only meets everyday for two weeks and that’s all. And the other class is a class that’s only on Saturdays. I just really want to be done with school, but is it the best choice? Should I go slower so that I’m not burned out? I’ve taken a lot of classes before, so I’m not afraid that I won’t do as well (but I’m sure my grades would be slightly worse). When I was an undergrad, I often took 21 credits, while working full time and living on my own, but those were difficult times, so I don’t know if I want to do it again.

What would you do?

Women Power and Appearance?

Last Updated: December 19, 2015 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - 10 Comments

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Daily Worth had a great article recently on Women, Power, and Appearance. According to the article, a study that was recently published stated that women are more likeable, seem more trustworthy, and more competent when they wear makeup.

I was the first to comment, and I put (I made a typo and made a second comment below it):

“Wow the average woman spends $100 per month on beauty? Does that include clothes? Because that seems like a ton of money.

I consider spending on beauty an investment and a necessity. I don’t feel comfortable without makeup. I don’t wear a ton, just a little foundation and blush, but if I don’t wear blush, I constantly get asked if I’m sick or if I ever sleep.”

I do think $100 a month (for just makeup) is a lot. I think someone else commented on the Daily Worth article that this includes plastic surgery too, but I’m not sure. I do spend a lot of money on looking nice, and I do see where this article is coming from. If I don’t look prepared at work, then people would probably think that I’m not. I wouldn’t say I’m superficial though. I literally look like I’m dieing when I don’t wear blush.

Now if beauty also includes hair, then I kind of understand how you might get to $100, but that still seems kind of like a lot. I don’t buy a ton of makeup because I like to invest in pieces that will last me around half a year, and I don’t really need anything too crazy or special.

What do you think about the study/article? What’s your view on beauty?