What Are Your Chances of Getting a Job?

I have really found some of the articles in this journal to be interesting and making me think a great deal! I figure why not get ahead on my blog post, or catch up if need be.

The one I just read was called 'Hiring Strategies that Work.' It caught my attention because I am always talking with friends about getting jobs after college and what companies look for so that we are not apart of the statistic of grads graduating without a job. The article mentioned that companies are looking at potential employees from word of mouth. That reminded me of a saying "Its not necessarily what you but who you know." So networking and inquiring about a company is important. The next thing they really look at is the interviews, resumes, references, and phone interviews. Thank goodness for the career center here because they have a ton of resources to help with that!

Since I am a financial management major they predict that for those looking for a job in the next 12 months things will be pretty good. They say that about half of all the firms will be increasing their employment over that time and only five percent will be decreasing. Meaning the remaining 45 percent wont have much change. Those are pretty good odds if you ask me.

This article gave me hope and ideas of things that I need to work on in order to land a job post graduation. Hope this prediction is right though and nothing makes it take a turn for the worst.

For those who aren't a financial management major, how is your field of employment looking for when you graduate? I have heard that with the economy being the way it is, things have been tough but I am not sure for which fields. Would love to hear your feedback!

Can You Buy Happiness?

We are constantly buying things. Most of the time we catch ourself buying wants rather than needs. Its called leisure consumption and it has been said to make people happy. Don't think this doesn't apply to you, because Im sure there has been times where you have wanted to dine out or buy a new outfit or go on a road trip to visit your friends. That is all leisure consumption. According to the article 'Can You Buy Happiness', other leisure consumption items include, vacations, cars, appliances, clothing, food, and drinks. It even includes charitable donations!

What about these things makes people happy. Well according to the article it is having that social connectedness. Feeling like you fit in with people.

Is money really so important to you that it is the main thing you worry about? Would you take a job you hate as long as it paid well. Why do you want a high paying job? Is it to be able to consume leisure items? The title of this article takes me back to what I want to do with my life post-graduation. I have always thought that you can in NO way buy happiness, and I still believe that. I am the type of person who will take a low paying job as long as it is a job that I can be excited everyday about doing and am helping other people.

Do You Really Need It?

Well I have realized that the previous article I wrote about was not the correct type of journal to be used for the assignment. So I continued to search some more and found a journal! Finally!

Anyways, it is called 'Journal of Financial Planning'. For the first article I decided to take a look at, was titled Necessity or Luxury. A little sidenote, titles play a huge role in what i decided to read. If it sounds interesting I am more likely to take a look. Well this article was determining the difference between needs and luxuries for the Baby Boomers generation. This generation is consider anyone born post World War II. This generation has chagned what used to be considered neccesities of life. It used to be food, water, shelter, and clothing. Now it is healthcare coverage, internet connection, special occasion gifts, family vacations, elder care, hair appointments, and kids' education.

In order to have these things, this generation has mentioned that they would delay their retirement or share their retirement money in order to have these needs. From the list above would you do that?

The article predicts that it may all one day become a need just like food, water, clothing, and shelter.

I think the only things I would dip into my retirement for if absolutely needed is health coverage, internet, and my kids education. The other things aren't a need for me. I think it's crazy how generations evolve their needs and wants over time. I wonder what it would be in years to come.

Would You Do it?

Blogging has been turned out to be a little different this time around. I had no idea what I was going to write about being a Finance major so I thought this post would be extremely difficult. I searched for a while and decided to go with Forbes.com I found a discussion regarding whether or not it was okay to borrow money from your children's trust fund.

The issue brought up was how it will be repaid and whether or not it would be repaid with interest. It was said that it is okay to do so as long as their are guidelines and deadlines for repaying it. "That said, there is nothing unethical per se about borrowing from the trust in order to provide your family with the basic necessities of life."

In my opinion I don't see a problem with doing so as long as the reason for borrowing from the trust was for a good reason like providing for your family. Also as long as it is repaid in a reasonable time period.

What do you think? If you were short on money would you borrow from your child's trust fund?

http://www.forbes.com/2010/10/11/child-trust-fund-personal-finance-parents-loan.html

Which One Are You?

For me group projects are a love hate relationship. I love the fact that there are different inputs being given to a final product and that the work is shared. However if you get to a group where no one wants to contribute in a shape or form is frustrating. Sometime your better off just doing a project by yourself.

Each group project does in fact have different positions, whether they are "assigned" or not. From the handout in class, it was crazy how dead on the writer was when it came to positions. I have experienced group projects where at everyone has shown up. The controller, the passive/aggressive, the busy guy, the focuser, the tester, the risker, the leader. Personality is a big factor in which one fits you best. Thinking about it I associate with focuser most. I lay out goals and don't stop until they are done. I am also the group member who will always carry my weight and get things done. I don't complain about doing things either.

Im hoping this group project will go smoothly and we wont have any slackers or any problems. From the first meeting it seems as if we wont though so that is good.