6 ways youre losing money without even realizing it

6 ways youre losing money without even realizing it6 ways youre losing money without even realizing itWe all like to think that were keeping a pretty close eye on our money. After all, life is expensive, and being able to afford extras like anamazing fall vacationor that newit bagrequires smartbudgeting. In order to stay on track and maintain control of your finances, youve probably developed some kind of system (or maybe even started using abudgeting app) that keeps you fully in the know about how much cash is coming in and how much is going out.

6 Ways to Use Social Media in Your Job Search

6 Ways to Use Social Media in Your Job Search6 Ways to Use Social Media in Your Job SearchSocial media isnt just for sharing vacation pics and pinning your favorite inspirational quotes on a virtual board. As a job landseeker, social media can be a very powerful method to helping you find a job. From networking to researching potential employers, there are a few smart ways to use social media in your job search.Here are six excellent ways to get a jump on your Internet image and use social media to your advantage in a job search1. Present a positive picture of yourself. Sure, social media can be hilarious for funny face swaps, but its also important to portray yourself in the most positive (and professional) light possible. Use your LinkedIn, Twitter, and even Facebookprofiles to create a convincing image of you as a very likeable- and hireable- personIf you have social media accounts already, go over them with a fine-toothed comb to make sure they are employer-appropriate. Delete or hide any old posts or photos that are questionable. Or go one step further and create separate profiles that represent your professional interests. As you proceed, consider everything you add to these accounts with an employers perspective in mind. The more thoughtful, knowledgeable, interesting, and above-board your Internet image is, the better.2. Research companies youd like to work for. Of course you can go straight to a companys website to get a sense of who they are and what they do. But also check out their social media profiles, and any other places you might find them on the web. Read their blogs, posts, and tweets to get a sense of the tone in which they are written, and their focus. You can learn a lot about a company by their daily, constantly changing social media messages- much more so than with a static web page. Keeping up with the company on social media can also come in handy should you be called in for a job interview, since youll have more current knowledge that you can reference.3. Showcase your skills. Once you have your professional social media profiles in place, its time to let yourself (and your skills) shine Just finished getting a new certification? Tweet about it in 140 characters or less Did you finish a pet project that relates to your career field? Instagram those pics and post them online Remember, you can use social media to notlage only look for a job or a company to connect with, but to also highlight those special skills, education, and experience that recruiters and hiring managers are looking for.4. Do some networking. Its all fine and good to be connected with everyone from your high school graduating class, but what about forming connections with people who can get you a job? While you can really use any social media channel to network, if done properly, LinkedIn can be a networking dream.So take the time to fill out your profile properly. Write personal notes to the people with whom youre connecting, rather than optin g for the standard Id like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn. line that they offer you. The more personal you make your interactions on LinkedIn, the more youll get from it.5. Boost your professional knowledge. You can also use your social media profiles to increase your industry knowledge. While you can certainly learn something new from any social media channel, some, like Twitter, can be an amazing source of up-to-the-minute news and information for any industry you can think of. Simply search for terms that relate to you (your industry, job titles, etc.) and see what comes up. Follow people who regularly comment on your profession, and visit every day to see the latest news and peoples opinions of it.6. Do some personal sleuthing. The overwhelming majority of employers regularly go online to research potential employees. Thats why job seekers should make it a point to Google themselves to see what might come up in the search results. Enter your name and also vers ions of it, including nicknames and/or common misspellings of your name. You should even Google your maiden and married name if youre a female job seeker. If you find anything erroneous or egregious, try to fix the issue before a potential employer spots it. That way, youll hopefully have something professional and relevant pop up as soon as an employer Googles your name.Jennifer Parris contributed to this post.

How to Fill Out a Job Application

How to Fill Out a Job ApplicationHow to Fill Out a Job ApplicationWhen you apply for a job you are typically asked to complete an employment application. You may be asked to complete a job application even if you have already submitted a resume and cover letter. That way, the employer has a record of your personal and employment history, verified and signed by you. What You Need to Complete a Job Application Its important for your job applications to be complete, void of errors, and accurate. Regardless of whether you complete an online job application or apply in-person, make sure you have all the information youll need at your disposal. Next, make sure you do all of the following Review Your Employment HistoryYoull need your resume (or a list of your employment and education history) to make sure that youre listing the correct dates of employment, job titles, and education. Your resume should match the job application perfectly because discrepancies will be noticed. Download a Sample Job ApplicationDownload ajob application sampleand practice filling it out. That way you can be sure that you have all the necessary information, in advance. Ask for an ApplicationIf youre applying for a ort in-person, ask for a job application, then take it home with you to complete. You can take your time filling it out so it will be neat and tidy, as well as accurate when you return to drop it off. Applying In-PersonWhen you stop by, to pick up or drop off a job application, be sure youre dressed appropriately. You may end up speaking to the hiring manager and its important to look professional, just in case you get anon-the-spot interview. In-Person Job Application ChecklistIf you review anin-person job applicationlist beforehand, youll ensure not making any blatant errors during the interview process. Online Job ApplicationsJob applications for many companies are often available online. For example, aWalmart Employment Applicationcan be completed online and the same hold s true for many other largenational employers. In fact, some employers no longer accept paper applications and applicants are required to apply on thecompany websiteor the site where the company listed the job openings. Follow the InstructionsExplicitly follow the instructions when completing both online and paper job applications. The slightest error could knock your application out of the running before an employer even gets a chance to look at your application. You might also want to check the company website, or the fine print on the job application form, to verify youve followed the directions as instructed. Review Before You SubmitThoroughly read the instructions for applying for employment before you click the submit button (or hand in your application). Make sure every field is filled in. Some companies refuse to accept an incomplete application. Be Prepared to Take a TestSome companies test applicants for employment in order to determine if the candidate is a good match for the job. Companies who conductpre-employment tests(such as talent assessments) are seeking applicants that match their very specific hiring criteria. Being prepared foremployment testswill help you respond better to employment-related questions. Some companies requiredrug testsfor applicants seeking employment. Know Whats IncludedThe list below includes all the information you need to complete an application for employment. Information Most Applications Ask For Personal Information NameAddressCity, State, Zip CodePhone numberEligibility to work in the USFelony convictionsIf underage, working paper certificate Education Schools/Colleges attendedMajorDegree/DiplomaGraduation dates(s) Position Applied For Information Title of the job you are applying forHours/days available to workWhen you can start work Employment Information Names, addresses, and phone numbers of previous employersSupervisors nameDates of employmentSalaryReason for leaving References List of three references inc luding names, job title or relationship, addresses, phone numbers Resume (If you have one) Sample Job Applications and Letters Remember, the more prepared you are, the better your chances of getting hired. It pays to review sample job applications to give you an idea of what will be asked of you. It also pays to print out one or two applications and complete them, so you know you have all the information needed to complete actual employment applications. If you need to mail a job application or follow-up on an application youve submitted, take the time to review some samplejob application lettersfor examples of what to write and how to follow-up.