SavvySugar

The Best Companies to Start a Career

SavvySugar — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 18:30:02 -0700

Moving to a city that's first-time job seeker friendly can improve your chances of landing an entry-level job, and you're really in luck if you can score a position with a company that treats its beginner workforce especially well.

BusinessWeek compiled its annual list of the best places to launch a career by polling college career counseling directors across the country and collecting statistics from employers to learn about details like pay, benefits, training programs, and retention rates. See which employers took the top 10 spots and the average pay for entry-level hires when you read more.

Deloitte (Accounting): average pay $55,000 to $60,000
Ernst & Young (Accounting): average pay $50,000 to $55,000
PricewaterhouseCoopers (Accounting): average pay $50,000 to $55,000
KPMG (Accounting): average pay $50,000 to $55,000
U.S. State Dept. (Nonprofit/Government): average pay $60,000 to $65,000
Goldman Sachs (Investment Banking): average pay $60,000 to $65,000
Teach for America (Nonprofit/Government): average pay $35,000 to $40,000
Target (Retail): average pay $45,000 to $50,000
J.P. Morgan (Investment Banking): average pay $60,000 to $65,000
IBM (Technology): average pay $60,000 to $65,000

Ask Savvy: When Are You No Longer "Entry Level"?

SavvySugar — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 08:30:30 -0700

Dear Savvy,
I'm a 25-year-old woman who has worked for an insurance company for the past two years as a junior account manager. Before that, I worked as an administrative assistant for a short period and received my degree in history from a well-known university. My reviews at the insurance company have all been good, I work hard and I expect to be promoted in the near future. However, I looked at the company's job listings the other day and realized even the position above mine is considered "entry level." What is entry level exactly and how do I convince my boss to put me on a track that surpasses that soon?
Thanks,
Ready to Take on More Rebecca

Savvy says: The good news is that you already have your foot in the door with the company so you probably don't need to be too concerned with level language. Employers and hiring managers use the vague "entry level" categorization to tier positions internally and so applicants have an idea of how much work experience is required. It's also a telltale sign of what pay grade to expect. The term is used for positions that require basic education, training, and experience in the workforce, but allow the opportunity to grow. To see what I think you should consider, read more.

In many cases, entry-level positions are aimed at people straight out of college and in the workforce for the first time. I don't think would be unreasonable for you to still fall into that category in the company's eyes based on your age, even though three years is a solid amount of time to work for a company. It sounds like you are on the right track and know you will be promoted, so you should talk with your manager about your role, the experience you have gained in your current position, and what you are capable of taking on. If the fact that it's defined as an "entry level" position within the company is what's bothering you, ask your manager about the next tier and then ensure her your aim is to continue to grow. Chances are your boss doesn't see you as an entry-level employee if you have been with the company for three years, have positive reviews, and have been put on the promotion track. If you are concerned mostly about pay, bring that up with your manager or HR as you begin to focus and set goals for a promotion. Best of luck to you, it sounds like you are moving in the right direction!

Photo courtesy of AMC

The Best Places For Entry-Level Job Candidates

SavvySugar — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 06:30:58 -0700

Recent college graduates are ready to spread their wings and fly, but the weak economy means many will spend an extended time flapping their wings before landing a job offer. There are a lot of ways recession grads can boost the probability of finding work, and one of them is being open to relocating to a place where the job market is more welcoming.

Forbes developed a list of the best places for first-time job seekers using a variety of data and adjusting for population so big and small cities could compete. If you're looking for a good bet for starting your career, consider these 20 cities.

Milwaukee, WI (Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis)
San Diego, CA (San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos)
Denver, CO (Denver-Aurora)
Baltimore, MD (Baltimore-Towson)
Charlotte, NC (Charlotte-Gastonia-Concord)
St. Louis, MO
Orange County, CA (Santa Ana-Anaheim-Irvine)
Nashville, TN (Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro)
Chicago, IL (Chicago-Naperville-Joliet)
Seattle, WA (Seattle-Bellevue-Everett)

See the rest of the list when you read more.

Dallas, TX (Dallas-Plano-Irving)
Minneapolis, MN (Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington)
Philadelphia, PA
New York (New York-White Plains-Wayne)
Boston, MA (Boston-Quincy)
Washington, D.C. (Washington-Arlington-Alexandria)
San Francisco, CA (San Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City)
Houston, TX (Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown)
Cambridge, MA (Cambridge-Newton-Framingham)
San Jose, CA (San-Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara)

Don't Start Your Cover Letter With This Sentence

SavvySugar — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 08:30:27 -0700

We all know it's exciting to graduate college, and higher education is a big asset for any applicant. But don't boast your new diploma in the very first line, or even explicitly in your cover letter, like it's the best thing you have to offer a potential employer. Too many fresh-out-of-college graduates hurt their chances by beginning their cover letters with a sentence that reads: I just graduated from Blank University.

Your educational achievements will be clearly stated on your resume. As a new grad, you should use the cover letter to emphasize the experience you've acquired through various internships and jobs during your university years. If your major is directly applicable to the position for which you're applying, feel free to bring up projects or coursework that strengthens your candidacy. Just be sure they are highly relevant to the skills required for the job so the hiring manager isn't left wondering why you've included those details.

The Best Work and Money Advice From 5 Prominent People

SavvySugar — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 08:30:03 -0700

There's nothing better than getting advice from those who have been there, done that, and exceeded expectations. From Food Network host Paula Deen to best-selling author Robert Kiyosaki, here's the best financial and career advice ever received by five prominent people, along with their advice for new college graduates.

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Match the Quote to the Famous Commencement Speaker

SavvySugar — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 13:00:28 -0700

Several famous individuals donned caps and gowns this graduation season to address the class of 2009, called upon to inspire the freshly college educated as they enter the real world. Can you match the words of wisdom to the famous person?

Question 1 of 9

"For many of you, today, success is being able to hold down 20 shots of tequila. For me, the most important thing in your life is to live your life with integrity, and not to give into peer pressure."

Making the Jump From Student to Professional

SavvySugar — Thu, 28 May 2009 04:30:33 -0700

Earning your college diploma is much more than a run-of-the mill moment. Graduation marks a huge educational achievement, and it also symbolizes your transition from student life. You might feel more adult just by virtue of saying that college is behind you, but you need to show employers that you identify with the qualities of a professional.

When you're discussing the internships or jobs you held in school, talk about those positions as your professional experience, not just "work experience." You might have been a student when you held those jobs, but you need to convince the interviewer that working in the post-college world will come naturally to you. Presenting your experience in this manner is just as important as how you present yourself in a job interview.

Source

The 10 Best Cities For New Grads Are Different From Last Year

SavvySugar — Fri, 15 May 2009 10:30:36 -0700

One of the best things about being a new college grad is the flexibility and freedom you have to move anywhere you please! Because the current job market isn't exactly awaiting grads with open arms, relocation might be more appealing than ever for fresh degree-holding job seekers.

Apartments.com and CBcampus.com released their annual list of the 10 best cities for new grads, taking into account cities with the highest concentration of 20 to 24 year olds, the number of entry-level jobs, and the average cost of a one-bedroom apartment. The results vary greatly from last year's list - half of the cities fell off completely, and Philadelphia lost its top spot to a newcomer. For the full city list along with average rent prices (according to Apartments.com), read more.

Indianapolis: $625
Philadelphia: $1,034
Baltimore: $1,130
Cincinnati: $691
Cleveland: $686
New York: $1,548
Phoenix: $747
Denver: $877
Chicago: $1,133
San Antonio: $696

Source

Oprah's Requirements For a Truly Successful Life

SavvySugar — Wed, 13 May 2009 06:30:44 -0700

'Tis the season of caps and gowns. Last year, Oprah spoke to Stanford's class of 2008 about her lessons on feelings, failure, and finding happiness, and this year the mogul lent her presence and words to Duke University's class of 2009. Her theme was success and her message was simple: money is great, but it's not everything.

She proclaimed her love for her private jet and then added some helpful substance saying, "That is my best advice to you - Trust your gut. You know what is right and what is wrong. Trust your gut and stand in your own shoes and you will be a huge success." To see Oprah's other pointers for a truly successful life, read more.

In Oprah's opinion, you can bank on success with these following requirements. Here's the list she rattled off to Duke's class of '09.

If you can find a way to give back, you will be a huge success.
If you can summon courage in the face of hardships, I know for sure that you will be a huge success.
If you can see the possibilities of what you can become and not just what you are, you will be a huge success.
If you can go through life with humility, you will be a huge success.
If you can stand in your own shoes, you will be a huge success.
If you can be generous enough to say kind, affirming words to those that long to hear them, you will be a huge success.

Source

10 Tips For College Graduates in a Recession

SavvySugar — Tue, 12 May 2009 06:30:33 -0700

College students graduating during the recession are facing a real world tougher than most. The weak job market has more experienced workers vying for the same positions as new grads, giving the younger candidates fewer opportunities. Recession graduates can persevere through this rough time - view my 10 tips for surviving and succeeding as a new grad today.

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