YP Speak » Links

Networking’s Not Working For Me.
Guardian Money Blog
This gal says that meeting new people is fairly easy. But when the term “networking” comes up, she gets downright scared. We get it. Solution: Attend our networking workshop on September 23, and get over your fear!

Need An Economic Barometer? Check These Four Indicators.
Fast Company
Your backyard. Your underwear drawer. Your Spam. And your medicine cabinet. All four can show you just how recession-proof you are.

How To Buy Your First Home.
Money Under 30
Scary business! But it doesn’t have to be. Plus, if you act now, you can qualify for the 2009 $8,000 tax credit. Yes, you get that money IN CASH if you buy a place.

Unemployed? Now What?
Under 30 CEO
This article contains four sound pieces of advice—like reach out to every single contact you know and bite the bullet and work as a temp. Hey, it’s money. And it’s all about the benjamins, baby.

Being Real Will Get You The Job, Seriously.
Brazen Careerist
Boon Chew offers up his take on how to get a job—by being real. Plus, at the end of the article he shares all of these innovative strategies on how he’s landed jobs in the past. Thanks, Boon.

Guide To Getting Hired Quickly.
My Life ROI
This blog entry recounts and reviews an article posted on CNN’s Money website back in May. It’s still relevant though. The guy who wrote it apparently got hired in three days. Now, I’m not being a total pessimist here, but isn’t that totally lucky? Still, great tips.

Debt Douchisms.
Punch Debt In The Face
Honestly, I just like the title of this article. Okay okay, the content is relevant, too!

Kill Your Stress: Eight Stress-Busting Secrets.
Dumb Little Man
Not just physical, and not just mental, this article covers allllll the ways we can just chill out. For more ways to chill, check out my recent post on maxin’ and relaxin’.

Good Interview Tips.
Brand-Yourself.com
Not the most alluring blog title ever, but it’s true to form. Check out these eight tips for a surefire way to have a successful interview experience.

Cigarettes vs. Coffee: Which Is Financially Worse For You?
Budgets Are Sexy
Buy a pack of Camel Lights every day? Or a skinny triple mocha from Starbucks? Which is worse for your wallet? Well, since cigarettes are, like, $7000 a pack, we guess cigarettes. Although, what if you drink a lot of coffee? The jury’s out.

The Week in Links, September 3

Robyn Armes — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 21:23:01 +0000

Owing Mom and Dad: Debt or Gratitude?
Money Under 30
Do you know someone whose parents still pay her cell phone bill? I do. And she’s not even unemployed. This article isn’t just about trust fund babies, though. It’s about when your parents just want to give you money, too. Bring it on, mom and dad!

The Thank-You Note: Your Final Shot
Brand-Yourself.com
It’s a no-brainer that you should send a thank-you note after an interview. But the interviewer is going to get tons of thank-you notes. How should you differentiate yourself?

20 Steps to Self Employment
BusinessWeek
You don’t want to work for The Man anymore? BusinessWeek has your solution.

Twitter Tips for Job Seekers
45 Things
This article is great. Ten tips to make your tweeting stand out.

Career Watch: Millennials Make the Most of This Recession
Computer World
“If it was the Great Depression and World War II that spurred the Greatest Generation to unparalleled achievement and the Vietnam War that galvanized the younger baby boomers to action, the recession may be the very thing that will prompt the millennial generation’s rise to greatness.” This article rules.

3 Reasons to Become a Social Media Narcissist
Careerealism
Advance your EQ, gain friends who may become mentors or colleagues, and eliminate by discriminating. Read on to see why social media needs to be in your life, no matter your age. Yes, this means you, mom.

Online ID Calculator
Reach
What’s your online identity? When you Google your name, what do you find? This calculator measures how your personal brand shows up in search engine results (namely Google). Pretty cool.

Could the Recession Be Good for Your Health?
TIME
Studies show that during an economic downturn, mortality rates decrease. Traffic deaths decline (you can’t afford cabs), liver disease declines (you can’t afford a beer), and people don’t work as much (you’re probably unemployed).

The 10 Rules For Building A Successful Personal Brand
Under 30 CEO
The main thing to glean from this article is BE PASSIONATE about yourself. Oh, and obsessive compulsive? Huh?

How To Set Goals When You Have No Idea What You Want
Dumb Little Man
You’re bored. You want something, but you have no idea what that is. Dumb Little Man pulls through once again with four tips to get your goal on.

The Week in Links, August 27

Robyn Armes — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 21:17:00 +0000

When Does Social Drinking Become At-Risk Drinking?
TIME Magazine
If you’re a young professional, drinking may play a large part in your life—whether it’s to unwind during happy hour or to sip some wine while at a YPC networking event. Alcohol is everywhere. How much is too much though?

Laptops’ Price Slide Continues.
BusinessWeek
I couldn’t believe this when I read it. A pretty decent laptop from Best Buy for under $300! Now that’s a steal. Maybe something good will come out of this crappy economy.

Using Social Media? Companies Are Checking In.
About.com: Job Searching
Of those companies that do online searches of prospective employees, 29 percent use Facebook, 26 percent use LinkedIn, and 21 percent use MySpace. Might want to take down that embarrassing picture from Friday night if you’re looking for a job.

9 Qualities That Will Rock Your Career.
Dumb Little Man
Think outside of the box, network, practice humility, and more. I love Dumb Little Man’s daily tips!

America’s Most Stressful Cities.
Forbes
Yep, the most stressful city in America: Chicago. What with the winter, it’s no wonder. Give yourselves a pat on the back for weathering the storm.

5 Reasons To Be Proud That You Majored In English.
Know Your Own Bone
Besides an impressive literature collection and mounds of notes journals, what could you possibly glean from majoring in English? Lots, according to this gal.

Check Your Financial Health In Two Minutes.
Consumerist
Did you know you shouldn’t pay more than 28% of your income for your mortgage or rent? Fact. And if you don’t invest your money yet or have much life insurance, your grade here will suffer (mine did). Still, it seems to be a pretty solid gauge.

Reduce Your Chances Of Getting Laid Off In A Down Economy.
Brand-Yourself.com
Turns out, it’s not just about sucking up to your boss. Check out these five tips.

Book Review: The Little Budget Travel Book.
Budgetpulse
We all love to travel. Check out this review of a book comprised of short little tips to help you save some benjamins on your next vacay.

Eight Great iPhone Apps For Managing Your Money.
fivecentnickel.com
The coolest app (even though it’s not really money management)? CardStar. You enter the number of each of your rewards or grocery cards (like your Jewel card, for example) into the system, and then everytime you shop, pull out your iphone and a scannable barcode will appear on the screen. How cool!

How To Be Rich And Not Be A Douchebag.
Under 30 CEO
The title says it all! The pictures are hilarious.

The Week in Links, August 13

Robyn Armes — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 21:14:42 +0000

$60 Tickets For Next Year’s Lollapalooza On Sale This Week.
Chicagoist
Keep on checking the Lolla site during the next few days for the chance to score 2010 three-day passes on the cheap.

Texting While Driving Ban To Become Official.
Huffington Post
I kind of wonder why no one thought of this before. OBVIOUSLY texting is more dangerous than talking on the phone: Your eyes are off the road. Good one, Pat Quinn.

Women: Nearing A Majority At Work?
BusinessWeek
“While the recession is hitting men in outsized numbers, women are gaining ground.”

Workplace Situations We Don’t Talk About.
Penelope Trunk’s Brazen Careerist
Having a crush on your boss, not knowing whether a meeting is a date, and figuring out what to wear to the office at 10 p.m. When keeping it professional isn’t an option.

All You Need To Know About Renters Insurance.
My Life ROI
Add up the value of all your stuff—it’s probably well worth over $10K. For about $250 a year, you can save yourself a lotta grief if your apartment’s destroyed by fire or you’re robbed. Here’s how.

Are You A Good Manager Or A Good Leader?
DrivenLeaders.com
This article blatantly favors leaders over managers. But we need both, right? Still, this a great breakdown of the differences between the two.

How To Get Great Sleep.
Psychology Today
When taking Ambien every night just doesn’t cut it!

Airport Chaos? Know Your Rights.
SmartMoney
Did you know you’re entitled to up to $3,300 for lost luggage? Get some tips and tricks on how to deal with runway rush hour, that lost luggage, and canceled/bumped flights.

Take This Job And Report It.
Slate
I’m sure you’ve heard the news—the economy’s recovering. Or is it? The unemployment rate just sank from 9.5 to 9.4 percent this month. A miniscule amont, but still. Here’s hoping.

Three Tips For Writing Your Personal Bio.
Brand-Yourself.com
Keep it short and sweet. Call him Ishmael. Be yourself! Read on…

Money And The Brain: More Weirdness.
Planet Money
“If you count dollar bills then put your hand in hot water, the hot water is likely to feel less hot than if you had just counted blank paper. It doesn’t even have to be your cash. Just being reminded of money makes things hurt less. That’s the idea, anyway.”

6 Strategies For Surviving In A Job You Hate.
Careerealism
Take time for yourself. Create diversions. Plus four more ways to stay sane.

The Week in Review, August 6

Robyn Armes — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 20:00:00 +0000

Every Thursday at YPSpeak, we’re bringing you some of the more interesting links of the week (besides ours, of course)—a week in review of some of the most relevant blogs for young professionals. Enjoy!

7 Telephone Interview Tips.
Brand-Yourself.com
Sure, there’s the “no duh” tip like “Don’t chew gum.” But I really liked one commenter’s idea of calling your own voicemail and speaking as though you’re answering an actual interview question in order to gauge the tone of your own voice.

How To Review A Credit Report.
Good Financial Cents
Buying a new car, putting a down payment on a condo, or even just renting a place? Find out how to make sure your credit report is safe and sound.

How To Overcome A Fear of Dealing With Your Finances.
Money Under 30
Don’t worry! Follow these steps for a more stress-free financial life.

A Brief and Informal Twitter Etiquette Guide.
Chris Brogan
Not a complete Twitter genius? Neither am I. This helped.

The Best Brainstorming: Nine Ways To Be A Great Participant.
Marketing Profs Daily Fix
The worst is attending a brainstorming session when your thoughts are somewhere else! Here are nine ways to get in the right frame of mind.

The Big Stress Experiment.
BBC
Be a part of this worldwide experiment that takes about a half hour and reveals how you cope with stress, who you blame for your stress, and why you feel stressed in the first place.

Stretching An Entry Level Salary As Much As Possible.
The Sun’s Financial Diary
When you’re just starting your career, chances are your money situation isn’t that wonderful. Tips: Stop taking cabs! Drink at home! Read this article!

10 Reasons To Visit A Museum.
Know Your Own Bone
The Field Museum beckons…

Where To Find Free Hotspots WiFi Hotspots Around The World.
The Freelance Writing Jobs Network
Now here’s a link we’re permanently bookmarking!

The 3 Greatest Networking Myths.
DrivenLeaders.com
No, you don’t have to be incredibly outgoing and congenial to effectively network. Be yourself!