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Janelle Vreeland

Building your credit

Our expert advises the best way to build your credit

Let’s be honest: building your credit history can be a real challenge for students. Where in the world do you get started?

Using credit is the only way to build your credit history. Credit scores aren’t even generated until you’ve had credit for at least six months—and you need to continue using your credit lines to keep those accounts updated. As long as you keep your credit balances spread out and preferably under 30 percent of your total credit limit, paying off the balances each month—and you pay off bills or installment loan payments on time—you will be on the path to a building credit history long before you graduate.

Here are several concrete steps to build your credit history. Just be careful about applying or opening too many lines of credit at once, which can negatively impact your credit score!

Open checking and savings accounts. If your bank has an issue with your age or lack of credit history, consider opening a joint account with an adult at first. Having bank history will help to build your credit history. You may also become an authorized user of another adults’ credit and/or debit card. For more details, check out the resources in the iGrad Financial Literacy Library.

Find an adult with good credit history to co-sign a loan or add you as a joint cardholder to his/her credit card. This is a way to take advantage of their good credit while building your credit. You get the benefits, access to credit and a boost to your own credit score. Of course, the major qualifier here should be obvious: Don’t default on payments! If you do, not only do you suffer, but your co-signer suffers equally.

Get a credit card as soon as you can. Sounds counter-intuitive, right? But it can actually be easier to get a credit card (after you turn 21) if you’re still in school. Lenders are more willing to take risks on you because they figure mom and dad are footing the bills, or at least helping, whereas it can be tough to get a line of credit after you graduate—unless you land a great job and salary right away.

Get a secured credit card. A secured credit card basically means you deposit the money equal to the credit limit in advance. It can be difficult to find a good deal on a secured credit card now, so beware frauds, scams and too-high fees or rates. But if your credit union or bank can help, this is a good way to get a card opened. Make sure the card has no application fee, a low annual fee, converts to a regular card after a year or so of on-time payments, and—most importantly—that it reports to all three credit bureaus!

Get a department store or gas card. Minimal impact on credit score, but better than nothing. Provided you pay off your balance every month, using this type of card can still help to build your credit history when you’re a student.

Apply for an installment loan. One of the keys to building excellent (vs. average) credit history is to vary the types of credit lines you have. An auto loan, personal loan, student loan or mortgage is an “installment loan,” with a fixed number of equal payments over time. If you don’t need or want a student loan, consider a small personal loan over a short time period to reduce the interest you pay. This will help establish your credit history and diversify your credit lines. Don’t borrow more than you can repay!

Pay your bills on time—all the time, no matter what! And make sure you have at least one or two bills in your name, so it counts in your favor—whether utility bills, student loan payments or cell phone bills, good payment history will help build your credit history.

Dispute errors or mistakes on your credit report. You can check your credit report from all three credit reporting agencies once every 12 months, and it’s free at AnnualCreditReport.com. If you see anything amiss—even if it’s a legitimate mistake—dispute it in writing to the credit reporting company. Include documentation or proof, if you have it. The reporting company is required to investigate. (You can also file a dispute with the information provider or lender.)

Establishing credit history takes time, but if you follow these guidelines and make sure to use credit regularly but sparingly, you can begin to build a positive credit history and a high credit score. And when your credit score is the only thing between you and that loan, car, house or job, you’ll be very, very grateful you did!

Debit cards vs. credit cards

What you need to know about the difference between credit cards and debit cards

College students need to keep their finances in check. It is highly likely that over the course of your four-year enrollment at your college or university, you will receive countless pieces of mail from a handful of companies asking you to sign up for a credit card. You will probably also be approached to open up a debit card. Before committing to any company or opening up any account, you should do your research and determine whether you’re ready for either.

When talking about these plastic forms of money exchange, you should probably be sure to know the differences between them, and the benefits and downsides to both. Chances are you haven’t yet had the opportunity to build up any credit. This is why most banks urge students to open up account and begin to use a debit card first.

A debit card is a plastic card that you can use instead of using actual cash. Not to be confused with a credit card, a debit card directly deducts money from your bank account with each use. With a debit card you are not borrowing money, but spending and depositing your own money electronically.

Starting with a debit card is a good way of learning how to manage your money and how to keep track of your expenses. According to Jodi Kaus, program director of Powercat Financial Counseling at Kansas State University, students need to acquire money management skills before they can use any credit card.

“We explain that when students are just becoming financially independent it is best to start out by developing good money management skills of recording financial transactions and by following a spending plan,” said Kaus. “So developing good money behaviors with their checking accounts and debit cards is generally an important first step.

Most, if not all, banks today offer online banking so keeping track of where you’re spending your money is an easier task than if you were to use only cash, according to the New York Times.

A credit card is also a plastic card, but instead of deducting money from your own personal account, you are able to spend money that you may not have right now. In a sense, you’re borrowing someone else’s money until you can pay it off with your own. The trouble with credit cards, which is where most college students are caught, is if you spend more money than you have the balance that you owe increases with interest over time.

“Students need to know that by just owning a credit card the propensity to spend is going to be greater,” Kaus said. “So understanding that temptation and knowing one’s will power to resist such temptation is critical.”

If you do not pay off your credit card bill right away, interest accumulates and forces you to pay more than what you initially spent. Interest rates vary from credit card to credit card, but tend to be very high for first-time users. Kaus offered an interesting strategy on credit card use for students.

“If they can consider the question of ‘would I go to my bank and take out a high interest loan to purchase this item’ before they pull out their credit card, that is the understanding they need to bring to the proper and improper use of credit,” she said.

On the other side, if you pay the credit card off every month and never accumulate a balance, you don’t have to worry about the interest rate.

“The best way to build good credit is to use your credit card infrequently for small purchases and then to pay it off in full each month,” said Kaus.

Credit cards can also be very beneficial to your credit and your wallet. If you choose to go with a credit card that grants rewards for accumulation of points, you can earn a great deal of money back.

Possibly the most notable and popular benefit for credit cards is the government’s help should you ever get it stolen. If you claim that your credit card was stolen and had fraudulent charges applied to it, The Fair Credit Billing Act states that you have zero-liability for those charges as stated in the New York Times. If your debit card is stolen, you may not be as protected.

Most importantly, when thinking about getting a credit card vs. a debit card, consider how you handle money and how financially experienced you are before you make a decision. If you do not have a steady income or a steady job, then a debit card may be the best option.

Credit cards for college students

We do the legwork and give your the details on the best credit cards for college students

Students are no strangers to persistent credit card representatives. They lure you in with seductive freebies like athletic gear and coffee mugs just so you can sign up for the new, hottest “it” card. With so many offers, how do you know which are the best credit cards for college students?

Credit card companies know what they’re doing when they conveniently present themselves in front of eager-to-get-access-to-credit college students.

“Credit card companies want to have a consumer for life, so they target young people who are trying to establish credit,” said Mr. Credit Card of the popular site Askmrcreditcard.com

Establishing a credit history is simple.

“Get a credit card and charge small items, knowing you can pay it back,” said Michael Mattone of the Municipal Credit Union, a not-for-profit institution based in New York that services recent grads.

“Moreover, pay the balance in full each month,” said Farnoosh Torabi, Credit.com’s money expert and Personal Finance Contributor. “Making on-time payments is a major part of building a healthy credit score,” she added.

Pay off your entire credit card balance and avoid paying only the monthly minimum. Otherwise, it can take decades to get out of debt. If paying your credit card balance in full isn’t possible in the first month, aim to pay at least double or triple the minimum the next time.  

With so many options out there, College News examines which the best credit cards for college students:

Best credit card #1: The Discover Student More Card

The Discover Student Card is a favorable choice for college students all over. The company’s ShopDiscover program lets you enjoy rebates from more than 100 retailers in department stores and restaurants. A great feature about this credit card is their $0 Fraud Liability guarantee. It allows you to receive email and mobile alerts when there are any suspicious purchases made with your credit card.

If you’re looking to get the most bang for your buck, this card is a great choice. Their new Spend Analyzer feature lets you keep track of your spending, which is similar to Mint.com, and their mobile apps really keep you connected.

Best credit card #2: Citi mtvU Platinum Select Visa Card for College Students

This credit card not only rewards you for shopping, but it also rewards you for good grades! 

Students can earn five points for every dollar spent on restaurants, theaters and bookstores, and earn one point for every dollar spent on other purchases. Making timely minimum payments will earn cardholders an additional 25 points. Plus, maintaining a GPA above 2.5 will earn you points, with a 4.0 GPA earning as much as 2,000 points. Being a geek really can pay off.

This card will give students an incentive to study since higher grades earn you more points. The Citi mtvU Platinum credit card doesn’t require a minimum income, nor does it require a co-signer, making credit card approval simple. 

Best credit card #3: CitiForward Card for College Students

Designed with the young adult in mind, the CitiForward credit card, like the mtvU Platinum Select credit card, lets you earn five points for every $1 spent on books, movies, dining and music.  You’ll earn one reward point for every $1 spent on other purchases. 

This card is a viable option for responsible cardholders as it reduces its annual percentage rate when you stay under your credit line and continue to make timely payments.

The fact that it has no annual fee is also a nice little bonus. Additional benefits include free cell phone protection and identity theft protection.

Not only do you get the chance to build your credit history, you get to cash in on all the rewards!

Best credit card #4: Chase +1 Credit Card

Students with social networking skills will be rewarded with good karma, literally. Activate your credit card on Facebook and by paying your bills on time, you can earn “karma points.” Karma points can be shared with friends or donated to charity (good karma indeed). Just for activating your credit card, you’ll be rewarded with 20 points. Earn five more points after passing Chase’s Credit Essentials quiz. Want more? Each time you pay your monthly bill on time, you’ll earn two more points. You can redeem your points at Chase’s online store. Items like cameras and concert tickets are available. The Chase +1 credit card program won’t hit you with a fee for exceeding your credit limit either.

Having a credit card and keeping your credit in good standing is not as difficult as most people think. Challenging? Yes, especially with all that free stuff offered and, not to mention, the possibilities of everything you can buy. But it’s actually very simple. 

“It’s all about personal responsibility,” said Mr. Credit Card. “I’ve never heard of a single person having credit problems who pays their bill in full and on time.”

MORE TIPS

“A generally important tip,” Torabi said, “is avoiding co-signing a credit card with a friend. Mixing money with friends is often a recipe for disaster since you will also be liable for any debt your friend accrues.”

Finally, no matter which credit card you use, check your statement for errors.

“Mistakes happen. Your credit report might erroneously say you’re past due on a card balance or that you have more cards than you really think you opened,” she said.

Follow out guide for best credit cards for college students, and each year, download and review your free credit report from annualcreditreport.com.

Average cost of college

We give you a clear idea of how much college costs

Picking out a college to attend can be a very stressful decision, especially when you have to consider your financial status. The average cost of a college education has increased over the years, so it is understandable to weigh out your options. Will you go to a private or a public school? Will you attend a community college or a four-year institution? These are important questions to ask yourself before settling on the first place you are accepted to.

More importantly, it is wise to know the average cost of college today. Below, you will find a chart summing up the prices of attendance through each school, as well as an average amount on loans, grants and net prices for full-time undergraduates, according to the National Center for Education Statistics).

As you can see, the average cost of attending a private college was $37,000, while a public school cost $19,100 in 2008. The average price of education is continuing to rise as our economy suffers through this financial struggle, but the chance of receiving scholarships and loans can help reduce these high costs.

Personal budget worksheet

How to make/fill out your own personal budget worksheet

For many, the word “budget” has little meaning before entering college. For high school students, budgeting isn’t usually a big part of day-to-day events, however entering the “real world,” that notion of financial freedom has changed and budgeting has become a way of life. Now, every penny earned needs to be planned, while each bill is scrutinized for any inconsistencies. A budget is nothing more than a breakdown and plan of how much money you have coming in and where it goes. Here’s our advice for creating a personal budget worksheet to manage your cash.

Entering college is an expensive venture, “scholarships and grants are an excellent source of money to pay for college,” said Lynn O’Shaughnessy, author of  “The College Solution,” an Amazon bestseller, and consulting director of college planning, K-12 Program, UCSD Academic Connections.

In some circumstances, students are eligible for grants or personal scholarships. However, both financial avenues are specific and require a great deal of research and preparation. It is difficult enough balancing a class schedule, on top of a part-time job, so the thought of managing a budget can cause panic for even the most meticulous mathematician.

However, creating a personal budget worksheet breaking down what you spend vs. what you earn, can help you stay out of debt and away from accumulating a collection of credit cards.

At Financialfootprint.com, there are financial tools and secrets to help create a practical and manageable personal budget worksheet for every type of lifestyle. Inputting your information into financialfootprint.com’s budgeting worksheet, the budget, can be as simple as you want or as comprehensive as you need. Financialfootprint.com leaves creating the budget up to you; it takes your data and organizes it into categories that make sense based on your lifestyle.

“Private and state colleges and universities build their financial aid packages by starting with federal student aid. Parents hope they will receive federal financial aid, but for many families, the only federal aid they will receive is loans,” said O’Shaughnessy.

The budget also studies monthly and yearly perspectives, so you have both a short and long-term plan. Both play a significant role in how you should plan for college and for the future. By creating (or filling out) a personal budget worksheet, you are creating a financial plan that breaks down what you earn vs. what you spend. This also shows areas where a person can cut back or eliminate all together. These are important areas; they show where your money is going and how to save instead of spending it. A budget has the potential to change overnight—so the plan will need to be updated regularly.

Everything from textbooks, groceries, transportation, school supplies and entertainment, will need to be noted. It will cost money; there’s no getting around it. Fortunately, budget planning can help you “make the most out of a dollar.”

According to financial experts, there is an increase in ignorance among college students about one of the biggest risks they will undertake, debt. They are unaware of the impact their current choices on their future and how maintaining a budget can help them reduce their debt.

A budget spreadsheet lists everything you spend money on, from daily life to monthly expenses. Now, creating it or filling it out is the easy part, the hard part is sticking to it. Don’t be swayed by promises of “spend now, pay back later,” because you accumulate unnecessary interest on those purchases. This also impacts your credit and also plays a factor in future investments. 

College on a budget

Simple ways to budget money and spend wisely in college

Coming back to school every fall, many students say goodbye to summer jobs, which makes it hard to go through college on a budget.  Chances are you’ll definitely be missing that paycheck a few weeks after you return to campus so it’s important to learn good budgeting skills.

In college, you’ll definitely want to budget and spend wisely to make that money that you do have go as far as possible. Even money you get from your parents should be budgeted wisely. With that in mind, we present four simple ways to attend college on a budget.

College on a budget tip 1: Buddy up and carpool

You should definitely walk or take public transportation as much as possible whilein college, but if you plan on heading outside of the city, then look into carpooling.

College on a budget is not just about credit cards and bank accounts. Things like transportation, and other living expenses, matter too. Not only will you budget away money on gas, as well as other minor up-keep expenses, you will also be able to spend more time with friends – even if it’s something as minor as a trip to the grocery store.

Additionally, you should consider carpooling when breaks and vacations roll around. If you and your friends live near one another, splitting the costs of driving home and back will save both of you money.

Most colleges also have some sort of a ‘travel board’ where students will inquire whether others will be heading their way or they will offer rides to those who live near them. One example is Southeastern Louisiana University. You could probably also use Facebook to find people to carpool with and there are also national services like Universitycarpool.com.

If you don’t mind splitting travel expenses and heading out on a road trip, then this could be a great alternative to driving alone or spending money on an airplane ticket.

College on a budget tip 2: Avoid ATM surcharges

ATMs are incredibly convenient, but they can also stick you with unnecessary fees if you’re not careful. If you use them enough, those few extra dollars can really add up. In order to avoid those annoying extra fees, do some research and see what ATMs are available on or very near your college.

If you’re able to locate one that is through your bank or credit union then make a conscious effort to use only that one. If there aren’t any ATMs provided by your bank or none that are conveniently located near your college, then you might want to open a checking account – to use specifically at college – that is through one of the available ATM’s providers.

Another option to go through college on a budget is to find out whether your college is partnered with any banks. PNC Bank, for example, has recently joined with a number of colleges to provide students with services like direct depositing, free checking accounts and debit cards that to be used on campus and at local businesses. See PNC.com for more information. If your college has teamed up with a bank, then do yourself a favor and open a checking account through that bank.

College on a budget tip 3: Take advantage of campus provided computer labs

Sure, for the most part we all have our own computers and printers in our dorm rooms or apartments, but if you anticipate having to use a printer more than normal for academic purposes then you should look into using the college computer labs.

Not only will you budget by using college provided internet, – something that’s especially nice for those living in non-college housing – you will also save money by using college supplies. You probably were charged service fees in addition to your tuition at the start of the semester.

Those fees are used to buy and supply things like printer paper, ink, toner and other necessities that you, as a student, will probably be using throughout the semester. So, get your money’s worth and take advantage of them. You’ll be surprised at how much you’ll budget away by reducing the amount of ink cartridges you buy!

College on a budget tip 4: Find out about student-focused promotions and offers at local businesses

Although they may seem a bit annoyed with students sometimes, the local businesses in your college town really rely on student-based business for most of the year.

Convenience stores, grocery stores and movie theaters all rely on campus-driven business and, often, they will offer special promotions and sales for college students. This is definitely a huge help for students wanting to get through college on a budget.

A thrift store in my hometown offered a discount for customers who showed them their student ID and many restaurants and local businesses had similar offers.

Do some digging and find out through friends, classmates and the faculty whether any of your favorite retailers give breaks to college students. There may be more deals out there than you realize!

Similarly, some restaurants and shops will team up with colleges, allowing students to use their meal plan money towards their food. This is a great alternative to the same old cafeteria food and it won’t require any extra money out of pocket.

If you follow at least these steps, you will definitely save some cash and go through college on a budget.

Financial planning for college

What you need to know to plan for college financially

Planning for the future, seems like a novel concept—unfortunately for those who want to attend college and lack the means to pay for it, it’s more than just a concept—it’s their reality. With 13 percent of the population in the U.S. are below the poverty level as of 2007, Financial Planning for College can be a discouraging task.

However, the government offers need based grants, and universities offer scholarships, according to College Grants Database. The majority of families in the U.S. have to plan for their children’s future and figure out ways of saving for college. Financial planning for college means something different for every person. This means developing a strategy and researching all the available options that work best for you.

“Work on your grades and research the schools. The top 25 percent to the top third of a class are going to have more schools interested in them and offering better financial aid packets. Schools that are test optional don’t factor in ACT or SAT scores in their evaluation, these schools can be research at CollegeBoard.com,” said Lynn O’Shaughnessy, author of  “The College Solution,” an Amazon bestseller, and consulting director of college planning, K-12 Program, UCSD Academic Connections.

Students in particular should be aware of how to plan for their college education. Researching what “free money” is available will help pay for the cost of tuition. “Free money” is grants from private distributors, the government or the university. Grants are not loans or scholarships; they are simply money that is given to students who are in need of financial assistance in pursuing further education. This money has no-strings-attached and does not need to be repaid, according to College Grant Database.

There is a variety of grants available to students and there is no limit to the amount students are allowed to apply for, however grants are divided amongst the students who meet the criteria. Financial planning for college includes researching and evaluating all your options, while applying to as many scholarships and grants available.

Private scholarships are less productive then the scholarships provided by the university, according to O’Shaughnessy. Students can access scholarship information at TheirAid.com. “Students should also research ‘talent scholarships.’ These are separate scholarships, for example Lake Forest College offers a Science scholarship,” said O’Shaughnessy. These types of scholarships are much easier to find and apply for, while most universities provide application information on their websites.

Financial planning for college should also include budgeting for the additional costs of attending college—living expenses—room and board, technology fees, books, and supplies based on your major lab fees or studio fees. Students cannot expect that scholarships and grants will cover the entire “college nut,” these costs are typically paid out of pocket.

These are additional expenses that many students and their parents don’t realize when planning for college. There is also a difference in price between state and private schools, as well as a price difference between different levels of private schools and whether the school receives federal funding. There are also different levels of schools. According to O’Shaughnessy, “reach schools, which are schools that students attempt to get accepted to, but their financial aid packets will offer a lot of loans instead of grants; safe schools—schools that are more realistic options for students, will offer more grants as opposed to loans.”

Student loans are also available. However there are significant differences between government and private loans. “Stanford loans or Direct School Loans have a limit. Federal loans charge the same interest rate for every student, while private loans can change their interest rates and charge different students different amounts,” said O’Shaughnessy.

College finance 101

What you need to know about finance for college

Getting accepted to a university is a feat, but discovering how to pay for your tuition brings an entirely new set of challenges. Our college finance 101 guide is an essential part in planning for the future. Financing your education is a challenge for some and it requires preparation. “Apply to schools, where there is likelihood for getting money. Also, you should evaluate the schools financially,” said Lynn O’Shaughnessy, author of “The College Solution,” an Amazon bestseller, and consulting director of college planning, K-12 Program, UCSD Academic Connections.

There are several aspects that need to be considered when planning for college. Our first piece of college finance 101 advice, according to O’Shaughnessy, is that “it’s important to look at how much of the average financial aid package is in grants rather than loans,” said O’Shaughnessy.

Also, try to scale back in areas that are unnecessarily extravagant. Students need their books—but they don’t have to buy them. Another rule of college finance 101 is that many universities offer a rental service for textbooks, either through the library or through the bookstore. The trick is to reserve the books early. However, if you have to buy your books, buy them used. Used books are sold for less and if you’re lucky, you can get a book with only few highlighter marks.

While most schools can’t come close to offering 100 percent of a student’s need, it’s best to find schools that meet the highest percentage of need. Our college finance 101 guide also suggests that it’s important to understand your financial aid packets and the difference between “free money” and loans. You should prepare questions to discuss with a financial aid counselor, according to “The College Solution,” created by O’Shaughnessy.

Another way to save is to be realistic, deciding between what you need verses what you want. On a smaller scale, if the choice is between a new graphing calculator for your calculus class and a new pair of shoes, then obviously the calculator should win. Planning will limit your temptation to spend money on needless items. This is also helpful when deciding on colleges. After crunching the numbers if the negatives outweigh the positives, a new strategy is needed.

Making a plan breaks down your budget. It accounts for every dime you use and shows the areas that need to cut back. Planning is the crucial advice of our college finance 101 guide. It is a way to establish limits and encourage savings. “Many schools will use loans in their packages, which is why you should pay close attention to the percentage of loans versus grants in your aid package. You can find all this information for individual schools on sites like College Board.com and COLLEGEdata.com,” said O’Shaughnessy.

A general rule of college finance is creating a budget that lists everything from your day-to-day expenses to monthly expenditures. This will help keep everything in order, while tracking the important financial areas of your life. In addition, students can research the schools that they are applying to at College Board.com to find out GPA requirements and activity profiles, which can aid tuition and other school expenses.

Our college finance 101 guide maps out a strategy for you that will lessen the economic blow. Federal loans offer lower interest rates then private loans, but there is a limit to the amount. Private loans can sometimes offer more, however they can charge different amounts to different students, and their interest rates are significantly higher. “The max Federal Stafford loans students can receive are: freshman $5,500, sophomores $6, 500, juniors and seniors $7, 500,” said O’Shaughnessy.

Having established a strategy and developing a budget for your expenses before hand, will eliminate the stress while you are in school and help ease the transition after graduation.

The best job search engines

Find a great job with these job search engines

Job searching as a college student or recent graduate can seem arduous and difficult, especially if you’re not sure what you’re looking for yet—or how to find it. Luckily, the plethora of job search engines out there means that it’s easier than ever to find great jobs and make important connections at your dream companies, all from the comfort of your home computer. This overview will clue you in to the biggest, best, and newest up-and-coming job search engines out there to make your job search easier and more effective.

Let’s start with SimplyHired, Indeed, CareerBuilder and Monster. These four sites are probably the biggest job search engines out there, with complex keyword search features, value-added content like blogs and job search checklists and the ability to save your searches, receive alerts and even create your own profile and resume so employers can search for you. No job search should fail to include these search engines. And although it’s not very feature-rich, you should also use your local Craigslist and newspapers to find job listings. You never know what you’ll find and, in some cities, there are hundreds of new posts a day!

Next up is LinkedIn, which has a powerful job search feature built into its website. (By the way, if you’re not on LinkedIn, make sure to sign-up—it is the best place to position yourself as a candidate, catch up on industry and company-specific news and become more visible to employers).

You can also use your LinkedIn login and tap into Jibe, a job search engine that leverages your Facebook and LinkedIn connections to help you find jobs at top companies that you’re already connected with through those social media sites. A lot of the newer search engines leverage all the information you give out on those sites to help deliver a personalized experience – and yes, you can opt out of sharing everything if privacy is a concern!

Current students and grads can benefit from engines catering to them, like iGrad Job Genius, a job search engine created especially for students and recent graduates, with the option to search exclusively for entry-level jobs or internships. And membership (to view premium listings) is completely free. While you search, you can drag and drop your ideal jobs into the “Resume Optimizer” so you can start optimizing your resume with keywords that head hunters, recruiters and scanners use to locate candidates.

If you’re not ready for a full-time job, or want to juggle a few things at a time, FlexJobs is a professional search engine for people who are looking for flexible hours, telecommuting jobs, part-time jobs and more. There are also boatloads of extra features for members, like career aptitude tests, blogs, the ability to upload multiple candidate profiles, etc.

LinkUp is another unique resource for job searchers because, rather than search all the “pay-to-post” boards, it searches actual companies’ websites for job listings—over 20,000 companies, in fact. There is also Yoomly, a job search engine that lets you create a cool profile that specifies, among other things, your minimum hourly salary. Jobfox is another great choice. The Jobfox engine uses its proprietary Jobfox Mutual Suitability System™ Q&A to match you with opportunities that fit your unique skills, needs, and wants, giving you a closer fit in your search results.

Finally, there are also job search engines that target specific careers, fields or job types. There are too many to name here, but to point out just two, Mashable’s job board focuses on social media and web jobs, from software development to marketing jobs, and USAJOBS.gov lets you search all available federal government jobs.

Having your resume and profile up-to-date on several of the job search engines can be a great way to automate your career search. Don’t forget to sign up for keyword alerts, too—that way, you’ll never be last in line to apply for your dream job!

Unsure of what to wear for an interview? Find out in our lifestyle section!

Common Interview Questions

Take the uncertainty out of the interview with these common interview questions

Before heading off to your interview, look over these common interview questions. Compile answers in your head—you just might be asked to answer one of them!

  1. Tell me about yourself. This is one of the most common interview questions, and can be the most difficult if you’re not prepared. Remember, your interviewer isn’t looking for your life story or your favorite football team. He or she is looking for you to “get to the point and sell your professional self,” according to Career Builder. Answer this job interview question with a one-minute self-advertisement that highlights your experience and skills.
  2. Why do you want this job? Use this opportunity to show off what you know about the company from your research. If you have any relevant skills, talk about them in the job interview. Lead up to your biggest achievement. Remember, your interviewer may not have asked for your biggest achievement, but this is a job interview and you need to show the best aspects of yourself.
  3. Where do you see yourself in five years? Don’t be afraid to state an answer to this common interview question that doesn’t include the company interviewing you. At the job interview, show that you have ambition by talking about your genuine dreams. Better yet, talk about the steps you have already taken to get there, according to Monster Career Advice.
  4. What is one of your weaknesses? The classic way to go about answering this common interview question is to name a strength in disguise as a weakness. Don’t say, “I can be too perfectionist.” Chances are, your interviewer has heard this before and it won’t mean much. Instead, at the job interview, talk about an actual weakness that has improved. For example, you may say you used to have trouble working with people. “But now,” you can say, “I volunteer with a group of people and help out at the local homeless shelter. It’s really improved my ability and comfort level with teamwork.
  5. What are your strengths? Think about what you do outstandingly well. Leadership, teamwork, interpersonal skills and creative problem solving are all good strengths to mention during a job interview, according to the University of Kent. When answering this common interview question, elaborate on these strengths by giving examples of how you displayed them in real-life situations.
  6. Describe a situation during which you worked in a team. Your interviewer is looking to see how well you can relate to others and be productive in a team environment in this common interview question. During the job interview, outline the situation, detailing your position and what duties it entailed. Mention any problems, how they were solved, and what you learned from the experience.
  7. What classes have you taken? This is a common interview question for entry-level jobs and internship positions. Rather than listing all the classes you’ve taken in the last three years during the job interview, talk about classes that are relevant to the particular position. It is also a good idea to name a series of classes that show outside interest in a subject. For example, if you are interviewing for an accountancy position, you may mention the handful of business ethics classes you’ve taken.
  8. What didn’t you like about your last job? Be careful. You don’t want to sound bitter about your last job, boss or company. Instead, put yourself in a better light during the job interview by showing respect, competency and ambition: “I really enjoyed my last position as an intern at a marketing firm, but I wish they would’ve given me more responsibility in handling clients.”
  9. Why did you leave your last job? Again, remain positive. During a job interview, don’t cite a riff with a coworker or boss, because it may cause the interviewer to question whether you are capable of working will with people. Instead, look forward. When answering this common interview question, talk about how you want to grow in your field and have access to more opportunities, and that you think this job can do that for you.
  10. Do you have any questions? It’s best to have a short list of questions prepared prior to the job interview, and then bring it to the interview for reference. Ask anything you want to know, but avoid questions about salary, vacation time and pension at this point. Instead, ask about the job’s specific duties or the team you might be working with. This is also a good time to bring up anything you wanted to say during the job interview but didn’t get a chance to mention.

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