http://www.whatcollegeforgot.com A resource for the 20 and 30 something http://www.whatcollegeforgot.com/images/wcf_logo.png http://www.whatcollegeforgot.com http://whatcollegeforgot.com/Testing-the-none http://whatcollegeforgot.com/Make-Your-Grad-School-Application-Stronger-with-5-Tips You’ve decided that going back to school makes sense for your future career goals. You’ve looked into programs and selected a few schools to apply to. Now you just have to get in. The grad school application is your opportunity to present an accurate and compelling picture of who you are, why you’ve decided to go back to school, and what you want to accomplish in your future career. Check out five tips to help you prepare a kick-butt grad school application. http://whatcollegeforgot.com/Organize-and-Manage-Your-ToDo-List-to-Get-More-Done Does your to-do list seem to grow by three items before you can cross off one? If you’re like most over achieving young professionals, your to-do list is out of control at work and perhaps even in your personal life. Traditional time management seminars offered by corporations may give you a few tips that serve as a time management band-aid, but it’s going to take a larger overhaul to get organized and maximize your productivity. Check out six steps to help you get and stay organized. http://whatcollegeforgot.com/Every-Young-Professional-Needs-an-Elevator-Intro-Speech You find yourself in the following position. You’re at a networking event and a hiring manager from a company you’d love to work for is making his way around the room. If you play your cards right, you’ll have a chance to shake his hand and try to wow him. But what do you say? How do you make a great impression and stand out from the crowd? This is where your elevator intro speech comes into play. Here are five steps for crafting a solid elevator speech. http://whatcollegeforgot.com/10-Things-to-Do-Before-Your-Last-Day-at-Work You’ve given your current employer two weeks’ notice that you’re resigning. Whether you’re leaving to go back to school or to work for another company, there are a few items you should take care of before your last day at work. Here are ten things to cross off your list prior to departing for your new endeavor. http://whatcollegeforgot.com/Networking-for-Career-Success--4-Strategies-for-Job-Seekers Career networking. If the very words make your stomach drop with dread, take heart. You’re not alone. Most people view networking as something ominous. But with unemployment rates still soaring, networking is something you can’t afford to ignore. In fact, as many as 75 percent of people get jobs through networking contacts. Check out four career networking strategies that can help you find your next gig. http://whatcollegeforgot.com/Perception-at-Work-Matters A recent WhatCollegeForgot.com post on how to get promoted faster highlighted the importance of being proactive, enhancing your visibility within an organization, and being more efficient with your time. But what about perception at work? Does the perception that others have of you at work make a difference in terms of your career development? The short answer is yes, perception at work definitely does matter and is something you should proactively think about starting from day one. http://whatcollegeforgot.com/List-of-Kitchen-Essentials-How-to-Stock-Your-First-Kitchen If you open a cookbook or watch a cooking show, you’ll see dozen of cooking utensils and pots and pans. Do you really need all of those fancy supplies? You don’t! It’s easy to make a delicious, healthy meal with a few simple kitchen essentials. Read on for What College Forgot’s list of essential kitchen supplies and tips on how to stock your first kitchen. http://whatcollegeforgot.com/3-Tips-to-Get-Promoted-Faster It’s no secret that members of Generation Y yearn for achievement and recognition, and thanks to the Internet, obtaining results quickly has become a way of life. These two defining characteristics help explain why many young professionals just like you strive to excel at their job and get promoted. While it’s not realistic that you’ll always be promoted as quickly as you hope, there are some tactics you can use to improve your chances. Below are three tips you can follow to add value at work and get promoted faster. http://whatcollegeforgot.com/8-Tips-for-Unemployment-Survival Unemployment is a staggering reality for many young professionals like Senta Schreiber of Chicago.  If you’ve been laid off or fired from your job, the inability to work can have a debilitating effect on your finances and your psyche. However with a little preparation and a positive attitude, you can survive unemployment. “I was laid off in December of 2008,” says Schreiber, “but since then I have become a stronger person.” This article covers tips to help you gain a better perspective and survive unemployment, just like Schreiber has. http://whatcollegeforgot.com/Optimizing-Your-Credit-Score-in-7-Steps Are you thinking about buying a car, renting an apartment, or purchasing a home? What about simply qualifying for a new cell phone plan or a credit card? Your credit score is an important factor in determining how successful you’ll be in achieving these goals. Credit scores can be as low as 300 or as high as 850. What constitutes a good credit score will vary, depending on the type of loan you’re getting and your lender’s specific requirements. A solid score generally ranges between 680 and 720. Getting the best interest rates and loan offers typically require a credit score of 750 or better. Yours not up to snuff? Don’t panic! Improve it with the following seven steps. http://whatcollegeforgot.com/Reduce-Your-Cell-Phone-Bill Are you in a position where your cell phone contract is up, and you’re free to shop around? This is the best time to try to grab better terms for your monthly plan. Call several carriers before talking with your current provider to see what they can do for you. Do you still have months and months left of your contract? That’s okay – you still might save a few bucks on your phone bill every month, particularly if you’re paying for an unlimited call plan. http://whatcollegeforgot.com/Smart-Grocery-Shopping-Tips Going to the grocery store seems like it should be a simple weekly chore. But grocery visits are filled with many potential pitfalls, including impulse purchases, forgotten items, and overspending. Become a grocery store expert by following WhatCollegeForgot’s top tips for shopping smartly. Get to know the grocery stores in your area, set a budget, stick to your budget, plan your meals, buy unprocessed foods, find coupons and learn to love the unit price, make a shopping list, and find a few easy recipes that are easy to make. http://whatcollegeforgot.com/Questions-to-Ask-a-Landlord You’ve found an apartment that you like. But before you sign a lease, make sure you ask the landlord a few questions that you may not think about when looking at the actual unit. Is there a possibility of a month-to-month lease after the initial lease period of six or twelve months expires? Which utilities does the renter pay, and what are the rates? Is there a separate storage unit that’s included in the rent? And more... http://whatcollegeforgot.com/Career-Plan-Development-in-5-Steps Career plan development is an ongoing process where you carve out a path to help you reach your long-term professional goals.  Here are five steps to help you develop a plan for career success. Start now, decide where you'd eventually like your career  to take you, write down and research your goals, use your current role as a springboard, and adjust your career plan as necessary. http://whatcollegeforgot.com/Saving-for-Your-Future-Purchases Five years ago, a college graduate earning squat was easily approved to buy a $160,000 townhome with a low five percent down payment. Unfortunately, those days are over. Loans will no longer be available to anyone with a heartbeat, and if you’re planning on making a big purchase, you’ll be expected to put down more of your hard-earned cash. The need for more cash savings won’t just apply to a home purchase, which means there are several other large purchases you should be preparing for today. Learn what you need to save for and how much to save. http://whatcollegeforgot.com/Prepare-for-the-GMAT-in-5-Steps Imagine yourself sitting in a classroom full of fifty other young professionals in an MBA program, discussing interesting topics like marketing strategy and entrepreneurship while you’re earning an advanced degree and opening doors for a new job or higher pay. But wait! Before you can get there, you’ll need to take the GMAT as part of the application process. No one likes standardized testing, but it’s one of those necessary evils. Here are five steps to help you prepare for the GMAT. http://whatcollegeforgot.com/Planning-a-Move You have a job offer in hand – the only problem is that it’s 1,000 miles away. Planning a cross-country move can be exhilarating, frightening, and everything in between. Between finding an apartment long distance and figuring out how to get your stuff to your new home, moving can become a full-time job. Read on for What College Forgot’s simple tips for making a major move as seamless as possible. http://whatcollegeforgot.com/3-Ways-to-Keep-Your-Next-Networking-Event-Flowing Flow is the most important part of attending a networking event. Nothing is worse than feeling stuck with a less-than-interesting conversational companion all evening. But even if your new connection is the most interesting person in the room, you aren’t maximizing either of your efforts by clinging to each other all evening. Learn three great ways to manage your transition out of a conversation, good or bad, with style and finesse. http://whatcollegeforgot.com/6-Tips-for-Landing-Your-Dream-Job As unattainable as a dream job might sound, with the right amount of forethought and preparation, you can make the move as well. Here are six tips to get you started: learn about yourself, don't be deterred by lack of experience, ease into a new career one foot at a time, remember that any progress is good progress, start early, and have realistic expectations. http://whatcollegeforgot.com/The-Job-Interview--How-to-Stand-Out-in-a-Sea-of-Black-Suits Most people know that you need to wear a suit to an interview, but why is that almost everyone chooses a black suit? The interviewer should remember you (in a good way), which is difficult to accomplish if you’re dressed like everyone else –in the ever popular black suit.  There’s nothing wrong with black, but here are a few ways to make your attire (and hopefully your overall interview) more memorable. http://whatcollegeforgot.com/Tax-and-Legal-Questions-for-Starting-a-Business Starting a business requires some knowledge of tax and legal issues. This article covers the following questions: Should I hire a lawyer and/or accountant? What type of entity status should my business have? What kind of effort is necessary to set up each entity type? What liability protection do I get with each entity type? How is each entity taxed? Should I incorporate as an LLC or S-corporation? Should I incorporate in another state? What tax forms will I need to file annually? http://whatcollegeforgot.com/Guidelines-for-Buying-Renters-or-Homeowners-Insurance Sally moved into a newly-renovated apartment in Manhattan. She felt like a queen. It was her first home – without roommates. She painted, purchased new furniture, and set up the place of her dreams. And then, disaster struck! Sally’s radiator leaked while she was out of town. Her apartment flooded, destroying all of her new furniture, jewelry, clothing, and electronic equipment. The building owner covered structural damages, but Sally was out of luck for her personal possessions. Learn how to protect yourself from unforeseen disasters like this one. http://whatcollegeforgot.com/Creating-a-Personal-Development-Plan-in-3-Steps Success isn’t created solely by what you do during the work day. What you choose to do outside of your normal work hours is what will separate you from your peers and open the door for new opportunities. If going to a happy hour and watching television for three hours a night is your typical weekday evening, you’re missing out on many opportunities to advance yourself personally and professionally. This article challenges you to further your after-hours personal development in three quick steps. http://whatcollegeforgot.com/Applying-with-a-Video-Cover-Letter A traditional cover letter is a brief document you send to a prospective employer that describes your interest in and qualifications for a job you’d like. You should always opt to include a cover letter when you apply for a job, unless you’ve personally been asked to submit just a resume. But, you know this process takes a lot of time, and sometimes, it’s difficult to figure out how to write an effective cover letter for each position you’re applying for. Luckily, new innovations in recruiting may provide you with a better solution. A video cover letter! http://whatcollegeforgot.com/Networking-Tips-for-LinkedIn Dear WCF, I work for a Fortune 500 company and joined LinkedIn about six months ago to increase my circle of industry contacts. Recently I attended a networking event and had a pleasant conversation with “Joe” who is in the same field. Joe is currently unemployed, about ten years older than I am, and looking for connections too. So when I got home I e-mailed him saying that it was nice to meet him and while I didn't have any contacts for him right now, I'd like to stay in touch via LinkedIn in case I run across any in the future. To my surprise he responded that he didn’t feel he knew me well enough to recommend me and refused my invitation. Was I out of line? http://whatcollegeforgot.com/Rent-vs-Own-How-to-Decide-Whether-to-Rent-or-Buy-a-Home The benefits of buying a home seem almost endless. No upstairs or downstairs neighbors, you get your own yard, there are no restrictions on pets, and you can remodel without having to get permission. There are also many financial and emotional benefits when you buy a condo or house. Home ownership provides multiple tax incentives and the ability to make money on your investment. While home ownership has plenty of appeal, it’s also one of the most difficult financial decisions facing young people. Consider these five questions when deciding whether to rent or buy. http://whatcollegeforgot.com/Networking-Tips-for-the-New-Year The term networking can turn some people off, let alone the act itself. Whether you’re nodding in agreement or not, at least one piece of information below will hopefully be useful to you. It might help to think of networking as meeting new (and often times interesting) people. Here are some tips to help you dust off your networking (a.k.a. people meeting) skills in 2010: networking can be learned, helps you find a mentor, requires homework, and is a two-way street. http://whatcollegeforgot.com/Exit-Interview-Protocol Dear WCF, I’ve just accepted a new job and gave my old company two weeks notice. They’ve scheduled an exit interview for me at the end of my second week. Although my new job is a step up from my present position, I’m leaving the company primarily because I just couldn’t stand working for my manager any longer.  I’m not the only one.  She’s disliked by just about everyone in the department.  I’ve nothing against my old company but feel they would be better off without this manager.  Should I share these feelings during the exit interview? http://whatcollegeforgot.com/Make-a-Craigslist-Job-Search-More-Effective Last night, I posted an ad on Craigslist to find photographers and videographers to infuse some creativity into WhatCollegeForgot.com. In just twenty-four hours, I’ve already received over fifty responses. You have a lot of competition out there if you’re searching Craigslist for job opportunities, but the good news is, there are some ways you can make your email “cover letter” stand out:  be memorable, explain why you're a good fit, use the right supporting materials, proofread what you write, and offer to follow up. http://whatcollegeforgot.com/How-to-Write-Effective-Emails Whether you’re writing an informal email to an internal colleague or a formal message to an external client, your emails should always be clear and relevant communication. It’s worth your time and effort to develop good email communication habits, as email has the potential to move quickly within an organization and can become widely available beyond the intended recipient(s). This article covers the five topics to help you write more effective emails. http://whatcollegeforgot.com/Application-Advice--4-Tips-for-a-Job-Search Job searches can be daunting, as they tend to require a lot of time and energy. Here are four tips to help you be more efficient and effective when filling out applications during a job hunt. Research companies before you apply, learn how to utilize your network, write a strong objective statement, and stay connected even when you don't get the job. http://whatcollegeforgot.com/Going-Back-to-School--the-Basics-of-Getting-an-Advanced-Degree You spent four grueling years getting your college degree. You swore you’d never set foot in a university again, but now what should you do with your life? You may be struggling to determine your next career move – whether you’re a recent college graduate or you’ve been in the workforce for a couple of years. Grad school may seem like the gleaming light at the end of the tunnel, but is it? Should you really go back to grad school? http://whatcollegeforgot.com/Holiday-Etiquette-at-the-Office Office politics and etiquette can be difficult to get used to when you first join the working world. And just when you think you’re getting the hang of it, the holiday season typically throws some more curves your way. If you wonder what proper holiday etiquette is, you’re not alone. Should you give your boss a gift? What about attend your company's holiday party? Anything else to think about? http://whatcollegeforgot.com/3-Quick-Ways-to-Improve-Your-Credit-Score Your credit score is a critical number – it helps lenders and creditors assess your credit worthiness and re-payment risk. Credit scores become very important when you want to buy a house, finance a car purchase, or apply for a graduate school loan. If any of these big ticket items are on your horizon within the next year, you should check out your credit health now and take steps to improve your score if necessary. http://whatcollegeforgot.com/Holidays-and-Budgets-Hand-in-Hand It’s time to start shopping for the holidays, but did you save enough money to purchase all of the gifts and goodies you’d like? It’s easy to overindulge on more than just food during the holidays, so make sure you watch what you spend! While researching information to make sure my own budget is in check, I found a really cool personal finance test provided by a news station in Pennsylvania. Reporter Janelle Stelson poses questions that test your budgeting knowledge in one section of the quiz, and there’s also a great summary of what your overall budget allocations should look like. http://whatcollegeforgot.com/Twitter-103--Using-Twitter-to-Promote-Yourself You know the basics of Twitter and how to build your Twitter network. This third and final post offers some questions and answers to help you use Twitter to promote yourself effectively. For example, what should you tweet about? How many followers should you have? How can you promote yourself with a Twitter bio? ...and more! http://whatcollegeforgot.com/10-Ways-to-Pay-Down-Debt If you’re like most Americans, you have debt – student loans, car payments, mortgages, and credit card debt. Although lenders bill you for a minimum payment each month, sticking to the minimum could cost you thousands of dollars in the long term. Prioritizing debt is challenging, but following these top ten tips for paying off your debt can help you get started. http://whatcollegeforgot.com/Twitter-102--Use-Twitter-to-Build-a-Network Welcome to Twitter, Part II. Earlier this week, I wrote about the basics of Twitter and how to get started with this social media phenomenon. If you’re following along, you’ve hopefully created an account (using your real name) and attached a photo to your profile. Now, it’s time to figure out how to effectively communicate and network via Twitter. This post  helps you decide how you want to use Twitter and covers ways to build your network with Twitter's help. http://whatcollegeforgot.com/Twitter-101--How-to-Use-Twitter Facebook and MySpace are all about sharing and connecting with friends. LinkedIn is geared towards professional connections and networking. YouTube is the video sharing site that offers you the option to create your own “channel”. Digg and Delicious are social bookmarking sites where you can share and find content from any online source. And now there’s Twitter, the social media “microblogging” site that has taken the world by storm. But how do you use it? http://whatcollegeforgot.com/How-to-Find-Your-Dream-Job--Follow-the-4-Ws Perhaps you recently graduated from college and need help choosing a career path. Or maybe you find yourself stuck in a rut after working a couple of years in your current field. Because professional and personal struggles at this age often go hand-in-hand, it’s important to take a comprehensive approach to finding your dream job. This article will help you plan how to find your dream job by answering the following questions. http://whatcollegeforgot.com/Some-Good-Personal-Finance-Reads It’s getting colder (at least it is in Chicago), and that means more time for making hot chocolate and reading books. I’ve found a list of allrecipe.com’s top 20 hot chocolate recipes just for fun, but I’m more interested in talking about books, especially those in the personal finance category. I’m a big advocate of reading any kind of “informative” book – you find answers to your questions, stumble upon new interests, and become more knowledgeable about a topic. Check out these recommended personal finance books. http://whatcollegeforgot.com/How-to-Use-Social-Networking-to-Find-a-Job Dear WCF, I know that connecting with as many people as possible is important in my job search. I’ve joined LinkedIn to expand my contacts, but I’m still not sure how to use social networking in terms of finding a job. Any suggestions? Thanks for your help, Job Seeker http://whatcollegeforgot.com/First-Time-Home-Buyer-Tax-Credit--What-Do-You-Think Recent home buyers and current home hunters know all about the first-time home buyer’s credit. Individuals making less than $75,000 or married couples making less than $150,000 in adjusted gross income currently qualify for the full $8,000 tax credit with the purchase of a first home. You can claim part of the credit if your individual income is less than $90,000 or your joint income is less than $170,000. This program is set to expire on December 1, 2009 so you hunters out there are hopefully closing on a home soon. http://whatcollegeforgot.com/Is-Now-a-Good-Time-for-Business-School Not surprisingly, business school applications skyrocket during a recession. Layoffs and limited job opportunities create a desire to ride out the downturn in b-school. 2008 and 2009 business school application volume increased accordingly. But will this pattern continue for 2010 applications? http://whatcollegeforgot.com/Choosing-the-Best-Car-Insurance-for-You You know you need car insurance – all 50 states require drivers to insure their vehicles – but you may be confused by all the types of policies car insurance companies offer. In general, you will choose between full coverage and various policies that only cover certain types of damage. Although the policies available in your state will depend on state laws, this article covers the four main types of car insurance: full, liability, physical damage, and uninsured motorist. http://whatcollegeforgot.com/How-to-Use-RSS-Feeds- College forgot to teach me how to keep up with current events (aka, read a newspaper). It’s still a challenge for me to find time to visit relevant news and blog sites. However, a little invention called RSS – really simple syndication – makes this task much easier and a lot more fun. Simply put, RSS is a dynamic Web feed that’s updated when new content is posted to a site. All you have to do is sign up for an RSS reader and then subscribe to your favorite feeds. These 4 steps walk you through how to set up an RSS feed. http://whatcollegeforgot.com/Reduce-Your-Rent Are you about to re-sign a lease or look for a new apartment? If so, you might want to dust off your negotiating skills and ask for a reduction in the rent you’re currently paying. Reuters reports that apartment vacancy has reached a 23-year high, and it’s expected to get worse through the second quarter of 2010. Average rents have fallen each quarter this year, which is bad news for landlords and good news for you. Check out the following table for a summary of average rent payments in several major markets. These rental statistics from RentBits.com are average rental rates calculated from thousands of one, two, and three bedroom apartment listings. http://whatcollegeforgot.com/How-to-Show-Your-Boss-That-Youre-Invaluable An article in SmartMoney caught my attention this week – Anne Kadet explores Ten Ways to Make Your Boss Love You. While I don’t agree with everything in the article, I think there are several points worth sharing. Here’s a summary of my favorite tips from Anne’s article, along with some additional insights on how to show your boss that you're invaluable. http://whatcollegeforgot.com/Defining-a-Blog-Strategy WhatCollegeForgot.com offers researched content that you can access whenever you have a specific question or challenge. However, there’s tons of news every week about topics that WhatCollegeForgot.com readers might find interesting – personal finance, homes and apartments, careers, and insurance to name a few. You can find tips for buying your first house on the site when you’re ready to tackle that challenge. However, you might like to know when the real estate market is rebounding and what (if any) amendments are made to the first-time home buyer’s credit. Sooo…this blog’s goal will be to point you in the direction of relevant news related to all those practical issues that we have to figure out after college. http://whatcollegeforgot.com/How-to-Save-Money-Top-10-Tips You’ve heard the same old ideas about saving money: eat out less, quit expensive habits, and shop the sale racks. Once you’ve taken those basic cost cutting steps, you may be looking for more ways to save a few pennies. Check out these top ten ways to save money and cut your budget. Ideas include choosing restaurants with big portions and getting smarter at the grocery store. http://whatcollegeforgot.com/5-Key-Steps-for-FirstTime-Home-Buyers You’ve religiously dined on frozen meals for months. You’ve been stashing away your extra cash instead of spending it on baseball tickets, a pedicure, or a night out on the town. You’ve even been riding the bus to work. Now that you’ve saved enough money for a down payment, you’re finally ready to make the biggest purchase most individuals ever make – buying your first home. If the sheer amount of information available to first time home owners makes you feel doomed to rent forever, don’t panic! There’s hope, even for a rookie. This article contains five tips for first time home buyers can help alleviate your pre-purchase jitters. http://whatcollegeforgot.com/Getting-Ready-for-an-International-Trip I depart for Italy in just under four hours, and I’m still taking care of last minute errands. While these “to do’s” are fresh on my mind, I thought I’d share them. Here’s a list of things to remember whenever you’re planning a trip abroad. http://whatcollegeforgot.com/How-to-Choose-a-Credit-Card You probably get offers in the mail every week for credit cards boasting high spending limits and low interest rates. Some of these offers are too good to be true, but there are solid credit cards out there if you know what to look for. Comparison shopping will help you find a credit card that fits your needs and doesn’t cost a fortune. This article helps you weigh the pros and cons when selecting a credit card. http://whatcollegeforgot.com/Eight-Tax-Credits-You-Can-Claim You know that you have to pay taxes, but watching your hard-earned money disappear at tax time can be painful. Fortunately, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has a variety of federal tax credits that you may qualify for. When you claim a tax credit, your tax bill is reduced by the value of the credit. When you’re doing your taxes, consult your accountant or professional tax preparer about this list of tax credits. http://whatcollegeforgot.com/Job-References Dear WCF, I graduated in June of this year and am now starting my job search in earnest. (I took the summer off to relax and reconnect with friends back home.) I have a resume but know I may be asked for job application references and have no idea who to use. For one thing I’ve never worked in the field I want to break into – Marketing. However I did work part time at Starbucks for three years and was even promoted to assistant manager last winter. Should I get a reference from my previous employer? I think she’d be willing.  -New to the Job Market. http://whatcollegeforgot.com/How-to-Budget-Monthly--5-Simple-Budgeting-Steps-for-Recent-Grads Your days as a poor college student are over. You’ve entered the workforce and collected a paycheck or two, and now you’re ready to spend it. However, you’ll soon realize how quickly that paycheck disappears if you don’t keep track of your spending habits. A personal budget plan allows you to monitor your expenses, plan for emergencies, and achieve future financial goals. Thankfully, you don’t need a finance degree or advanced spreadsheet skills to create a personal budget plan. This article provides the following five simple budgeting steps to help you get your finances in order. http://whatcollegeforgot.com/My-First-Ever-Blog Welcome to WhatCollegeForgot.com – a site dedicated to helping young professionals like you navigate real-world challenges we weren’t prepped for at college. WhatCollegeForgot.com is a project I’ve been working on since last September. I was trying to figure out what to do with my 401K account from a previous employer. It took several days surfing the Web and a few phone calls to financial companies to track down good info about how to roll-over my 401K. Frustration set in, as it had every time I embarked on a journey to figure out another one of life’s little challenges. I started writing my business plan for WhatCollegeForgot.com the very next day. http://whatcollegeforgot.com/Got-a-Question You remember flipping through the Sunday paper to check out "Dear Abby", right? Our column called "Dear WCF" is a new spin on this old school hit.  Send us any question you've been been grappling with in the post-college world, and we'll work hard to get you an answer. Wendy Lalli is our resident columnist with experience answering many questions about professional and personal development. She'll post responses to as many of your questions as possible. http://whatcollegeforgot.com/Share-Your-Stories-with-Us In addition to researched articles, this site will offer its visitors an opportunity to interact with other users in a unique way. We invite you to share a story about something you've learned since graduating from college. Examples include things you've learned and experienced in the workplace, figuring out your next life step, navigating your personal development, or any other useful lessons you've picked up in your twenties or thirties. http://whatcollegeforgot.com/Preparing-for-and-Taking-Graduate-School-Entrance-Exams Taking a graduate school entrance exam is an important part of preparing for most graduate programs. At most graduate schools, your performance on one or more of these exams significantly affects your acceptance into a graduate program. For this reason, the thought of taking a graduate entrance exam can seem intimidating, but if you’re well prepared, taking the test can be a painless process. This article helps you learn how to successfully prepare for and take a graduate school entrance exam. http://whatcollegeforgot.com/Credit-Reports-and-Credit-Scores--the-Basics Do you know your credit score or what’s on your credit report? Do you know who uses that information and why it’s so important? Your credit score and credit history are two of the most important components of your personal finances. Your credit impacts many areas of your life, including the house or car you’re able to purchase, your credit card interest rate, and even your insurance premiums, among other things. Before you can optimize your credit score, you must learn the basics of credit reports and credit scores. http://whatcollegeforgot.com/Riskfree-Investments--CDs-and-Savings-Accounts Saving some cash for unforeseen expenses is just as important as long-term retirement planning. You should keep three to six months of your salary in a savings account in case you lose your job or have an accident that your insurance doesn’t cover. Liquid investments – such as certificates of deposit (CDs) and savings accounts at FDIC-insured banks – are a good way to earn interest on savings that you may need to access in the near future. These investments are also risk-free, which means you won’t lose your principle investment like you could with stock, bond, or mutual fund investments. This article discusses the differences between savings accounts and CDs and helps you choose a risk-free account that's right for you. http://whatcollegeforgot.com/Retirement-Planning-Guide--5-Steps-for-the-Young-Professional Saving a nest egg for a retirement that’s forty years away may be the last thing on your mind. However, you should invest in your retirement as soon as possible to take advantage of the power of compound interest. With compound interest, you earn interest on your invested amount as well as on the interest you’ve already accumulated. This really adds up in the long run.  Waiting just ten years to start saving can cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars. This article offers five steps to help you start saving now for your retirement. http://whatcollegeforgot.com/10-Steps-for-Writing-Good-Cover-Letters A cover letter is a brief letter you send to a prospective employer as part of your job application. It expresses your interest in and qualifications for a position you seek. Many job seekers wonder if they should include a cover letter with their resume when applying for a job. You should always opt for a cover letter unless an individual at the company has personally asked for just a resume. In this situation, you’ve already made a personal connection, and the cover letter could be overkill. Here are ten steps for writing good cover letters. http://whatcollegeforgot.com/How-to-Buy-Your-First-Car Cars might be expensive, but they're a necessity for most people. Whether your hand-me-down car has kicked the bucket or you're moving to a new city without public transportation, you may dread having to buy your first car. Buying a car can be a frustrating process, but it doesn't have to be. This article walks you through the car buying process by covering the following topics: determine your price range, decide which features you need and want, get a car loan, find the car, and negotiate the price. http://whatcollegeforgot.com/How-to-Choose-a-Mutual-Fund You know that mutual funds are great long-term investments, but you may be stumped by the thousands of available options. Fortunately, choosing the right fund for you isn’t as hard as it may seem. Once you understand the basics of mutual funds, you’re ready to research and choose your funds. This article helps you navigate the fund selection process. You'll define what you’re looking for in a fund, look for funds that maximize your investment, and learn about fund screeners. http://whatcollegeforgot.com/How-to-Choose-a-Health-Insurance-Plan Choosing a health insurance plan can seem like a daunting task. You need health insurance to protect you financially when an unexpected injury or health problem arises, but choosing the right policy involves research and comparison shopping. There are endless options at a number of price points from dozens of companies. This article helps you better understand health insurance and how to choose the best health care plan for you. http://whatcollegeforgot.com/For-Success-at-Work-Get-a-Mentor With today’s increasingly diverse workforce, corporate globalization, and the pervasiveness of Internet communications, this mentoring model has become outdated and devalued. But young professionals can still benefit from mentors in our hyper-paced, contemporary work environment. In fact, contact with more experienced colleagues is more valuable than ever before. This article helps you better understand how to utilize mentors and how to get a mentor. http://whatcollegeforgot.com/How-to-Rent-an-Apartment--4-Steps-for-New-Renters You finally have your degree or new job offer in hand, but the apartment hunt looms in the distance. Renting is a good option for young people who aren’t ready to buy a home, but it also comes with a lot of responsibility and potential headaches. This article covers the following four steps to make finding that first apartment a little easier for the new renter:  what to do before you rent, how to find an apartment, how to read and negotiate your first apartment lease, and how to protect your security deposit, rental history, and credit score. http://whatcollegeforgot.com/Career-Development-Goals--How-to-Take-Your-Job-to-the-Next-Level You’re interested in taking your job to the next level and want to talk to your boss about your career development goals. This is good news, as you can impact your professional development more than you may realize. In fact, some managers only consider promoting employees who proactively request a development and promotion plan. To help you take control of your professional career development goals, this article covers the following topics:  developing rapport with your boss, nailing down a job description and development plan, delivering strong job performance, and setting up a performance evaluation meeting. http://whatcollegeforgot.com/How-to-Prepare-for-an-Inperson-Interview You’ve written an effective resume, applied for a new job, received a call from a hiring manager, and passed a phone interview. Your last hurdle to a possible job offer is an in-person interview, which is typically the most important part of the hiring process. Learn how to research a company, practice answering several types of interview questions, and prepare for your in-person interview. http://whatcollegeforgot.com/Mutual-Funds--an-Overview You understand the importance of retirement planning and have begun to stash away some money for  your future. One popular investment vehicle is a mutual fund – a professionally managed pool of money that’s collected from a group of investors. A mutual fund is invested in a combination of financial products including stocks, bonds, currencies, futures, commodities, and money market accounts. Because a mutual fund has several different types of assets, they allow you to spread your money – and subsequently your risk – through a single investment. Mutual funds are a popular long-term investment for people who lack the time, resources, and savvy of a professional investor. This article gives you a good overview of mutual funds. http://whatcollegeforgot.com/How-Do-I-Start-a-Business Half of all start-ups fail within the first five years according to the Small Business Administration. While there are no fail-proof ways to ensure your start-up’s success, you can arm yourself with information and resources to give your business a fighting chance. To help you think about the right things before you start a business, this article offers basics, steps, and tips for starting a business. http://whatcollegeforgot.com/How-to-Write-a-Resume-for-Job-2 A resume reflecting work experience looks different than a resume prepared in college. College resumes typically focus on academic information – expected degrees, majors, minors, coursework, honors, campus activities, and internships. These items are used in place of relevant work experience to help employers understand new graduates’ work capabilities. Now that you have work experience, your academic credentials become less important. To help you write a good resume that markets your work experience, this article covers the following topics: design your resume, select your resume format, write your resume, what to leave out when writing your resume, and general resume tips.