Health Insurance 101

This semester will be my last full semester at my university (yay!). But, once I graduate and head out into the “real world,” I realized have to start thinking about health insurance.

Along with a lot of people my age, I don’t know much about health insurance. I just know that my parents have it, and because my mom is a public school teacher, I never have to pay very much for a doctor’s visit or a prescription.

This week, I’ve been reading Come Recommended’s new e-book titled Graduated, Unemployed & Un(der)insured. It’s given me a lot of things to think about — because in a few months, I will probably be in the situation where I need to think about paying for health insurance. Knowing the different options will be essential — who knows how employment will look for my graduating class?

Do you know the difference between PPOs and HMOs? Will you need short term health insurance in case of an emergency? Will you be able to afford insurance? If you don’t know the answers to these questions, I suggest you read this e-book or do some research.

You never want to be in the situation where you have a lot of hospital bills to pay. Hopefully, the Obama administration will figure out a great solution for our country so we don’t need to worry about these things anymore. But, for the time being, it’s something that should be at the front of any pending graduate’s mind.

What are your plans if you don’t have a job right after you graduate, or can’t find a job?

Should You Start a Blog?

There’s a lot of information out right now encouraging job candidates to start a blog. But, is blogging for everyone? I don’t think it necessarily is. However, I do agree that it’s a great tool to encourage you to write and sharpen your skills.

What got me thinking about this, is interesting post by Ms. Career Girl titled, “Do I Need a Blog?”

She makes some good points, including the following:

• If you hate the idea of being a blogger, don’t do it!
• There are other ways to get involved in online communities, such as LinkedIn, Twitter and commenting on other blogs.
• You may be uncomfortable starting to blog, but it’s good to do things you are uncomfortable with.

There is a lot of competition out there in the blogging world, so if you are going to make your own, dedicate your time to it.

When it comes down to it, landing a job is based on connections. Whether this is through networking, online communities or blogging, anything you can do to set yourself apart from all the other people looking for jobs should help.

What do you think? Is blogging for everyone?

Is a Portfolio All You Get Out of a Formal Education?

This week, one of my professors said this:

“You’re spending 4 years [of time and money] going to school for public relations to, essentially, have a really nice portfolio.”

At first, I was taken aback by this statement. When you put it that way, it almost sounds like a waste. But the more I thought about it, I realized he was right. Sort of.

I’m not spending 4 years—of my time and money—to only have a nice portfolio. I’m getting a lot more than just that—experiences behind the “work” in a portfolio.

Spending 4 years at a college or university will challenge you to:

1. Become independent. Everyone at college has their own agenda. Their own major. They are taking a full load while working a part-time job. They aren’t going to pester you to get things done, or to wake up in the morning. That’s all on you now.

2. Learn to get along with all types of people. Between classes, volunteer positions and roommates, you will be sure to meet people that you don’t get along with. This is good preparation for a future job.

3. Learn more about yourself. Are you a leader? Do you need direction before you can start on a project? These are things that will be vital to know when looking for a job that is right for you.

And in the end, spending 4 years at college will produce a nice portfolio. But it’s not something you could whip up on your own. Behind your portfolio is years of hard work, learning and growing that you couldn’t have achieved by yourself.

What are some things you have learned from being in a college atmosphere?

5 Ways I Balance My Time

In the world we’re in now, it’s no surprise that many people are involved in a multitude of things: several jobs, groups, organizations, maintaining a blog or online presence, etc. The more experience you can get, the better it can make you.

The question is: How do I balance my time? I am certainly not an expert at this yet. I still find myself forgetting to write things down, overextending myself at times and hoping I will have time to get everything done. But here are a few things I’ve learned in my last couple years of having a job, juggling volunteer positions at my university, and maintaining a full class schedule:

1. Don’t overcommit yourself. Adding something else to your plate may sound great at first, but if you already spend most of your time balancing a bunch of other things, you won’t be able to do your best in the new position.

2. Leave time for relaxing and fun. Everyone needs time to unwind. I am grateful that my weekends this semester are my time to catch up on classwork and making time for myself.

3. Join groups or organizations that you actually like. There’s such a variety of groups out there, I don’t feel like it’s worth my time to be involved with something I’m not really into.

4. Have your method for keeping things straight. I’ve learned that I need to write everything down. Sometimes, I even write it down in my planner and in my computer calendar. But everyone will have their own preference when it comes to this. Find out what works for you.

5. Make the most out of each opportunity. But, don’t feel bad if you feel you have outgrown it. I know a lot of people that stay with an organization because they feel like they should. If you move on to something else that may be more beneficial for you, you’re making room for someone else to get a great experience.

How many things are you involved in? What are some other ways to keep a balance between them all?

Preparing for the Hunt

Although this is only my second post as an intern for Come Recommended, I feel I have learned so much already. Heather and the team constantly challenge me to check out new resources for building my online presence that will definitely help me stand out in the job hunt — which will be coming up before I know it!

The first thing I knew I needed to do was create my online portfolio. Since I will be looking for a job in PR, having an easy way to share previous work is essential. Mollie mentioned a great resource in her post yesterday – Wix.com. Basically, you just need to experiment with different themes and colors until you find one that works for you.

The one I prefer is Webs.com. The pages are very organized and there are many templates to choose from. It’s fairly easy to update and there’s a lot of flexibility — so no matter what field you’re creating it for, you can customize it. I hope to add much more to mine soon, but you can view what I have so far!

Secondly, I have started using Twitter more frequently — not only tweeting interesting links and information, but checking out what others have to say and responding if compelled. Who knows, eventually I may be using this network to my advantage when looking for new opportunities. Heather wrote great article about using Twitter for job searching here.

Lastly, I have started bookmarking any interesting Web sites I want to follow. There are a lot of great blogs out there, along with articles and experts that have some useful advice.

I’m always up for something new that I’ve never used before. What are some other great resources you use?

Why Get Involved with Volunteering?

I’ll admit, when I first starting attending a Central Michigan University, the last thing I was thinking about was, “What group on campus do I want to get involved with?” I had more things to think about: doing well in my classes, figuring out my major, making new friends and adjusting to being on my own.

But, luckily, I met some great people that pushed me to join Program Board — a group that brings entertainment and educational programs for the campus. Although many people don’t feel like volunteering their time will be beneficial (mostly because you don’t get paid!), I have come away with a lot.

A few reasons why you should volunteer:

1. Build your network. I never could have imagined all of the people I would meet after becoming involved. Not only have I made some great connections with employees at my university, but I have met other students that I probably wouldn’t have become friends with on my own.
2. Gain valuable experience. Being in charge of something that impacts others really makes you step up. I had to learn how to get along with an executive board of my peers, which can be challenging at times. I also had to learn to ask for help and have confidence in my ideas! These volunteer positions prepared me for my current internship with Come Recommended — and will serve me in the future, as well.
3. Open the doors to other opportunities. From getting involved with one group my first year, I have branched out to other groups and opportunities throughout my college career. Not only does this provide great experiences for my resume, but I have grown as a person because of these experiences.
4. Feel pride in your campus/community. Having a position with a few groups on campus has made me feel more connected with the university. I feel like I am by utilizing resources on campus that I may never have known about otherwise.

Everyone has their own experience when it comes to volunteering. Get involved with an organization that interests you, and who knows what could come out of it!