Find out when (not how) to ask for it.

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7 reasons Halloween is better than Christmas.

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What’s the best way to tell a guy it’s your first time?

Text message flirting for beginners.

Eva Longoria….raps??

What is the perfect post-grad salary?

Glee girls gone w-w-w-w-wild. (And sexy.)

But now I’m beginning to realize that maybe my brunette locks aren’t doing so much for me after all.  In a recent article it is stated that blonde women are paid 7% more than brunettes, red heads and even those people dabbling in the purples, pinks and blues. (OK, maybe those last few aren’t so surprising.) And if that isn’t enough bad news for those of us not blessed with Blake Lively’s luscious locks, it looks like blondes also tend to marry wealthier men.

WTF? Can’t you leave a little somethin’ somethin’ for the rest of us?

This better mean there are more people with blonde hair running around; that is the only explanation I can come up with. Or that it costs more to upkeep a blonde mane, so people can afford to dye their hair blonde after landing that amazing job. Or maybe blondes really do have more fun and land the successful business men who need a good time. Or maybe blondes never have fun and still make as much as everyone else does, and these statistics are about as authentic as The Hills.

So what do you have to say about all this? What is it about blondes? Is going blonde the key to every woman’s future success, or is this study just bananas?

I’m ‘dyeing’ to know (tee hee) what you think. I’m also making an appointment at the salon to bring back those golden highlights. With graduation looming, I’ll take any advantage I can get!

The most difficult decision that comes your way post college graduation is not where you will be living or who you will be living with – it is what the hell you are going to do with your life.

For those of you lucky enough to have a job already, congrats. You are well on your way to a fulfilling life doing what you want to be doing. For the rest of you, and right now that is a lot of you, you have some big choices to make. Some huge questions to answer. And the most pressing and difficult is:

Take a job you love or take a job that pays well?

I found myself in a similar situation post college graduation. I wanted nothing more than to pick up, move to NYC and become a writer. I had dreams of covering red carpets and touring the country with my first book, all whilst wearing the sexiest pair of Jimmy Choos. I would take pictures with fans, discuss movie deals with Paramount pictures, and wow audiences with my talents.

And then I got my first job. That paid $25,000.

It was an awesome job that totally got my foot in the door, but the money was atrocious. That is $25,000 before taxes. In NYC. Sure, I got to write what I wanted and be part of a magazine masthead, but as I packed my ramen up for lunch every day, I constantly wondered if passion for your work (and artificially-flavored noodles) is enough to survive.

And then there were my friends. Not sure what to do with themselves, they found jobs that had nothing to do with their life goals and just paid really (REALLY) well. Like $100,000 well. The work sucked, the hours sucked, and their bosses sucked, but they got to go home to their sick apartments and eat at nice restaurants and really enjoy their post grad years.

I looked at them and made them buy me dinner wondered if maybe that was a better choice.
They looked at me and told me that money didn’t matter and I should do what I love.

I don’t know what answer is best for you. I do know, however, that 4 years later I am not making my millions, but I am still in love with what I do. And my friends, with their giant savings accounts, are still grumbling on their way to work every morning where they spend their days searching online for new jobs.

I also know that random jobs (i.e. paralegal, consulting, etc.) that pay really well do so for a reason. You will be working ridiculous hours, doing tedious tasks or constantly feeling way too smart for whatever assignments come your way. It’s all a trade-off and it’s really up to you to decide if enjoying your job is more important, or enjoying your paycheck is.

What I can say is this: if you have a passion and want nothing more than to spend your life doing it, don’t be swayed by a large salary elsewhere. Life will not be easy, but at least you will feel fulfilled. And if you’re just not sure of what you want from your life, spending a few years making bank at a crappy job may not be such a bad idea. Just know what you are getting into before you sign away your sanity.

If you’re graduating this spring and you’ve managed to score a job you’re probably thanking god (if you still believe there is one) and thinking you’re super lucky. But think again. Because according to the WSJ, those currently entering the labor market won’t only be suffering from low-salary syndrome this year, but for, uh, ten more to come. Yes, ten years—or more!

See, supposedly if you graduate when the economy, uh, sucks (like in 2009), you’ll end up making about 100K less over the next 20 years than your bud (soon to be mortal enemy) who will graduate in better times. Why? WSJ says that even if the economy bounces back in a few years, while you’ve been working your butt off in the tiny firm no one has heard of, your luckier friend has just been hired at Bank of America. And now, although he’s two years your junior, he has more experience, a better resume, and a bit, or a ton, more moolah than you do. So while he will move steadily up the ladder, you will have a much harder time finding better and brighter pastures, and your wages may suffer (what seems like) eternally.

But hey, money doesn’t matter, right?

Now, some (obviously not I) are a bit less cynical about this ordeal. Instead of whining relentlessly, they’ve looked into more promising ways to spend their time. One popular suggestion? Stay in school! Now, this is assuming that you have unlimited funds and are willing to spend 1-4 more years in a dorm, doing homework and learning.  But as awful as this sounds, it just might be the perfect answer. It will keep you isolated from the oppressive job market, it will help you get further in the long run, and it just might be better than living with the rents for the rest of your life.

Something many ’09 grads will be doing.

Is the spring semester half over already? Sadly, it’s true. And while some of our peers will be looking forward to spending the summer at one pool party after another, many of us are currently scouring job listings for summer internships.

Internships are a great way to add experience to your resume, make industry connections, and discover what kind of career path you really want to follow. While school’s in session, it can be hard to fit an internship into your schedule; in the summer, however, you can devote more hours to the gig.

Unfortunately, just because you sign up to work a 40-hour work week from May to August, it doesn’t mean you’re going to get paid like a fulltime employee.

Many internships pay nothing. In fact, they often offer college credit as a means of skirting the salary, but in that case, you’ll find yourself coughing up summer tuition money just to work at the company that hired you. While there are plenty of paid internships out there, they usually offer a stipend rather than a modest hourly wage. So, if you’re going to be working your ass off, how do you decide whether the internship is worth it?

Paid internships certainly have a bit more sparkle at first glance. However, there’s a reason they call it an internship and not a job. Unless it’s a major company, you could probably make more money serving omelettes at Denny’s… but waitressing the third shift isn’t going to bulk up your resume. So, while you may be lucky enough to get paid this summer, you will have to figure out if you can live with a meager paycheck.

Paid internships may or may not be more challenging than an unpaid gig. After all, if you’re expected to work a full-time schedule, you’ll really become part of the office, and get to know your coworkers. You’ll be involved with bigger projects, because the bosses will know you can work on them throughout the week, rather than worry about you only tending to assignments on a Monday-Wednesday-Friday basis. Plus, if they’re bothering to pay the interns, they must think highly of the students they choose for the task, right?

Note that I said “may or may not” above. Many non-profit companies (or smaller businesses with less budget) employ a smaller staff than a Fortune 500 biz. In that case, you may be given a broad spectrum of responsibilities and may have the opportunity to develop a close relationship with your superiors. Any internship will probably require you to do a fair share of answering phones, photocopying, and filing, but you might also get to work for several different “departments” at an unpaid internship- especially if the department consists of one associate.

If you are moving away to do an internship, you should try to plot out how much your living expenses will be in an unfamiliar city. It can be more difficult to find a second job outside your home town, and, if you’re being paid at all, the internship might require more commitment. In reality, landing a paid internshp might not be as profitable, especially if you don’t have time to find another source of income.

Most employers usually appreciate their interns for working for free, and may be more lenient with the rules of the job. Many unpaid internships ask for less hours per week and try to be flexible with scheduling. This means that you can keep a few shifts at your regular summer job in order to pay for your gas to the internship!

Plus, unpaid internships come with some sort of business-related incentive, such as free parking permits or subway cards. You know, so you don’t lose money coming to work. Depending on the company, they may offer free meals if there’s a cafeteria in the building. If that’s the case, then hey- it won’t cost you anything besides time to go to work and the experience might help you get a higher paying job in the future.

There are pros and cons to either side here. If you are going to look into an internship, you should truly ask yourself what you want out of the experience and be prepared to ask questions before taking the job. If you’re not getting paid, it’s easy to get frustrated with menial tasks such as photocopying, filing, and going on Starbucks runs for the bigshots. Then again, an unpaid internship might be intimate enough for you to truly pick your boss’s brain during downtime and get a mentor out of the experience.

No matter what, my advice to future interns of the world is to take the next few months to try to save up and secure sufficient resources to provide for yourself over the summer – this way, you can choose the position that is truly best for yourself and your career goals, rather than only focusing on the monetary aspects of the job.

Personally, I’ve done my fair share of underpaid labor, whether in the form of an unpaid internship, paid internship, or a generally sh*tty part-time job that didn’t pay well enough. While the sh*tty part-time jobs did nothing but supply my weekend drinking funds, all of the internships let me walk away with something more valuable than money. I’ve been paid in experience, connections, all the coffee I can drink, and every random perk from catered meetings to free t-shirts to tickets to killer events. So while the payment issue is something that you should consider when taking one, the bottom line is that you won’t be an intern forever, so, for now, money shouldn’t be the first priority.

Anyway, More had a list of the top five growing careers out there. Yes, even the golden age of layoffs, some jobs are still safe. And it made me think back a few years, before the recession hit. When I first declared a major in English, the employment gurus were saying it was a great major, thanks to its versatility. Now, not so much. So, as you continue to rack up all of those student loans, ask yourself: is your major going to pay off after college?

Since I felt guilty about ripping a page out of a middle-aged-lady mag in the gynecologist’s office, I came home to research the most lucrative jobs, and while More only listed five, Boston.com predicts thirty careers that will flourish by 2016.  Here is a sampling of some of the careers that will get your education the most bang for your buck.

#30: Physician Assistants

Screw the time and money it takes to become a doctor.  Physician assistants can test for their license after two years!  Boston.com predicts a 27% increase in this job market, up from 66,000 in 2006.  Three years ago, PA’s were raking in close to $75,000 a year!  Even in this rough economy, assistants are flourishing because they are often just as qualified as doctors to diagnose common problems such as the flu, and even with a five-figure salary, they are more cost-effective than a bevy of Physicians.

See also: Physical Therapists

#25 Computer Software and Systems Software Engineers

No surprise here, since everything is going digital.  The number employed in 2006 was a wapping 350,000, with a projected 28.2% increase by 2016.  That’s 448,000 computer-savvy employees…raking in a median of $87,500.  Damn!

See also: Database Administrators

#21 and #20 Marriage and Family Therapists/Mental Health and Substance Abuse Counselors

The divorce rate is skyrocketing, teenagers are getting pregnant, cyber-bullying is on the rise, and as the stress of a crumbling economy wears everyone thin, we’re all going to need some headshrinking to get through the day. Besides, when people have reached their wit’s end, it’s a lot easier to turn to drugs and alcohol as a form of escape.  And no matter how desparate people get, junkies and alcoholics will find a way to find their fix.  The pay is slightly lower, at about $40-45,000 a year, but this is another service that will always be needed.

#12 Financial Analysts

Ha. How ironic. (See also: Personal Financial Advisors)

#7 Theatrical and Performance Make-up Artists

Okay, I can see the substance abuse counselor positions rising. But seriously? Who’d have guessed theatrical and performance make-up artists were in high demand?  I guess hit musicals like Shrek: The Musical and Wicked are good for the job market.

#2 Personal and Home Care Aides

The number employed in 2006 was 787,000, and the expected increase in jobs in this field is 50%.  That’s an additional 390,000 something jobs popping up in just ten years.  I suppose that since everyone is struggling to get ahead in the office (or just to maintain an entry-level position), nobody has time to stay at home and care for a sick relative.  And as long as there are families, there are people who would do anything to see their loved ones properly cared for.

So there you have it.  A taste of some of the most rapidly expanding job markets.  I find it ironic that less than five years ago, Liberal Arts Degrees were all the rage, and barely any jobs mentioned above require such diplomas.  I’m not saying to give up your dreams; quite frankly, even if I’d tried to get through a Bachelor of Science in…anything, I’d probably end up a homeless drop-out.  So at least I’ve got something going for me.  But it’s good to know what kinds of opportunities may be waiting in your future.

Whenever we’re out and he meets someone new, the conversation inevitably dissolves into a discussion of his job. Even those who hate video games (like me) want to know how he landed a position in such an elusive field.

And I thought, why not give you guys the benefit of his experience? So I interviewed him and, voila, here it is. May it be at least somewhat helpful.

If so, let me know–I’ll conduct some more of these suckers with people in other industries.

Okay, here’s the interview:

Hi, friend! What’s your name?

Ronnie Villanova.

And how old are you?

27.

What’s your current job title?

I’m an Associate Producer.

Oh, cool. And what kind of company do you work for?

It’s a video game company. They make and publish video games.

Wow, that sounds really interesting. Do you like it?

As fun and creative as people think video games might be, my actual job is very corporate and full of red tape, and hierarchies, and meetings, and Excel; lots of Excel. It’s sort of like The Office, except even more socially awkward.

Oh, weird. Well, what are some of the pros and cons of your line of work?

Pro: The job is pretty secure because the video game industry is making more and more money each year.

Con: Now, despite the game industry making billions of dollars, none of that goes into the hands of the regular guys. It mainly goes to pad executive salaries and appease the stockholders. At least, that’s how it has been at the companies I have worked at. Also, you are expected to work overtime and late hours without any real compensation, except for a ten dollar comp meal.

Um, wow, good to know. So, what did you study in undergrad? Would you recommend it?

Actually, I studied creative writing, but I definitely would not recommend it unless you are absolutely sure you want to be a writer. And I doubt there are many 18 year old kids (outside of finance majors) who know what they really want out of life.

Have you gone to grad school? Are you thinking about grad school? Does one even need grad school?!

I’m just going to come out and say it: graduate school is for chumps.

Hey!

Oh, no offense or anything. But for most people it’s more debt and a useless degree. If you want to go to a secondary school, then pursue doctor/nurse/law schools. Even a master’s in Finance won’t go as far as real work experience. If you are considering graduate school, you might be better off saving up some money, quitting your current job and taking the time to find the right one for you. You may even want to look for an internship.

Okay, tough guy, so after you graduated, what was your next course of action?

After I finished college I took about a year off to write. I told my mom that I wanted to give the writing a shot, and she let me do that while I lived at home. I wound up doing a lot of writing and eating. Once I got fat I decided to get a real job.

Oops. And then what?

My first job was in video games, and my current job is also in video games. So here I am.

Ah. Well, what do you plan to do next?

Probably something reckless and stupid.

Intriguing…hey baby, what’s your sign?

Um…Aries…?

Okay, buster, no one cares about your sign. Do you have any last words of wisdom?

Yeah. Your twenties is the right time to do everything in your power to figure out the career you want. Your thirties is when you should start partying, drinking, and acting stupid, because by then you’ll have the actual money to do so.

Good advice! Thanks a lot for talking to me! I’m sure any video game-hopefuls are very grateful.

Hey, you’re welcome.

[Image courtesy of www.realsoftwaredevelopment.com]

Good question (see—you’re on your way already!). First of all, stay away from asking about salary. I know the first thing on my mind when I go to a job interview is how much I’m going to get paid, but you can always negotiate that with the employer if you’re offered the job. One time when it is okay to ask about salary is if you’re really not sure whether the job or internship you’re interviewing for even pays (yes, sometimes it’s unclear). In that case, ask away.

It’s always a good idea to ask a question that isn’t really a question for the purpose of selling yourself. For example, you could say something like, “I love learning from a wide variety of people and cooperating with lots of different working styles. Is there an opportunity for me to do that here?” Since the answer is yes (duh), the employer will remember that an integral part of the job is really important to you.

Here’s another tip: even if you’re out of school, do your homework. Go online and find some information about the company or organization with which you have an interview. Find out when they were established, what’s working well for them, and what they might need. Then, try formulating that information into questions (example: “I noticed your trade division was established in 1999. How has that impacted the growth of your company?”). The employer will be impressed that you’ve taken time to do the research.

Finally, to get the brainstorming wheels in your own head turning, here’s a short list of a few other questions you might want to ask:

• What’s your favorite part of working at ______?

• How would you say _________ is different from other, similar companies? (i.e. How would you say Google is different from Yahoo and Ask?)

• What does your company value most in its employees?

• How can I help out your company in this position?

When you ask these or any other questions, don’t forget to take notes on the answers. Then write yourself out a little note of congratulations, because you’ll be that much closer to getting your dream job!

With the writer’s strike still going strong, the WGA has denied invitations to prepare material for the Golden Globes on January 13 and the Oscars in February. If both events didn’t seem crappy enough last time, they should be craptacular this time around.

(See what happens when you don’t get pros to make jokes for you?)

This situation raises a red flag for the Oscars in particular. With Jon Stewart returning as host it’s assumed that he will have to “wing it” without any writer’s assistance. Sure, Stewart can handle a fair share of improvisation – but an entire show? That’s a tall order.

The continuing battle between the WGA and bigwig execs is raising new issues every day the strike stands. Who’s to blame at this point: the execs for not giving in or the writer’s for holding out? Getting paid what you deserve is a fair enough reason to strike; when the average working WGA writer makes more than a family doctor, the reason becomes questionable. In the writer’s defense, the execs are making money hand-over-fist at their expense – but that’s not the biggest problem, here.

The biggest problem is the IATSE getting the shaft.

IATSE crews have lost approximately $210 million dollars from the strike – that’s close to double the amount the strike is costing writers. When a sacrifice for a good cause jeopardizes the other hard-workers in the industry, is it in fact a good cause by definition? Is the WGA any better than the big-money execs they’re against if their own crews lose out due to their irresponsible actions?

Whether it’s the network heads or the Union, somebody needs to listen to reason and put an end to this madness. End the strike and strike a bargain already.

Turns out, I made a big (HUGE) mistake.

According to recent stats by some important people at the Wall Street Journal, a major in liberal arts is…well, worthless.

OK, maybe not worthless, but definitely not nearly as valuable as majoring something a little more 21st century. Just check out these stats for first year earnings in various fields:

Accounting: $46,000

Consulting: $47,000

Aerospace: $54,000

Engineering: $49,000

Retail: $34,000

Education: $30,000

Journalism: $23,000

Depressing, right? Well, it doesn’t have to be.

• If you are still in your first years of school, you still have the chance to re-think your major based on the current employment trends.

• If you are on your way out of school, having a Psych or Soc major doesn’t eliminate your chances of getting a job in consulting or even finance. And, if all else fails, there is always grad school.

• Not all people need high paying jobs to be happy in life. Perhaps the gratification of teaching children is worth more than the $20,000 pay increase you would have as an investment banker. And if not, you can always find a better job later.

I am not a math person – so I would never be very appealing to a finance/aerospace company anyway – but I still wish I could have known this before I locked myself into a life of little money and lots of work.