Say 'Yes' to the... First Job Offer?

As graduation looms, the class of 2014, along with myself, have been anxiously awaiting that "first job" offer. When that offer letter finally arrives, however, the stress and anxiety sets in. You ask yourself, "Is this the right decision?" Or, "Will I be happy at this company?" A whole series of questions and emotions will overcome you as you set out to make this life-changing decision. 

In a recent article, Heather Huhman, a Gen Y Career Expert, outlined some tips for considering your first job offer. If you've recently received a job offer or are anticipating one, these are great things to keep in mind:

1. Determine whether the job fulfills your immediate needs.

Before accepting any offer, make sure it fulfills your immediate needs. To determine whether the position is a good fit, ask yourself questions such as "Why should I accept this job offer?" or "Does the job meet my career goals?"

To help your decision, make a list of your personal and professional needs. Outline everything you desire out of your first job -- from the type of lifestyle to specific benefits/perks to your goals, and everything in between. 

2. Find out as much as you can about your potential boss.

A huge determinant of whether you’ll like your first job depends on your boss. This is why it's a good idea to learn about your potential boss before accepting the job offer.

Make a list of qualities you look for in a boss. These can be characteristics ranging from management styles to personal values. Do I prefer a supervisor who values flexibility? Do I want to avoid bosses who micromanage? Asking yourself these types of questions can get you thinking about the type of person for whom you want to work.

After creating a list of what you're looking for in a boss, research what the boss at this potential position is like. If the qualities aren't lining up (especially the most important ones), this could be a red flag.

3. Consider the big picture.

What do you want to accomplish in the upcoming year? Where do you see yourself five years down the road? As you look at the big picture and what you want to accomplish, determine if this position will help you get there.

For example, if you picture yourself moving up in a company, you'll want to make sure the company provides opportunities for growth -- and approximately how long it should take you to reach each stage.

4. Make sure every detail is crystal clear.

As you review your job offer, make sure every detail is clearly outlined in writing. (An offer isn't an offer unless it's in writing.) Ensure you are promised everything the employer told you during the interview. If something is unclear to you, ask the employer for clarification.

The job offer should clearly outline details regarding your schedule, compensation, and various benefits, including vacation and healthcare plans. You should also look out for extras such as contracts or buy outs. Some employers want to lock in their new hires for a specific period of time. If that's something you're not interested in, definitely reconsider the offer.

5. Don’t make your decision on the spot.

Although you deserve some time to think, most employers give candidates 24-48 hours to make a decision. In other words, you should be prepared to make a decision fairly quickly or risk losing the offer altogether.

If you feel like you're struggling with your decision, ask the employer if they can give you an extra day or two to decide. This would give you more time to weigh your options and talk to a friend or mentor to help you make an informed decision.

As you continue to think about your first job offer, make sure you're aware of your needs, as well as any warning signs. Every offer should be in writing and clearly explain the agreement. Accepting your first job is a huge milestone, and you want to make sure you make the best decision for your career.

What tips do you have for accepting your first job offer?

Generation Y's Biggest Fear

There are a lot of differences between the generations when it comes to communication, lifestyle choices, and especially the workplace.  As a member of Generation Y, I can say with complete certainty that one of the biggest pitfalls of my generation is the fact that a large number of us are uncomfortable making a phone call.

Of course I'm not talking about a phone call to your friends or family, that's easy enough. I'm talking about the gnawing feeling we get in our guts when the boss comes in and says we need to make a phone call to an important person to get important information.

I'm just as guilty as anyone else.  I have always been uncomfortable making phone calls.  Being raised on technology like AOL Instant Messenger, texting and email has created a barrier for us that is sometimes pretty hard to get past.  I wouldn't say that I'm completely comfortable making phone calls now, but I am definitely not as afraid to pick up the phone as I once was.  Here are some suggestions I have if you are hesitant about making phone calls, professional or not:

• Write down what you're going to say. This will help you from adding "um" and "like" and you will sound more professional.  It will also make the conversation go faster since you already know what you intend to tell them.
• Remember, they don't know you. Chances are, you're never going to see the person you're calling.  They don't know who you are so even if you mess up or say the wrong thing, it's going to be okay.
• Get the facts first. Make sure you're prepared for any questions they might ask you before you pick up the phone.  Have your callback information and your boss's on-hand in case you have to leave a voicemail.

Being comfortable making phone calls is something nearly every interviewer looks for in a job applicant.  An ability to do this will put you ahead of your other Gen Y competition that are still clinging to texting and emailing.

Do you have any tips for mastering the art of a phone call? Let us know!

Extra! Extra! Tweet all about it!

With the enormous growth of smart phones, nearly half of Americans are receiving their local news via mobile devices. We've seen the changing industry of print journalism, making transitions to subscription-based online accounts and many news outlets creating a presence for themselves on social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter (at least if they know what's good for them).

The art of journalism isn't going away, it's just changing. With the growth of "citizen journalism" by users posting their own news, quality reporting is still in high demand. The way we look for and process information today is changing as technology evolves.

While social media is seen as the shiny new toy for a source of news and communication, especially for Gen Y, there can be positives and negatives to these sites as sources for news dissemination:

Pros:

• Immediacy: Breaking news is only considered breaking for that second it takes for someone to tweet or post news on Facebook. Depending on how large the network, this piece of news can reach a larger audience than a newspaper would ever be able to reach.
  
• Accessibility: Mobile phones can go anywhere to capture the scoop via posting photos and videos, especially where TV cameras can't.
  
• Everyone can do it: Any user can post something instantaneously as they are seeing something they consider newsworthy, depending on the audience.
  

Cons:

• Length of story: Especially on Twitter, stories have to be reduced to 140 characters in order to post. Usually links are provided to the entire article, although many users may not click on them if they get the instant summary they need from the post.
  
• Inaccuracy: Since everyone is trying to be the first to break the story, the time to fact-check may be overlooked. More research into the story needs to be done to provide a comprehensive news story that readers can trust.
• Compromised integrity: Journalist's roles are altered now that everyone can be their own journalist. They have to change their style and way of writing to adapt to the quick transmission of information and the way that users want to get this information.
  

How has your news consumption changed? What are some other pros and cons you have encountered?

To see the Infographic for social media and traditional journalism, click here.

But Mom, I Don't Want to Give you my Password!

Recently I was getting ready for class one morning and I overhead a newscaster giving their opinion concerning parental supervision of their child's social media use. He explained that if a teenager's parent does not have all the passwords to their social media accounts, that they weren't doing their job right.

This struck me as a bold statement, considering back in the day before Facebook and Twitter, my 14-year-old self would be mortified if my parents were able to access my AOL Instant Messenger account. With the popularity of social networking skyrocketing, especially with younger audiences, should it be encouraged that parents monitor their child's social media use?

In November, the Pew Research Center's Internet and American Life Project with the Family Online Safety Institute did a study with findings indicating that 95 percent of all teens age 12 to 17 are online, with 80 percent of them on social media sites.

While many of us have been using social networks for years, it could be beneficial to go back to the basics when learning about online etiquette, especially to educate a younger audience.

• Safety. Even if you're not creeping around in online chat rooms, it is still important to go through your site's privacy settings and to monitor anything said in your emails that could be suspicious.
• Boundaries. Thinking about all the cyber bullying that occurs in younger age groups online, remember treat others as you would like to be treated. Considering that virtually everything posted online is floating around cyberspace, don't post things that are harmful to others or yourself. For older audiences, try to keep opinions out of posts that could come back to bite you in the future.
  
• Be a good role model. If a younger audience could be viewing your profile, set an example! If individuals learn how to have a positive presence online and create useful interactions, it will help them to act responsibly in the future.
  
• Think first! If you wouldn't want a picture or status of yours on the front page of the newspaper, reconsider your post.

Whether it is a teenager on Facebook, a parent looking at their child's MySpace or a professional reading their Twitter feed, it doesn't matter when it comes to learning how to surf the web in a responsible, safe manner. Do you think there should be supervision and/or education for younger users on social media sites?

To read more about parental supervision on social media sites, click here.