whorlflc

[whorlflc]

tahs 30 second guide for university freshmen

its probably not really the best years of your life just go ahead and realize this

you were probably the smartest kid in your high school. in college, every student was probably the smartest kid in their high school

seriously dont ask to go to the bathroom in class

seniors are generally very nice but they have also not slept in four years so if theyre chronically grumpy thats why (its nothing against you i promise)

work study jobs and internships are Very Good IF YOU CAN MANAGE IT without giving yourself a nervous breakdown

if not then dont do it because honestly having a full-scale anxiety attack in the middle of your shift in public isnt fun (speaking from experience)

seriously try to get involved in some things, like for real im graduating soon and i have maybe?? two friends and its very disappointing

memorize your class attendance policies and keep a running tally of your own absences

there is zero shame in taking a mental health day (just don’t do it too often because as mentioned you should be keeping a tally of absences)

failing a class is almost never the end of the world (coming from someone who has failed 4-5 classes total in university and yet didnt lose their scholarship and is still on track to graduate)

do your goddamn homework, just sit down and do the fucking assignments, you have no idea what true stress is until youre stuck at the computer for six hours the night before the due date of a massive research paper that youve had three months to work on that you didnt write or even look at the assigned reading for like an idiot

do not take caffeine pills for all-nighters do not just dont do it if you have to take in a bunch of caffeine to stay up then do it the old fashioned way with either soda or coffee. i cant tell you how many people i know who all have a friend or roommate who OD’d on caffeine and it’s literally always from caffeine pills

[whorlflc]

I adulted today. 

Totally tried this this morning and it totally worked.  Super pleased.  No more yucky clogged sink that takes a bunch of time to drain!!!!  Yay.

You don’t have to use that much baking soda, or even that much of ingrediants in general.  I added lemons to the hot water to freshen my bathroom up a bit, and take away from the smell of the baking soda.  Ewww.

Here’s to adulting.  *drinks hot chocolate*

Psst: I’ll never actually grow up.

[whorlflc]

Adulting tip:

instead of thinking how much something will cost you in dollars, think about how much it will cost you to work that long. 

for example

Say you make $10 an hour (yay! go you!)

if you buy a $5 cup of coffee, you had to work half an hour to get it. 

you can dissuade yourself from making a lot of frivolous purchases by doing this, so you can save up and do something fun and great with your money.

[whorlflc]

How to Adult: Cover Letter Edition

So I have several followers who are working on applying to jobs right now, and by far the most common concern is “what even is a cover letter??”  Now, while this post is funny and accurate, it’s not super helpful if you’re looking for specifics.  So I figured I should show you mine.  Now, without further ado, allow me to provide to you:

~*~ The Cover Letter of Destiny ~*~

[Name] [Address Line 1] [Address Line 2, etc] [Phone] [email]

[Right Justified - Date]  (This is just standard business letter stuff)

To Whom it May Concern, [Or Mr/Ms. Hiring Person’s name, if you can find it.] 

I’m delighted to submit an application for the [Job you’re applying to] position at [Company/Institution/etc].  After reading the job description I’m certain I would bring a solid combination of  [Skill 1], analytical thinking [or whatever Skill 2 is], and communication skills [This is always my Skill 3] to this position.  I’m particularly attracted to this position because I believe it will utilize the skills I have gained through my industry [or research or whatever] experience, and allow me to apply those skills in new areas. 

In my role with [Company] as a [Most Relevant Position Here], I managed a project [to do some stuff - flesh out your most important/relevant job responsibilities here].  I specifically focused on [a thing that is the most explicitly relevant to the job posting.  In fact, I creatively copy/pasted some of the job posting into this sentence, that’s how relevant it is.].  I was also responsible for [A couple of things that maybe were mentioned in the job posting, or at least show increased responsibility over time].  This gave me the opportunity to collaborate with a variety of different team members [to achieve a goal]. Through these and other job duties, I have gained excellent listening skills and the ability to carry out self-directed tasks in the context of a larger team. [i’m not joking. use this phrasing it’s so great just copy it idgaf]

 In my current role as a [Current Title] with [Company], I have continued to build strong skills in project management [or whatever] as well as clear oral and written communication. [Maybe this sentence describes the types of communication (or whatever skill) you do.]   [This sentence describes briefly the less-relevant work you do].  [This sentence ties in your less-relevant job to the job you are seeking].  These experiences have prepared me well to succeed in a role as [Name of Position you’re applying to].

Thank you for taking the time to review my materials and consider my application. I am excited at the prospect of applying my skills to a [Name or category of position] with [Company], and I feel that the knowledge and skills I have gained through my experience will be a great benefit to the team. Please do not hesitate to contact me with questions as I would welcome a chance to discuss this opportunity more. [After all, they want to hire you after reading this]

Regards,

 [First Name Last Name]

I hope you find this helpful in your job search!  Just remember to focus on skills you learned rather than specific experiences or titles you’ve had.  Don’t be afraid of inflating it too far, either.  There are real useful skills underlying every job task if you look hard & get creative with your phrasing. 

Feel free to send me an ask if you want any specific advice on how to spin your education/work history into the job you want, or if you want a proofreader or cheerleader or whatever.  Job hunting is a bad game designed by and for a certain type of person.  It’s dehumanizing and horrible even at the best of times, so I’m more than happy to help anyone find a way to beat the system.  <3 <3 

[whorlflc]

My roommate just gave me some awesome wisdom, so in gonna pass it off to you now.

If you’ve got a pan with stuff burnt on the bottom, and it’s being a pain to get clean, just put some baking soda on the burnt stuff, add some water, and boil it for a couple minutes.

Burnt mess comes right off.

[whorlflc]

Hi so me, my mom and three younger sibling are being kicked out of my dad's place my October and me and my mom really need to start budgeting and I have no idea where to start. could give me an outline of what to calculate she's the only one working right now and makes a little short of $400 a week. We already paying off our car and car insurance each month which come to about $700 and I have no idea how to budget everything else could you help please? Thank you so so much

Hey there, I am so sorry it’s taken me so long to get to you! Hang in there babe. This is a very basic budget structure, but I find it helps keep me organized. Feel free to add to it as need be!

Budgeting 101

1. Expenses. Start by adding up all of your household’s monthly expenses. Here are some example expenses:

Shopping 

Food

House supplies

Toiletries

Transportation

Gas

Bus tickets

Metro cards

Insurance

Medical

Car

Pet

Rent

Utilities

Internet

Loan payments

Credit Card dues

2. Total monthly expense. Add all of your monthly expenses together to get your total monthly expense. Note that while it is possible to make practical and educated guesses about what your total monthly expense will be from month to month, it may vary and be slightly more and less expensive as time goes by. This is totally normal! Just adjust the formula.

3. Wiggle room. Give yourself (and your household) some preverbal “wiggle room”. Depending on your household, it can be anywhere from an extra $50-$200 spent per month that was not anticipated. I.e- car repairs, doctor’s bills, home repairs, etc. I budget an extra $50 per each household member. So for a household of two, you’re looking at an extra $100 each month.

4. Incomes. Woo-hoo! You’re halfway through. Now consider what incomes your household receives each month. Some sources of income to consider:

Job income

Child support

Disability

Retirement

5. Total monthly income. Now add together all of your incomes to define your total monthly income. Similar to your total monthly expense, your income may shift slightly month to month.

6. Savings. Subtract your total monthly expense from your total monthly income. Now subtract your wiggle room. 

For example, if your household’s income is a total of $500 per month and your household’s expense is $350 per month with wiggle room for $50, you’ll be left with $100/per month. 

This is $100 that can go into savings!

7. Budget. The next step is committing to spend a specific amount of money per each expense every month. If you spent $50 on groceries during this month, spend $50 on groceries next month. Do this with all of your expenses, allowing your misc expense (”wiggle room expense”) to cover you when it has to.

By following this structure, you should be able to budget and to save a consistent amount of money each month. This is super simplistic, but hopefully it’ll get you started!

[whorlflc]

Do you have any tips for using seasonings when cooking? Or tips to help cook in general for some one new to it.

College Cooking 101

Materials

Here is a list of materials that I believe are absolutely necessary to creating a quality product. Feel free to substitute anything based on your own personal preferences.

Cooking supplies:

Non-stick frying pan (cast iron pans are much more difficult to clean)

Pot (I would recommend a small pot that you can use to cook for just yourself, and a larger pot for cooking portions or for company)

Lid for said pot

Rubber spatula (much better than wooden spoons)

Tongs

Sheet tray

Strainer

Scissors (kitchen scissors)

A cutting board (I recommend plastic because they’re easier to wash)

Cutting knife

Bread knife (both knives should be sharpened every six months at least, you can take them to your local kitchen supplies shop)

Spices:

Salt

Pepper

Dried chives (or real chives if you can swing them. Throw them in your ramen, your tuna salad, sprinkle them on top of pasta, etc)

Thyme (dried or fresh… dried is 3x as potent, use to season soups or pastas)

Rosemary (dried or fresh, use to season meats and starches)

Cumin (use this spice to rub meat)

Cinnamon

Sugar

Garlic powder or onion powder (used for meat rubs and seasoning soups or sauces)

Paprika (I would recommend avoiding smoked paprika, it’s got a super aggressive flavor… use this in small amounts sprinkled over things like you would the chives)

Basic produce:

Parmesan cheese (for sprinkling over pastas, you can get it pre-grated)

Cheddar cheese (for making sandwiches and mac and cheese)

Tomatoes (whole, crushed, paste, whatever… just have some sort of tomato product in your pantry at all times)

Potatoes (you can’t buy them pre-cut because the oxidize and turn gray if not used immediately… you can still eat them, but they don’t look pretty)

Onions (you can get them pre-cut)

Garlic (use to make sauce or soup bases)

Romaine hearts (lettuce has a short shelf life, but romaine hearts literally last forever and are healthier than eating iceberg lettuce)

Protein of some sort (whatever you like- steak, chicken, tofu, etc)

Something salty (like pickles, black olives, anchovies, etc)

Your favorite veggies (I like carrots and squashes the best)

Pasta (whatever is cheapest or on sale at your store)

Bread (freeze half a loaf and leave the rest in your fridge)

Eggs (egg beaters or whole eggs, whatever you like)

Butter (or a butter substitute)

Oil (olive oil is the most expensive)

Chicken stock (or vegetable stock, in a carton or cubed)

Techniques

Basic (super duper duper basic) instructions on how to cook various items. I am not a trained professional- the information I’m providing is based off of personal experience only.

Meat

Cooking: Cook with oil. Outside of the steak should be grey. The inside should be light pink.

Seasoning: Create a simple spice blend and rub it all over the meat. Spice rubs always include salt and pepper, add whatever other spices you want.

Pair with: Starches or veggies.

Cooking: Cook with oil. Outside should be starting to crisp, inside should be white and dry.

Seasoning: Salt and pepper work best. You can also coat chicken in panko bread crumbs.

Pair with: Starches, veggies, fruits, or pasta.

Cooking: Cook with butter or oil. Outside should be starting to crisp. Inside should be the same color as the outside, and should feel very dry and hard.

Seasoning: Create a simple spice blend and rub it all over the meat. Spice rubs always include salt and pepper, add whatever other spices you want. Meat should be completely coated in the spice rub, or it won’t taste like anything but the oil.

Pair with: Starches, veggies, or fruits.

Starches

Cooking: Cook with oil. Outside should be starting to crisp, inside fork tender.

Seasoning: Rub (literally rub the potatoes with your hands) salt, pepper, oil and rosemary all over the potatoes.

Cooking: Boil water with a teaspoon of salt. Wait until the water is visibly boiling to add your pasta. I like my pasta al dente, so I always cook it for the shortest amount of time listed on the box.

Seasoning: Thoroughly coat pasta with whatever sauce you’re using, or it will taste dry. Good prepared sauce brands: Newman’s Own, Classico, and Barilla.

Cooking: Cook in chicken or vegetable stock following package instructions. Stir every so often, and add additional stock as it is absorbed into the pasta.

Seasoning: I like to add dried herbs to the sauce as it reduces to add flavor. You can also add veggies early on and let them cook in the sauce.

Veggies

Cooking: These can be pan fried in oil, boiled, cooked in a sauce/stew, or put on a sheet tray to roast in the oven. The easiest way to cook them is to add them to a sauce that you are heating up, and allow them to soften until they can be pierced by a fork.

Seasoning: Rub the veggies with salt before cooking, unless you are adding them to a sauce or stew.

Cooking: These are best pan fried with butter. Cook them until they are slightly crisped and fork tender. If you want to be fancy you can blanch them before hand. How to blanch: Boil water, and throw the veggies in for literally thirty seconds. Pour them into a strainer and douse them immediately with cold water from your sink tap until they are cool to the touch.

Seasoning: Salt works best before cooking. Butter after cooking.

Yes I know that sweet potato is a starch, but it fits better here.

Cooking: These veggies are best roasted until fork tender. Time varies. These veggies should be cooked with their skin left on.

Seasoning: Rub these veggies with salt and cook in a little oil. Top with butter after they are cooked.

Resources

- My Pasta Sauce Post. Click here.

- College Student Cookbook. Click here.

- Broke College Kid Masterpost. Click here.

- Cooking on A Bootstrap. Click here.

- Good and Cheap. Click here.

- Budget Bytes. Click here.

- Meals On The Go. Click here. (Not a cookbook, but super helpful)

I hope this helps!

[whorlflc]

Im starting my first yr of college in June and I'll be living on campus. It'll be my first time living w/o my family and im not sure how to prepare. Do u have any advice? Thank you!

Campus Living Advice

1. Get to know your campus BEFOREHAND. This way, you’ll feel confident getting around before you’re even living there. Take advantage of campus tours, online sessions, meet and greets, etc.

2. Use the facilities. This sort of ties in with my first piece of advice- know what facilities there are on campus and use them. Most campuses have gyms, different dining halls, private study rooms, etc.

3. Scope out food. It’s sad but it’s true- where I went to college the vending machine in one building was priced a dollar cheaper than every other machine on campus. Why the fuck. I still don’t know. Learn where to purchase the cheapest cup of coffee. Learn if there are any rewards programs or discount cards. Remember- different dining halls may offer different food options at different times.

4. Know where to get your toiletries. Can you get all your basic necessities at the school store? Is that the cheapest way to get them? Can you order them online and have them delivered in a reasonable manner? Or will you have to rely on a store off campus to get your toilet paper?

5. Utilize public transport. You won’t want to be stuck on campus all day every day, so get to know your local public transport. Most colleges have bus or train stops, and many offer discount cards for utilizing public transportation. Contact your college’s Student Activities Office to see if you can get a discounted bus or train pass.

6. Learn some basic “Adulting” skills. Skills like basic cooking, cleaning, laundry, etc. Depending on what sort of kitchenette your dorm room offers, you may want to master some simple recipes. If you’re stuck with only a microwave you may want to invest in some additional cooking supplies. Also check out our microwave cooking post.

7. Utilize study resources. Free resources to help you succeed! Learn your professor’s contact info and memorize their office hours. Use the tutoring center if you fall behind in your classes. You can even join a study club to get some extra help.

8. Be active. Join clubs, attend free events, be social (or at least a little bit social if you’re more of an introvert). There are so many people to meet and experiences to have, and thankfully college is the perfect environment to have them in. It’s the step between being completely independent and being completely dependent, so enjoy!

[whorlflc]

Do you have any tips for using seasonings when cooking? Or tips to help cook in general for some one new to it.

College Cooking 101

Materials

Here is a list of materials that I believe are absolutely necessary to creating a quality product. Feel free to substitute anything based on your own personal preferences.

Cooking supplies:

Non-stick frying pan (cast iron pans are much more difficult to clean)

Pot (I would recommend a small pot that you can use to cook for just yourself, and a larger pot for cooking portions or for company)

Lid for said pot

Rubber spatula (much better than wooden spoons)

Tongs

Sheet tray

Strainer

Scissors (kitchen scissors)

A cutting board (I recommend plastic because they’re easier to wash)

Cutting knife

Bread knife (both knives should be sharpened every six months at least, you can take them to your local kitchen supplies shop)

Spices:

Salt

Pepper

Dried chives (or real chives if you can swing them. Throw them in your ramen, your tuna salad, sprinkle them on top of pasta, etc)

Thyme (dried or fresh… dried is 3x as potent, use to season soups or pastas)

Rosemary (dried or fresh, use to season meats and starches)

Cumin (use this spice to rub meat)

Cinnamon

Sugar

Garlic powder or onion powder (used for meat rubs and seasoning soups or sauces)

Paprika (I would recommend avoiding smoked paprika, it’s got a super aggressive flavor… use this in small amounts sprinkled over things like you would the chives)

Basic produce:

Parmesan cheese (for sprinkling over pastas, you can get it pre-grated)

Cheddar cheese (for making sandwiches and mac and cheese)

Tomatoes (whole, crushed, paste, whatever… just have some sort of tomato product in your pantry at all times)

Potatoes (you can’t buy them pre-cut because the oxidize and turn gray if not used immediately… you can still eat them, but they don’t look pretty)

Onions (you can get them pre-cut)

Garlic (use to make sauce or soup bases)

Romaine hearts (lettuce has a short shelf life, but romaine hearts literally last forever and are healthier than eating iceberg lettuce)

Protein of some sort (whatever you like- steak, chicken, tofu, etc)

Something salty (like pickles, black olives, anchovies, etc)

Your favorite veggies (I like carrots and squashes the best)

Pasta (whatever is cheapest or on sale at your store)

Bread (freeze half a loaf and leave the rest in your fridge)

Eggs (egg beaters or whole eggs, whatever you like)

Butter (or a butter substitute)

Oil (olive oil is the most expensive)

Chicken stock (or vegetable stock, in a carton or cubed)

Techniques

Basic (super duper duper basic) instructions on how to cook various items. I am not a trained professional- the information I’m providing is based off of personal experience only.

Meat

Cooking: Cook with oil. Outside of the steak should be grey. The inside should be light pink.

Seasoning: Create a simple spice blend and rub it all over the meat. Spice rubs always include salt and pepper, add whatever other spices you want.

Pair with: Starches or veggies.

Cooking: Cook with oil. Outside should be starting to crisp, inside should be white and dry.

Seasoning: Salt and pepper work best. You can also coat chicken in panko bread crumbs.

Pair with: Starches, veggies, fruits, or pasta.

Cooking: Cook with butter or oil. Outside should be starting to crisp. Inside should be the same color as the outside, and should feel very dry and hard.

Seasoning: Create a simple spice blend and rub it all over the meat. Spice rubs always include salt and pepper, add whatever other spices you want. Meat should be completely coated in the spice rub, or it won’t taste like anything but the oil.

Pair with: Starches, veggies, or fruits.

Starches

Cooking: Cook with oil. Outside should be starting to crisp, inside fork tender.

Seasoning: Rub (literally rub the potatoes with your hands) salt, pepper, oil and rosemary all over the potatoes.

Cooking: Boil water with a teaspoon of salt. Wait until the water is visibly boiling to add your pasta. I like my pasta al dente, so I always cook it for the shortest amount of time listed on the box.

Seasoning: Thoroughly coat pasta with whatever sauce you’re using, or it will taste dry. Good prepared sauce brands: Newman’s Own, Classico, and Barilla.

Cooking: Cook in chicken or vegetable stock following package instructions. Stir every so often, and add additional stock as it is absorbed into the pasta.

Seasoning: I like to add dried herbs to the sauce as it reduces to add flavor. You can also add veggies early on and let them cook in the sauce.

Veggies

Cooking: These can be pan fried in oil, boiled, cooked in a sauce/stew, or put on a sheet tray to roast in the oven. The easiest way to cook them is to add them to a sauce that you are heating up, and allow them to soften until they can be pierced by a fork.

Seasoning: Rub the veggies with salt before cooking, unless you are adding them to a sauce or stew.

Cooking: These are best pan fried with butter. Cook them until they are slightly crisped and fork tender. If you want to be fancy you can blanch them before hand. How to blanch: Boil water, and throw the veggies in for literally thirty seconds. Pour them into a strainer and douse them immediately with cold water from your sink tap until they are cool to the touch.

Seasoning: Salt works best before cooking. Butter after cooking.

Yes I know that sweet potato is a starch, but it fits better here.

Cooking: These veggies are best roasted until fork tender. Time varies. These veggies should be cooked with their skin left on.

Seasoning: Rub these veggies with salt and cook in a little oil. Top with butter after they are cooked.

Resources

- My Pasta Sauce Post. Click here.

- College Student Cookbook. Click here.

- Broke College Kid Masterpost. Click here.

- Cooking on A Bootstrap. Click here.

- Good and Cheap. Click here.

- Budget Bytes. Click here.

- Meals On The Go. Click here. (Not a cookbook, but super helpful)

I hope this helps!

[whorlflc]

I pull 12- to 14-hour days during the week, and with the exception of the past couple of weeks, I work through the weekend too.

Keeping my schedule straight is a struggle, but I’m managing thanks to my planner. I included a meal section in it because I wanted to use it to get me in the habit of meal-planning.

Check out the full post at the Orphan Survival Guide!

Commuter Meal Requirements

These are just the requirements for my schedule. You may have access to a fridge and microwave all day, but I’m in transit a lot of the day so I need portable things that won’t spoil while I’m running around.

primarily meat and dairy-free — you want things that will keep for the entire day (the exception being if you froze things)

small, portable portions — your backpack probably weighs 50 pounds with textbooks and binders alone, so you don’t want to carry much more and you definitely don’t want to have to carry around leftovers

filling and energy-boosting — when you’re on the run for 14 hours straight, you need something to keep you going

minimal cook time — there are no microwaves in 300-person lecture halls

containers — have a good insulated lunch bag/box and get a nice partitioned tupperware to store things in, and stock up on plastic baggies even though they’re not that eco-friendly

Meal Prep Steps

1. Make a Plan

Assess your ingredients, containers, and your schedule for the week. Then make a list of things to start prepping.

See the last half of this post for ideas!

2. Know What You Can Carry and Cook

This is what I struggle with the most. It was -8F when I was waiting for the bus this morning, so the last thing I wanted to do was carry yet another bag of stuff.

This is when things like wraps and bagged snacks come in handy, because you don’t have to lug around a separate bag for them; you can just put them in your backpack.

3. Prep Things Concurrently

While your tortillas are cooking, fry some bacon and eggs. While your rice is steaming, make some sandwiches.

If you can cook two things at once, you’ll cut down on a lot of your prep time. This requires having a good sized work space–I use my coffee table because my kitchen is literally just a 3-foot corner–and clean dishes and containers.

4. Use Compact (Even Collapsible) Containers, Mason Jars, and Freezer Bags

There are really neat collapsible plastic containers out there, and cute partitioned bento boxes.

I personally use the cheapest store brand entree and salad sized containers that average about $2-2.50 for a set of 5. I won’t cry over it if I lose it. And I make my homemade ramen in Mason jars.

Also stock up on quart and snack sized zipper bags, paper towels, plastic wrap, and tin foil. The baggies are great for snacks like sliced fruit and nuts, and the paper towels, plastic wrap, and foil are good for things like breads, muffins, sandwiches, and wraps.

5. Don’t Forget the Snacks

Some days I don’t want to carry a lot of stuff around or I’m feeling burned out on yet another pesto chicken wrap. Instead of stocking meals in my bag, I throw in all my snacks: granola bars, cashews, fruit leather, applesauce cups.

I’m a grown-up now. Popcorn is a meal if I say it’s a meal.

Read more at the Orphan Survival Guide!

[whorlflc]

adulting tip: language

so we don’t really notice until it’s pointed out, but language and the way we use it changes how people perceive us. so here are a few tips on that, i’d definitely put them to use if you want to command respect and be seen as more mature. worked for me :)

- cussing. even though this is the most cliche tip ever, the less you cuss the more respect you gain. even if you do sometimes, it’s better than every five words.

- ‘no problem’ versus ‘you’re welcome.’ by saying ‘no problem,’ you’re implying you haven’t gone out of your way and that you don’t deserve recognition (weird, i know). say ‘you’re welcome’ instead and a lot of people are going to go ‘oh shit, they mean business’ and respect you a lot more. now, getting along with people? no problem is very agreeable, but keep in mind who you’re talking to.

- responses to ‘sorry.’ if someone has wronged you and apologizes, don’t say ‘it’s okay.’ say ‘thank you’ or ‘okay.’ acknowledge the apology, but don’t dismiss the wrong.

- compliments and condolences: thank you is the best option. ‘i like your hair!’ ‘thank you!’ don’t dismiss with ‘oh, this thing?’, accept and acknowledge. ‘i’m sorry for your loss.’ ‘thank you. i appreciate you being here.’ or similar. it makes people feel appreciated and you’ll feel better about it, too.

- ask. for. help. it’s one of the most mature things you can do. admit you’re in over your head, admit you don’t know what you’re doing, admit you need assistance. but don’t just say ‘i’m overwhelmed’ or ‘sure’ when someone asks what’s wrong or if they can help/if you need help. if someone asks if you need or would like help, reply with a task. ‘can you take those papers to the recycling bins?’ ‘i’d really appreciate if you could help me with these chairs.’ and thank them! do the same for them sometime! people love to know they’re being helpful.

i’m sure i’ve missed a lot, feel free to add on. hope this helps some of you.

[whorlflc]

Adulting Tips #??? – Buying a car

Since people seemed to like my last batch of adulting tips, and because I recently bought a new car at about 10k lower than MSRP, I thought I would make a separate post for that.

❥ Do your research: I know it can be overwhelming and intimidating, but it’s super important to do your research on several models of cars. You don’t want to go in emotionally invested in one particular car; that’s how they get the better of you. The more you know about packages/features/add-ons, the better equipped you will be when it comes time to read the sticker on the car. Some dealership, but not all, will try to screw you over by double charging for the same feature renamed.

❥ Make them come to you: Buying a new car is super stressful, especially in you’re not the confrontational type. If you go through a site like Car Guru or True Car, it will let all the dealerships in your area know exactly what you’re looking for. You’ll be flooded with emails and phone calls, but they will start quoting you prices electronically. The best part? You can take those deals to rival dealerships. Most will price match for your business.

❥ Fight or flight: If you hate the idea of haggling (which you 100% need to do), consider either finding a no-haggle dealership, or better yet, a car broker. A car broker will do all the heavy lifting for you. Even if you don’t mind haggling, consider getting quotes from a broker to negotiate a lower OTD price in person.

❥ Fees: Every dealership will have the same basic fees. Processing/paperwork, Freight, Taxes, and Plates. Plates and taxes can’t be helped, they’re pretty much controlled by the state, but those aren’t the ones you need to worry about. The processing fees are hit or miss. Some states require it, but they only require $75. Since the price is set by the dealership, it’s usually a lot higher. Some states will cap it around 150-250, but some don’t cap it at all and it can be as high as 1k. Same with the freight fees. Instead of worrying about negotiating this separately (and giving you more to stress about) work that into the OTD price. Basically, have them take it off the sticker price.

❥ Out the door: The out the door, or OTD price is the bottom line. Some dealership will try to get fancy by quoting you different prices, or just telling you what your monthly payment will be, but that’s how they sneak in extras. Always as for the OTD price. That’s the price you will negotiate in the end.

❥ Haggling: I talked about haggling earlier and I just wanted to touch on it. Always start lower than your bottom line. So, if a car is priced at 25k and you want it for 19k, start your negotiating around 17-17.5k. They will go in the back – sometimes in a glass room so you can get the full show of the manager waving his hands around – and come back with a counter offer. After doing this a few times, you will meet in the middle. Always make sure you account for fees when you’re talking bottom line.

❥ Understanding their profit: If you ask nicely, some dealerships will give you their invoice price. Now, if you’re buying a new car, the factory will give the dealership a holdback (or bonus) for selling you the car. This is usually 3% of their invoice price. If you check Edmunds.com, you can search for incentives that the dealerships are currently running. Keep in mind, you might not qualify for all of them. Now, if you take their invoice price, subtract 3%, and subtract the incentives, you will get the true price of the car. Add 4% to this for a reasonable profit for the dealership, and you have your ideal car price.

❥ Kelly Blue Book: KBB is hit or miss for me. You can find the average MSRP, but that is still usually higher than bottom dollar. It is a good tool to estimate the cost of your trade in though! Of course, you might not get the highest value because the dealership needs to make a profit, but this can be haggled too. Go in with an amount in mind, and if they refuse to meet that, consider selling it independently. (or at least telling them you will to sway them)

❥ Keep your lips sealed: A lot of people will trade in their current car to take some of the price off. Do Not tell them about the trade in until you come to a bottom line. If you do, some dealerships will work that into the OTD price. You want bottom line before trading in so that you pay the least out of pocket as possible. The same is true about third party financing. Most of the time, people will finance through the dealership, but if you finance through a bank or credit union, don’t let them know until you’re signing the paperwork. A lot of the time, the loan you get is higher than your asking, and if a salesman sees the loan amount, they will try to upsell you.

❥ Add-ons: A lot of add-ons will be useless and overpriced. You don’t need a protective coating on your car – it comes from the factory with one. You don’t need the gap insurance (this is a big one). They will talk it up and make it seem like it’s amazing, and it’s great to have, but you can get it cheaper through your insurance provider or credit union (if you lease through them). Getting these add-on’s will skyrocket your OTD price without you realizing. 

❥ Beware the interest rate: A lot of people will look at the bottom line and be happy, and completely disregard their interest rate. Interest on such a big purchase can add up quickly. If you have a lower credit score, 620 or lower, you are typically looking at an interest rate of 9% or higher. It’s okay to look around for good rates, but remember that every inquiry is going to hit your credit and potentially lower your score.  

  ❥ Insurance: A lot of people don’t think to get a quote from their insurance provider before buying the car, but if you’re on a tight budget, it helps to know so that you can factor it into the payment information.

❥ Don’t be afraid to walk away: Remember that until you sign an official document, you are not obligated to buy anything. They will shake your hand or get you to initial an agreed upon amount, but until your signature is on the final paperwork, you can walk out. Don’t let them intimidate you into sticking around or accepting a deal you don’t want. In fact, walking away can show them that you won’t be taken.

❥ Finally: My final bit of advice is to be patient. This is a big purchase and you should take all the time you need to make it. Don’t let desperation or excitement force your hand.

[whorlflc]

when you feel overwhelmed but still need to get stuff done

breathe breathe again Ask for help if you can Make a list of everything that needs done if something is really important, put that near the top of your list Focus on it. Break it down into easy to manage tasks Cross each task out as you finish it Put on upbeat music to distract yourself Set a timer, say I’ll clean my room for 5 minutes or two songs. then at the end of 5 minutes, you are likely to keep going and finish the task. if not, you’ve still done 5 minutes of work! Go you! Reward yourself for finishing things, whether it’s a cup of tea or playing with a pet or a sticker in your journal. Tackle the next task Don’t give up, You got this

[whorlflc]

Things I’ve leaned from my work that could ultimately save you money and are good tips for adulting in the kitchen!

Don’t use olive oil in your cooking pans, especially the non-stick kind! Olive oil will eat through the non-stick and can warp your pans. Any other kind of oil is okay but if you want your pots and pans to last longer, avoid olive oil

If you know someone who is stubborn and desperately needs to use olive oil in their cooking, recommend rock-based pots/pans. The olive oil will still eventually wreck them, but they will last longer

Invest in a good set of pans. Not only will they last longer (my mum owns a set that she bought 30+ years ago) but they will also make cooking and cleaning easier

a few years ago (like, 10+ years) people started saying that cooking with pans that have an aluminium layer is bad for you. This isn’t true. The aluminium is only bad if you store you food in your pans. Which you shouldn’t do anyway. Please guys, don’t store your food in your pots and pans

This should be common sense, but don’t use metal utensils in your pots and pans, especially not your non-stick ones 

don’t put knives with plastic handles in the dishwasher! The plastic will absorb the water and crack. Hand-wash, and hand-dry your knives

also invest in a good set of knives. Japanese steel is better than German steel (yes, it is more expensive, but trust me). You won’t have to sharpen them as often (yearly, some even longer) and they will generally last you longer. 

If you really want your knives to last, buy double-fold Japanese steel. This means that it is one piece of steel folded in half, then shaped into a knife. These will need sharpening even less (generally 18+ months) and last you even longer

When buying knives, know how you cut when you cook. If you use a lot of force (it can be a habit built from having blunt or shitty knives), get a lighter weight knife. If you don’t or can’t brute force your way through cutting, get a heavier weight knife. Having a heavier knife means that the knife will do more of the work.

Sharpen your knives regularly. Lower end knives need sharpening at least every 3 months. This higher end (and more expensive) the knife, the less frequently it will need sharpening. 

If you do have a set of cheaper/lower end knives which need sharpening every 3 months, they won’t last you as long

In general, when it comes to pans and knives, invest in a good set that will last the rest of your life.

[whorlflc]

Cheap & ecological adulting tip

Use white vinegar for like everything. It’s multi-purpose and super cheap (i think 1L is between 0,45 and 0,60€ where i buy it) (the little i don’t do with it (apart from laundry detergent and dishwashing) i use baking soda instead). I use it to clean my floors, my shower, my toilets, my sink, my windows, my mirror, as fabric softener, to get limestone out of my boiler (you boil some white vinegar in it and it just disappear)…

I use the one with 8% of acidity (and often add some warm water to it) bc I use it in the kitchen and more acidity could be harmful if you use it on stuff you drink/eat out of (but i think you can basically drink the 8% one straight up and not poison yourself).

I’m sensitive to smells and I can assure you the smell of it is very temporary, 1000x better than the chemical stuff i used before, and disappears after a few minutes (even as fabric softener it does not lingers on clothes) and it doesn’t make my feet have this awful chemical tingle my former floor cleaner did when i walked on it barefoot/in socks when it wasn’t yet dry

Warning: NEVER MIX VINEGAR WITH BLEACH YOU COULD KILL YOURSELF WITH THE FUMES. I straight up don’t use bleach for anything so i don’t have this problem but be careful pls

(EDIT: 1L costs 0,59€ where i buy it but it’s a relatively expensive grocery store + it might be less expensive if you can find 1,5 or 2L bottles but they don’t have at my store)

[whorlflc]

44 Resume Writing Tips

1. Know the purpose of your resume

Some people write a resume as if the purpose of the document was to land a job. As a result they end up with a really long and boring piece that makes them look like desperate job hunters. The objective of your resume is to land an interview, and the interview will land you the job (hopefully!).

2. Back up your qualities and strengths

Instead of creating a long (and boring) list with all your qualities (e.g., disciplined, creative, problem solver) try to connect them with real life and work experiences. In other words, you need to back these qualities and strengths up, else it will appear that you are just trying to inflate things.

3. Make sure to use the right keywords

Most companies (even smaller ones) are already using digital databases to search for candidates. This means that the HR department will run search queries based on specific keywords. Guess what, if your resume doesn’t have the keywords related to the job you are applying for, you will be out even before the game starts.

These keywords will usually be nouns. Check the job description and related job ads for a clue on what the employer might be looking for. You can read more about resume keywords on the article Tapping the Power of Keywords to Enhance Your Resume’s Effectiveness.

4. Use effective titles

Like it or not, employers will usually make a judgment about your resume in 5 seconds. Under this time frame the most important aspect will be the titles that you listed on the resume, so make sure they grab the attention. Try to be as descriptive as possible, giving the employer a good idea about the nature of your past work experiences. For example:

Bad title: Accounting Good title: Management of A/R and A/P and Recordkeeping

5. Proofread it twice

It would be difficult to emphasize the importance of proofreading your resume. One small typo and your chances of getting hired could slip. Proofreading it once is not enough, so do it twice, three times or as many as necessary. If you don’t know how to proofread effectively, here are 8 tips that you can use.

6. Use bullet points

No employer will have the time (or patience) to read long paragraphs of text. Make sure, therefore, to use bullet points and short sentences to describe your experiences, educational background and professional objectives.

7. Where are you going?

Including professional goals can help you by giving employers an idea of where you are going, and how you want to arrive there. You don’t need to have a special section devoted to your professional objectives, but overall the resume must communicate it. The question of whether or not to highlight your career objectives on the resume is a polemic one among HR managers, so go with your feeling. If you decide to list them, make sure they are not generic.

8. Put the most important information first

This point is valid both to the overall order of your resume, as well as to the individual sections. Most of the times your previous work experience will be the most important part of the resume, so put it at the top. When describing your experiences or skills, list the most important ones first.

9. Attention to the typography

First of all make sure that your fonts are big enough. The smaller you should go is 11 points, but 12 is probably safer. Do not use capital letters all over the place, remember that your goal is to communicate a message as fast and as clearly as possible. Arial and Times are good choices.

10. Do not include “no kidding” information

There are many people that like to include statements like “Available for interview” or “References available upon request.” If you are sending a resume to a company, it should be a given that you are available for an interview and that you will provide references if requested. Just avoid items that will make the employer think “no kidding!”

11. Explain the benefits of your skills

Merely stating that you can do something will not catch the attention of the employer. If you manage to explain how it will benefit his company, and to connect it to tangible results, then you will greatly improve your chances.

12. Avoid negativity

Do not include information that might sound negative in the eyes of the employer. This is valid both to your resume and to interviews. You don’t need to include, for instance, things that you hated about your last company.

13. Achievements instead of responsibilities

Resumes that include a long list of “responsibilities included…” are plain boring, and not efficient in selling yourself. Instead of listing responsibilities, therefore, describe your professional achievements.

14. No pictures

Sure, we know that you are good looking, but unless you are applying for a job where the physical traits are very important (e.g., modeling, acting and so on), and unless the employer specifically requested it, you should avoid attaching your picture to the resume.

15. Use numbers

This tip is a complement to the 13th one. If you are going to describe your past professional achievements, it would be a good idea to make them as solid as possible. Numbers are your friends here. Don’t merely mention that you increased the annual revenues of your division, say that you increased them by $100,000, by 78%, and so on.

16. One resume for each employer

One of the most common mistakes that people make is to create a standard resume and send it to all the job openings that they can find. Sure it will save you time, but it will also greatly decrease the chances of landing an interview (so in reality it could even represent a waste of time). Tailor your resume for each employer. The same point applies to your cover letters.

17. Identify the problems of the employer

A good starting point to tailor your resume for a specific employer is to identify what possible problems he might have at hand. Try to understand the market of the company you are applying for a job, and identify what kind of difficulties they might be going through. After that illustrate on your resume how you and your skills would help to solve those problems.

18. Avoid age discrimination

It is illegal to discriminate people because of their age, but some employers do these considerations nonetheless. Why risk the trouble? Unless specifically requested, do not include your age on your resume.

19. You don’t need to list all your work experiences

If you have job experiences that you are not proud of, or that are not relevant to the current opportunity, you should just omit them. Mentioning that you used to sell hamburgers when you were 17 is probably not going to help you land that executive position.

20. Go with what you got

If you never had any real working experience, just include your summer jobs or volunteer work. If you don’t have a degree yet, mention the title and the estimated date for completion. As long as those points are relevant to the job in question, it does not matter if they are official or not.

21. Sell your fish

Remember that you are trying to sell yourself. As long as you don’t go over the edge, all the marketing efforts that you can put in your resume (in its content, design, delivery method and so on) will give you an advantage over the other candidates.

22. Don’t include irrelevant information

Irrelevant information such as political affiliation, religion and sexual preference will not help you. In fact it might even hurt your chances of landing an interview. Just skip it.

23. Use Mr. and Ms. if appropriate

If you have a gender neutral name like Alex or Ryan make sure to include the Mr. or Ms. prefix, so that employers will not get confused about your gender.

24. No lies, please

Seems like a no brainer, but you would be amused to discover the amount of people that lie in their resumes. Even small lies should be avoided. Apart from being wrong, most HR departments do background checks these days, and if you are buster it might ruin your credibility for good.

25. Keep the salary in mind

The image you will create with your resume must match the salary and responsibility level that you are aiming for.

26. Analyze job ads

You will find plenty of useful information on job ads. Analyze no only the ad that you will be applying for, but also those from companies on the same segment or offering related positions. You should be able to identify what profile they are looking for and how the information should be presented.

27. Get someone else to review your resume

Even if you think you resume is looking kinky, it would be a good idea to get a second and third opinion about it. We usually become blind to our own mistakes or way of reasoning, so another people will be in a good position to evaluate the overall quality of your resume and make appropriate suggestions.

28. One or two pages

The ideal length for a resume is a polemic subject. Most employers and recruiting specialists, however, say that it should contain one or two pages at maximum. Just keep in mind that, provided all the necessary information is there, the shorter your resume, the better.

29. Use action verbs

A very common advice to job seekers is to use action verbs. But what are they? Action verbs are basically verbs that will get noticed more easily, and that will clearly communicate what your experience or achievement were. Examples include managed, coached, enforced and planned. Here you can find a complete list of action verbs divided by skill category.

30. Use a good printer

If you are going to use a paper version of your resume, make sure to use a decent printer. Laser printers usually get the job done. Plain white paper is the preferred one as well.

31. No hobbies

Unless you are 100% sure that some of your hobbies will support you candidacy, avoid mentioning them. I know you are proud of your swimming team, but share it with your friends and not with potential employers.

32. Update your resume regularly

It is a good idea to update your resume on a regular basis. Add all the new information that you think is relevant, as well as courses, training programs and other academic qualifications that you might receive along the way. This is the best way to keep track of everything and to make sure that you will not end up sending an obsolete document to the employer.

33. Mention who you worked with

If you have reported or worked with someone that is well known in your industry, it could be a good idea to mention it on the resume. The same thing applies to presidents and CEOs. If you reported to or worked directly with highly ranked executives, add it to the resume.

34. No scattered information

Your resume must have a clear focus. If would cause a negative impression if you mentioned that one year you were studying drama, and the next you were working as an accountant. Make sure that all the information you will include will work towards a unified image. Employers like decided people.

35. Make the design flow with white space

Do not jam your resume with text. Sure we said that you should make your resume as short and concise as possible, but that refers to the overall amount of information and not to how much text you can pack in a single sheet of paper. White space between the words, lines and paragraphs can improve the legibility of your resume.

36. Lists all your positions

If you have worked a long time for the same company (over 10 years) it could be a good idea to list all the different positions and roles that you had during this time separately. You probably had different responsibilities and developed different skills on each role, so the employer will like to know it.

37. No jargon or slang

It should be common sense, but believe me, it is not. Slang should never be present in a resume. As for technical jargon, do not assume that the employer will know what you are talking about. Even if you are sending your resume to a company in the same segment, the person who will read it for the first time might not have any technical expertise.

38. Careful with sample resume templates

There are many websites that offer free resume templates. While they can help you to get an idea of what you are looking for, do not just copy and paste one of the most used ones. You certainly don’t want to look just like any other candidate, do you?

39. Create an email proof formatting

It is very likely that you will end up sending your resume via email to most companies. Apart from having a Word document ready to go as an attachment, you should also have a text version of your resume that does not look disfigured in the body of the email or in online forms. Attachments might get blocked by spam filters, and many people just prefer having the resume on the body of the email itself.

40. Remove your older work experiences

If you have been working for 20 years or more, there is no need to have 2 pages of your resume listing all your work experiences, starting with the job at the local coffee shop at the age of 17! Most experts agree that the last 15 years of your career are enough.

41. No fancy design details

Do not use a colored background, fancy fonts or images on your resume. Sure, you might think that the little flowers will cheer up the document, but other people might just throw it away at the sight.

42. No pronouns

You resume should not contain the pronouns “I” or “me.” That is how we normally structure sentences, but since your resume is a document about your person, using these pronouns is actually redundant.

43. Don’t forget the basics

The first thing on your resume should be your name. It should be bold and with a larger font than the rest of the text. Make sure that your contact details are clearly listed. Secondly, both the name and contact details should be included on all the pages of the resume (if you have more than one).

44. Consider getting professional help

If you are having a hard time to create your resume, or if you are receiving no response whatsoever from companies, you could consider hiring a professional resume writing service. There are both local and online options are available, and usually the investment will be worth the money.

[whorlflc]

A Guide to Writing Your Resume

I recently took a very helpful youth professional development course and learned some great things I’d love to share with everyone. This post will be especially helpful for first time resume writers, but there might be something in it for everyone. 

1. What is a Resume? 

A resume is a brief summary of your abilities, experience, and skills. It’s essentially a personal advertisement for your professional career, an opportunity to convince the employer that you are worth interviewing. 

The average employer will only take about 15-20 seconds to read your resume.

It’s important that your resume is neat so the reader can find important information quickly. 

Limit the resume to one page. 

Standard font size is 11-12, but you can play with the font or margins to fit everything. 

2. Headings 

Start with your personal information at the top of the first page (name, address, phone number, and email address). 

Keep the header centered and your name on top in BIG LETTERS.

3. Education 

If you are still in school or have little professional experience, this will likely be the first section in your resume. 

Document your education and graduation year.

Include the location (city, state), but do not include the school address. 

If you attend a school with a College Preparatory Curriculum, you may list that as a bullet underneath. If you are taking Honors or AP classes (or an international equivalent), feel free to list that as well. 

4. Professional Experience 

List your work experience in reverse chronological order - start with your most recent experience, and work backwards. 

Include the employer name, city, state, and position title for each. Again, no addresses.

Record your dates of employment consistently, using a format like June 2016 - August 2015, or 6/15 - 8/15. Staying consistent will make your resume professional. 

Place current jobs in the present tense, past jobs in the past tense. 

Write short phrases, not full sentences (”performed experiments”, not “I performed experiments”). Start each description with an action word that describes your skills, responsibilities, or accomplishments. 

Make sure you are specific about your responsibilities and don’t undersell yourself!

5. Skills 

Most commonly listed skills are computer programs and softwares you are comfortable with, and languages you are fluent/proficient in. 

Be honest! If you say you’re fluent in Spanish and you’re not, but your employer hires you for your Spanish abilities…. someone isn’t going to be pleased. 

List skills that are relevant to your job - patience might be a good skill for working with children, while organized might be more suitable for an office setting. 

6. Honors & Awards/Extracurriculars

List any honors or awards you have earned, including a brief explanation if the nature of the award is unclear. 

List any activities that you have been involved in, making sure to include years of participation (again, be consistent with formatting). These can be in-school or outside-of-school activities.

7. General & Miscellaneous

Some safe fonts: Times New Roman, Garamond, Calibri, or Book Antiqua.

Make sure your email is professional! This has been repeated to death but it’s so, so, so important. 

Likewise, if you list your personal cellphone number, make sure your voicemail message is appropriate. When in doubt, just revert back to the standard voicemail greeting. 

I hope this was helpful for anyone just starting out with their resume. Please share this for those who need it. Best of luck! 

- Ellie