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Ask Savvy: Should I Apply For Every Job Available?

SavvySugar — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 07:30:28 -0800

Dear Savvy,

I'm wondering what you think is the best method for getting into a company. I am looking for a job in my area, and there is a specific company that I want to work for.

My knee-jerk reaction is to apply for any job that I am capable of doing, but the more I think about it the more I think that it may not be a good idea. Does applying for every job available at a company look bad or does it get your name into company conversation?

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Ask Savvy: How Should I Discuss Salary in a Bad Economy?

SavvySugar — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 09:30:38 -0800

Dear Savvy,

With the economy the way it is, what's the average pay cut people are being forced to take after their position is eliminated and they need a job? And what is the best way to handle an employer asking what salary you are looking for in this kind of economy?

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Ask Savvy: Should I Keep a High Limit Credit Card I Don't Want?

SavvySugar — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 09:30:53 -0700

Dear Savvy,

I have a store credit card with a $1,500 limit that I've had for about six years, which I use occasionally to earn store points. They recently changed their program and switched to an actual MasterCard, and sent me a new card with an $11,000 limit. I did not ask for the new card and I certainly don't need it. How will this affect my credit and is it better to keep it or should I send it back as refused?

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Ask Savvy: Should I Apply For a Personal Loan?

SavvySugar — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 12:30:51 -0700

Dear Savvy,

I've been meaning to take a $5,000 personal loan. However, as you may know, my bank WaMu was bought by JP Morgan Chase. I'm not sure what kind of effects this would have on me or my bank. Should I hold off or go to different banks? Also, since we are in economic crisis, will it harm me in the future if I do consider going through with this?

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Ask Savvy: What Should I Wear to a Job Interview?

SavvySugar — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 09:30:45 -0700

Q: Dear Savvy,

I have an advanced degree in Science and Engineering and am currently job hunting. I keep seeing and hearing conflicting reports about what to wear to my interviews. Any advice?

A: Office attire seems to be a common theme this week — the Project Runway contestants certainly had some interesting and varied ideas of what attire is appropriate for a college graduate entering the working world. Some of their creations may have passed once you've been established as an employee, but figuring out what to wear on an interview is more pressing because it's all about making your best first impression. See my tips for interview appropriate attire when you

Ask Savvy: When Should I Cancel My Credit Card?

SavvySugar — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 12:30:32 -0700

Dear Savvy,

Is it a good idea to cancel a credit card you are paying off instead of waiting until you pay it off entirely?

A: No, you need to keep a card open until the balance has been paid off completely. After your balance is zeroed out, call the issuer and ask for your card to be canceled with a note to the credit bureaus that the account was "closed at customer's request."

Find out more things to consider regarding credit card cancellation when you

Tough Job Choice: Fellow TeamSugar Member Needs Help!

SavvySugar — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 06:30:32 -0700

I received this message from a TeamSugar member in need of immediate help! She has a tough job choice to make and must decide by Monday. Situations like these don't always have an obvious right answer, but there's usually a best answer. Can you help her find it?

Dear Savvy,

I have a tough job decision to make and I really don't know what to do. My old boss (whom I have stayed in contact with over the years) called to offer me a position at his new company. The position is for a job that I held at our old company that I really enjoyed. I currently work from home for my husband's company. My old boss offered me the exact salary I am making now, but I know I would need at least 5k more than that a year, to compensate for travel and food at the office.

Also, what is bothering me is how much I enjoy working with my husband. I love it! But some months are very lean because the contracts just don't come in, so a secure paycheck could really help. Also, having a secure paycheck would help with our desire to buy a house. But I have so much liberty working from home that it is hard for me to make a decision to go back to the 9 to 5. Please help me figure this out! He wants a decision by Monday.

—Tough Job Choice

Source

Ask Savvy: How to Manage Money as a Couple

SavvySugar — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 09:30:39 -0700

Dear Savvy,

My fiance and I combined our finances shortly after we got engaged last August, and I am in charge of managing our money. We're getting married in November. Right now, we pay everything we can with a credit card. This includes any bills we can charge (phone, cable, rent) and all our daily expenses. The plan was that every month we would pay off the card. I figured this would make sure that we never overdrew our checking account.

The problem is that every month it seems like we spend a little more than we can send to the card, and over time that amount is really adding up. My credit is very good, and the card we use was originally in my name only, so we have a very low interest rate. However, it was never my intention for us to be carrying a balance on this card.

I'm afraid if we switch to using a check card and paying all bills directly from checking, we'll risk overdrawing the account. But I know the current credit card plan isn't working, because we are just going into debt. I need help!

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Ask Savvy: What to Say When Asking For a Lower Interest Rate

SavvySugar — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 09:30:07 -0700

Dear Savvy,

I currently am trying to pay off a high revolving balance on my Citibank MasterCard. I have a good credit rating (730-740) and am current on all my bills with no late payments. My current credit card interest rate is 14.99 percent. I heard that if you contact the credit card company and say that you are receiving offers for lower rates in the mail they would lower your interest rate. I would do this but I don't know what to say or what would be considered a reasonable interest rate. Can you help?

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Ask Savvy: Should I Mention My Sorority on My Résumé?

SavvySugar — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 11:04:36 -0700

Dear Savvy,

I just finished a masters degree in engineering and I'm applying for jobs. My question is about my résumé, namely whether I should include the sorority I belonged to in undergrad. I've had it on there along with my other more technical activities to show that I'm well-rounded and social, but I've heard that some recruiters can be disdainful of someone mentioning something frivolous like a sorority.

My undergraduate school was a small technical university so the sorority scene was a far cry from partying animal-house antics, and it really was just a way to have a social life in a school with lots of antisocial kids who sat in their rooms playing video games all the time. So many engineers have trouble working with people, that I thought mentioning my sorority might be a good way to show that I am in fact social and good at teamwork, etc. But I guess I'm worried it could be misconstrued so I'm thinking about taking it off. Any thoughts on this from people with more experience would be greatly appreciated.

See my answer and share your own thoughts in the comments. Just