Sometimes, that’s all it takes. I’ve been offered jobs on more than one occasion simply because a friend or acquaintance knew my background and skills. Informal Job Search Networking Try job search networking; it really does work, and many jobs are found by networking. Jobvite’s 2019 Job Seeker Nation Survey reports that 50% of respondents heard about jobs from friends, while 37% say they also learn about jobs from professional networks....

Sending a resume and cover letter to an employer, even though you aren’t sure if there are available jobs, is a way to get your candidacy noticed. It may also get you advance consideration for positions that have just opened up. If you have skills the company is in need of, it may even get you considered for a brand-new position. When you know an employer has an opening, don’t hesitate to apply....

However, your interest rate and monthly payment could change in as little as three years, so potential borrowers need to understand the pros and cons of these loans. Basics of Hybrid Loans Hybrid loans come in various forms, but they are most popular for home loans. This type of loan is a “hybrid” (or mixture) of fixed-rate loans and adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs)—so you get some of the benefits of each type of loan....

BudgetingSpendingSavingRetirement planningCredit and debtCollege planningInsurance To lay the groundwork for a solid financial foundation, you need to understand how each of these topics works together and affect each other. Here’s a quick crash course in the most important aspects of financial planning. 1. Budgeting At the basic level of personal finance, budgeting is one of the most important tools you can have. A budget is a plan for how you spend the money you earn....

Types of Energy ETFs Two types of energy ETFs exist, and they correlate to the price of natural gas. Some are commodity ETFs that track the price of a natural gas (or related index) by utilizing derivatives such as futures in their construction. And while these types of energy funds have been under scrutiny, they can’t be ignored. UNG, the United States Natural Gas ETF is a prime example of an energy ETF that aims to track the price of natural gas, but where the accuracy of the fund’s ability to emulate the price of the commodity has been controversial in the past....

The standard rate is an optional rate to use when calculating the deductible cost of driving a vehicle for business, charitable, medical, or moving expense purposes. The IRS bases the business rate on an annual study of the fixed and variable costs of owning and operating a vehicle. You can also calculate the actual cost of running your car if you think those expenses are higher than the standard rates....

Depending on your situation, you may be wondering whether it’s a good idea to contribute to an individual retirement account (IRA), or whether it’s even an option at this point in time. Here’s what you need to know about opening an IRA, especially if you’re one of the many people in the U.S. on unemployment. Who Can Open an IRA? IRAs can provide significant tax benefits to people who have earned income (or have a spouse with earned income) during the year....

Business Liability Insurance Most states require rental companies to provide customers with at least the minimum statutory limit of liability insurance. Businesses should not rely on this coverage as their main source of protection against liability claims. For one thing, the limit is generally low ($25,000/$50,000 is typical). In some states, moreover, the insurance afforded by the rental company is excess over any other coverage available to the renter. While businesses can buy additional liability insurance from the rental agency, many already have insurance under a commercial auto policy....

Find out more about what job requirements are and get examples. What Are Job Requirements? Most job listings state the requirements needed for candidates to successfully do the job. They may include specific skills, types and amounts of work experience, personal qualities, educational credentials, professional certifications, areas of knowledge, and other qualifications. These requirements help set expectations for both employers and potential employees, and help ensure that qualified people apply for positions....

Internship Goals: Yours and Your Employers A great internship provides the knowledge and skills you’ll need to become successful in a specific career field. The best internship experiences are those that prepare students for the work they hope to do after graduating from college. Employers seek employees who have the experience required to start out in a new field. Employers also welcome new employees who have already had exposure to the field and understand the type of work they will be doing once they are hired....

Overall, the need for professional and legal oversight has traditionally made the process of setting up a trust into a time-consuming and expensive one, meaning that unless you have a large sum of money to place in the fund, it may not be worth your time. Many people are turning to what’s called “a KISS Trust”, a relatively new, fast, and inexpensive alternative to setting up a traditional trust. It’s a good option for people who want to leave money to their loved ones, but don’t have millions in the bank....

Lenders want to be sure that they’ll get repaid. That means they’re looking to ensure that the loan makes good business sense, you (or your business) have a strong credit history, the bank can manage the risk, and the people managing the business are qualified and responsible. Good Business Sense Lenders only want to make a loan that helps you grow your business. You might be confident that the money will help, but you need to convince them of that fact....

Chart Types Charts typically have several different display modes for displaying the price. One method that price can be shown is called Japanese candlesticks. Candlestick charts are the most commonly used display method for indicating the price on a forex chart. There are theories about using candlestick patterns to predict the price. Candlestick analysis is said to provide a nearly instant sentiment read on the market. Price can also be displayed as a line....

What Does Occurrence Mean? In the standard ISO general liability policy, the meaning of the word occurrence is explained in the policy Definitions section. This term means the following: What’s An Accident? While accident isn’t defined in the policy, this word generally means a fortuitous, unexpected, or unforeseen event. It’s a circumstance that happens without intention or design. Many events that result in liability claims are clearly accidental. Here are some examples:...

The number of people who applied for a credit card in the last year rose to its highest level since before the pandemic, according to quarterly survey data released Monday by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Of those surveyed, 23% said they had applied for a card between June 2020 and last month, up from 19.4% in February—but still below the pre-pandemic level of 26.3% in February 2020....

damircudic / Getty Images With vaccines rolling out and the economy looking up, the cost of borrowing money has increased, and homeowners are finding fewer reasons to refinance. Applications for refis dropped 5.1% the week ending March 19, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association, the same week that the rate on an average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rose to 3.36% from 3.28%, its highest since June. The year started off with a refinancing mania that was spurred on by ultra-low mortgage rates averaging 2....

How Your Mortgage Rate Is Set Interest rates are set partly based on your riskiness as a borrower. The riskier you are to a lender, the higher your interest rates will be. Mortgage lenders use credit scores to determine whether you qualify for the mortgage and to determine risk and the likelihood that you will default on your mortgage loan. The higher your credit score, the lower the risk that you’ll default on your loan, and the lower the interest rate you’ll qualify for....

Marko Geber / Getty Images After seven straight weeks of increases, the average rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage ticked down to 3.33% last week, from 3.36% the week before, according to data released by the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) Wednesday. The record low was 2.85% in December. While mortgage rates are still low by historical standards, home prices have been surging and there’s a severe shortage of homes for sale, creating a squeeze on homebuyers....

The misunderstanding about extensions is widespread, according to an April online poll of 1,000 U.S. adults, conducted by tax prep firm Jackson Hewitt, and it could be costly. If you owe federal taxes but don’t pay by the April 18 deadline, the IRS will tack on 0.5% of the amount for every month you’re late, up to a maximum of 25% of the bill. That applies even if you get an extension....

Several years later, we do not have a savings account together. When we talk about it, he says things like “it’s a waste” or “saving is pointless because we have student loans.” I think saving is important, and have been trying to save on my own. How can saving be a waste? Should we let student loans prohibit us from planning for the future or emergencies? Am I tripping? Sincerely, Nancy...