How education hurts jobs, besides the price.

Colleges claim certain majors pay higher when students get jobs in those fields. Contrary to popular belief, this is not a guarantee. Companies choose who to hire and how much they pay them – educated or not. Job trends and unemployment rates change every few years. The rising cost of education is not the only cause that hurts a job hunt. 

Hiring managers have to be selective with a list of sought after skills growing. Blame can get shifted back to them if they hire someone who isn’t best suited for the job, even if the department manager sits in on the interview. Employers ideally, want someone who is flexible to conform to their way of doing things.


Lack of education/experience
The employer may not be able to devote time to train them or the position usually requires years of experience, such as a manager role. They may feel the candidate should get some formal education elsewhere. 

Too much education/experience
Experienced workers also get turned down if they have too much. The older we get, we establish set habits of doing things. The employer may even feel fearful. Those knowledgeable professionals may know more than they do and could cause conflicts of ego. Plus, they may fear the person may not be as flexible with training. 

Those that have experience in many fields or one company also get treated questionably. Their stability, loyalty, and trust are under scrutiny. 

Recent Graduates
Managers may feel bruised egos from feeling inadequate about their lack of current events in the field. They may feel threatened, steal ideas, and get annoyed with well-intended encouraged suggestions of improvement.

In debt and indentured
Both scholarships and tuition reimbursement plans make you go through qualifying paperwork, only a certain amount and only towards specific courses. Either one can be taken away at any time based on their expected return requirements. The student becomes obligated to fulfill a contractual agreement to those offering funds to pay for education.

Tuition reimbursement makes you pay first. They do not reimburse any additional interest added on your credit card purchases. When approved, you will have to work and go to school until you get your final grade. 

When we are in debt, we may feel forever in debt to work for someone, by their rules and ways of doing things in order to fulfill a financial obligation.


Pros and cons of education and experience 


Pro: Degrees and experience increases your chances of job qualifications.
Con: You may have to take a job, based on needs, not in your field of study or experience.

Pro: Student loans generally have low interest rates.
Con: Can not be wiped off in bankruptcy.

Pro: Your knowledge can be a contributing asset.
Con: You may be viewed as a know-it-all. 

Pro: Degree in current demand job trend.
Con: Jobs and people replaced with the next job trenders or budget cuts.  

Pro: Self employed
Con: Self-employed also let go of unprofitable projects plus abide to federal and state regulations.


Colleges are just as much a business looking for profit as any other business. They sell services. Before you sign up, enroll, and take on a loan, look carefully at the obligation requirements. Review projected accumulated interest and your own budget.  

Never feel any education or training is wasted. Knowledge is empowering and no one can ever take that away from you. It is up to you to share it and up to someone to listen to benefit from it. It is always a priceless gain. While on your job hunt, you may even consider finding or creating a teaching job opportunity.

Are You Double Tipping?

Are you Double Tipping?
Thursdays: Your Consumer Protection Series, So far:                

Lenda Hand Yu is available to offer service industry training sessions for your wait staff. She has over 20  years of experience. Call her at 402.932.3497 for details.

Double check any double lines of tip on a bill. Follow these cautionary tips to be sure extra tips aren’t added later. In any economic times, eating out is the most agreeable entertainment for groups.  But look twice, when the final bill comes, a second tip line appears.

Part of delivery charges may go to the delivery driver.  Assume less than half, as the business may have a standard amount that gets divided in a pool. While eating in, automatic party gratuity percent tips are posted on signs or noted on the menu. 

Separate checks for large parties may not always include the gratuity percent. If patrons don’t leave the minimum party tip, it makes the wait staff’s work feel minimized. If you want separate checks, tell them before ordering. More experienced wait staff will usually separate in the beginning. At the end, it’s easier to run a total bill, if one person decides to pay it all. Asking to separate at the end takes more time. 

As of 2012 in the Midwest:

The average standard percent rate for a party gratuity tip is 18%. 

The average expected tip, is at least 15%.

Self quick calculating tips:

Using calculators to figure out a tip, makes you look cheap, even if it’s on your cell phone.  

Rounding up to a whole number is a lot easier to calculate, plus is only a matter of a few percent generous difference. For example, if we have a $16.76 bill. Round the 10% $1.67 to $2, give 15%=$3.  The actual percent will still be in the range of the average expected tip.  

Examples:

10%
$20.00 bill

Decimal 1 digit left:

$2.000

15% :

$20.00 bill

Decimal 1 digit left:

(10%) $2.000

Add half of that to that: $1 

The tip is $3.

20%

$20.00 bill

Decimal 1 digit left:

(10%)$2.000

Multiply that X times 2=$4

The tip is $4

Of a $20 bill, 18% is between $3 and $4 and a little bit past half the difference of the two. It isn’t a percent number to easily calculate quickly in the head. Computer systems will calculate the amount for you and will appear on the first line of tip.  

Sneaky tip tricks

• They may draw a smiley face or circle around the extra tip line.
• They hope you don’t pay attention to the already added 18% and hope you add 15% more on top of that subtotal.
• They may add a number later if you leave blank lines.
• They know, some, under the influence of alcohol, may tip more.
• They may pressure your time, by hovering, pausing, or coming back to collect quickly.
• Some may delay giving you change from cash.  

If you DON’T WANT TO TIP MORE than the 18%:

·        X out the extra tip line.

·        A subtotal may include the 18%.

·        Re-write that subtotal in the total line at the bottom.

·        Sign

·        Keep your receipt

·        Hand to your assigned waiter.

 

If you WANT TO TIP MORE than the 18%:

• Enter the amount in the extra tip line area.
• Write in the added total from the subtotaled 18%.
• Sign
• Keep your receipt
• Hand to your assigned waiter.

It pays to double check the double lines of tip. Be sure to only give the final bill back to your assigned waiter. Be sure to keep your copy of your credit card receipt too, in case there’s a dispute about charges. The establishment may have to produce those receipts for a chargeback issue.

Lenda Hand Yu is available to offer service industry training sessions for your wait staff. She has over 20  years of experience. Call her at 402.932.3497 for details.

Why you shouldn’t eat the cake the Boss brought.

Why, Boss, why? Series, so far.

There’s another announcement about an unexpected mandatory department meeting this week. Most of the time, the highlights seem to be what treat the Boss brought.  They bring gourmet cookies, cake, candy, bagels – why and why you shouldn’t take them.

Can’t ask questions with your mouth full

This is the same concept of when a waiter checks your table while you’re eating. Your mouth is full and all you can really say is a few mumble words: “mmm hmm” in agreement.  If you had a problem, you’d make a signal to say wait.

Soft versus crunchy

Soft foods like cake, cookies, and melt in your mouth candy doesn’t make as much noise as a crunchy carrot or chips.  They usually select foods that aren’t individually wrapped in crinkly plastic either.

It’s also best not to bring hard candy unless its cold season. Don’t bring peanuts because of the growing allergy, choking and fall to the floor tripping factor.  Chewy candy can stick to teeth and people will distractingly pick or suck their teeth.

Carbs peak and crash

Morning bagels require cream cheese, utensils, plates – the works. Afternoon meetings usually are limited to one or two items - cookies and cake. Sugar carbs peak you up then makes you crash.  Some carbs are used as comfort foods with a burst of excitable energy. Excitable energy is a good feeling, which is what the Managers want at the time of presenting, to accept, new ideas.

Why do they bring treats?

·        They look like they brought everyone a rewarding treat.

·        Trying to win team brownie points.

·        Keeping mouths full, minimize talking.

·        Distracting focus from any seemingly bad news.

·        They will watch who indulges or not and how much.

·        They will take note on who rejected.

·        They will see who joins the crowd.

·        They may get reimbursed for the expense.

·        Creating subtle feelings of:  bribery, flattery, gratitude, enticement, favor trading/obligation.

·        Influencing positive feelings from all the sweet stimulated energy.

A bag of bagels with accessories in the morning, on an average in the Midwest in 2012, is around $35. If they have a team of 10 employees that’s $3.50 per person they just spent the company money on, if they're reimbursed.  If people begin to refuse to eat it, leftovers are viewed as a loss of money.  A subtle culture message is also a signal of rejection. 

As a former bartender, I personally always preferred a tip, especially a tip equal to the amount of what a shot cost. However, corporate law is worded that the manager can not give cash gifts. It’s viewed more as a bribe than a cupcake. There are so many personal views on how it’s perceived. Determining if some gifts create a feeling of obligation or conflict of interest. 

A gift in any form can influence:

·        Emotions- conflict or inclusion.

·        Judgement of the relationship.

·        Judgement of the person(s).

·        Judgement of value of funds.

·        Comparison of use of funds-affordability versus not

·        Obligation.

·        Plants an attached memory.

Before you bite into that delicious chocolate icing topped cupcake, consider what part of the company pie the boss spent from. Is it, could it be, your piece percentage of the company pie that should have been left in the oven to bake to create a better tasting pie?

Unnecessary medical testing?

Thursdays, Your Consumer Protection series, so far

                    

*I am not a medical professional. Seek medical attention if necessary.

There you are in the doctor’s office feeling a little run down wondering if its something serious. Thoughts are running through your mind working up your worry. Meanwhile, the doctor keeps ordering more tests. Are all those tests really necessary? Visit a doctor if you feel you need to, but watch out for unnecessary medical testing during vulnerable moments.

Suggestive testing

Suggestive testing goes both ways. Patients go to doctors to find answers. Doctors help find answers through suggesting tests. They are scientists, care givers, and businessmen and women all in one. They supply yours and others demands.

Large medical groups are run by a lot of people with large expenses. The doctor may be pressured to suggest and perform tests out of fear of lawsuits or finding ways to cover someone else’s bill.

Genetic testing

Over the past few years, I’ve heard from many women, each with different financial incomes, mention how doctors are asking them to get genetic testing. Insurance companies may not cover elective, experimental procedures. 

Recall your science class; some gene traits may not show up in generations. If you know your family medical history, is paying for genetic testing really necessary to prove the pattern? For example: Two deaf parents have a hard of hearing child. Is it necessary to test the child genetically to see if she has a hearing impaired gene? If you don’t know your family medical history, guess what? Many of us don’t and still live on.

They’ll test you anyways

Doctors know after a certain age, symptoms and information you provide them, they will draw an educated, process of elimination analysis, of what to test.

They will perform tests anyways to prove their suspected findings. If they don’t find it the first time, they’ll try another approach of tests. If you’re willing, they will continue more tests.

Ask questions:

• Is it urgently right now life or death necessary?
• Are there any safe self preventative practices you can do?
• Is the doctor presenting extremes?
• Will the wait for results drive you to worry, creating more stress and sickness?
• Will the bill be so high, it takes the rest of yours or others lifetime to pay off?
• Are they prematurely pressuring you with death scares?
• Are you dying to know how you may die while living?
• Why does the health industry stress your health is priceless, if they keep charging such high prices and test for flaws?

Financial Solutions

• Ask your Doctor about Safe Self Preventative Measures and apply them.
• Make payment arrangements to the medical facility.
  Ask if they consider financial hardship cases.
• Find out if your medical expenses qualifies for a Tax Deduction.
• *Bankruptcy

Exercise your right to say no to unnecessary testing and get another medical opinion or two. Morbid as it sounds, we are mortal beings, death is inevitable in us all, at any time, from any cause.

*Hesitate relying on Government Assistance or Bankruptcy to help relieve some of the expenses. It dips into the country’s deficit. Those choices may wipe off the bill on your part, but the medical facility gets left with it. They, in turn, try to figure out how to cover the loss including passing on the price to the next patient in the waiting room wondering if their symptoms are serious or not.

*I am not a medical professional. Seek medical attention if necessary.

Additional dishes to avoid to increase your chance of kisses

Happy Hump Day Dating Advice Series, So far

Although the most popularly known foods to avoid when wanting kisses is garlic and onions, let’s take a serious peek at others that could thwart away a perfect pucker.

Dehydrating foods

Things that strip away your ability to feel smooth, especially luscious lips, can dry up your chances of someone touching you.  Your skin, lips, mouth, organs, muscles, and even mind are effected by water. You want to be touched? Then don’t feel too dry and rough. Our bodies will age differently depending on what we put in it now. Along the way, keep in mind, medications can also strip away your water supply.

Avoid some of this stuff:

·        Cigarettes

·        Caffeine

·        Sugar

·        Salt

·        Dark Liquids

·        Alcohol

Dry mouth date foods

Who wants to French kiss with a tongue you can scrap film off?  Or a mouth that tastes like its full of saltine crackers? Some romantic date foods can actually lead to a cotton mouth feeling.

·        Wine and Cheese

·        Bread and Pasta

·        Popcorn

·        Chocolate

Try to stick with mouth moisturizing foods like fruit, squash, clear liquids, and mints. 

Going on dates can be a nervous experience that your body will react in other ways. It twitches, leaks, and thinks for you at times.  Being dehydrating dry makes you clear your throat, rub your eyes, scratch your skin and hurts your joints. Who wants to be around a scratching, stiff, hoarse sounding, beady red eye date? Stay healthy, attractive, strong and smooth to touch other wise it will over or under compensate in other ways. You won’t be the only one whining from lack of performance.

Brush, floss and mouthwash often, but don’t forget to exfoliate and replenish. Don’t feel too manly to not get a pedicure or manicure every once in a while. Even getting one together is a great date. Throw in a good facial, massaging scalp shampoo plus haircut and we’ll be proud to be leaving with the new amazing you.  It might even tempt us to touch you –afterwards.

     

Surprising times to apply for a job.

Tuesdays Job Hunting Tips Series, So Far.

Filling out an application can take up to an hour with online applications taking longer. Selective managers may take even longer sorting through them all-qualified or not. Be sure its received at the most optimum time with these tips.


Sunday night
Some employers may still post positions in the Sunday newspaper or online over the weekend. If emailing late Sunday night, and if they didn’t get other emails since then, your information has a higher chance of being seen Monday morning. The time and date is stamped when you sent it. They may think you are eager with good work ethics to be applying on a Sunday evening.


Early Monday morning or evening
As online applications take an hour or so to fill out, you may be up at the crack of dawn on Monday to be sure it emails by 8:00 a.m. Monday, the employers time. If they start work at 8:00 a.m. and their emails are sorted by date and time, yours has a higher chance of getting on top of the list to be seen.

Mondays are usually planning days for normal 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. professional businesses. It’s the priority task planning day for the rest of the week. Phone calls to set up interview times may begin by the afternoon. Getting an email from an applicant in the afternoon or last on Monday may make a memorable impression or distraction when they’re calling someone else.


Tuesday and Thursday afternoon
Tuesdays are usually set up for upper management round table meetings, most commonly in the mornings. They’ll usually be back checking their emails by afternoon. In restaurants, Tuesdays and Thursdays are usually the slowest days. Be sure to apply after their lunch or breakfast rush between 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. Those times are also used for interviews. Thursdays are seen as the next to last day of the week to get some things done for many professionals or the start of the busiest part of the week for restaurants.


Wednesday morning
Wednesdays are usually reserved for the interview, setting up interviews, or another day the manager has time to sort through more applicants. Be sure to apply by email first thing in the morning or at least before noon. By afternoon, they may be thinking of their midweek after five activity. Wednesday evenings are midweek group activity nights: Bowling, Dart League, Church, or other group plans.


Forget Fridays unless its an interview
Minimize Fridays as this is the last day of the week to get tasks that were prioritized on Monday to get done. Plus, it’s the same mind set as Wednesdays, thinking of their planned social activities soon. They’ve already checked out concentrating on work. Even if you send it late Friday, most may forget about it over the weekend. However, some interview times are scheduled on Fridays so managers can have time to think about the candidates over the weekend.


When emailing your resume, be sure the subject line contains the specific job applied for, so Human Resources Directors or their Assistants can also sort by subject. If mailing your information, be sure you can time it right so it arrives on their desk on these times.

Mad Math Savings Skills at the Supermarket.

Monday Money Savers Series, so far.  

I hear the groans. Declining math skills are growing and marketers know it. Finding savings isn’t limited to coupons, bulk buys, or sale ads. Use these math tips to save more, especially, towards this necessary for survival chore. 

1.  Compare and figure the following: 

·        Price per volume.

·        Pretty packaging may cost more. 

·        Average costs per person in a big family.

·        Time and money spent on impulse buys.

Challenge: Find and Figure out the most savings difference on twenty items. Once done, treat yourself on one item valued at less than half the average found. In the beginning, start small but build up towards automatic focusing.

2.   Help in Large numbers

While in a crowded aisle, strike up a conversation to new friends and ask if anyone knows a better price on an item. Larger stores honor competitive prices. Continue to bring Ads even though some stores are storing lists internally at the check out stand. Remember; avoid the lures of all the pretty pictures piling up your list.

Make it a scavenger hunt. Point out an item to your kids or friends and ask them to find the littlest price. Understand, little kids may not understand advanced math or reading skills like price per volume, so point out the size of the package. 

3.   Finding the smallest number

We are so comfortable with our own eye level and in a hurry we don’t always look around. Supermarkets put impulse buy items at the ends and they aren’t always the cheapest. Walk a few more feet in the middle of the designated item aisle to find smaller prices. More bargain prices can also be found on the bottom of the shelves. Squat, not bend, to change your view or ask your little kids to look for you.

4. Divide

Divide your list in sections. It helps to minimize wandering back and forth for forgotten, add to the list distractions. Most supermarkets are mapped out with fresh perishables foods on the outer and processed foods in the middle. Non-food items have their own sections to avoid clashes of smell association triggers.

Most items are bagged in the following ways to avoid cross contamination. For big families, bring at least two recyclable bags per section. There are places that apply credit per bag. Consider also dividing the bill with carpooling for more than one family. Buying in Bulk can help reduce per item cost this way.

Sections:

·        Dairy: Milk, Yogurt, Cheese

·        Paper items: Toilet paper and Paper towels

·        Cleaning supplies: Bathroom cleaners and Kitchen cleaners

·        Frozen foods: TV Dinners, Meats, Frozen vegetables.

·        Medicine and Hygiene supplies

·        Fresh Produce

Re-consider luxury outing expenses. A $5 credit off a $20 total restaurant bill seems like a savings, but divide out the costs of what it will actual cost to get there or once in there: tip, taxes, dessert, gas, and dressing up.

5. Double check amounts

Shelves are jammed with items; new, older, and overstock. Some supermarkets will list the UPC numbers, the scanning numbers, on the price tag. Double check to see if the numbers match exactly how it appears on the bar code on the item. If not, look for further details. Double check the description, which can include size or weight.  

Don’t go to the store hungry or tired. Both make you buy impulsively. Delicious items and aromas tempt your palette, wallet, and time.

It may take time and repetition to apply these mad math skills to habit, but it’s a priceless talent for the future.  Don’t give up on the math. Stay focused on the problem solving rather than get distracted. Stay consistent, persistent and proud of your self applied calculated findings.