Graduates, get a job

It's that time of year again. Bright-eyed students are ready to enter the working world and parents are singing hallelujah that they no longer will have to support their adult child, who owns more electronic gadgets than they do and charges like Paris Hilton (without the hefty bank account).

But what about the corporate culture and current economy? Can parents truly cut off their college grad?

According to an independent research firm, 41 percent of executives surveyed said their firms are more active in recruiting university graduates than they were five years ago. Only 13 percent reported slowing their college recruiting efforts.

That means your baby more than likely didn't even need to leave the college campus to find a first "real job."

According to Accountemps, a staffing service for temp financing professionals, the hiring environment is more competitive and the demand for recent grads has increased.

In celebration of this, and all grads who secure their first job, I will repeat this advice: Watch your debt level. If it hasn't started already, the creditors are champing at the bit to get at you.

Here are some tips from the American Institute of CPA, which is a national, nonprofit organization representing tax and auditing accountants:

• Establish a savings plan. Put aside for emergencies - start out slowly, saving about 1 percent, and gradually increase to 5 percent of income after taxes. Build a reserve equal to six months' living expenses.

• Limit credit use. Shop around for best rates and total costs, such as credit cards with no fees and lower rates.

• Abide by a 20-25 percent rule. Debts, not including mortgages or rent, should not exceed 20-25 percent of spendable income. This varies depending on housing costs. If housing costs are high, the percentage available for other debts would be lower.

• Recognizing a problem early may help you to avoid bankruptcy. The danger signs are: depending on overtime income or savings to pay bills; making minimum monthly payments on your credit cards; borrowing or using cash advances to pay off bills or make payments; making payments late or getting collection letters or calls from creditors; credit lines or limits at maximum.

For those interviewing for jobs, take some advice from business etiquette expert Barbara Pachter, author of "When The Little Things Count ... And They Always Count."

• Read books about business leaders. You may not have a lot of leadership or management experience, but reading about leaders will give you topics to discuss, Pachter says. Read to increase your own knowledge, not just for the sake of looking good in one interview.

• Buy a business suit. When interviewing for most jobs in corporate America, it's usually best to wear a suit, even if the company has a business casual dress policy. If it's not a corporate job, you can wear nice slacks or a skirt and shirt or blouse.

• In college it's cool to have multiple piercings and oddly dyed hair, but in the business world you'll just look unprofessional. Clean up your act for the 15-30 minutes that you have to make a good first impression. And turn off your cell phone. The manager interviewing you deserves your complete attention.

• Take notes. Not only will this help you to remember the salary and benefits of a particular job later, but it'll also show you care about the company and what the manager who is interviewing you is saying. And when it gets down to it, those in charge like to see someone hang over their every word.

• Read the newspaper, online or in print. If you know what's going on in your community and in the world you may start caring about both. Self-centered people may get jobs but not very good ones.

• Contact reporter Becky Bosshart at bbosshart@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1212.