Key Takeaways:

• Job offers are invitations of employment that can be formalized in a letter or email.

• When offered a job, make sure to get it in writing so that the terms and conditions are understood by everyone involved.

• You do not need to accept a job offer. You can also ask for some time to consider the offer.

• Job offers are the first steps to being officially employed at an organization.

What Is a Job Offer?

• Job title and position

• Start date of employment

• Salary

• Benefits

• Reporting structure

• Location of employment

• Other terms and conditions

How a Job Offer Works

What’s Included in a Job Offer Letter

Job Offer Letter Templates

How to Accept a Job Offer

How to Decline a Job Offer

• If you know you are planning on quitting, start by taking small items home with you without drawing suspicion.

• Cleaning out your desk is important because it lets the next person who uses your desk have a nice clean space.

• You should delete any personal documents from your computer, and take any personal items from the common spaces.

Why Cleaning Your Office is Important?

How to Start Cleaning When You Quit

1. Computer. There are bound to be things you want to totally remove from your work computer (Vacation pictures anyone? How about thatresume you used to get your new job?), there are also going to be a few things you want to save like a project you rocked and would like to use for future reference or as a resume builder. Make sure you get rid of all of your personal data before you hand over the computer.

2. Email. Clean out your email, deal with open tasks as much as you can, remove personal emails and leave it as empty as possible. Don’t forget to send out that good-bye letter to your coworkers before you sign off.

3. Software. Have you downloaded software that’s not a part of your job or that is but it’s not something the company asked you to download? If so — clean it up and move it out.

4. Browser. Delete your browsing history, any cookies, saved passwords, and other items that are sitting in the browser.

5. Drawers. Whether it’s file cabinets or desk drawers, they all deserve attention. Most likely file cabinets will stay for the next person, but you may want to pull some contact information from them to keep for future reference. Your drawers will be full of stuff and most of it will be garbage to everyone but you, so go through it all carefully. You’ll want to leave everything clean and organized for the next person.

6. Office storage. If you have office storage or a cubby, those areas need your attention too. These spots often house long-lost coats, sweaters, shoes, umbrellas, and more.

7. Common areas. Do you have coffee cups lying around, storage containers, a gym outfit, tennis shoes? Many offices have common areas that act as dumping grounds for your items and you sometimes totally forget what’s there or forget to look in those areas.

When to Start Cleaning Out Your Desk

• Start organizing. You probably don’t want to let everyone know you’re looking for a new job, or maybe you do, but the best time to start organizing your desk and your workspace is before you quit your job. If you’re an overachiever-type, you should always keep a clean desk that’s organized for efficiency, this will make the final clean-up a breeze.

• Start small. Bring home a few trinkets here and there. Any personal item you’re not regularly using can be slipped into your computer bag and out of the office without anyone noticing and you’ve already started the process.

  It’s also a great idea to start going through the drawers of paperwork before you put in your notice to make sure you’re not forgetting anything you really need to take care of.

• When you start to look for another job. Along the same lines, decluttering your email and your computer can begin as soon as you start looking for a new job. The reason to get a jump on this part of the process is you never know what’s coming down the line. You may have a new job offer that needs you immediately and you simply can’t give two weeks notice.

  You might discover that your employer has a policy where they remove people from the building as soon as they quit. In addition to these practical reasons to get a head start on tidying up, you may find it gets emotional when the wheels are set in motion and it might be harder to do then.

Things You’ll Find When You Clean Your Office

• Drugstore supplies. Don’t be surprised if you find a drugstore full of prescription and over-the-counter remedies you’ve collected over the years and through all sorts of allergy and cold seasons.

• Business cards. Business cards from people you don’t even remember will be scattered everywhere. Fortunately, there will be those that you need and are happy to have found. Keeping in touch with customers, clients, and co-workers can be great for your career.

• Snacks and drinks. Remember that time you were going to start drinking tea — well, now you know where those tea bags went, and the granola bars, the half-eaten candy bar, and a wide variety of snacks. It’s okay — just about everyone has a secret snack stash.

• Office supplies. These are an obvious find in your desk. If you can, return unused items to a supply closet.

• Memoires. Get ready to turn on the waterworks because you’re going to find memories in every drawer. Even if you’re leaving because you couldn’t stand your job anymore, you’ll realize you still had some good times with your co-workers and clients. It’s okay to feel emotional about a career transition, anarticle in the New York Times suggests you take time to grieve when you change careers.

Leave on a Positive Note

Key Takeaways:

• A severance package is compensation provided to an employee when they have been laid of or terminated due to certain circumstances.

• A severance package can include additional pay, payment for unused accrued time off, retirement benefits you’ve accrued, or stock options.

• The Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act protects workers and ensures severance in circumstances where businesses employ over 100 people and less than 60 days notice has been given.

• In most situations a severance package is negotiable.

• Remember that when being terminated it is important to update your resume, begin a job search, and finalize any necessary details with your former employer.

What Is a Severance Package?

• Additional pay, typically based on your length of employment

• Payment for unused accrued time off (holiday, vacation, sick time, etc.)

• Any retirement benefits you’ve accrued or information on how to handle those accounts

• Stock options are sometimes offered

• Information about continuing your insurance benefits, typically on a COBRA plan

• Employment assistance to help you find a new job

• Sometimes career and emotional or mental health counseling is offered

What Is Severance Pay?

Who Gets Severance Pay

How Much Severance Pay Do I Get?

Why Some Companies Offer Severance

Severance Pay Is Negotiable

What to Do Before Being Terminated

• Updated resume. The first thing you should do is start updating your resume.

• Begin job search. Then begin looking at job boards to see what jobs are available. Whether you get a severance package or not, you’re going to need a new job.

• Fill in gaps. If you need additional training for the job you really want, look into how to get the training, education, or experience you need.

• Review finances. On average, it takes about nine weeks to get a new job. This is highly flexible and can depend on a lot of factors. But look at your finances to determine if you have enough money to survive nine weeks without a job. Do you need more severance? Now you have a little fuel for your argument.

• Benefits. Make a list of the benefits you want. Some companies are more willing to negotiate extended benefits than they are to talk about money. Longer insurance coverage can be beneficial, but so could a bigger retirement payout or stock options.

• Mentally prepare. Even when you know it’s coming, it’s still an emotional sucker punch when you lose your job. Preparing for it can help you get through. Remember that it’s not just you. It has happened (or it will happen) to most people at some point in their lives. You will get through it.

• Don’t quit. You might get angry at the situation or be very frustrated. But in this situation, it’s best to let the layoff happen. Some people wonder if it’s best to quit or get fired, but this is different; it’s a layoff. This won’t reflect poorly on you as an employee and quitting can mean you won’t get any severance options.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is typically included in a severance package?

A severance package typically includes one to two weeks of additional pay. It is possible to receive continued benefits for a pre-determined amount of time. Remember that severance may not be guaranteed and that you can negotiate different terms.

2. Is severance pay the same as your last paycheck?

No, your severance pay is not the same as your last paycheck. Your last paycheck is what you are owed for your labor up until your termination. Your severance pay is additional pay due to the nature of your termination.

3. Can I quit my job and get severance pay?

Usually, no, you cannot quit your job and expect severance pay. There is no legal reason for a company to give you pay if you resign voluntarily. The only way you would get severance is if the company wanted to give it to you or if your contract had a clause explicitly stating you are owed severance even if you quit.

Final Thoughts

Key Takeaways:

• The law of diminishing marginal returns says, in certain cases, the addition of a factor of production results in decreased output.

• For the law of diminishing marginal returns to be true technology must be constant and only one factor of production changes.

• There are three stages to the law of diminishing returns: increasing returns, decreasing returns, and negative returns.

• Economies of scale are when increases in factors of production leads to increased output. Diseconomies of scale are when increases in factors of productions leads to decreased output.

• Diseconomies of scale are different from the law of diminishing marginal returns because they occur during longer time frames.

Definition of the Law of Diminishing Marginal Returns

• Economics. Many people think of economics as something similar to accounting. Both have to do with the economy, but they’re vastly different. Think of accounting as having to do with money and finances. Economics is more theoretical and is broader reaching.

  It’s a social science that studies people and how they react to things like money. But economics also looks at how people interact with goods, services, the production of these items, and distribution. It’s a more encompassing view of the economy.

• Marginal return. This is a harder concept to understand. Marginal return is the rate of return (or how much you get back) from a marginal (slight) increase in investment.

  It can be how much money you get for selling one more item or how many more items you can produce by adding one more person, for example.

• Technology is constant. During our examples, you may as yourself why the factories don’t simply upgrade and expand their existing hardware. One premise of the law is that it’s only when one production variable changes that output will eventually decrease. Otherwise, the theory is not applicable.

• Only one input changes. If more than one input were to change, there might be a situation where inputs vary in a specific ratio to one another. This would, in turn, vary the outputs proportionately.

Example of the Law of Diminishing Marginal Returns

The Stages of Diminishing Returns

• Stage one: Increasing returns. In this stage, changing one thing can improve your returns. Adding one person to the one-person team can be more efficient and increase the amount of cogs that Factory X can produce.

• Stage two: Diminishing returns. Now you’re working up toward optimal efficiency. Using the most of the set factors possible and producing the most product.

  A slight change will push you out of that sweet spot, and you’ll start getting less output or a decrease in production. This is the point where you can record diminishing returns. Factory X added 102 people, and now they can’t work as efficiently, and they’re not going to see the 2% return they saw when they went from 50 to 51 people. Remember, nothing else changed, except for the addition of more people.

• Stage three: Negative returns. If you keep pushing, upping that one factor, to try to recover and make more, you’ll find even more diminishing returns, and you’ll head into a negative return situation.

  Factory X realizes it’s making less with 102 people, so they figure adding even more people will boost production again, but now they’ve added so many that there’s no room to move, and the world is flooded with cogs, and nobody wants any – they already have all they can use.

Economies and Diseconomies of Scale

• Economies of scale. This is the cost savings a company gets when they have an efficient production process. It happens when they’ve increased production, and this leads to the lowering of their costs.

  It’s important to understand that when it comes to economies of scale – size matters. A lot! Think of it this way. You can get a sweater that’s handmade by an artist at an art fair, and it costs $200. It’s a good price when you consider how much time she put into it and the expense of the yarn to her. Now, you go to a big box store, and you see a similar sweater that’s mass-produced in a factory that cranks out a ton of them a day. They get discounts on the yarn because they buy in bulk. They can afford to pay many people to make these sweaters. And they’re not handknitted; they’re made by machines that do it in a small fraction of the time that your textile artist above needed. This sweater costs $20. The artist made one sweater in a month, and she spent $50 on the yarn and countless hours making it. She’s not getting much of a profit when you work it out. The company produced one sweater in 10 minutes and spent $10 on yarn. They sell hundreds of these sweaters and are making a considerable profit overall, even if the margin per sweater is less than the artisan. And that is economies of scale. The more you can spread the costs of production out, the more you’ll make. It also leads to lower per-unit costs, meaning you’re going to get more buyers.

• Diseconomies of scale. This is the point where you go from making more product means making more money to making more product does not lead to more sales; in fact, it eventually becomes unprofitable.

  Once again, Factory X is at it, increasing its gizmo-producing output this time. They wanted to do as well as their cogs division, so they jumped right in and added 100 employees. Of course, no new machines were added, and there’s no additional floor space. They expected to make a huge profit, but that didn’t happen. Factory X’s gizmo division is paying a lot of people to stand around and get in each other’s way. Most of them aren’t even working, and the ones that are are having a hard time getting quality products out of the factory. This increases your costs to run the business and decreases your profits. They’re no longer seeing the benefits that come from being a big player in the market. They’re now wasting money on employees, putting out shoddy gizmos, and destroying their brand’s reputation. Where they once were efficient, and it didn’t cost much to make one gizmo, now they’re paying too much to make one and not making a profit.

Diminishing Marginal Returns and Economies of Scale

Examples of the Law of Diminishing Marginal Returns

1. Example 1

   Factory X decides it needs a new cog-maker. This machine is the one variable they will change in the company. They add it to the company floor, taking up valuable space. Still, they can’t add another employee as they’re only changing one variable due to the rules of this economic theory. You can easily see that with no one to run the machine, it’s not practical and won’t produce anything. They’ve spent money that can’t be recouped.

2. Example 2

   The gizmo department is running well with two employees, and those two employees make 20 gizmos a day. They add another employee, and they’re getting 30 gizmos. It feels like adding one more will give them 40 gizmos, but they realize they’re only getting 32 when they have four employees. It turns out that they don’t have enough equipment or floor space for four employees to work, so one of them is usually standing around. Adding a fifth employee makes the work floor even more wasteful and difficult to maneuver in; now, they’re only turning out 28 gizmos.

3. Example 3

   We move out of Factory X and take a break in their outdoor garden. Mary fertilizes the flowers once a week, and they’re glorious. Everybody loves Mary’s flowers. While Mary is taking a leave of absence, Frank takes over the gardening and decides to fertilize twice a week, so the flowers look better under his watch. And they do. Then he decides to fertilize every day for even better results. Unfortunately, all of the flowers start to wilt and droop. Too much fertilizer can damage plants, and that’s exactly what happened. Poor Frank.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why is the law of diminishing marginal returns important?

The law of diminishing marginal returns is important because it provides an understanding about how increases in factors of production may do more harm than good. From this information, businesses, economists, and consumers alike can monitor the behavior of a company more accurately. Particularly for the business, it is good for them to know that increased output does not necessarily come from increased factors of production.

2. What is the point of diminishing returns?

The point of diminishing returns is when additions in factors of production begin to result in a decrease of output. In other words, the point of diminishing returns is where the change in output productivity occurs. This is where the law of diminishing marginal returns begins to take action.

Skills Based Articles
• Soft Skills
  • Most Common Skills
  • What Are Soft Skills?
  • What Are Leadership Skills?
  • What Are What Are Hybrid Skills?
  • What Are Teamwork Skills?
  • What Are Communication Skills?
  • What Are Organizational Skills?
  • What Are Personal Skills?
  • What Are Interpersonal Skills?
  • What Are Decision Making Skills?
  • What Are Negotiation Skills?
  • What Are Creative Thinking Skills?
  • How To Multitask
  • What Are Adaptability Skills?
  • What Are Internal Analysis?
  • What Are Multitasking Skills?
  • What Is Professional Networking?
  • What Is Nonverbal Communication?
  • What Are Critical Thinking Skills?
  • Presentation Skills
  • What Is Accountability?
  • What Is Emotional Intelligence?
  • Verbal Communication Skills
• Hard Skills
  • What Are Hard Skills?
  • What Are Technical Skills?
  • What Are What Are Life Skills?
  • What Are Social Media Skills Resume?
  • What Are Administrative Skills?
  • What Are Analytical Skills?
  • What Are Research Skills?
  • What Are Microsoft Office Skills?
  • What Are Transferable Skills?
  • What Are Clerical Skills?
  • What Are Computer Skills?
  • What Are Core Competencies?
  • What Are Collaboration Skills?
  • What Are Conflict Resolution Skills?
  • What Are Mathematical Skills?
  • How To Delegate
• Desired Traits
  • What Are Skills Employers Look For?
  • What Are Inductive Reasoning?
  • What Are Problem Solving Skills?
  • What Are Active Listening Skills?
  • What Are Management Skills?
  • What Are Attention To Detail?
  • What Are Detail Oriented Skills?
  • What Are Domain Knowledge?
  • What Is Professionalism?
  • What Are Rhetorical Skills?
  • What Is Integrity?
  • What Are Persuasion Skills?
  • How To Start A Conversation
  • How To Write A Conclusion For A Research Paper
  • Team Player
  • Visual Learner
  • Aptitude
  • High Income Skills
  • The Most Important Professional Skills
• Specific Skills
  • What Is Figurative Language?
  • What Are Rhetorical Strategies?
  • What Is a Subject Matter Expert and What Do They Do?
  • What Is A Differentiation Strategy
  • What Is Job Order Costing
  • What Is Situational Analysis
  • Plan Of Action
  • Report Format
  • Law Of Diminishing Marginal Returns
  • Administrative Duties
  • Giving A Presentation
  • Organizational Behavior Management
  • Deductive Reasoning
  • Reflective Listening
]]> https://www.zippia.com/advice/professional-portfolio/ Tue, 02 Aug 2022 11:00:54 +0000 https://www.zippia.com/advice/?p=24788
In This Article   
Skip to section
• What Is a Professional Portfolio?
• How a Professional Portfolio Works
• When to Introduce Your Portfolio
• Tips on How to Build a Professional Portfolio
• What to Include in Your Professional Portfolio
• Final Thoughts
• Sign Up For More Advice and Jobs
Show More
In the past, portfolios were reserved for those in the creative field — think of artists and writers who kept a collection of their best and most acclaimed work to show potential patrons and clients. But in today’s world, just about anyone can benefit from creating and maintaining a professional portfolio. Of course, a portfolio for an accountant will be drastically different from a freelance writer’s portfolio. Regardless of your field, a professional portfolio operates under the principle that showing is better than telling. Hiring managers get a much better idea about what you bring to the table when they can look at real examples of your past work. Still, it can be tricky to know where to get started with condensing your work experience into a neat portfolio. The tips below will help you figure out how to build a professional portfolio, no matter what field you’re in. We’ll also walk you through the best moments to put your portfolio to use. Key Takeaways:

• A professional portfolio is an excellent tool for your job search to keep samples of your past work organized for presentation to potential employers.

• While portfolios are most commonly used by freelancers like artists or writers, any profession can make use of a portfolio to demonstrate past projects.

• The best professional portfolio is up-to-date with recent work and is presented in a well-designed, visually compelling way.



What Is a Professional Portfolio?

A professional portfolio is a collection of your work and information about you as a professional. While a resume tells prospective employers about who you worked for and what you did, a portfolio gives examples. The easiest example to consider is that of an artist or writer. They pull together published works and works of art and show them to potential employers. If you don’t work in the arts, you can still use examples of your work to showcase your skill. A marketer can put together analytic reports that convey the success of their campaigns. An accountant’s portfolio can feature Excel spreadsheets and formulas they’ve created to streamline an audit.

How a Professional Portfolio Works

A professional portfolio can help you stand out by not only showcasing the work you’ve done but actually showing your process as well. You want your future employer to be able to visualize you in the job. That’s one step closer to you actually getting the position. A portfolio differentiates you from the competition. Even if every candidate has a portfolio, yours shows how you work, which will be different from other people. It also lends credibility to your resume, reinforcing what you stated as your job duties with examples. Employers love seeing portfolios because it helps them verify your resume and cover letter claims. You can say you’ve spearheaded a marketing campaign, but that doesn’t mean too much. When the employer can see your starting point, your graphics, analytics, etc., then they understand the depth of your expertise.

When to Introduce Your Portfolio

Whether you’re on the job hunt or attempting to move up in your company or field, there are plenty of great times to introduce your professional portfolio:

• On your resume. Providing a link to your online portfolio directly in your resume’s contact information section is a smart move. It takes up basically no space and it offers hiring managers an easy way to quickly peruse your work if your resume interests them enough.

• At the interview. Besides having an online portfolio, you might want to have a printed one to bring with you to a job interview.

  If you have a printed portfolio, you can reference it during the interview to bring home your experience and highlight your skills. A great idea is to go to a print shop and have a bound version created and use it as a leave-behind for the interviewer(s).

• After the interview. Including a link to your professional portfolio in your interview follow-up email is a savvy move, especially if the hiring manager or recruiter hasn’t looked it over yet. If you bring impressive documentation to back up the claims you made in your interview, it might be just the thing to land a job offer.

• Promotion opportunity. If you’re up for a promotion and know there’s competition, then using a portfolio can give you the edge you need to rise to the top of the list. Plus, using real materials to brag about internal achievements is much more impactful, considering your interviewer is likely much more familiar with the projects you’ll be talking about.

• Salary negotiations. You want a raise and feel you deserve one but asking is hard. If you have a portfolio with you, it can be a little easier. You’ll have the documentation you need to prove your point and highlight both your work and it’s affect on the bottom line.

• Performance reviews. Sure, reviews are never fun, but they can be a good thing if you know how to work them. Bringing a portfolio to a performance review can help support your case and show all you’ve done for the company. Your boss might also be happy that you’re tracking your own progress.

• To win awards or acknowledgments. Whether it’s a sizeable professional reward or a small, companywide acknowledgment, having a portfolio to show off your stuff can help you be a winner. You can also add these wins to your portfolio.

Tips on How to Build a Professional Portfolio

Now that you understand the importance, it’s time for some tips on how to build a professional portfolio. Use one, use all; whatever you need to develop a portfolio that you’re proud of.

• Make it digital. Having a digital portfolio is the way to go. You can use a portfolio platform if you don’t have much to share. Or you can make your own website and really wow the folks on hiring committees.

  You don’t have to be super-tech savvy to create a website. You can hire a web designer to make one for you, but that can be expensive. You can also pick up a few WordPress skills and create your own basic website. What you really want is to focus on your work — there doesn’t need to be a lot of extra features or a ton of pages. You don’t even need to optimize it or make it public.

• Think it through. Throwing up work as you do it is better than nothing, but it’s not the best approach. Try to come up with one purpose for your portfolio and curate samples that satisfy that purpose.

  If you’re trying to get a job, you should gear your portfolio toward the job you want. This might mean that you omit some of your work. If it doesn’t apply to the position, you don’t need to include it. Read the job description carefully to see what kind of projects and deliverables you’d be responsible for. That way, you can emphasize examples of past work that most closely resembles the responsibilities at the open position. Also, try to be as organized as possible, so it’s easy for outsiders to understand and navigate. Having a messy, unorganized website will reflect poorly on you. Your work can’t shine if your website is dull.

• Be recent. An outdated portfolio can have the opposite of the intended effect. It might make it look like you haven’t done anything recently. Even if your best stuff is older, you’ll want to showcase more of your recent work.

  There are a few exceptions to this rule. If something you’ve done has gained national or international notice, then it’d be silly to omit it, regardless of how dated. But if you’ve been doing basically the same work for 20 years, you don’t want to spotlight your first assignment. Stick to the stuff you’ve done within the last five to ten years.

• Quality over quantity. You’ve written thousands of articles, been a party planner at 50 events, tutored hundreds of students -– whatever you’ve done, you need to narrow your portfolio down to a few outstanding ones.

  Try to overwhelm them with the quality of your best pieces and not with sheer quantity. If you have a hard time trimming it down, ask some friends or colleagues which ones they think show your best work.

• Use some images. Text gets boring, and it’s not visually stimulating. Adding images can bolster the appeal of your portfolio. Even just a few photos of you working with a team or on a job site will help.

  It’s also important to remember to use high-quality images that are visually interesting. A little editing or photoshop might be necessary to make them stand out and look sharp. If you don’t want to or can’t use a photo, then use other images. Graphics, charts, and other visual elements can break up the text.

• Update it regularly. You should update your portfolio as often as your resume. Typically, updating once a year, if you’re employed, is good enough to keep things fresh.

  If you’re a freelancer, you might want to update both after each gig to stay on top of things. That can be more frequently than once a year or less. Also, if you’ve just hit a work milestone or accomplished something, you’re not quite done until you put it in your portfolio. Take advantage of your excitement when it’s fresh.

• Use it for interview preparation. This tip isn’t about building your portfolio so much as maintaining and using it. You’re going to get interview questions about your past accomplishments and qualifications, and one quick and simple way to brush up on the stuff that’ll impress recruiters is to look over your portfolio.

  Not to mention that following up after the interview by directing them to the section of your portfolio that showcases something from your interview answer is a great way to contextualize your experience in a richer way than most candidates will offer. In the process, you might also find that the layout of your portfolio isn’t optimized for the job in question, so it’s also a good time to tweak and improve it for future use.

What to Include in Your Professional Portfolio

In the past, when professional portfolios only applied to people in the arts, they only included their work. Today the definition is much broader and consists of a lot of other information.

• Title page/table of contents. These can be separate pages, or they can become one overall page that describes who you are, what you do, what you want to do, and what’s included in the portfolio. If you’re doing an online version, this will serve as your navigation page, but it has the same information.

• Market yourself somehow. Some people like to add an elevator pitch to this page and briefly market themselves. Other people will tell you to include a cover letter and a resume following the title/navigation page to repeat your professional background.

  How you decide to market yourself depends on your approach, your field, how you’re using your portfolio, etc. Just make sure there is some sort of contact information and that you clearly list your name.

• Samples of your work. Things may have changed, but this is still the most crucial part of a professional portfolio. While some careers don’t produce tangible samples, think of some way you can capture your work. Can you use pictures, job descriptions, results, or statistics?

  If you do work in a field where you produce samples, make sure you’re always featuring your best stuff.

• Awards, degrees, certifications. All of the paperwork you’ve earned and collected over the years looks great on your office walls. It also looks mighty impressive in your professional portfolio. Make copies of your most important documents and the ones that will wow potential employers and add them to your collection.

  If you’re using an online portfolio, scan in copies of the documentation and remember to include a link to the affiliated school, program, or award organization. Sometimes giving that added validity to a certification or license goes a long way.

• Letters of recommendation. This is great advice for people who don’t have a lot of supporting documents. It’s also crucial if you’re in a field that relies heavily on the work you’ve done for others. Collecting these letters of referral will help you gain respect and authenticity, even if you’ve only been in the business for a few years.

• Anything else you feel is relevant. You know your achievements and your career goals best. Use this knowledge to create a portfolio that’s the best representation of your work possible. Don’t just give prospective employers a glimpse at your work; make them want you for the job. Prove that you’re the best in the business.

Final Thoughts

A professional portfolio isn’t just for artists. Today, all people can benefit from having one. Make your job application stand out from the crowd, support your contention that you deserve a raise, or get that promotion. If you want to progress your professional life, then a well-organized and thoughtful portfolio can get you there. When you’re creating a portfolio, remember to highlight your best and most recent work. Use images to break up text. Include letters of recommendation, awards, and feedback. Make it digital, either on a portfolio platform or on your own personal website. And if you’re going to an interview, carrying a printed portfolio can work in your favor. Keep your work updated and don’t be afraid to show off a little bit, and you’ll have a winning professional portfolio in no time.
Articles In Finding A Job Guide
• Process
  • How Long Does It Take To Find A Job
  • How To Find Internships
  • How Many Internships Should I Apply To
  • Networking Email
  • Foreign Service Exam
  • Working Abroad
  • Organize Your Job Search
  • How To Find A Second Job
  • How To Get A Job In A New City
  • Fun Facts About Me
  • Job Search Burnout
  • How Old Do You Have To Be To Work?
  • Job Review Sites
  • How To Become A Freelancer
• Picture
  • Getting a Headshot
  • Professional Portfolio
  • Professional Photo
• Choose A Career
  • Career Choices
  • Self Assessment
  • Job Outlook Definition
  • Careers With Animals
  • Career Aptitude Test
  • Career Test
  • Personality Tests
  • How To Find A Job You Love
  • I Don't Know What Job I Want
  • Career Change At 40
  • What Is An Externship
  • Lateral Career Move
  • How To Get Into Voice Acting
  • Small Business Ideas For Teens
• Linkedin Optimization
  • Linkedin Summary
  • Best Linkedin Profiles
  • Linkedin Headline
  • Linkedin Easy Apply
  • Free Linkedin Backgrounds
  • Linkedin On Resume
  • Linkedin Profile Tips
  • How To Use LinkedIn For A Job Search
  • How To Add Skills On LinkedIn
]]> https://www.zippia.com/advice/cash-paycheck/ Mon, 01 Aug 2022 10:55:26 +0000 https://www.zippia.com/advice/?p=24780
In This Article   
Skip to section
• Where to Cash a Payroll Check Without a Bank Account
• Cheapest to Most Expensive Check-Cashing Options
• What You Need to Cash a Check
• Cashing a Paycheck FAQ
• Sign Up For More Advice and Jobs
Show More
Getting a paycheck is exciting, but it can be difficult to know what to do with it, especially if you don’t have a bank account. In this article, we’ll talk about where you can cash a check if you don’t have a bank account, which of those options is cheapest, and what you need to bring when you cash your check. Key Takeaways

• You can cash your paycheck at the check-issuing bank, a check-cashing store or kiosk, or even some retailers.

• Many people choose to sign their checks over to family and friends in exchange for cash, or they put the money from their checks on prepaid debit cards.

• Check-cashing stores and some banks and retailers will likely charge you a fee to cash your check.



Where to Cash a Payroll Check Without a Bank Account

So now you have your first paycheck in one hand and your driver’s license in the other. You’re ready to put some cold, hard cash in your pocket. Where should you go?

• Check-issuing bank. If you look at the check, you’ll see a bank listed on it. This is the check-issuing bank, or the place where the person (or company) who gave you the check has an account. They will honor any checks written from account holders at their institutions. Let’s say it was a Wells Fargo bank; you can go to any Wells Fargo and cash that check.

• Some retailers. If you have a big box store near you, many of them offer check-cashing services in their customer service departments. Walmart is well known for its check-cashing services, and it’s a popular place for many to cash their payroll checks. Just make sure you check Walmart’s check-cashing rules to make sure they will cash your check before you head to the store. Also, each state has different rules, so you might want to look into what those are.

• Check-cashing store. Check-cashing stores have become very popular in the last couple of decades, out of necessity. You might feel like you’re the only one who doesn’t have a bank account. It’s true that 95% of households in the United States, but that means that 5% don’t. While that’s a small percentage, it’s a lot of people. Roughly 7.1 million households are “unbanked,” according to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).

  So, a check-cashing store is in the business of doing just that, giving you cash for a check. They can do a few other, limited things, but this is their business, and because it’s a business, they’re going to charge you – more on that later.

• Check-cashing kiosk. Don’t want to go to a store, how about a kiosk? Just like a check-cashing store, these little kiosks are cropping up in gas stations, grocery stores, big boxes, etc. They function almost exactly like a check-cashing store, but it might be more convenient for you to use them.

• Onto a prepaid card. One interesting way you can get your check cashed but not have to handle actual money is to get a prepaid credit card or debit card. You can load these cards up with money from checks, gifts, returns – anywhere you’d get money and then use them just like you would a credit card or a debit card. It’s a convenient way to pay for things, and you don’t have to carry cash around with you.

  An interesting thing about these cards is you can find store specific ones from the same big box stores you use to cash your check. These grocery and convenience stores often then waive the fees for cashing your check because they know you’re going to put all of the money right back into their store. This can be a win/win situation. Just make sure you’re going to use all of the money on the card, or you’re basically throwing money away. If you don’t want to go the specific store route, you can typically use an ATM to deposit the check and reload your prepaid card. You might also be able to find a mobile app that will do this for you – how convenient is that? These cards don’t have to be store specific, and you can use them anywhere they accept debit or credit cards.

• Sign it over to someone else. One way to cash a check that typically won’t involve a fee is by signing it over to someone else. In this example, let’s say you’ve got your first job and your first paycheck, you don’t have a bank account yet, but your mom does. Since your mom knows and, hopefully, trusts you, she’s willing to have you endorse the check over to her, and she’ll give you cash for it. Then she can take the check to her bank and deposit it, and she’ll get reimbursed.

  If you’re wondering how to endorse a check to someone else, there are a couple of steps involved, but it’s straightforward. First of all, you need to endorse it yourself. This means you sign the back in the area reserved for your signature. Make sure you sign it in the same way the check was written out to you. Normally, this isn’t a big deal, but it can be brought into question. So, if the check is made out to James Smith, sign it that way even though you usually go by Jimmy Smith. Beneath your signature, there is sometimes a line for notes. Even if the line isn’t there, pretend it is. This is where you can make a note that you’re signing it over to someone else. In this case, James Smith would sign his name, and then, below it, he’d write “Pay to the order of” followed by his mom’s name – so, Shirley Smith. In our example, Shirley Smith has a bank account. The bank knows her, she knows her son, Jimmy, has a job, and this is his paycheck. There’s nothing suspicious going on. The bank will most likely honor that endorsement. But it’s up to them if they will or not. They might think it seems suspicious and not accept the check.

Where to Cash a Personal Check Without a Bank Account

If you have a check you want to cash that isn’t a payroll check, your options are the same. Let’s say grandma sent you a $50 check for your birthday. You could take this check to an issuing bank, a retailer, a check-cashing store, or deposit it onto your prepaid debit card. You could also sign it over to one of your parents or a friend, and they can put it into their checking account and give you the cash. One thing to note, just because a place cashes your payroll or a government-issued check, it doesn’t mean they’ll cash personal checks. They might feel there’s too much risk to them, so they simply refuse to honor this type of check.

Cheapest to Most Expensive Check-Cashing Options

While going to a check-cashing store might be the easiest way to cash out, it’s not necessarily the best idea. Hey, you worked hard for that money, and now the check-cashing store wants you to give a percent to them just so they can cash the check. That seems crazy – but it’s actually not. It’s done to protect the store. These stores take on a lot of risk by cashing checks for people they don’t know and people who don’t have bank accounts. As an example, Jim stole Sarah’s checks and started writing them out to himself. He pops in at the check-cashing store, and they give him $500 for the bogus check. Sarah realizes her checks have been stolen, and the bank puts a halt on her account. The check-cashing store then hears from the issuing bank that they’re not honoring those checks because they were part of an identity theft situation. Now, the check-cashing store is out $500. While most people who cash checks without a bank account are on the up-and-up and not committing identity fraud, there are those nefarious individuals who do. By collecting a small fee or percentage from each customer, these stores can recover their losses and pay their employees. While a fee now seems more reasonable, you still don’t want to pay it. We totally understand. Here is a list of ways you can cash a check without a bank account, from the cheapest to most expensive. Keep in mind; this is a general list. Individual establishments may have a different pay structure, so if you want to find a cheap solution, it’s best to shop around.

• Endorse the check to someone else. This will cost you nothing, as long as the person you endorse the check to doesn’t charge you.

• Issuing bank. Some of these institutions don’t charge anything, some charge a percentage of the check, and some have a flat fee. It pays to check with the specific bank to see what their policy is.

• Prepaid credit/debit card. If you’re going with a store-specific card, then there might not be a fee at all, but you have to spend it all in one place. A prepaid card sponsored by a major credit card doesn’t need to be spent in one place, but there might be a small fee involved – usually, just a few dollars.

• Retailers. If the retailer is putting the check amount on one of their store cards, there probably won’t be a fee. But if you’re looking for cash, they’re going to charge. Some stores charge a percent of the check; others have a fixed dollar amount based on the check’s size.

• Check-cashing store or kiosk. These are the most expensive ways to cash a check, and, as we explained above, they have their reasons. These are businesses looking to protect themselves from loss, pay their bills and employees, and make a profit, and you’re going to pay for the service they provide.

What You Need to Cash a Check

No matter where you go to cash a check, you’re probably going to have to present photo identification. Your driver’s license is usually the most hand form of photo ID that people have, but a state-issued identification and sometimes even a school ID can work. Other acceptable forms of ID could include:

• Military ID

• U.S. passport

• Tribal ID

• Green card

• Resident alien ID

In addition to having your ID, you’re also going to need to bring the check with you, obviously.

Cashing a Paycheck FAQ

1. Can you cash a paycheck at any bank? No, you can’t cash a paycheck at any bank. You can typically only cash a paycheck at your bank or at the bank that issued the check. For example, if your company uses Wells Fargo (you can tell by looking at the bank logo on the check) and you use Chase, you can either cash your check at Wells Fargo or Chase.

   If you endorse the check and sign it over to someone else to cash, they can then cash it at their bank, however. In addition, any bank that isn’t yours may charge you a fee to cash your check, and any bank can refuse to cash a check if they feel uncomfortable about it — it doesn’t matter if it’s your bank or the issuing bank or not.

2. Can you cash a check at Walmart without a bank account?

   Yes, you can cash a check at Walmart without a bank account. This is a great option for cashing a paycheck if you don’t have a bank account. Just remember that Walmart does have rules for check cashing, and these may even vary depending on the state your Walmart is in, so do your research before you go. This research is especially important to do if you need to cash a personal check, as many Walmarts may not accept personal checks. However, official paychecks usually aren’t a problem as long as they don’t exceed the store’s maximum acceptable check amount. In addition to Walmart, some grocery stores and other retailers offer check cashing services.

3. Is there a way to cash a check online? Yes, there is a way to cash a check online. If you have a bank account, your bank may offer check-cashing services on their website or mobile app. In addition, many online payment vendors like PayPal or Venmo will cash a check for you.

   If you choose this route, just be prepared to pay a fee and wait a few days for your check to process. Most of the time banks will have your funds ready to go within one business day, while third-party payment vendors can take up to five days to process your check.
Articles In Guide
• Determine Your Worth
  • Average Salaries In The US
  • What Is A Salary Range?
  • What Is A Base Salary?
  • What Is A Pay Grade?
  • Average Salary Out Of College
  • Your Salary History
  • Competitive Pay
  • Salary Vs. Hourly Pay
  • What Is A Job Classification?
  • How Many Hours Can A Teen Work?
  • Average Work Hours Per Week
  • What Is Annual Income
  • Gross Salary
  • How Many Hours Is Full Time
  • How Many Work Hours In A Year
  • Minimum Wage For Workers Who Receive Tips
  • New York State Minimum Wage Rates
• Get A Raise
  • What Is A Good Raise?
  • How To Ask For A Raise
  • Average Annual Raises In The US
  • What Is A Merit Increase?
  • When To Ask For A Raise
  • How Bonuses Work
  • How To Write A Salary Increase Letter
  • Types Of Compensation
• Benefits
  • Paid Time Off Policy (PTO)
  • Leave of Absence Policy
  • What Are Floating Holidays?
  • What Are Employer-Paid Holidays?
  • How Does Holiday Pay Work
  • How Does A Stipend Work
  • Cash a Paycheck Without a Bank Account
  • What Is Compensatory Time?
  • What's Unlimited Vacation?
  • What Is A Commission?
  • What Is A Mileage Deduction?
  • Semimonthly Vs Biweekly Pay Schedules
  • Flexible Spending Account
  • Stock Options At Job
  • Benefits Package
  • Overtime Pay
  • Workers Comp
  • What Is Fmla
  • Hazard Pay
  • Tuition Reimbursement
  • Discretionary Vs. Non-Discretionary Bonus
  • What Are Union Benefits
  • What Is An HRA Account
  • What Is Cobra Insurance
• Negotiation
  • What Exactly Is a Job Offer?
  • How To Negotiate Salary
  • Exempt Employee
  • How To Answer Salary Requirements
  • Employment History
  • What Are Your Salary?
  • Salary Counter Offer
  • How To Answer Salary Expectations
  • How Many Hours Is Part Time
  • Signing Bonus
  • Cost Of Living Adjustment
  • How To Ask For A Salary Advance
  • What Is Fair Labor Standards Act
]]> https://www.zippia.com/advice/references-available-upon-request/ Sun, 31 Jul 2022 11:07:40 +0000 https://www.zippia.com/advice/?p=25626
In This Article   
Skip to section
• Reasons to Exclude References Available Upon Request
• What Does References Available Upon Request Mean?
• Reasons to Include References Available Upon Request on Your Resume
• What’s This About a One-Page Resume?
• What Else to Omit from Your Resume
• Final Thoughts
• Sign Up For More Advice and Jobs
Show More
In most cases, you don’t want to put “references available on request” on your resume as it is generally considered outdated. In this article, we’ll look deeper into what belongs on a resume and why you want to leave the standard references line out. We’ll also look at the reasons you might want to include it. Yes, it’s possible that including a line about references is good for you, and that you’ll want it on your resume. Key Takeaways:

• Including references available on request on your resume is almost always unnecessary and takes up valuable resume space.

• There are rare cases where you may want to include references available upon request on your resume, like if your resume contains no work experience or if your references include well-known individuals.

• You should also exclude things such as salary information and personal details from your resume.



Reasons to Exclude References Available Upon Request

For the majority of people, the possible reasons to include mentions of references on their resume are far outweighed by the many reasons not to:

• Outdated. Having any mention of references in a resume looks outdated and out of touch.

• Too long. The standard wisdom is that the length of your resume should be one page. There are exceptions. But if you’re struggling to keep it down to a single page of great reasons to hire you, then this irrelevant line is wasted space that could be better used to sing your praises.

• Irrelevant. As we said, it’s irrelevant. Employers know that applicants will provide them with references. Applicants know they should have at least three back pocket references they can go to at a moment’s notice.

• Weak closing. It’s the last thing on your resume. Is this really how you want to leave them – with a weak line? Sell them with your superior skills instead.

• Extra step. Some automated resume job application forms ask you to give them references. If you don’t do this and tell them that you’ll provide references upon request, you’ve just made the hiring manager jump through an extra, unnecessary hoop.

• Better options. There are better ways to connect your next job with your references these days. For instance, keeping an up-to-date LinkedIn profile with referrals and recommendations is easier for everyone. Or having a website with testimonials can totally wow the person in charge of hiring at your dream job. Use technology to your advantage and skip the old-fashioned cliches.

What Does References Available Upon Request Mean?

If you’ve never sent out a resume before, then the phrase, “references available upon request” might be unfamiliar to you. It’s an old resume practice. In fact, a few decades ago, it was basically a required part of your resume. Reaching back, even before that, people used to list their resume references on a separate sheet and include that with their resume. Eventually, long resumes were shortened, and the goal for most professionals was a one-page resume. When people dropped the entire page of references and the related contact information, they opted to include the line, “references available upon request” at the bottom of their one-page resume. This let potential employers know that you did indeed have references, and you’d be happy to supply their names and contact information if asked. But even that was a long, long time ago. It became so standard and ubiquitous to have that line at the bottom of a resume that it became superfluous. Employers knew that applicants for a job would provide them with references. If they asked for them and the applicant didn’t or wouldn’t supply them, well then, those applicants’ resumes went right in the trash can. These days, we’re back to submitting a full separate page of references, but not until a hiring manager asks for it. Some job applications will ask for a list of references alongside your resume and cover letter, but most organizations choose to wait until seriously considering you for a job before asking for your list of references.

Reasons to Include References Available Upon Request on Your Resume

If the notation about having references has become outdated, why would you ever want to include it on your resume? There are a few times when you might want to buck modern convention and include the phrase and even list actual references on your resume.

• First resume. If you’ve never written a resume before, you’re fresh out of school, and you have no work history, then you’re going to need to pad your resume. While a brief resume is desirable, if you don’t have anything of substance to put on it, you’re going to need references.

• Impressive references. If you’ve got some of the biggest names in your industry as references, then including them in the resume can call attention to your credentials.

• Leading hiring managers. By including references on your resume, you’re hand-picking three people you’d like the hiring manager to contact. This can bolster your standing.

• Requires contact. If you include the line about your references being available upon request, the hiring manager must contact you first. This gives you a heads up that they’re seriously considering you.

  It gives you a chance to make a first impression and connect with the job you want. You also now get to let your references know who will be contacting them, and you can stress how important the job is for you.

• Privacy. This is for situations where the line about making a request is more desirable than including the references and their contact information. Sometimes your references don’t want their personal information sent everywhere. Keeping their information private unless you’re specifically asked about it is essential when dealing with A-list references.

Please note that 99.9% of the job seekers should leave the line “references available upon request” or any variation thereof off of their resume. It looks outdated and does nothing to help you beyond taking up space.

What’s This About a One-Page Resume?

It’s been mentioned a few times: the perfect resume is a one-page synopsis of your professional highlights and qualifications. A resume is designed to be the elevator pitch of you as an employee. Quick and to the point. It’s critical to note that a resume and a CV or curriculum vitae are not the same things. If your profession or your experience deserves more than one page, then a CV might be the best way for you to highlight your amazing qualifications. But if you’re like most people, then your career achievements can be summed up in one page, with a lot of tweaking. And that one page needs to be a real eye-catching masterpiece of professional success. That is, if you want to get the job. If this is where you’re headed, down the road to a great resume that lands every job you apply for, then there’s no room for superfluous and outdated sections. Even one line like “references available upon request” takes up valuable real estate. Skip that line and skip all of the following unnecessary information, too.

What Else to Omit from Your Resume

It’s the slimmed-down, new-and-improved, better than ever resume. Don’t fall victim to outdated advice on resume writing. Be fresh and push the limits to make your resume stand out. And, by all means, omit these from your resume.

• References. People expect you to give them references (at some point); there’s no reason to include them on a resume that’s all about you.

• References available line. Here we go again, but it bears repeating. Leave this line off, it’s assumed.

• Career objectives. If you applied for the job, then they know your objective is to land that job. Enough said.

• Salary. No mention of salary whatsoever on a resume. It can limit the amount you get paid, it can exclude you from going further in the process, and it’s tacky.

• Cliches. You want to stand out, not sound like every other person who applies for the job. Refresh your vocabulary.

• I. The word I, me, myself, etc., doesn’t belong on a resume. This is a long-standing rule and makes writing a bit stilted and awkward, but it’s still a resume rule.

• Personal details. It’s illegal for interviewers to ask questions about your age, marital status, race, sexual orientation, and religion. They are so aware of this that they stay very far away from these topics to avoid future discrimination lawsuits.

  In fact, these things can make them so jumpy that if you include them on your resume, it might get tossed so that they can avoid any discrimination implications.

• Irrelevant and outdated work. Once upon a time, you were a new hire and only had a couple of jobs to list. Now that you’ve had a few different positions and some professional ones, it’s okay to drop the unrelated and outdated stuff.

  Some resume experts recommend only putting your last 10 to 15 years of work experience on a resume.

• Mistakes. It should go without saying that all errors should be omitted, yet the number of people who submit a resume with a typo or grammatical error is astounding.

• Lies and opinions. Lies can destroy your career. You can embellish and pump up the importance of some things you’ve done while downplaying other things but never outright lie.

  Also, resumes are not a place for opinions, even if you’re the most opinionated person around.

• Anything negative. You don’t have to explain why you left a job; you don’t have to tell them you were fired, and you don’t have to draw attention to bad grades or gaps in your employment history.

  Anything that can be seen as a negative should be avoided on a resume. If you get a job interview and get asked a question, you can elaborate on those topics.

• Hobbies. Listing hobbies used to be common, but now it’s frowned upon unless it applies directly to the position. It rarely will, so it’s probably best left off your resume.

• GPA. If you’re a recent graduate, this can be important because it shows your dedication to your studies. People who have been in the work world for a long time no longer need to brag about good grades.

Final Thoughts

When it comes to writing your resume, sticking to tradition is usually the best option. Professional resume writers all agree that the phrase “references available upon request” no longer belongs on modern resumes. An effective resume needs to be tailored for the job by emphasizing relevant skills and experiences. Most recruiters and hiring managers prefer the chronological format, lots of action verbs, easy-to-read fonts, and formatting that that sticks to the regular structure and sections you expect to find in a resume. What a resume doesn’t need at all is superfluous phrases that indicate something the hiring manager already knows or at least assumes: that you, as a candidate, will provide references when asked to.
Articles In Job Application Guide
• Application
  • Apply For A Job
  • Applying To Multiple Jobs At The Same Company
  • Applying for a Job In-Person
  • Personal Mission Statement
  • Corporate Titles
  • Career Goals Essay
  • Internal Applicants Only
  • Vision Statement
• Email Communication
  • Introduce Yourself In An Email
  • How To End An Email
  • Email Etiquette
  • Free Email
  • Emailing A Resume
  • How To Cold Email
  • Warm Regards
  • How To Write A Letter Of Inquiry
• Letter Communication
  • Letter of Introduction
  • Best Business Salutations
  • Close a Business Letter
  • Job Application Letter
  • Business Letter Layout
  • To Whom It May Concern
  • Letter Of Interest
  • Letter Envelope
  • Experience Letter
  • How To Write A Letter
• Follow Up
  • Interview Confirmation Email
  • Thank You For Your Time
  • Follow Up Email After Career Fair
  • References Available Upon Request
• Job Application Tips
  • About Me Page
  • Answering Machine Messages
  • What To Bring To A Job Fair
  • Free Job Posting Sites
  • Email Sign Offs
  • Job Scams
  • How Long Does It Take To Become A Doctor
  • How Long Does It Take To Become A Vet
  • Government Programs That Help Felons Get Jobs
  • How Long Does It Take To Become A Dentist
  • Relocation
  • Job Search Spreadsheet
  • Right To Work States
  • How To Research A Company
  • How To Change Careers
  • What To Do If You Have No References
  • Working For a Big Company Vs. A Small Company
  • Writing Sample Format
  • How Long Should A Writing Sample Be
  • How To Get A Job Fast
  • How Many Jobs Should I Apply For
• Military Requirements
  • Air Force Pt Requirements
  • Marine Mos
  • Navy Pt Test
]]> https://www.zippia.com/advice/i-hate-my-job/ Sat, 30 Jul 2022 10:39:08 +0000 https://www.zippia.com/advice/?p=25412
In This Article   
Skip to section
• What to Do When You Hate Your Job
• Tips for What to Do When You Hate Your Job
• Reasons Why You May Hate Your Job
• How to Quit Your Job
• Sign Up For More Advice and Jobs
Show More
Everyone is going to have a moment where they say “I hate my job.” Before you go to your boss and tell them that you quit, take time to consider why you hate your job. We will go over what you should do if you hate your job, tips to follow, and how to quit your job. Key Takeaways:

• Make sure you don’t go around telling everyone you work with that you hate your job because it get around to your boss.

• Try to figure out why you hate your job and if it is an isolated situation or an everyday occurrence.

• Talk to your boss about anything that makes you unhappy about your position because they can help solve any problems you may have.



What to Do When You Hate Your Job

You’ve got that feeling. You’re unhappy, and you dread going to work. You’d go so far as saying that you hate working. It’s more than dissatisfaction; you need a change.

1. Keep it to yourself. The best piece of advice if you hate your job (even if it’s a temporary thing) is to keep it to yourself. Of course, you can tell your significant other or a close friend. In fact, you should have a trusted soul you can vent to – it helps. But don’t advertise your loathing to anyone else, especially coworkers. That can be one of the best ways to get fired before you’re ready.

   It may seem obvious, but you’d be surprised how many people walk around their office mumbling about how they hate their jobs. And it’s not just the words you say. Think about the attitude of people who hate their jobs. You can see it right away if you start looking.

2. Find out why you hate your job. This is super-important. When starting a job, there is always going to be anxiety and nerves, but if you are still feeling that way after being at a position after a while, its time to figure out what’s going on.

   Start by asking yourself these questions:

   • Do I hate the work I’m doing?

   • Is it just a situation I hate?

   • Is this what I signed up for?

   • Is the work environment not working out for me?

   If you can narrow down why you hate your job, it can help you figure out if you want to quit or not.

3. Look for a solution. If you discover that it’s just one thing you hate, can that be remedied? At this point, maybe you find that there is a solution, and you need to express your unhappiness to a supervisor or your boss. They might be able to help you find a fix to your problem.

   As an example, maybe the work has become tedious. Letting your boss know you’re interested in learning how you can move up the ladder can be a good thing. Or, maybe your unhappiness comes from sitting in an area that’s noisy and distracting. That’s a quick fix and can boost your job satisfaction immediately.

4. Look for another job. You’re not always going to find that the problems at work are simple or easy to fix. Sometimes you realize you’re in the wrong field. No matter what the situation, just looking for another job can help you feel proactive. It also gives you an idea about what the current job market is.

5. Take time to evaluate. Not just your current job, but evaluate yourself. What makes you tick? What do you love to do? If you could have any job in the world, what would it be? Don’t make the mistake of taking the same job with a different company if it’s the job you hate. It might be time for a career change.

6. Learn new things. If you’ve discovered that you hate your job because it’s something you don’t want to do – congratulations! This is a huge step. It’s not just about a career change at this point; it can be a whole life change.

   Of course, that’s never easy. In most situations, you’re going to have to learn new things to take a new job. This might mean taking night courses while holding down your job. It could mean saving money so you can quit and go back to school.

   It might also be a good time to bring your boss into things and tell them what your plans are. Maybe your job will pay for education and help you fit into the right position. It’s all dependent upon your situation.

7. The coworker conundrum. Do you hate your job because you hate your coworkers? It happens. So, what’s the best fix?

   If you like the work you do, maybe you can find another part of the office to work in. Perhaps you can work from home. Maybe you need to find another company to work for; just remember you might run into the same problem there.

8. Is your boss to blame? Sometimes it’s not the coworkers that make the job intolerable; it’s your boss. If you’ve got a toxic boss, there might be no way around it.

   You either learn to tolerate them or quit. If there is another department where your talents fit, you might be able to transfer to it. Or if you’re in a situation where there’s clear harassment, then it’s time to report that person.

9. Your job is a dead-end bore. You’ve hit the apex of your career, and you’re suddenly bored beyond belief. Dead-end jobs are the worst if you’re a go-getter. It’s no wonder you hate your job.

   If you can’t go anywhere in your current career, then it’s time to move on. Just make sure you’re not quitting without another job lined up. There’s no reason to put gaps in your employment history if you don’t have to.

Tips for What to Do When You Hate Your Job

Okay, so you know you are unhappy, and it might be time to move on, but what do you do in the meantime? What tips can help you wait until a job offer comes along and it’s time to officially give your two-weeks and turn in your resignation?

• Don’t tell your coworkers. Yes, this is just a different way of saying, “keep it to yourself.” At least for the time being, you don’t want that knowledge to be public information.

• Change your perspective. Guess what, you now have hope. There is a light at the end of the tunnel. You’ve pinpointed why you’re miserable, you’ve decided on a solution, and you’re going to work toward it. Sure, things are still the same at work, but just knowing you’re doing what you can to get out can help.

• Don’t be rash. Too many people just get fed up and quit on the spot; no resigning, no notice, etc. This can really hurt your career, especially if you need the income until you find a new job or need the old job to be your reference.

• Start searching. Don’t just look for any job – unless you’re in a horrid situation – but look for your dream job. Why not? You deserve it. Plus, it’s easier to find a job when you have a job already. Not to mention that quitting makes you ineligible for unemployment in most cases, so you’ll have no income until you do find a job.

  While you’re starting to get ready for your job search, update your LinkedIn page with a great headline, summary, and experience section, as well as some endorsements and verified skills if you can.

• Make the most of your situation. You’re actually in a pretty good place. You have an income, and you know what you want. All you have to do is figure out how to get there.

• Have proactive conversations. Sure, you were all about venting to your bestie and spouse in the beginning. Now it’s time to change your tune. Complaining only puts the spotlight on your problems. It keeps you stuck in that rut that you’re desperate to escape. Change your conversations and make them about what you’re going to do to make things better. You’ve got this.

Reasons Why You May Hate Your Job

Identifying the exact reasons why you hate your job will make resolving the situation much simpler. It’s easy to grumble that you hate your job, but examining the situation more closely will help pinpoint what you want out of your career. Here are some of the most common reasons people hate their jobs:

• Toxic workplace. Whether you work in a highly competitive atmosphere, have to deal with high turnover and negativity, or there’s a culture of harassment in your office, toxic workplaces will poison your professional life.

  In extreme cases of toxicity, you may be able to receive unemployment even if you quit, as long as you showed that you tried your best to rectify the situation and alert management to issues you were having.

• Burnout. Burnout is characterized by exhaustion, cynicism, and inefficacy. If you’re tired at work, don’t care about the work you’re doing, and/or are worse at your job, you’re burnt out. It doesn’t need to be a crazy workload that brings this on — vague expectations, periods of extreme inactivity, or a lack of control at work can all lead to burnout.

• No career development. When you feel that there’s no room for you to grow or the only places you can move are unattractive to you, you might begin to feel trapped in your career. You’re not inspired and simply feel like a cog in a machine doing the same thing day in and day out.

  This problem might not necessitate quitting — moving to a radically different position or joining a new team might be just what you need to feel refreshed.

• Bad boss. Hating your boss or having a boss that seems to hate you can really ruin your life at work. It might be that one of you is behaving unreasonably or your personalities simply clash, but either way, it’s not fun. In this scenario, you might be able to work things out or change teams, but it’s going to be awkward no matter what.

• Undervalued. When people stop caring about your work and ideas, it’s hard to continue caring about them yourself. Sometimes, we’d even welcome negative feedback just to prove that somebody’s paying attention to what we’re doing. You can approach management about this problem to see if the situation can be improved, but it might be an endemic cultural problem at the company or a failure of your department’s leadership.

• No belief in corporate mission. If you work for a company that produces cancer-causing products or takes advantage of child labor overseas, it can be hard to feel good about your career. Even smaller cultural issues can give you reason to hate your job, like your employer supporting a political candidate or policy that you strongly disagree with.

How to Quit Your Job

Eventually, you’ll get your ducks in a row. You’ve gone through some additional training to make you more desirable as an employee. Maybe you’re switching careers and finally got that degree. Whatever the situation, you’ve lined up a new job, and you finally get to quit the job you hate. Sayonara, horrible job. But you’ve got to hold it together just a little bit longer. Again, burning bridges professionally can light a fire to your career, and you may see it go up in flames. Follow these steps when it’s time to quit your job.

• Boss first. Resist the urge to tell coworkers that you’re quitting before you tell your boss. Even when you get that job-offer call on the phone, and you’ve got to tell someone, save it for people outside of your job. Then, when you quit, tell your boss first.

• Give adequate notice. Sure, the rule of thumb is two weeks’ notice, but this isn’t a law or anything. Some jobs require more time to find a replacement. Other jobs will walk you out the door on the day you give notice.

• Give formal notice. You need to tell your boss, and in-person is probably the way you’ll do it. But turning in a formal resignation letter is essential. It gives everyone a record of the date you’re giving notice and your last day of work. It can also build goodwill and help you get positive referrals in the future.

• Be professional. Even if you want to tell them where they can stick their job, and you want to unload all of the unhappiness you’ve had, you shouldn’t. Now, that doesn’t mean that you can’t express some of your dissatisfaction in your exit interview. You certainly can, but you need to do it in a very professional manner.

• No counteroffers. If you truly hated your job, then a counteroffer with more pay and vacation will not make it better. It might be tempting, but don’t do it.

• Help with transitions. If you are staying for two weeks or longer, offer to help train your replacement and assist in any way they need it. Again, you’re going to want future references.

• Celebrate. Whether you ask your favorite coworker/friends to join you for a drink after work or you have a full-on blast at home with non-work friends and family. Maybe, for you, a celebration is simply a new pair of shoes. Whatever form it takes, you deserve to celebrate your successes and accomplishments.

Articles In Life At Work Guide
• Office Etiquette
  • Office Etiquette
  • Dating A Coworker
  • April Fools Pranks For Work
  • How To Be A Good Employee
  • Pet Peeves List
  • How To Write A Project Proposal
  • Qualities Of A Good Worker
  • How To Get Along With Your Boss
  • What Engaged Employees Do Differently
  • What To Say Instead Of Sorry
  • How To Send A Friendly Reminder Email
  • How To End A Conversation
  • Sorry For The Delay
  • Tattoos In The Workplace
  • Sorry For The Late Reply
  • How To Respond To A Compliment
• New Employee
  • How To Introduce Yourself Professionally
  • Welcome New Employee Announcement
  • Welcome Letter
  • Thank You Note To Colleague
  • 30/60/90 Plan
  • Getting To Know You Questions
  • Job Satisfaction
  • Team Building Activities
  • At Will Employment
  • Company Culture
  • Corporate Culture
  • How To Succeed At Your New Remote Job
  • How To Prepare For New Job Orientation
  • How To Create An Employee Handbook
• Hostile Work Environment
  • Hostile Work Environment
  • How To Deal With A Difficult Coworker
  • What Is Human Resource Development (HRD)?
  • I Hate My Job
  • Burnt Out At Work
  • Condescending Coworker
  • Sexual Harassment In The Workplace
  • Work Environment
  • My Job Sucks
  • Favoritism At Work
  • Respect In The Workplace
  • Wagner Act
  • Documentation In The Workplace
  • Unconscious Bias
  • Ageism
  • What To Do When You Feel Unappreciated At Work
  • How To Respond To A Warning At Work
  • How To Deal With A Passive Aggressive Coworker
  • What To Do When You're Unhappy At Work
  • I Hate My Boss
  • Gaslighting Boss
  • Signs You're Underpaid
  • Insubordination At Work
• Missing Work
  • Excuses To Miss Work
  • Excuse Letter For Absent
  • Leave Of Absence Letter
  • Long Term Disability Insurance
  • What Is A Sabbatical At Work?
  • How To Take A Personal Day
  • Sick Leave Email
  • Day Off Request Email
  • Excuses To Leave Work Early
  • Doctors Note For Work
• Communicating
  • Send Retirement Wishes
  • Write A Congratulations Email
  • Professional Voicemail Greeting Examples
  • Made A Mistake At Work
  • Google Tricks
  • Appeal Letter
  • Employee Morale
  • How To Write A Professional Email
  • Out Of Office Message
  • Small Group Icebreakers
  • Memo Format
  • Memo Examples
  • Cell Phone At Work
  • Meeting Minutes
  • Communication Barriers
  • How To Take Notes
  • How To Brainstorm
  • Ask For A Mental Health Day
  • Transfer Request Letter And Email Examples
  • How To Write A Business Proposal
  • How To Deal With A Lazy Coworker
  • How To Write A Rejection Letter
  • How To Say No
• Scheduling
  • Third Shift Schedule
  • Compressed Work Week
  • Telecommuting
  • Pomodoro Technique
  • Stress Leave At Work
  • 2nd Shift Hours
  • What Is A Flexible Schedule
  • What Is Workaholism?
  • Short Term Disability Pregnancy
  • 9/80 Work Schedule
  • Bereavement Leave
• Personal Goals
  • How To Avoid Distractions At Work
  • What To Do When You're Overqualified For The Job
  • Signs Of A Layoff
  • How To Find A Mentor
  • Why Don't People Like Me?
  • Signs That You're A Control Freak
  • Questions To Ask Yourself
  • Career Development
  • I Have No Idea What I'm Doing
  • Bored At Work
  • What Is A Digital Nomad?
]]> https://www.zippia.com/advice/largest-radio-stations/ Thu, 28 Jul 2022 21:50:55 +0000 https://www.zippia.com/advice/?p=27227
Largest Radio Stations Research Summary

• The largest radio station in the U.S. is WTOP, with a 2021 earnings of $62 million.

• As of 2022, the U.S. radio industry has a market size of $20.9 billion.

• There are at least 15,445 commercial radio stations in the U.S.

• The U.S. radio industry is projected to grow at a CAGR of 0.71% through 2026.

The field of radio broadcasting has seen a huge shift since the dawn of digital broadcasting. An industry that once had virtually no competition except record players, tape cassettes, and eventually CDs is now seeing a huge shakeup and it’s not faring too well. Radio stations aren’t exactly endangered, but their livelihood is nothing like it used to be. Before we take a look at ten of the largest radio stations in the country, let’s look at what’s happening to the industry in general.

Top 10 Radio Stations in the United States

Today, classic radio stations are few and far between, but they’re still out there and these are some of the top radio stations in the country as they consistently earn a significant amount of money. Note that many of them are not music-based.

1. WTOP

   Washington’s Top News Washington, D.C. Type of Station: News Channel Parent Company: Hubbard Broadcasting Earnings in 2021: $62 million WTOP stands for Washington’s Top News broadcasts and can be found on multiple channels in the D.C. metro area, in greater Virginia, and in Maryland in Frederick, Chesapeake Bay, and Fredericksburg and all the areas in between. They’re also available through Alexa, HD Radio, and WTOP.com. In April of 2011, the station was bought by the Minnesota-based and family-owned Hubbard Broadcasting. But that’s not the beginning of this station’s story, not by a long shot. It was started way back in 1926, but the station didn’t earn its call letters until 1943. Interestingly, those were inherited from a police radio station, Tiffin Ohio Police. Many format changes would follow and finally, on March 9, 1969, the station struck what would be gold for them, an all-news format. They’re one of the best-known news channels in the country, as evidenced by their earnings.

2. KIIS-FM

   Los Angeles, California Type of Station: Contemporary Hit Radio Parent Company: iHeartMedia Earnings in 2018: $61 million KIIS is a huge hit music maker, in tradition with the first radio stations. They lay claim to Ryan Seacrest and they’re willing to ride his wave of fame as far as they can. KIIS is a commercial radio station that sticks to the top 40 format that’s popular and familiar to most people over 20. While Ryan Seacrest is the hot DJ of the moment, the station was also home to Rick Dees, a household name in the 1980s and 1990s. KIIS has gone through a lot of growing pains since first signing on in 1961 as KLAC-FM. Different call letters, different formats, different owners, and different celebrity DJs followed but KIIS has held on as one of the top ten radio channels in the country for a few decades and has found the niche that works for it and its audience.

Find KIIS-FM Jobs Near Me

3. KBIG-FM

   Los Angeles, California Type of Station: Hot Adult-Contemporary Parent Company: iHeartMedia Earnings in 2018: $46 million KBIG also serves the greater Los Angeles area and features hot adult contemporary music. What is that you may ask? It’s a modern music format that focuses on top and popular music from the 1990s to present day. The station goes by 104.3 MYfm at the present time. In 2007 there was a big switch and some format flipping. One of the big changes that happened in 2007 was the loss of Casey Kasem’s American Top 20 radio program. KBIG had been the flagship for this program when it launched in 1992 and their long-time regular DJ, Charlie Tuna, would fill in for Kasem. Even when the station wasn’t focused on contemporary music, they still featured this weekly countdown. That is until the change-up in 2007. Another loss during this time was the nationally syndicated love song-based show Delilah, which features love letters and dedications read by the host, Delilah. While Delilah still had her national syndication, LA was without the popular program until 2012 when another station picked it up.

4. WLTW-FM

   New York, New York Type of Station: Lite Adult Contemporary Parent Company: Owned by iHeartMedia Earnings in 2018: $44 million Not just a high-earning radio station, WLTW is the most popular radio station in the country. Located in the heart of New York City, it broadcasts from the former ATT Building in the Tribeca neighborhood of Manhattan. Their transmitter is perched atop the Empire State Building. WLTW started as WRVR in 1961 and was owned by Riverside Church. They played mainly classical music but added a little jazz and some religious programming and public affairs news and events. Pretty soon the jazz took over and it had a strong following, but low ratings. But that jazz fan base was solid. Even though the station was sold, the change to a more contemporary format was blocked until the late 1970s. Even then, the jazz fans petitioned the FCC to deny the station’s renewal because they were not happy with the new country format. In 1984, the station was then owned by Viacom, who changed the call letters to WLTW and opted for easy listening music. Slowly, over time they began to add a few modern, but low-key, musicians until it became the mainstream adult contemporary station it’s known as today.

5. WHTZ-FM

   New York, New York Type of Station: Contemporary Hit Radio Parent Company: iHeartMedia Earnings in 2021: $44 million Licensed in Newark, New Jersey, WHTZ plays in the New York metropolitan area. It’s the flagship station for the very popular Elvis Duran and the Morning Show program. Its studios are located in Tribeca and its transmitter is located at the top of the Empire State Building. In addition to a standard analog transmission, WHTZ also has an HD radio format and streams on iHeartRadio, which makes sense, since they are owned by iHeartMedia. The channel used to also be streamed and simulcast on Sirius XM Satellite Radio, but as of June 2020, they are no longer on their radio channel but can still be heard on streaming services associated with Sirius. Often called Z100, this channel was originally home to New York’s fourth FM radio station which started in 1942. As happened for most radio channels, changes came along and everything changed, many times. By the time the station adopted the call letters WHTZ in 1983, they also switched to calling themselves Z100. Today, they like to refer to their on-air personalities as ZJs.

6. WFAN-FM

   New York, New York Type of Station: Sports/Talk Parent Company: Entercom Earnings in 2018: $41 million Often called Sports Radio 66 AM and 101.9 FM or The FAN, this is a New York staple and was the world’s first radio station to adopt a 24/7 sports radio format. Of course, they didn’t start out that way. The 660 AM frequency began as WEAF in 1922 and was owned by ATT at that time. They were soon purchased by NBC’s parent company the Radio Corporation of America and the call letters were changed to WNBC. While they’re known for their talk, there were times in the history of this channel that music was the focus. There seemed to be a constant flip back and forth until the sports channel was established. Talk on WNBC was quite popular and a lot of celebrity talk show hosts came from this channel, including Soupy Sales, Alan Colmes, Joey Reynolds, Don Imus, and Howard Stern. Some of them are much more controversial than others. Sports radio began on the FM sister station of 1050 in 1987 and moved to the AM station 660 the next year. That move was very controversial and complicated and at one point included a Spanish-language channel. Eventually, the dust settled, and a 24/7 sports news channel was established and quickly became quite popular, spawning its own celebrities and the catchphrase, “And that’s what’s happening…”

7. 1010 WINS

   New York, New York Type of Station: News Parent Company: Entercom Earnings in 2018: $40.5 million Another New York station owned by Entercom, WINS is the oldest continuously operating all-news station in the United States. The channel adopted the all-news format in 1965. But the station goes way back to 1924 when it started with studios in the Gimbels department store and was called WGBS. In 1932, new giant William Randolph Hearst bought the station and the WINS call sign began. Interestingly, it wasn’t until the channel was owned by Westinghouse Electric Corporation. When WINS went to all-news, it was the third station in the country to attempt this programming format. While the move to all news at the time seemed very risky, it has obviously paid off for the station and continues to be a winner.

8. WCBS-AM

   New York, New York Type of Station: News Parent Company: Entercom Earnings in 2018: $40 million WCBS is an AM channel that is located at 880 on your AM dial. Its transmitter is located on High Island in the Bronx. With a 50,000-watt clear channel signal, it can be heard throughout much of the eastern United States and Canada at nighttime. This station also dates way back to 1924. At the time, it was a pioneering station in NYC and was one of the first to broadcast from remote locations. The station went through a few call letters until 1946 when it became WCBS, to coincide with their parent network the Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS). Radio soap operas and talk shows were very popular on this channel initially. However, it wasn’t until after WINS switched to all news that WCBS decided to make the same change.

9. WBBM-AM

   Chicago, Illinois Type of Station: News Parent Company: Entercom Earnings in 2018: $39 million WBBM is another commercial all-news radio station that broadcasts out of Chicago, Illinois. It’s also another station owned by Entercom. They are a Class A station broadcasting on a clear channel AM frequency with 35,000 watts during the daytime and 42,000 watts at night which means there is coverage into the northern two-thirds of Illinois. During the day, their signal is strong enough that they also reach into large portions of Wisconsin, Iowa, Michigan, and Indiana. At night, they’re the strongest channel in the Midwest and can be heard across much of North America. WBBM is a classic analog station but it also broadcasts over HD radio and is simulcast on WCFS-FM and available online at Radio.com. First licensed in 1924, the company was founded by a 29-year old who had a simple spark transmitter set. Always a pioneer and a bit of a rebel, that same “kid,” Les Atlass, was broadcasting local election results in April of 1923 from his amateur radio station. While this was not legal, he found a technical loophole as he was allowed to transmit to another amateur; it wasn’t his fault others were listening. A few months later, Atlass got the call sign WBBM and began officially broadcasting his radio station in 1924. By 1928, the station had begun its long association with CBS and eventually joined as a network affiliate. In 1968 the switch was made to all news and has stayed that way.

10. KFI-AM

    Los Angeles, California Type of Station: News/Talk Parent Company: iHeartMedia Earnings in 2018: $35 million KFI began operating in 1922 and slowly kept increasing power until it became one of the very first high-powered clear-channel stations in the United States. As a Class A 50,000 watt station, it can be heard throughout all of Southern California during the day, and at night it can be heard in the entire western region of the United States. KFI airs a talk radio format and likes to feature local hosts, but there’s a particular national talk show host that the channel may be most famous for. It aired then-President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Fireside Chats during World War II. The show is well-known as a pacifier for the country in a time of turbulence and strife. For a while, the station was a hybrid of music and comedic commentary but AM began to lose the pop music market in the 1980s and their ratings slipped. Eventually, they switched to the talk format that is popular on AM radio and a hit for them.

How Radio Stations Have Changed

Once upon a time, the DJ was king. Some of them rose to national fame and became known for their ability to make or break a band. If the DJ liked the band’s sound, they’d play their music. Eventually, that music would catch on and, like wildfire, the band would be played across the country. Or, your music would flop and it’d never go beyond that album that got a little local radio play. Even more interestingly, if you go back to a time before 1976, sound recordings couldn’t be copyrighted. So a DJ went to the mall, bought a Beatles record, then went on the air and played it. It was considered an honor to be a selected artist on the radio station and free advertising. That began to change when radio stations, or DJs in particular, were paid to play a song to try to make it popular and the band famous. It seems like a logical step, but it was deemed illegal and got slapped with the term payola. As the copyright laws changed, so did the balance of power in the radio industry. Now stations had to pay for the rights to use songs and they’d typically buy catalogs of songs from the label. That was a cost-effective way to feature many different artists. When this started happening, the independent radio station began to die away. A company known as iHeartMedia or Clear Channel started seeing the writing on the wall and began to buy up radio stations. In 1996, Clear Channel owned 40 stations. By the end of 2019, they owned 850 stations, leaving only 82 independent radio stations left in the United States. Not only did iHeartRadio prompt some big changes and the decline of the fame for local DJs, but it opened the door to new ways of listening to music. If you know the name iHeartMedia, you no doubt have heard of iHeartRadio. Created as a way to combine radio with podcasts and music. It’s free and it can be customized by listeners, so they get to listen to whatever they want. Then the floodgates opened, and digital and streaming music began surpassing radio in popularity.
Largest Companies
• Technology
  • Largest Radio Stations
  • Largest Software Companies
  • Largest Cell Phone Companies
  • Largest Hosting Companies
  • Largest Semiconductor Companies
  • Largest Satellite Companies
  • Largest Bitcoin Companies
]]> https://www.zippia.com/advice/jobs-provide-housing/ Thu, 28 Jul 2022 14:52:46 +0000 https://www.zippia.com/advice/?p=28091
In This Article   
Skip to section
• 7 High-Paying Jobs That Provide Housing
• 9 Entry-Level Jobs that Provide Housing
• 4 Second Jobs that Include Housing
• Jobs That Provide Housing FAQs
• Final Thoughts
• Sign Up For More Advice and Jobs
Show More

One of the biggest expenses people have is their housing and that can suck up a lot of your income. What if you could combine a job with housing so you didn’t have that bill? Sounds like a sweet deal, doesn’t it?

Guess what — those jobs exist and they can help you get ahead of the game financially. Whether you want to save money, get out of an affordable-housing situation, or a public-housing place, these jobs can be a blessing. They give you a place to live and money to save for your future. Who knows, maybe one day you’ll buy your own home.

Key Takeaways:

• You shouldn’t spend more than 30% of your income on housing, but the average American spends about 40% of their income on housing.

• Jobs such as nannies, live-in care providers, and camp counselors that provide housing may pay a little less, but you don’t have to worry about paying for housing.

• Entry-level jobs that do not require previous experience can provide housing, but you may need to learn quickly on the go.



7 High-Paying Jobs That Provide Housing

As long as you’re looking for the perfect work and living situation, why not throw a big income in there as well. One thing you have to consider is that you’re not paying rent or a mortgage, so the money you’re saving should be counted toward your income. But that aside, you can still find some high-paying jobs that include housing programs.

1. Doctors Without Borders Average Annual Salary: $180,000

   If you’ve earned your medical degree, you can sign up for this well-known program and you will have accommodations while you’re in the field. It will typically be shared housing, but it’s a wonderful experience and lets you help people who really need it. And you won’t be paying rent.

   Find Doctor jobs near me

2. Civil Engineer Average Annual Salary: $70,000

   Ready to live the life of a nomad? Many civil engineers work abroad to help develop cities, construction sites, and roads. The pay is fantastic and the experiences you have will be ones you treasure for a lifetime. And this job definitely comes with housing services.

   Find Civil engineer jobs near me

3. Butler Average Annual Salary: $59,000

   This is not an entry-level job whatsoever. It takes training, experience, and stellar references, but butlers can make up to $150,000 per year. The hours are not regular, and your main job is to take care of someone else, but for some, it’s a true calling – a calling with a big paycheck and an incredible place to call home.

   Find Butler jobs near me

4. Grounds Keeper Average Annual Salary: $26,000

   Maintaining the grounds of an estate takes a lot of work, and at times it includes night and day hours. In these situations, the estate owners will provide housing to the groundskeeper. They’ll also provide a sizeable income.

   Find Grounds keeper jobs near me

5. Personal Chef Average Annual Salary: $47,283

   The same people that need butlers and round-the-clock grounds crews also need personal chefs. You’re going to have to be at the top of your game to get this job, but when you do, you’ll make paychecks that can make your colleagues green with envy.

   Find Personal chef jobs near me

6. Travel Specialist Average Annual Salary: $45,000

   If you are looking for adventure and want to travel, you might be able to take your skills on the road. Doctors, nurses, construction workers, administrative assistants – just about any professional can establish a travel position if they’re willing to fill in where and when needed.

   The best part is if you have a skill, the company hiring you will want you as opposed to an unqualified temp, and they’ll pay you well and provide housing as part of your project-based work.

   Find Travel specialist jobs near me

7. Governor Average Annual Salary: $64,995

   This job isn’t an easy one to get, you’ll have to dedicate your life to politics (in most situations) and have a lot of experience and education behind you. But once you become governor, you’ll get to live in the governor’s mansion and usually, they are top-notch accommodations.

   Find Governor jobs near me

9 Entry-Level Jobs that Provide Housing

In many cases, someone looking for a job that includes housing will be doing the job for the first time. This puts you in an interesting situation because it’s an entry-level job, even though you may have a lot of experience in another field. That’s okay; you’ll get the hang of it, and if it’s a job with housing you’re after, you often have to start fresh.

1. Hotel/resort staff Average Annual Salary: N/A

   There are many seasonal businesses that are boom towns during their high season. These places bring in tons of staff for the season and many of them put them up in dorm-type accommodations.

2. Park Ranger Average Annual Salary: $43,000

   It’s an all-inclusive job that does require some training but it’s a fun place to start for people who want to get into this field. It’s completely immersive and is the best way to learn the job. Typically, their housing units are in the middle of the park, so you’ll also get to enjoy the scenery and some privacy.

   Find Park ranger jobs near me

3. International Relations Teacher Average Annual Salary: $47,877

   This isn’t exactly an entry-level job because you’ll need some education, in most cases, and might need a teaching degree. But this is an incredible opportunity for teachers who have just graduated.

   You get an irreplaceable lifetime experience in a new country with a new culture, and you don’t have to pay for your housing.

   Find International relations teacher jobs near me

4. Ship worker Average Annual Salary: $23,000

   Whether you’re an aspiring entertainer, working in the hospitality side of things, interested in being a captain one day, or even a casino dealer, working on a ship can be your new gig. Obviously, the ship will provide you with housing while you’re working, and they’ll often put you up between cruises.

   Find Ship worker jobs near me

5. Nanny Average Annual Salary: $25,000

   If you love children, being a live-in nanny can be a rewarding gig. You will most likely become a part of the family, and that’s an incredible responsibility and honor for many. What a way to start a career – a career that can be a lifetime profession.

   Find Nanny jobs near me

6. Oil Rig Driller Average Annual Salary: $70,368

   The schedule is brutal, and the living conditions are spartan at best, but the income is grand. If you are willing to start low and work your way up, you can turn this job into a rewarding career with potential.

   Find Oil Rig Driller jobs near me

7. Military Average Annual Salary: $61,000

   Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines – whichever branch of the military suits you, you’ll find that they give you job training, an income, and housing. Some people turn their military experience into a military career. Others take that training into the civilian world and end up ahead of the game.

   Find Military jobs near me

8. Itinerant Worker Average Annual Salary: N/A

   This is a hard job, but it doesn’t require much skill. Basically, you go where the crops are and work on farms and ranches to plant and harvest, and sometimes deal with livestock. The pay isn’t great, but there’s reliable housing and you’re getting experience.

9. Performance gigs Average Annual Salary: N/A

   If you’re lucky enough to hook up with a touring group, you’ll live life on the road, moving from one hotel to another, but what an exciting adventure it will be. From hair technicians to caterers to crew and even performers. It’s the adventure of a lifetime for many.

4 Second Jobs that Include Housing

Are you looking for a job that gives you a place to live but that lets you continue working your primary job? Well, that’s the dream and some jobs let you realize your goals.

1. Security Guard Average Annual Salary: $29,000

   It depends on where you get this job and the company, but some businesses require full-time security and prefer to have them live on site. Usually, you’ll be living with other security guards and doing split shifts. But in your free time, it’s possible to work another job, too.

   Find Security guard jobs near me

2. Property Manager Average Annual Salary: $43,000

   A lot of apartment buildings or condos require an onsite manager or even a maintenance crew. If you look hard, you might be able to find the perfect situation where they want you to watch over the place, but not put in full-time hours. A savvy worker can turn this into the best situation around.

   Find Property manager jobs near me

3. Live In Caregiver Average Annual Salary: $36,000

   This can be a full-time job, so that’s important to note. But it can also be a part-time job if the person you’re caring for really just needs someone there to help a bit and supervise. If you’re great with people, you can turn caregiving and a live-in situation into a lifestyle that benefits everyone involved. It’s especially good for seniors.

   Find Live in caregiver jobs near me

4. Dorm/Residential Advisor Average Annual Salary: $30,000

   If your primary job is earning a degree, this is about the best job around. It is designed to give you the time you need to get your degree, free housing, and usually, you’ll also get a voucher for meals.

   If you can handle some minor squabbles and enforcing rules in a community housing setting, this might be your ticket to a degree without crushing debt.

   Find Residential advisor jobs near me

Jobs That Provide Housing FAQs

1. What internships provide housing?

   Many technology, healthcare, law, and finance internships provide housing. This is especially true at the most prestigious companies in these industries.

   Many of these internship positions are highly sought-after, which means candidates are applying worldwide and need a place to stay. It’s in these companies’ best interest to provide housing for their interns, as it helps them attract and retain top talent that they could potentially hire in the future.

   In addition, internships on or near college or university campuses – as many healthcare and science internships are – are also more likely to provide housing since they have several empty dorms they can use.

   The same goes for internships at other organizations that have housing arrangements of some sort for their full-time employees: Summer camps, hotels, and national parks, for example, often provide intern housing since they provide it for the rest of their staff.

2. Do jobs that provide housing pay less?

   Yes, jobs that provide housing often do pay less. This isn’t always true, but it definitely can be, especially if you take into account roles where you’re on duty 24 hours a day because you live where you work.

   Nannies, live-in caregivers, and camp counselors fall into this category: Their salaries may look reasonable or even generous when housing is also factored in, but when you calculate their hourly earnings with being at work 24/7, it isn’t all that much.

   There’s a different cost to providing housing for cruise ship workers, internationally based ESL teachers, and resort staff. While people in these roles do usually get to fully clock out at the end of the day, they don’t get to leave their workplace or choose where they want to live, which can be taxing for many people.

   However, the flipside of this is that they get paid to experience living in a tight-knit community and often visit or live in beautiful, exotic locations, which is why many people seek out these jobs.

3. Do I need experience for a job that provides housing?

   No, you don’t need experience for a job that provides housing. Like the rest of the job market, some positions require experience, and some don’t.

   If you don’t have any experience, just be prepared to work hard and learn quickly, as you’ll likely be fully immersed in your new position much faster than you would in a job that didn’t provide housing. This is because many entry-level jobs that provide housing need you to live in the same place you work.

   For example, oil rigs, cruise ships, and hotels or resorts often have on-site housing for their employees (especially the entry-level ones), and positions such as nannies, park rangers, or military servicemen require you to live where you work as a part of the job description.

   While this often comes with a lot of work, it also provides you with a significant amount of valuable experience that would be difficult to get otherwise.

Final Thoughts

How much of every dollar you make should go to housing? Any ideas? The rule of thumb is you shouldn’t spend more than 30% of your income on housing. So, for every dollar you make, that’s $0.30. And that’s for homebuyers and renters.

That adds up to a lot, but that’s just the recommended amount you should be spending. Unfortunately, rents and mortgages are on the rise and people often spend way more.

The average American spends nearly 40% on housing. That’s a hefty jump from 30%.

Then, if you’re paying off student loans at 10-20% of your income, buying groceries, paying bills, dealing with childcare expenses – it all just snowballs and suddenly you’re getting deeper and deeper in debt, especially for low-income families and people who are just getting started in their careers.

Finding a job that includes housing or offers some sort of housing program to its employees can be a blessing that has long-lasting implications. If you can get off to a good financial start in the beginning, you’ll be better off in the end.

And, if you can continue working jobs that give you rental assistance, you’ll have more and more money to put aside for your retirement or to buy your own home.

Articles In Guide
• Fields
  • Types Of Engineering
  • Types Of Lawyers
  • Types Of It Jobs
  • Jobs In Travel
  • Best Airport Jobs
  • Best Overnight Jobs
  • Temp Jobs
  • Jobs In Mental Health
  • Union Jobs
  • Civil Service Jobs
  • Grocery Store Jobs
  • The Most Common Jobs In America
  • Summer Jobs
  • Types Of Doctors
  • Is Technology A Good Career Path
  • Cannabis Industry Jobs
  • Careers In Writing
• Job Comparisons
  • Alternative Jobs For Nurses
  • Alternative Jobs For Teachers
  • Alternative Jobs For Real Estate Agents
  • Alternative Jobs For Emts
  • Types Of Detectives
• Collar Jobs
  • Blue-Collar Vs. White-Collar Jobs
  • White Collar Jobs
  • Blue Collar Jobs
  • Pink Collar Jobs
  • Grey Collar Jobs
  • Best Careers For Istj Personalities
  • Best Careers For Isfp Personality Types
  • Enfp Careers
  • Infj Careers
  • Infp Careers
  • Intj Careers
  • INTP careers
  • ISFJ careers
  • ISTP careers
  • ENTJ careers
  • ENTP careers
  • ENFJ careers
  • ESTJ careers
  • ESFJ careers
  • ESTP careers
  • ESFP careers
• Specific Job Requirements
  • Jobs That Pay Over 200K
  • Jobs That Pay Over 300K
  • Jobs That Provide Housing
  • Jobs That Change The World
  • Jobs Working With Animals
  • Jobs Working With Babies
  • Jobs With Dead Bodies
  • Jobs In Nature
  • Jobs With Tips
  • Jobs That Require Travel
  • Jobs That Don't Require Standing
  • Jobs That Make People Happy
  • Jobs For Student Loan Forgiveness
  • Jobs That Use Math
  • Food Sustainability Jobs
  • Social Work Jobs
  • Cash Jobs
  • Under The Table Jobs
  • Associate Degree Jobs
  • Liberal Arts Degree Jobs
• Jobs With Perks
  • Jobs That Make You A Millionaire
  • Jobs That Require Travel And Pay Well
  • Side Gigs
  • high paying jobs with time off
]]>