Question:

Nicholas. My son has charged his credit cards to $20,000. He can not pay these off right now. He is going to school full time and working 10-20 hours a week. I want to help him organize his life. Stop the credit card issue but he does not make enough ...

Answer:

Dear Concerned Parent: This is exactly the type of behavior we wish to avoid by reading No More Ramen, but no lectures here. Let's consider a few options for your son, with # 4 being probably the requisite approach: 1. If he has built up any 401K equity, I would ...

Question:

Almost every job description that I see requires previous experience. How am I ever going to get previous experience if no one will hire me in the first place?

Answer:

Life has a pretty funny way of welcoming you to the real world, and I’m sure you would agree that it’s really not that funny at all. This is just part of the transition; digging through the trenches with every other recent graduate until you finally reach a point where ...

Question:

I am bored with my current job; I'm thinking of pursuing other opportunities but I don't want to risk losing my job and having nothing else to go on. Should I just stick it out at my current job and hope things get better?

Answer:

I can't tell you how many times I've heard this before. Not just from 20-somethings, but from people in their 30's, 40's, and even their 50's. Getting stuck in a boring job was a top concern of both pre and post graduates. Your job is what you make of it, ...

Question:

I am currently finishing up my last semester in college as a student teacher. Turns out I have a little problem...I've discovered that teaching is not for me. I'm still going to get a degree in elementary education, but after graduation, I have no idea what to do. What can ...

Answer:

Dear Student Teach: Did you originally receive an undergraduate degree in another discipline? What other interests, talents or skills have you amassed? What other career options have you previously explored? Have you met with your career placement services as your primary college? Do you enjoy teaching/training in any capacity? You ...

Question:

If I need to start planning for retirement now, how should I save or invest my money?

Answer:

The answer is really dependent upon how much you are earning and what your present debt and liabilities total (including college loans, credit card debt, budget for cost of living, etc.). Regardless, you should invest as much as permissable (without any tax implications- check with an accountant) into your 401(k) ...

Question:

What's the deal with graduate school? Some say you need it; some say you don't. Should I just play it safe and go get my graduate degree anyways?

Answer:

I heard something from a number my co-authors that today’s bachelors degree is equivalent to a high school diploma 20 years ago. With that said, it’s no surprise that recent grads and even graduates from a few years back are flocking back to school in record numbers with high hopes ...

Question:

I just moved to a new city and I don't know anybody, let alone in the same field as me. Where can I go to meet more people?

Answer:

It's called the hidden job market for a reason; if you don't go out looking for it, chances are you'll never find it. One of my co-authors was in a similar situation as you, but she wasn't just in a new city, she was in a completely different country. Learning ...

Question:

Dear Nicholas, I am currently reading your book while at the same time interviewing. My problem is that although I feel the interview went great and I received positive feedback from the interviewer I am not getting the jobs or making the final cut. I did not go straight to ...

Answer:

1. I encourage you to email me directly in the future at nicholasinaz@cox.net, and I am open to a phone conversation as your personal situation may get complicated in writing- try my cell phone at 480-220-3700. I will be on the West Coast until mid-June, then on the East Coast ...

Question:

I'm considering multiple job offers, one near my home town, and the other clear across the country. It makes sense to take the offer near my family, but something inside of me wants to explore other areas. I haven't done much traveling, so how can I guarantee that I'm making ...

Answer:

This can be one of the most exciting decisions. Especially early in your career. When choosing between job offers you have to look at all your options and you have to know what you really want. Take into consideration the weather, location, potential for growth, cost of living, and definitely ...

Question:

What am I supposed to say when my boss asks me how much money I need?

Answer:

Now there’s a question that you don’t expect. In actuality, this happens more than you think. It’s a question that you ask yourself everyday, especially coming out of college with loans, rent, and bills coming at you. If you’re not exactly sure how much money you really need when your ...