• Take time to learn how to work with new managers, as your success is intertwined with theirs.   
• Learn to listen to others and seek advice; don’t try to prove yourself all the time. 
• Consider what others on a team have to say, and work together. The ability to work well with others is essential to progressing in your career. 
• If no mentor is set up for you, find one for yourself. 
• Be careful what you say about others; protect your image; know who can be trusted and who cannot. 
• Adapt to the organization’s style and culture; don’t be afraid to ask questions. 
• Volunteer for projects and committees, but don’t line up more work than you can handle. 
• Show enthusiasm and take initiative. Offer to help others with projects as time allows. 
• Remember that you are in charge of your own career; don’t blame others if it’s not going the way you want. 
• If you make a mistake, take responsibility and communicate with management. Always develop and provide your manager with a sound plan of action to address any shortcomings. 

• Any criminal record can have a disastrous effect on your career. You won’t be eligible for teacher certification; you won’t get security clearance for military, state, or federal jobs; you will have trouble getting a job in a medical field where there is access to controlled substances; you may not be eligible for jobs requiring travel if you have driving offenses. 

• Know what your needs are in a home or apartment. 
• When you look at properties, check to make sure everything works as it should. 
• Read leases carefully and discuss any questions or concerns with the landowner. 
• Complete a condition report so you have a record of any damages already made to the property.  If not, you may lose your security deposit for something you didn’t do. 
• Consider all costs: moving expenses, deposits, utilities (there is a charge to hook them up when you move in, and you need to have an idea how much they’ll run per month), phone, Internet access, water, cable, trash pickup, insurance, etc. 

• Make a budget and stick to it.  Keep track of your expenses so you can tell where your money is going. 
• Keep only one credit card and use it only in real emergencies. Credit cards are convenient but can quickly lead to significant financial issues. 
• Paying just the minimum each month keeps you barely ahead of the finance charges. 
• It’s never too early to start saving.  Invest in tax deferred accounts and strive to take full advantage of any employer matching.  Starting investments early in your career is the key to long-term success.  Utilize raises and cost of living adjustments as opportunities to increase your contributions. 
• Use your employer’s automatic savings plan.  If you never see the money, you won’t miss it.  

• Health insurance is a must; keep premiums lower by selecting high deductibles and coinsurance. 
• If you’re renting, it’s important to have renter’s insurance - the landowner’s policy will not cover your belongings. 
• Homeowner’s or renter’s insurance generally covers fire, storms, theft, liability, etc., but most do not cover flood.  If you are in a flood zone, consider adding flood insurance.  
• Get coverage for replacement costs.  It’s more expensive, but if you don’t, you could end up getting $100 for something that will cost you $500 to replace. 
• Life insurance should cover paying off your debts and your funeral.  If you have a family, you’ll need more. Term life insurance policies generally have much lower premiums than whole life insurance policies. 
• Disability insurance is more common than life insurance among people under 65.  Get coverage at 50-60 percent of your income.

When it comes to negotiating a starting salary, here are some recommendations: 

Educate yourself on the company. Understand the job for which you are applying, including the responsibilities, requirements, and expectations for the position. Ensure you’ve asked and understand how the company reviews employee performance, the process for pay raises and promotions, and other fringe benefits of the job. This is a good discussion to have with the HR person during the telephone screening interview. Let the interviewer bring up the topic of salary. 

Arm yourself with salary information. Spend adequate time conducting research to find out average salaries and salary ranges for similar jobs in your area, industry, and geography. There are many websites that provide salary information, including: Salary.com, PayScale, Indeed, CareerOneStop, Glassdoor, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, and Job Search Intelligence. 

Know your strengths and differentiators. What makes you special and unique from everyone else? What are the differentiators and the special skills or experiences that could make you a valuable employee? Ensure you have these differentiators written down as this information can then be used as leverage to negotiate a higher starting salary with the hiring manager. 

Decide on an appropriate salary range. Based on your research of similar jobs in your geography and industry, come up with what you think would be an appropriate salary range for the job. Your target salary should fall within this salary range. 

Define your “walk-away” point. Now that you’ve determined your target salary and an appropriate salary range, think about the minimum salary you’re willing to accept and why you’d accept that amount. Then, consider the reasons why you’d be unwilling to accept a lower amount. Write these reasons down, as you may need to pull them out for your discussion with the hiring manager during the salary negotiation. 

Practice your negotiation skills. Ask a friend or family member to play the role of a hiring manager who has offered you a salary that is lower than what you want. Then practice what you’ll say and how you’ll say it to persuade the hiring manager to increase their offer. 

Keep in mind that it’s in the hiring manager’s best interest to carefully determine the salary offers they make to new employees. This is because they need to make sure their compensation offers are internally and externally competitive and offer the same salary range to employees currently working in the same or similar positions based on education, experience levels, and productivity. At most companies, a lot of research and analysis goes into every salary offer before the job offer is ever made. 

That isn’t to say you shouldn’t negotiate for a higher salary – pursue it if you believe you have good reasons for the request. This is especially true if you have specialized skills or training that are in short supply or worth more to the company. Most hiring managers will usually start with an amount that is lower than what they are willing to pay because they assume the candidate will try to negotiate upward. Negotiation is a skill you can hone, and it’s up to you to get what you want and what you deserve.

Reference: http://www.forbes.com/sites/lisaquast/2014/03/31/job-seekers-8-tips-to-negotiate-your-starting-salary/ 

Congratulations, you have been offered the job! Now you can begin planning your new monthly budget. 

TOTAL Take-Home Pay $_________________________ 

TOTAL Living Expenses $_________________________