Last Updated: February 16, 2009
In any given week, there are dozens upon dozens of checklists produced that can help you build a more solid financial plan. Here's some interesting checklists that can help you search for a job, find a nursing home, and minimize the impact of disasters.
- The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 will bring many changes to the American landscape, including the possibility of some three to four million jobs being created. But no matter whether you're a job seeker or currently employed, its well worth learning how to negotiate the best salary possible. Dick Gaither, co-author of the recently released book, Next–Day Job Interview, offers seven tips for negotiating the best salary. One item on his checklist: Don't assume pay and benefits aren't negotiable. More than 80 percent of employers expect some form of negotiation for pay, benefits, perks, work schedules, work locations and so on.
- Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn are creating plenty of opportunities for people to network both
professionally and socially. The big problem is that these social and business networking sites also offer a great opportunity for you and others to post potentially embarrassing comments, stories, and pictures. Lindsay Olson, a partner and recruiter at Paradigm Staffing, along with TheLadders.com has compiled a checklist to help you examine your online profile systematically and make sure it is spotless before it is seen by recruiters and potential employers. One item on the checklist is "Google Search."
- Step 1: Be sure to search your own name on Google. This is something a potential employer will do, and it's a good idea to check to see what they will see. Don't settle for the first 10 results. Check multiple pages of search results. Search on terms associated with your name (i.e. your name and past employers, partners). Check the referring pages themselves for inaccurate or embarrassing information.
- Step 2: Google Alerts: Establish Google Alerts for your name and any of the terms you would check in Step 1. As Google finds new information with those terms posted on the Web, you will receive an e-mail or RSS feed. Learn more at TheLadders.com.
- Tornadoes, fires, floods, accidents, and other unexpected events can change your life in the blink of an eye, according to just–published J.K. Lasser Alert. "The impact on your personal and financial life can be devastating." Read this checklist to help you cope with disasters and steps to take to minimize the impact of future disasters. One item on the checklist: "Midwest storms, tornadoes and floods, and Hurricane Ike in 2008 are some of the events that resulted in federally declared disaster areas, which are areas eligible for federal assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). If you suffered property damage in a federally declared disaster area, you may be able to deduct these disaster losses in excess of any insurance proceeds you receive. New tax rules effective for 2008 and 2009 can help to maximize your tax write–offs."
- Medicare has recently launched a Web site that provides a 5–star rating system for all Medicare and Medicaid–certified nursing homes. The site describes the rating measures and allows you to search for facilities in your local area. The site also provides tools if you are considering nursing home care, including a guide to choosing a nursing home and a nursing home checklist. Learn more at Medicare.gov.
