Early Career Archives - Hanover Mortgages

March 2, 2021

35 Monthly Challenges to Uplevel Your Lifestyle and Budget

It’s common to set financial and fitness goals at the start of each month as you look for ways to improve. You might want to drink more water, earn a promotion, or start a new side hustle for some extra income. However, trying out a new habit, or breaking an old one, can be hard to stick to without a little motivation. Plus, it takes an average of 66 days to implement a new routine.

One way to combat these obstacles is to gamify your goals and set fun achievable challenges for yourself. Here are 35 monthly challenges to inspire you to build routines one day at a time.

From tracking your spending to building your career, we have a few challenges for you to try. Keep reading or skip through each section to see which you’d like to take on this year.

Budget Challenges to Spend Less and Save More

If you’re saving up for a big purchase or want to build your savings account, a 30-day no-spend challenge can put you on the right track. To reset your financial goals, or test your spending habits, try one of our budget challenges below.

1. Zero Eating Out

On average, people spend over $2,000 on takeout food each year. Avoid the financial burden of eating out by trying your hand at cooking. Cook, eat, and drink at home for every meal of the month. Delete all your food delivery apps and fill your fridge with affordable, healthy snacks to cure any sudden cravings.

2. Track Your Spending

You may not know where your money goes every month. If so, you’re not the only one. Sixty-five percent of Americans don’t know how much they spent last month. To be mindful of your money, start tracking your money on a daily basis. Create an account on the Mint app and link all your cards and accounts. Check your account every morning to see which categories cost you the most.

3. Try a No-Spend Month

Test your spending habits with a no-spend month. Using our printable, list expenses you will need for the month — food, gas, and bill payments, for example. Then, cut unnecessary purchases out of your budget for 30 days — such as takeout coffee, retail therapy, or home supplies that rack up a hefty bill.

4. No Retail Shopping

If a no-spend month seems too aggressive, try cutting out just retail shopping instead. Glitz and glam are appealing until your savings accounts suffer. To build your savings or invest more, cut out all unnecessary retail purchases for 30 days straight. To easily track your spending habits, navigate to the “This Month” tab of the Mint app.

5. Pay In Cash Only

Limit spending temptations by only carrying cash so that you can only spend what you have on hand. Consider cutting up your credit cards or leaving them at home when you go out for drinks, coffee, or shopping with loved ones. You won’t have to stress about overspending after returning home.

Career Challenges to Grow Your Experience and Salary

If you’re settled in your career, you may be itching to grow your resume. And to help you get comfortable with thinking out of the box, put yourself up to a new challenge. To start building new skills and redirect your focus at work, try our favorite challenges below.

6. Avoid Social Media While Working

The average person spends 144 minutes on social media a day. When this time cuts into your working hours, it could steal your focus and hinder your career growth. Instead of scrolling through your feed, direct your attention to more valuable tasks at hand — work. Silence your phone while working and leave it in the other room. Continue to build this habit during working hours to refine your focus and avoid social media impulse purchases.

7. Meal Prep Your Lunch

It’s easy to get swept up in work tasks — especially when working from home. You may frequent your desk more than you do a kitchen table when eating. This feels more productive, but studies show that eating at your desk actually hinders your productivity. Boost your creativity by stepping away from your desk for a budget-friendly home cooked meal for 30 days straight.

8. Make One New Connection a Week

Growing your professional network can lead to new opportunities. Learn key lessons from industry leaders or start a business with those that share the same goals as you. To grow your professional relationships, connect with people online or through networking events each week. Challenge yourself to reach out to a new connection each week for a month straight.

9. Work Breaks into Your Daily Routine

Breaking up your workday boosts your focus and productivity. You most likely find your creative ideas come to you while working out or relaxing at the end of your day. Take a 15-minute walk each day to clear your mind and brainstorm innovative ideas. If you don’t enjoy walking, try stretching or meditating to get your creative juices flowing.

10. Read a Chapter of a Book a Day

Reading is a great way to learn something new and expand your vocabulary. However, you may find yourself pushing it off when your schedule overflows. Make time for reading by adding it to your daily morning routine. Wake up 20 to 30 minutes earlier than normal to read a chapter of a book. This can help you feel more productive and ready to outperform yourself at work.

Side Hustle Challenges to Build Your Portfolio

Break out of your routine and make extra money with a side hustle. You could grow your expertise, build your resume and savings, and open the doors to a new career. Consider starting a new side hustle each week.

11. Start a Blog (and Post Once a Week)

Have something you’re passionate about? Reading, writing, working out, or crafting may come to mind. Write about it and make passive income through blogging! Challenge yourself to create a blog and publish one new post a week. Brainstorm 10 ideas before creating your website and sign up for an affiliate program. Use this outlet to express your creative side while making money.

12. Walk Dogs Once a Week

It’s always nice to break up your day with a nice walk and fresh air. If you enjoy frequent walks, turn it into a side hustle. Sign up for apps like Rover to connect with dog parents who need a helping hand. Once you’re signed up, set a monthly dog walking goal. Start by walking dogs once a week and work up to two or three times a week.

13. Try a New Side Hustle Each Week

Blogging, dog walking, or Ubering could already be side hustles you’ve tried. To broaden your side hustle interests, look for additional ways to make money from home. Renting out your spare room or driving for a food delivery service could be of interest to you. You could find your next career venture and make some extra money in the meantime.

14. Sell Your Clothes Online

Your old prom dress, suit, or boots you wore once may be taking up space in your closet. Get rid of the old items and make room new ones by getting rid of sentimental clutter. Sign up for apps like Poshmark, The RealReal, and thredUP to sell your used items. Each week, clean out a new area of your home. For example, one week you declutter your closet and the next you declutter your shoes, coats, and dresser.

15. Start a YouTube Channel

Share your passions with a virtual crowd! You could record, edit, and upload how-to, fashion, educational, or vlog styled videos on YouTube. Challenge yourself to upload once a week, on the same day, and at the same time. Over the course of the month, you may foster a new community of followers that share the same interests as you. Once you hit 5,000 watch hours, you’ll be able to earn ad revenue on every video.

Lifestyle Challenges to Start Today

The simplest changes can make big impacts in our daily lives. Drinking one more glass of water could energize you, and cooking dinner at home can help you reach your savings goal. To add a special touch to your weekly routines, try a lifestyle challenge.

16. Take the Stairs

Moving your body helps you stay productive, increase your happiness, and produce more energy. You may be able to beat your afternoon slump by taking the stairs over the elevator. Boosting your mood and decreasing any brain fog can help deter emotional spending habits as well.

17. Drink a Little More Water

Water is great for every part of your body, but it can be hard to keep up with your water intake. To get back into the habit of drinking a healthy amount of water, make it a fun challenge. Every day, try and drink one more glass of water than you did the last until you reach your daily goal. You’ll likely feel fresher, less hungry, and more energized.

18. Try a New Workout At Home

There are various free workout programs right at your fingertips. To save yourself a gym membership, do your workouts at home. Set up a workout area in your living room, spare room, or on your balcony. Research different home workouts on YouTube and carry them out every day. On days you’re sore or rundown, try a yoga session. On other days, test out a high-intensity training video.

19. Clean Up After You’re Done

Having a clean living area feels as if you have your life figured out. To keep your home clean, put everything away after use. For instance, test yourself by cleaning your dishes right after you use them for a full month. Take it a step further by making your bed every morning after you get up.

20. Cook a New Recipe a Week

Test your cooking skills. Instead of going out to your favorite restaurant or ordering in, challenge yourself to cook a new meal at home each week. Try your hand at making your favorite sushi, pasta, or a Mediterranean dish. Continue to practice these skills to learn new recipes and enjoy eating in more often.

Additional 30 Day Challenges

There’s a challenge for everybody — you just may not have found the exact one for you. Keep reading to see which of our monthly challenges are your favorite. Then, mark your calendar and invite your friends to compete in a monthly challenge with you.

23. Make your bed every morning
24. Future self journal before work
25. Wake up 30 minutes before you have to
26. Try doing 30 days of random acts of kindness
27. Eat one more serving of vegetables at every meal
28. Take daily bubble baths
29. Give yourself daily facials
30. Stay calm and meditate every day
31. Write a letter to someone new every evening
32. Sit at a table to eat for every meal
33. Take a photo of something that makes you happy every day
34. Walk 10,000 steps a day
35. Swap soda for sparkling water

Put yourself and your spending habits to the test with a monthly challenge. You may be more in-tune with your budget and more intentional with your spending by the end. These lifestyle changes can help you contribute more money towards debt payments or your savings for a house. Before you know it, you’ll be checking off your 2021 goals with a few monthly challenges completed.

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February 3, 2021

Starting a Business With a Friend: 4 Things to Consider

The ultimate question: Could you and your friend make the perfect business duo? The answer may be more complicated than you think. You love spending time with your friend and the idea of becoming entrepreneurs together. Why not fulfill your dreams with each other? Companies like Airbnb and Ben & Jerry’s had success in this area — they all started from friendships.

But much more goes into starting a business with a friend. You may make great business partners, or you could wish you had taken your venture solo. Before making any financial decisions, analyze the pros and cons and ask hard questions. For example, will you equally invest? Who will take on which tasks and responsibilities? Sift through the easy and hard questions to see where your business friendship lies.

To help you and your friend make a confident and informed decision, skip to our flowchart or keep reading.

karen-gordon-quote

Questions to Ask Before Going Into Business With a Friend

Before jumping into your business plan, ask the hard questions. These can be tough to ask and answer, but they could save your friendship from a business relationship gone sour.

Question 1: Do You Share the Same Values?

Depending on your life stage and goals, your values could differ greatly from those of your potential business partner. You may appreciate living a relaxed lifestyle that gives you the financial freedom to do what you love, while others may value a fast-paced lifestyle filled with activities and long workdays. Differences in values could spark tension in your business relationship.

Ask yourself: Do you and your potential business friend have the same values? If so, great! If not, note your differences and if they’re worth working through.

Question 2: Do You Share the Same Business Goal?

To make sure you’re on the same page, schedule a brainstorming session with your friend. Map out your one-month, six-month, one-year, and five-year goals for your startup. Is your goal to make a certain amount of revenue? To hire a certain number of full-time employees? Or to take your business idea global?

If you have the same intentions, move on to question three. If any of your goals contrast, there may be trouble in paradise. See if you can work through your differences before investing your time and money.

Question 3: Do Your Skills Complement Each Other?

You and your friend each have your own strengths For example, you may be good at time management while your friend is better at sales. For skills you’re both lacking, think about how you’ll fill in the gaps. If you and your friend’s startup plan has a budget for hiring freelancers, or one of you has the dedication to learn something new, this may not be a concern. No matter what, especially if you’re bootstrapping your business idea, it’s essential to talk through it.

If you don’t compliment each other’s needed skills, who will step up and learn them?

Question 4: Do Your Career and Lifestyle Habits Align?

Depending on your business goals, this could be a make or break question for a professional partnership. For instance, one friend may be a morning person while the other’s a night owl. One can take over morning meetings and emails while the other’s responsible for evening website development and customer service.

If one friend’s lifestyle habits don’t suit the other, it may be best to opt for other business opportunities. While starting a business could adjust your habits, it’s easy to fall back into old ones from time to time.

baylie-carlson-quote

The Pros and Cons of Doing Business With Friends

Before entering any business arrangement, it’s reassuring to weigh the pros and cons. Could your new business idea benefit or hinder your future relationship and career?

Pros: You Have a Friend Through the Ups and Downs

Starting a business with a friend is similar to marriage — you’re there for each other through the good and bad. Whenever you’re having trouble, you know who you can go to for help. And you’ll be able to do most tasks together. For example, approaching investors as a team vs. going solo could put your nerves at ease.

Cons: You Know the Same People

Instead of getting together for your weekly catch-ups, you could spend all day together! While this can be exciting, it can also be hard to leave work at work. When you both hang out with the same people, there may be little room to disconnect from each other and your business.

Pros: You Understand Each Other’s Strengths and Weaknesses

You likely already know how each other operates and your strengths and weaknesses. Instead of learning the way a new business partner functions, you already have the upper hand. On day one, you and your partner could delegate tasks that fit everyone’s strengths best.

Cons: Your Friendship Could Turn Strictly Business

Your current friendship can be hard to separate from your new work partnership. Taking your work too seriously could stiffen your current relationship. Even after your work’s done, “friend” time may slow down. To have the best of both worlds, over-communicate throughout your entrepreneurial adventures.

mike-falahee-quote

Pros: You Feel Comfortable Communicating

You may have been friends for months, years, or even decades. Having a strong friendship foundation helps bolster your communication in the workplace. Plus, you most likely know how your friend may react to a situation gone wrong. Take note of your friends’ communication habits and foster them throughout your business relationship.

Cons: It’s Easy to Let Emotions Get the Best of You

Be careful not to let your emotions dictate your business decisions. A situation could happen in your friend group that makes its way into the office. To avoid any personal matters in the workplace, come to an agreement — no drama. If situations arise, take some time off to clear your mind, rest, and come back more motivated and inspired.

Pros: You Get to Spend More Time With Each Other

You get to spend countless hours talking and doing business activities together. You could spend all day tackling business tasks and wrap up the workday chit-chatting about your lives. It’s an amazing opportunity to spend more time with your friend without letting other responsibilities slip through the cracks.

Cons: Friendship Failure Could End in Financial and Business Failure

When tension builds in the workplace, it could damage your business outcomes. Not wanting to attend a meeting with your partner could halt business productivity, or worse, end it. To avoid losing profits on your friendship and investments, you should both outline an exit plan if things go wrong.

Tips for Starting a Business With Your Friend

Before toasting to your other half and investing in your passions, properly prepare yourself. Show up to your new business like you would a new job. Have your plan documented before building your business empire.

1. Nit-Pick Your Business Plan

Small issues could grow months or years after starting your business. To avoid future problems, talk through small and large inconsistencies with your partner. Having different lifestyle habits may not be an issue now, but could be difficult after a year of working together.

2. Communicate Often

About one third of projects lack proper communication. Avoid project or business failure by finding a communication method that works for you and your partner. Daily catch-up meetings or weekly email updates are a few examples. Make it enjoyable by sipping your favorite coffee or eating your lunch while playing catch up.

3. Establish and Honor Boundaries

Eliminate tension in the workplace by setting a rubric for working hours. Avoid talking about personal matters until you step away from your work tasks. If you and your partner need to establish additional boundaries, clearly outline them as they come up.

4. Make it Official With Contracts

Once you’ve worked through any complications, put it all in writing. If things were to go wrong, documents and written statements can be referenced in court. To do this, contact a lawyer and draft up a business plan. Any business promises you make should be in writing for any miscommunications. Compensation rates, profit shares, investment contributions, and business accounts are a few things that should be listed on this document.

Before investing your time, energy, or money into your startup dreams, make sure you’re fully prepared. Could you and your friend be great business partners? Take our quiz below to find out. Don’t forget to keep track of your budget and investments throughout the startup process.

should-you-start-a-business-with-a-friend-ig

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February 2, 2021

How Microlearning Can Level Up Your Knowledge

If you’re looking to advance your career or pivot to a new industry, then you’re probably checking out ways you can beef up your resume. Maybe you’re considering an MBA, a bootcamp, or browsing upcoming conferences. Or perhaps you’re considering the DIY route and looking for podcast and book recommendations.

While any of these options will help you learn and could boost your resume, the best way to level up your career prospects is to dedicate yourself to becoming a lifelong learner, which is where microlearning comes into play.

Conferences and classes are bursting with information, but you may feel limited by the course schedule and teaching style. This works for some people, but it can be expensive and hard to fit into a budget or daily schedule. Microlearning can help you take charge of your education by providing bite-sized lessons. Over time, you can build up your learnings for a more thorough and robust understanding of the subject.

The best part is you can apply your specific lessons to your life, career, and goals to build each of these out over time and see what really works and what doesn’t. Your consistent growth can improve job satisfaction and career opportunities, putting you in the spotlight for the next raise or promotion. Learn more below or jump to our infographic to get started.

What Is Microlearning?

Microlearning has become a popular workplace trend as a learning process that breaks topics into highly specific, concise lessons. This allows the learner to build understanding and confidence at their own pace.

Microlearning is great for tackling new information and closing knowledge gaps. If you already have a foundation of knowledge for a topic, then it can be frustrating to wade through the basics for the few new ideas you were looking for. Khan Academy and TED Talks are a great example of how you may fill in knowledge gaps.

The Benefits of Microlearning

The most important part of any lesson plan is that it’s tailored to a learner’s needs, and that the learner is actually able to retain information. Microlearning’s flexibility for learners is one of its biggest benefits.

illustration highlighting the benefits of microlearning

Here are some other reasons to consider microlearning:

Maximize time by preparing lessons for on-the-go and fitting them in during breaks or commutes.

Go in-depth to build a solid learning foundation and improve retention with practice.
Find what works by experimenting with videos, articles, or podcasts to find what format works best for you.
Save money with free resources like TED Talks, YouTube, and expert podcast hosts who provide episodic insights and lessons for you to follow.
Fill knowledge gaps with lessons targeting exactly what you need to know instead of wading through beginner resources.

The Disadvantages of Microlearning

Microlearning is great for career development, employee training, and specific topics that you could use a refresher on. However, they’re not a total replacement for other learning systems, and you should keep these in mind when you get started:

It’s not immediate and microlearning is about regular commitments to learning.

It isn’t easier, but it may feel easier. This is actually a benefit unless you assume it will be easy. You still have to actively learn and practice your lessons.

Some topics just don’t work, including complicated topics like global economics. It’s great for learning about things like mortgages, but you likely won’t become an expert on personal finance in just a few lessons.
There’s work upfront to finding and compiling the resources that fit your needs and that you trust. This work pays off in the long-run, though, with easy-to-access lessons.

5 Ways to Begin Microlearning

You may not realize it, but you’ve probably already prioritized microlearning in your day-to-day life. If you’ve watched a YouTube video to learn how to change your oil or customize a spreadsheet, then you know exactly how beneficial short, specific, and detailed lessons can be.

89% of employees feel more productive when their work is gamified with rewards

Here are some ways you can get started using microlearning as part of your professional development:

1. Game Groups

Gamifying your learning helps make the topic fun and builds a positive relationship with studying. You can get started by setting goals and rewards, or inviting peers to join you with a competitive leaderboard or a trivia night.

2. Video Clips

Videos are designed to be relatively short and engaging, and YouTube has made learning largely accessible from anywhere. While YouTube playlists are a great place to learn, make sure you’ve done your research on any channels or personalities you’re watching to ensure your lessons are accurate.

3. Podcast Playlists

Like videos, podcasts are a great way to consume information on the go and from personalities you enjoy and trust. They’ve become hugely popular because they’re easy to listen to while driving, working, or exercising, but it’s important that you give your playlist your active attention if you hope to learn effectively.

4. Quiz Collections

Considering a quiz may bring flashbacks of test anxiety and stressful finals weeks, but in this scenario, quizzing isn’t about checking a box that you learned something new. Instead, it’s a means to practice your memory recall and retention so you can count on it when you need it most.

5. Team Talks

Having a team to study with is not only great for motivation, but it can also improve your lesson retention. Active learning is the process of working or chatting through a subject or problem, and studies show this is the best way to learn and practice your skills.

Keeping up with your professional development is the best way to impress your employer and expand your job prospects. Whether you want to climb the career ladder or ease your daily workload, microlearning can help you level up your skills, prove your value, and earn you more money come your next review.

infographic on microlearning techniques and benefits

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January 23, 2021

How to Negotiate Salary Increases and Promotions

There are only two ways to get extra money to save. Either you can cut your expenses or start earning extra income. While reducing your expenses is a good first start to sticking to your budget, there’s only so many soy lattes and unused gym membership that you can get rid of. It’s often much more productive to focus your energy on increasing your income.

There are a couple of different ways to earn more money. You might consider a side hustle or starting your own business. You can look for another job that pays more or try to get more money from your current employer. In this article, we’ll take a look at how to negotiate salary increases and promotions and make sure that you’re getting paid what you’re worth.

The difference between a promotion and a raise

One important distinction to make is the difference between a promotion and a raise. A promotion is usually a change in job title and/or job responsibilities. A raise is just what it sounds like – more money. The two often come together, but not always. Be careful when you get a promotion that it comes with a salary increase commensurate with the added responsibilities you’ll be taking on.

Know how much you’re worth

Knowing how much you’re worth is a key factor in the negotiations for a promotion and salary increase. There are many online sites where you can see the average salaries for just about every type of job out there. Compare several different sites to see where your salary fits in. If you can show data that you’re underpaid for someone with your experience, education and responsibilities, that can be something your manager can take to HR to approve your promotion and raise.

Track your accomplishments

If you’re looking to negotiate a salary increase or promotion, start by acting the part. Promotions and raises generally are backwards-looking. What that means is that you’re likely to get a raise for work that you’ve done or are doing ALREADY. If you’re planning on talking to your supervisor about a salary increase or promotion, it can be helpful to track your accomplishments.

If you’ve gone above and beyond your job description, or if you’ve received praise from a customer or co-worker, keep notes of when and what. That can be useful ammunition to show why you deserve this raise. Avoid the temptation of comparing yourself to your peers – instead, look at the job responsibilities of the role you’re aiming for. If you have detailed descriptions of how you’ve been doing those responsibilities already, you’ll be well on your way to getting that promotion.

Have regular conversations with your supervisor

Healthy companies have regular conversations between supervisors and the employees that they manage. It is a trait of a good manager to care about the employment and advancement of the employees that they manage. Don’t be afraid to talk with your supervisor regularly – ask her for constructive and timely feedback, and ask for concrete steps on what you would need to do to merit a promotion. Then document those steps and come back in a few months with details of how you’ve met those steps and deserve a promotion and a raise!

Be prepared to come with a backup plan

It’s important to understand the pay and compensation structure of the company you’re at. Many companies have pay “bands” or ranges of compensation for a given role. Knowing where your salary fits within that range can be helpful when you’re preparing to negotiate a salary increase.

Also, if the company has announced a hiring freeze or layoffs, it might not be the best time to ask for more money. Understanding the bigger situation can help you pick the right time to have the discussion. Be prepared for what you’ll do or say if your supervisor turns your request for a raise down. Is there anything else that would be meaningful to you? Maybe it’s a more flexible working arrangement, deferred compensation like stock options or other types of non-monetary compensation.

Don’t be afraid to leave

At the end of the day, you’ll have to decide how much working at this job is worth it to you. It’s always a bit nerve wracking to quit your job, but it’s generally much harder to get a significant raise without moving to a new company. You don’t want to be hopping around from job to job every few months, but it’s also important to feel like you are getting paid the money that you are worth.

If you don’t get the promotion you’re looking for, then it may be time to start exploring other options. After all, the best time to look for a new job is while you still have your OLD one (and don’t have to worry about making ends meet)

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Preparing for a career fair used to mean packing a bag, suiting up, and budgeting more time for travel. Now, preparational tasks include updating video backgrounds and Wi-Fi connections. Swapping in-person events for virtual events may sound like an outlandish idea, but it’s become the star of the show in 2020, as virtual networking events have become the safest meeting alternative amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

Whether you’re seeking a new career or an internship, you’ll likely come across virtual career fairs as a way to talk to potential employers. This is a new experience for many, so we’ve compiled 10 tips to make the most out of a virtual career fair. From preparing your stage to showcasing your skills, here’s how to build your resume and salary potential. Landing a new job is the perfect time to enhance your budgeting skills as you allocate your new income.

What Is a Virtual Career Fair?

A virtual career fair is an event over video that pairs job seekers with employers. For people who want to advance their skills and income, finding a paid internship or new career path may be on this year’s agenda. These events bring together established companies looking to hire people just like you.

Virtual events may feel out of the ordinary compared to traditional in-person career fairs, but there are a few perks — like saving you travel time and expenses. Before signing up for a virtual networking experience, you probably have a few questions. Should you dress like you would for an in-person event? How will you stand out? Below, we share 10 tips to prepare for a virtual career fair and be seen by employers.

How to Prepare for a Virtual Career Fair

First things first, register! If you’re unaware of when or where these events may take place, contact your school’s career center or hosting company. Email, or call, to ask about future career events and opportunities. Keep reading to get the ball rolling with your new career by networking and interviewing from home.

1. Check Your Wi-Fi Connection

Wi-Fi has become more of a lifeline and it’s especially valuable for a virtual career fair. The last thing you want is to freeze or get kicked out due to an unstable connection. If your home has spotty Wi-Fi zones, make sure you set up in a reliable zone. Test your connection by calling a family member or friend with the video software you’ll be using. If your Wi-Fi passes the test, set up your meeting station. If not, reboot your Wi-Fi router and try again in a different area.

2. Set Up Your Meeting Environment

Set your computer up in a professional and distraction-free zone. Setting your computer on your kitchen table with your back up against a white wall may do the trick. Ensure you silence your phone, sit in a well-lit area, and rid your area of sounds or visuals that may steal your attention. Test your video background by turning on your computer camera before starting the event.

3. Research Companies You Would Like to Speak With

Before starting the meeting, make a strategic plan. Ask your career center for a list of employers that may be attending this event. Research each employer on Google, LinkedIn, or job sites like Glassdoor. Scope out which positions you’d be interested in and may excel at. Once you’ve created a list of top employers and positions, ensure you secure a meeting spot to chat with them. During the virtual career fair, emphasize your skills and how they may fit each company’s needs.

4. Dress Up as You Would for an In-Person Career Fair

To get in a professional mindset, dress as you would for an in-person career fair or interview. Thirty-seven percent of employers ranked appearance as one of their key differentiators when seeing if someone is fit for the job. While employers may only see you from the waist up, dress up from head to toe. Dressing the part may help you act the part as a professional goal-getter. A classic button-up shirt, slacks, polished hair, and simple accessories will make the perfect outfit.

5. Test Your Equipment and Log In Early

After doing your research and picking your outfit, test your equipment. Double-check your computer’s battery, microphone, camera, and Wi-Fi connection. Then, log into any accounts or video conferencing software you’ll be using for this event. If possible, ask a friend or family member to video chat beforehand to work through any technical difficulties. Have your notes, research, and a pen close by for the meeting ahead.

The Anatomy of a Successful Virtual Meeting

6. Practice Strong Communication and Body Language

When you’re on the call, present yourself with confidence and attention to detail. Look into the camera, sit up straight, and nod throughout conversations to show you’re engaged. When speaking up, avoid fidgeting or touching your face. When using hand gestures, consider sitting far away from the screen for attendees to see. Practice these skills by role-playing video conversations 30 minutes before the video call.

7. Be Patient and Listen

Technical difficulties and long conversations may happen. And that’s okay! Practice your patience and professionalism by patiently waiting for an employer to sift through candidates or technical issues. If you’re cut short on time, ask the employer for their contact information. After the event, if you want to learn more, ask to set up an additional meeting to continue the conversation.

8. Ask for Email Addresses to Stay in Touch

You may consider asking each employer you speak with for their contact information. In most cases, you’ll get an email address. After the event ends, compile your thoughts. Write a list of your top three employers and reach out directly. Send each an email thanking them for their time and kindly ask about next steps.

9. Practice Your Interview Skills

Sending in applications and speaking with employers may lead to an interview. And if so, congrats! To prepare for any short notice interviews, brush up on your skills early. Print out a list of commonly asked interview questions and topics specific to the industry. Consider curating responses to five interview questions each morning. Before you know it, you’ll be ready for any impromptu interviews that come your way.

10. Maintain Your Network

You may choose to work for one employer over the other, and employers may go with another candidate. To keep a pulse on future career opportunities, stay in touch. Down the line, these employers may want to hire you. Send each person in your network an email check-in every six months. To ensure you keep tabs on your network, create a spreadsheet with contact information and check-in notes.

Questions to Ask at a Virtual Career Fair

The key to standing out is to ask engaging questions. While 56 percent of recruiters may hire candidates that don’t ask questions during an interview, 44 percent wouldn’t. If you want to be seen by employers in video meetings, ask questions! Here are 10 questions to ask employers you’re interested in working with:

What surprised you the most about [company/role]?
On a typical day, what does someone in [role] do?
Can you tell me about the different stages of the hiring process?
What are the highlights and lowlights of this position/your role/company?
I read an article about [event, role, candidate, campaign]. What was it like being a part of the team during that time?
What opportunities for growth are there at [company name]?
What’s the biggest challenge you and your team face?
I see you don’t have any openings in [position]. Do you have a forecast on upcoming roles in this industry opening up?
Who will this potential candidate report to in this role?
How does your team measure performance?

Keep reading for quick tips to mastering the art of a virtual career fair.
How to Master the Art of a Virtual Career Fair

Earning an internship or career opportunity could boost your resume and your budget. You may have the opportunity to grow your career while getting paid. To track these financial changes, regularly check in on your budget. You may be able to put more towards your savings, credit card debt, or investments. While building your career portfolio, you could build your financial portfolio along the way.

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Budget Challenges to Spend Less and Save More

1. Zero Eating Out

2. Track Your Spending

3. Try a No-Spend Month

4. No Retail Shopping

5. Pay In Cash Only

Career Challenges to Grow Your Experience and Salary

6. Avoid Social Media While Working

7. Meal Prep Your Lunch

8. Make One New Connection a Week

9. Work Breaks into Your Daily Routine

10. Read a Chapter of a Book a Day

Side Hustle Challenges to Build Your Portfolio

11. Start a Blog (and Post Once a Week)

12. Walk Dogs Once a Week

13. Try a New Side Hustle Each Week

14. Sell Your Clothes Online

15. Start a YouTube Channel

Lifestyle Challenges to Start Today

16. Take the Stairs

17. Drink a Little More Water

18. Try a New Workout At Home

19. Clean Up After You’re Done

20. Cook a New Recipe a Week

Additional 30 Day Challenges

Questions to Ask Before Going Into Business With a Friend

Question 1: Do You Share the Same Values?

Question 2: Do You Share the Same Business Goal?

Question 3: Do Your Skills Complement Each Other?

Question 4: Do Your Career and Lifestyle Habits Align?

The Pros and Cons of Doing Business With Friends

Pros: You Have a Friend Through the Ups and Downs

Cons: You Know the Same People

Pros: You Understand Each Other’s Strengths and Weaknesses

Cons: Your Friendship Could Turn Strictly Business

Pros: You Feel Comfortable Communicating

Cons: It’s Easy to Let Emotions Get the Best of You

Pros: You Get to Spend More Time With Each Other

Cons: Friendship Failure Could End in Financial and Business Failure

Tips for Starting a Business With Your Friend

1. Nit-Pick Your Business Plan

2. Communicate Often

3. Establish and Honor Boundaries

4. Make it Official With Contracts

What Is Microlearning?

The Benefits of Microlearning

The Disadvantages of Microlearning

5 Ways to Begin Microlearning

1. Game Groups

2. Video Clips

3. Podcast Playlists

4. Quiz Collections

5. Team Talks

The difference between a promotion and a raise

Know how much you’re worth

Track your accomplishments

Have regular conversations with your supervisor

Be prepared to come with a backup plan

Don’t be afraid to leave

What’s an Impossible Goal?

4 Reasons to Reach for the “Impossible”

1. You May Be Pleasantly Surprised

2. You Check Off Micro-Goals Along the Way

3. It May Not Be as Hard as You Think

4. What Do You Have to Lose?

How To Set Impossible Budgeting Goals in 6 Steps

Step 1: Map Out Your Dream Lifestyle

Step 2: Outline Micro-goals to Reach Your Financial Goals

Step 3: Believe and Act Like Your Future Self

Step 4: If You Fail, Learn from Your Mistakes

Step 5: Track Your Results Consistently

Step 6: Be Patient With Your Budget Goals

What Is a Virtual Career Fair?

How to Prepare for a Virtual Career Fair

1. Check Your Wi-Fi Connection

2. Set Up Your Meeting Environment

3. Research Companies You Would Like to Speak With

4. Dress Up as You Would for an In-Person Career Fair

5. Test Your Equipment and Log In Early

6. Practice Strong Communication and Body Language