Nobody WANTS to be sued, but mistakes and accidents happen in every profession. The result of these mistakes can hold greater consequences depending on your profession, but there is always the possibility that you could be sued when you are responsible for other people, products, or equipment besides your own.

Whenever something out of the norm happens, people will want to know why. Whether you are a doctor, lawyer, architect, or a financial analyst, there is always the potential for things to go wrong and questions will need to be answered.

According to an article at MainStreet.com called Sued At Work? Are you Covered? by Shira Levine, there are two different types of coverage that companies often take out to make sure they are safe:

General Liability - This covers property damage, physical injuries, slander (verbal crime), or libel (written crime).

Professional Liability Policies - This is for protection for when an individual may be involed in something that causes economic harm or damages to a third party. For instance if someone enters a wrong number into a computer and it causes another company to lose money, this may protect them depending on the circumstances.

The best way to know if either of these are taken out by your company is to look through the contract that you originally received from them. Usually somewhere in there it will talk about legal actions and how they are dealt with at the company.

The article at MainStreet.com does say that there are times when you will not be covered by your company regardless of what type of insurance or liability coverage they may have. If you commit an act that is not related to performing your job (such as sexual harassment), the company does not have to protect you and you are on your own.

If your company does not protect you then you might be further covered by your own personal insurance. Call and ask! Your insurance company will tell you what you are covered for and if there are any deductibles.

If mistakes do happen, take all the necessary actions to make them right. However, just be careful and smart! Nobody wants to be sued for the obvious personal, financial and social reasons, but often times things happen that are out of your control and you will have to find a way to protect yourself and see if your company will do the same.

Picture: Jim

Related Articles About Legal Issues:
Get Liability Insurance
What To Do If Your Lawyer Double Crosses You
Prenup Agreement…Is It For You?

There are contracts for many things; home ownership, buying a car, opening a bank account, etc. Employment contracts are extremely important to the safety and stability of your career. There are many companies that still do not have new hires sign a written contract. The reason for this…? – Many employers like to have the flexibility to be able to fire whomever they believe is not performing efficiently without being bound by a contract.

Although many people believe that an offer letter is a good enough form of a contract since it usually states your salary and certain aspects of your job, this is not a binding contract and has many loop holes. It also does not cover ALL the aspects regarding your employment at the company.

Employment Contracts Work For Everyone Involved
Signing a contract is not just beneficial for the employee but also for the company that they are employed by. A contract makes sure that all the terms and conditions of your employment are what you thought they would be. By signing your employment contract, you and your employer are in agreement with the correct terms. Make sure you are to read your contract carefully so as to not overlook anything you may disagree with. A good contract ensures that promises made by the company to you will be kept.

What Should Your Employment Contract Include?

* The position you are being offered at that you have accepted (this may also be what some of your daily tasks will include).

* The salary (or compensation) that you have agreed upon with your employer.

* How long you will be employed for or if your employment is “at will” (this means you can quit at any time or be fired at any time that is not illegal).

* Other things that should be included are with regards to how much sick and vacation time you will receive, what paid holidays you get off, etc.

* There may be other terms/conditions that your employer may include…make sure to review all of these!

Who Signs the Contract?
Both you and your employer should sign the contract after you have reviewed it to make sure everything is correct. Afterwards, make sure you keep a copy of your contract in a safe place in case any problems arise regarding your employment (this should be done with any important paper work).

Employment contracts are important to make any disputes or controversies run more smoothly. You don’t want to get caught in a nasty legal battle with your employer in case anything regarding your employment changes. An employment contract helps to smooth out many wrinkles that can occur with your career since your income is such an important part of your life.

Most importantly, make sure to review the entire contract before signing! Although you may trust your employer and think everything is correct, you want to be sure that you are not signing to anything that you may not agree to in the long-run.

If any changes are to be made to your contract, there must be a re-negotiation between yourself and your employer and a new (revised) contract must be signed.

Check out our Career Groups on Geezeo to look for any other questions that you may need answering!

Photo: Dave Wicks

With the graduation rush finally over, the question in many grads minds remains the same…what now?! This question holds endless answers – even if you might not know which answer is for you! The opportunities range from getting a job, to volunteering, to signing up for the military, to going to grad school…the path you choose is completely up to you!

There is a lot of pressure after graduation, many times even before graduation arises. In the School of Management at Boston University, the buzz throughout the college your senior year is if you have gotten a job yet…you always just want to say “yes” so that people will stop asking. After graduation, the question keeps coming, this time usually from your relatives or close family friends.

I think searching and actually receiving a job was one of the most frustrating experiences I have been through. Don’t always be envious of those that received offers while you were still at school. I know many students with a finance concentration that got their offers pulled because of the current economy and the company no longer being able to take on new hires.

My advice for graduates:

1.) Don’t Give Up – If you don’t yet have a job, don’t give up and get frustrated. Yes, it is frustrating and repetitive filling out all those applications, but something will come up. It is not the easiest time to apply for jobs, but keep with it.

2.) Don’t Take a Job Just for the Money – Your friends may take jobs with a higher paying salary, but don’t take a job just for the money. Out of my friends, my job that I will start in the fall probably has one of the lowest paying salaries, but I’m happy about the job I got and excited for the opportunity. I got offered a job that paid around $5,000 more per year but declined it because I didn’t think the job was the right fit for me. According to an article on Mainstreet.com by Jessica Wakeman, a friend earning more than you is not an uncommon occurrence. You should make sure that you include spending money into your budget so that you don’t feel left out when all of your friends go out for a night.

3.) Don’t Feel Pressured by Others – Just because many of your friends have full-time time jobs, don’t feel like you need to get one as well. Internships often lead to great jobs so don’t disregard them…you might even find one that is paid (I did)! Or even better, one of my friends is volunteering in Africa to teach English and another is going to New Orleans to help re-build houses…anything is possible!

Life after graduation may not be the easiest time and many people have no idea what they want to do with their lives. Just remember, most people don’t stay in the same job that they started in for too long and most do not even stay with the same company. Make sure to do what you want to do and what you think will make you happy! It may not be the path that everyone else is taking, but in the end, it may be best for you.

Many people around you are in the same position (or have been in the past)…there are some other great articles on Geezeo that may help you, here is a great one about entering the “adult world” and how to manage.

Fired, canned, pink-slipped, down-sized…

No matter the circumstances that lead to it, losing a job can be a profound emotional as well as financial blow. Here are four consequences of job loss and how to fix them.

1 - Shaken confidence

FIX: First, try to evaluate the situation rationally. Was this job loss the result of your behavior and abilities, or, an economic shifting outside your control (as in downsizing)? Now is the time to be brutally honest with yourself and take responsibility.

If the job loss resulted from your skills - work to strengthen them. This includes your confidence in these skills. One trick is to step out of your comfort zone and learn something new in another area. When you return to what you know well you’ll be reminded how much you know.

2 - Resentment

FIX: Talk it out. Sharing your frustration and anger with close friends or family allows you to blow off steam. Remember to take care of your physical health by working out — this lessens anger. If you really have a lot to get off your chest, write it down in a letter. Don’t mail the letter! Get it out so you can move forward. Do not be tempted to retaliate. You will regret hot-headed decisions.

3 - Listlessness

FIX: A general feeling of purposelessness may occur. Again, now is the best time to start or increase your physical health regime. You’ll feel better and it will do wonders for the mind.

4 - Financial concerns

FIX: Obviously, this can be a big one. Even if you’re fortunate to get unemployment you know these resources are temporary. Take an honest look at your budget. Reduce your expenses and create a financial strategy as you hunt for a new job.

The Geezeo budget tools are a good starting place. Use them to gain an overview of your financial situation and make the best fiscal decisions. Connect with others on the site, too.

Finally, do not give up hope! Losing a job can feel overwhelming. However, with diligent, every-day efforts you will come out stronger. Good luck!

The website Mental Floss recently presented two lists: Top 10 Best Paying Jobs and Top 10 Worst Paying Jobs.

Let’s compare, shall we?

Number 1 on the “Top 10″ list was Anesthesiologists. I grew up across the street from one and he joked his profession’s tagline is: “We pass gas”. You can thank me for that cocktail-information-tidbit later.

Number 1 on the “Worst 10″ is, not surprisingly, the irritating punchline to a common joke. If you studied the arts you’ve heard it: “You want fries with that?”. That’s right: food service. Slinging hash won’t bring in the big bucks. (According to Freakonomics, slinging the illegal hash isn’t much better).

These lists are as you’d expect. The higher-wage earning jobs require lots of education, problem-solving creativity, and specialization. The lower-wage earning jobs require few if any unique skills or education and are strongly rooted in the service sector.

What I’d like to find is a list of changes within the lower-wage, service sector. For example: a few years ago there was mild controversy over a fast-food franchisee’s decision to use technology to further reduce his overhead costs. What he did was this: he hired someone in another state to run the drive-thru. The employee could enter the order into the computer in real-time. The benefit to the company was lower wages/taxation and no one could distinguish the fact when they got their burger.

Couldn’t you see this trend continuing? Soon we could be ordering our McMeals with order-taker operators in India. Why wouldn’t this happen?

So for those in this industry, there’s no harm it repeating it: we’re in a global economy now. You need to compete, or, you’ll encounter struggle even to find low-paying jobs!

If you remember this case, please let me know. I’d love to discover what happened.

I have always heard, that in order for us, as adults, to be able to truly enjoy life, we have to make sacrifices - sometimes, to our future.

And then there is the flip side, you have to sacrifice your current life to be successful, build wealth, and be comfortable when you are older - with the possibility of retiring when you are still young enough to enjoy it!

Is there ever a balance? Can’t we do both? Of course! But that in itself is a lifestyle change.

You need to rediscover what is most important in your life, and make a new list of priorities. Most of the time, when you do, you will discover that most of those things don’t cost a lot of money. Here is some of my list: Playing with my boys - regardless of where, enjoying peaceful time reading a good book, drinking some lemonade, or taking my dog for a walk. Those things cost little to nothing for me to do.

To go along with the above, we have to remember that people are what’s most important, not things. My focus from my list above includes doing things with my kids, having time for myself, and enjoying time with my pet. If we focus too much on the things we get for ourselves or the people in our lives, then we will definitely spend a lot of money.

Splurge - only sometimes. If you can force yourself to wait for something that you don’t really need, sometimes you will realize that you no longer want the item anyways. But remember that it is okay to treat yourself some of the time.

Slow down! If you look at how fast time goes by, you will realize that you need to really determine what things are most important. For me, I’ve realized how quickly the last three years have gone by. My boys are getting older every day. And it won’t be long until the oldest is in school. I won’t be able to spend as much time with him and so I need to make sure I am setting aside time now! He won’t remember most of the toys we have bought him over the last few years. But he will remember the time we spent together. And that really is priceless!

Utilize Geezeo to help get yourself on a course that allows you to be happy and content, now and in the future! Go ahead and set some goals so you can have a plan to make it all work!

Its funny, you think this day will never arrive…and when it does the feeling is not what you expected it to be. Today was the last day of classes that I will ever attend at Boston University and it is definately one of mixed feelings. Excitement, anxiousness, nervousness, uncertainty, happiness…oh yeah, they are all there!

There are so many questions that I have left unanswered…how do I find these answers!? HELP!…haha, so thats how I felt when I woke up this morning. But really, this is a huge leap for many of us. And the financial uncertainty is just around the corner.

Not that my parents would ever leave me high and dry without any money to support myself, but they are definately expecting me to pay my weight once I graduate. This means credit cards, gas, cell phone bill, groceries, rent…all in my hands. Not that I don’t pay off my own credit card bill now, but my mum helps me out once in a while!

haha, its funny when you hear the “almost” college graduates talking about the future…one of the first things they say is “But my parents are going to be cutting me off!”…haha, thats one of the biggest steps. Financial uncertainty is a scary thing! When I think about it though…it is definately all part of growing up.

The way I see it…life has a way of working itself out. Although paying rent in Boston on a $38,000 salary and also paying all my other bills will be tight at times, I figure I will always find a way to make things work while still having a good time! I will just have to be a little more frugal with the shopping and drinks!…be more innovative in going out and find things that are free and fun…

So…on my last day of classes as I look to my future, I realize that everything will have to work itself out. Because growing up is a little bit scary, but it’s all part of the ride!

(picture by mrmac04)

Its that time of year when upcoming college graduates are starting to freak out that the time has actually come to enter the “real world.” Lets be real, most of us are definately not ready for this transition…or for some, this giant leap!

When I was a Freshman at BU I thought 4 years would seem like an eternity. But looking back, I can still remember skipping many of my large lectures and regretting it when exams came around…attending parties where you maybe knew the 3 people you came with…and wondering when things with school would actually get any easier! Now looking back, its hard to imagine that getting a job seemed so far away and now it is just around the corner!

Last week I accepted my first job. It was not my first offer, but it was the first one that I had actually accepted. Its hard when you get offers, you think of all the pros and cons…and unless its the job you have been searching for your whole life, it really is hard to make that decision! I’m still not 100% positive about what I want to do with my life…so eventually you just have to take that leap right?

My job entails eventually becoming a buyer for a major company. Believe me, if you know anything about me…shopping is one of my MAJOR downfalls. I just figure why not put it to use at a company that NEEDS me to shop for them right? The salary (at $38,000) was not all I had dreamed for, but being a Marketing major I knew my first salary would be much lower than someone graduating with a Finance degree from the School of Management.

It took me a little while…but I really realized that money isn’t everything. The job was something I knew I would be good at. It is a really reputable company. And everyone I had talked to loves it there. It took me a while to come to grips with the money, but in the end I realized that I would rather be happy with my job and get paid less…than be miserable and making a ton of money (which is why I chose Marketing in the first place!).

My advice to and you of out there looking for jobs (and believe me…I know it is NOT a fun time to look for jobs!):

1. Don’t give up – No matter how frustrating the application process may get, something will come around. And if you accept a job and don’t love it…don’t worry! Most people don’t stay at their first job for life anyway!

2. Apply everywhere! — Although this may not seem logical, I have found out that only a few of the companies you apply to will even look at your application. You want to get yourself out there as much as possible. And so what if you have to go to a million first round interviews, it just increases your chance that you will get a second round interview!

3. Weigh your pros and cons — This is important. Like I said, the money aspect was hard for me to get over…but in the end I realized that money was not everything. You need to look at more than just the short run…consider also what you want for the future. Would you rather be happy and get paid less? Or unhappy and get paid more? If you’re very lucky, you won’t have to make this decision at all and you will get paid a TON at a job you love!

4. Don’t let people make your decision for you – For a while I got sucked into listening to my friends and family too much. Don’t get me wrong, I value their experience and advice a great deal…but in the end, the decision is yours and only yours to make.

5. Don’t get hung up on an offer you might let go — There is no point in looking back. If you turn down an offer because you think it isn’t for you…you have to move on! Having regrets won’t help you in the long run it will only hurt you. Move on without the regret, there was something about the job you didn’t want. So even if you end up without a job when you graduate, at least you won’t be stuck in a job you didn’t think was right for you.

6. Don’t let graduation freak you out – Don’t make rash decisions just because graduation is around the corner and it feels like everyone else around you has a job! THEY DON’T! The market is so bad right now that I know some people at my school that accepted jobs in the Fall and have had their offers revoked because the company just can’t afford to take on new employees! Many people are in the same boat…don’t think your the only one!

This is some of the advice that I have learned that I hope many of you can use as you move forward into the “real world.” It won’t be easy…but its just another step in your life, and like the past 4 years of college — it will probably go by much faster than you ever imagined!

Also, make sure to check out our college/university groups! Many students that attend the same school as you may have some advice to get you through!

(Image by Cohdra)

This week I turned down my first job offer and I think it was one of the hardest decisions I have ever made. The job was one that I wanted, the pay was good (well…at least for a Marketing major), but the location was all wrong for me at this time in my life.

The job required me to move to Dallas…how do you make a decision when everything else is right but the location is just not for you? I had one week to make up my mind. Do I move all the way across the country and take this job position that I knew I would have liked? Or do I stay here and continue my never-ending job search for another opportunity to come knocking on my door?

When I got the job offer, I cried. That should have been sign #1 to me that I wasn’t ready for this move. But regardless of how unappealing Dallas felt for me, I still wasn’t able to let go of the job offer that quickly. When I thought I had made up my mind, I would think of another reason to go or vice versa…another reason to stay and not take the job. I seemed to be caught in a battle with myself — having completely no idea what to do.

I asked everyone around me for advice…most of the responses I got were, “You really have to make this decision for yourself. Do what is best for you and make sure you have no regrets!” I understood all this, but how do you just do that so easily?! The answer is…YOU DON’T. The decision to not take your first job opportunity is difficult. You don’t want to let go of it because then you are stuck still searching, no idea when the next job will come along. But at the same time, if you take it…the job search is done and you can breathe for a little while!

My brother finally put things into perspective for me. After constantly sending my family e-mails and asking for advice, this is what he said (and possibly this advice can help some of you that are struggling with the same type of decisions):

You have to do what feels right for you really. If it doesn’t feel right to move across the country, then you shouldn’t do it, regardless of the job. It will only backfire on you to be unhappy somewhere and you will only want to come home. The job is one thing, a pretty important thing at that, but it’s not everything. I have no doubt that you will get a job if you don’t take this opportunity.

If it doesn’t feel right to you, in your gut to move, then you shouldn’t do it. You have to be happy and if you like your job, but you are unhappy outside of that, then what’s the point? Conversely, if you hate your job, but you like your life outside of work, you won’t be completely happy either. Nothing is ever perfect, but whatever you do will be the right thing and be sure you make the decision and move forward - you cannot think about “what ifs” and you can’t look back. Everything happens for a reason and if you choose to stay local and continue your job search, then that was the right decision.

I’m not trying to talk you out of taking it, but YOU are the only one that can make the decision and you have to feel comfortable with it. You don’t want to take the job and then regret it everyday until you move. You want to be excited about it, not scared of it.

So, with that said, if taking the job will make you excited - I say go for it. But, if it leaves you sad, politely decline, tell them you love the company and would love an opportunity in the Boston area, but you’re just not ready for that kind of move. And, if you decline, move forward, keeping working hard at your job search and the right job for you will come.

The e-mail left me in tears of course! I knew he was right. I couldn’t accept a job that I would be counting down the days until I had to leave and move to Dallas. He ended the e-mail with a quote from Yoda: “Make the right decision, you will.”

So I made my decision and declined the job. I try not to think about it anymore, I know that there is no turning back and only moving forward from here. I hope this advice from me and my brother may help some other people that are feeling the same job uncertainty and are looking for some answers!! Also, don’t forget to check out our Geezeo career groups…maybe some advice/postings can help you there as well!

After having several second round interviews lately, I have decided that I stress out way too much! I am interviewing for Marketing jobs, so possibly this is different to Finance or other concentrations/industries…but I really feel as though I stress too much! Many times during interviews, I go in there thinking ‘oh man, these people are just gonna grill me!’…but really, that is never the case (at least in my experience). Interviews that I have been in are always more like conversations — not just hammering you with questions!

Here’s a list of the top 5 things I have learned lately:

1. Don’t over analyze things – After attending a second round interview in Dallas this past Thursday, I was sitting in a room with a bunch of other candidates. And FOR ONCE I wasn’t the most stressed out person in the room. Somehow (and don’t ask me how because this was an analytical interview where I had to analyze spreadsheets, etc.) I had been able to calm myself down and not freak myself out. But one girl was overanalyzing everything possible to the point that she was almost in tears! This isn’t necessary! I promise usually the people that interview you are EXTREMELY nice and laid back (once again, at least thats what I have experienced). Don’t take this the wrong way, I’m not saying that they don’t take the interview seriously, but most aren’t trying to screw you up!

2. Don’t memorize your answers — I know there are the basic questions that people always ask; “what is the biggest risk you have taken?” ~ “What is your biggest weakness and strength?” The list goes on and on! But, memorized answers sound just like that…rehersed and not natural! You don’t want this to be the case. Although you should prepare, you really want them to think that you can think on your toes and come up with answers without the memorization part.

3. Dress the part — Although a job you are interviewing for may be a ‘business casual’ work environment…it is much better to overdress than to underdress! You want to make a good impression and look as professional as you can! If you feel you are WAY too overdressed, at least you could always take off your suit jacket. This impression is important, the company wants to be sure that you will be able to represent them well!

4. Know your resume — Most of the interviews I have been in, the questions come right from your resume! Although you may think you know your resume, just make sure to review it the night before. I know many people who had made their resume 6 months ago and have just forgotten what they said on there. It’s so simple and quick and will just refresh your memory!

5. Bring Band-Aids! — This is mainly for the girls, but I’m really not kidding! If you have a long day in heels and aren’t sure how much you will be walking/moving around at the interviews, just make sure to have Band-Aids! At least for me this became true lately and I was so happy that I had thrown a few in my bag! Better to be safe than sorry is for sure…you don’t want to be in pain all day long!

Just remember, they have chosen you because they think you are good enough for an interview just from your resume! A single piece of paper got you there, now you have to prove yourself! Relax, breathe, prepare/research and just remember…they thought you were good enough, now you have to believe it too!