The New LinkedIn Recommendations Section What You Should Know

The New LinkedIn Recommendations Section What You Should Know You might have noticed that a few weeks ago, chaos reigned with LinkedIn Recommendations. You could request a recommendation, but the intended recipient did not receive the request. You could accept a recommendation, but you couldn’t ask for a revision â€" and the recommender could not submit a revised LinkedIn recommendation. Yes, this happened to me. All of it. Thankfully, these issues have been resolved with the new LinkedIn Recommendations section â€" well, mostly resolved. My new edition of How to Write a KILLER LinkedIn Profile will have all the updated information that you need. Here are the basics of how LinkedIn Recommendations works now. There’s more in the book! The New LinkedIn Recommendations Interface From anyone’s profile, you will now find the option to request or offer recommendations by clicking on the “More” button, or (depending on your version) on the three dots in the upper right-hand corner of the person’s top information box: If you want the person to recommend you, choose “Request a recommendation” and you’ll be brought to this screen: Or, scroll down to the Recommendations section of your profile and click on the Ask to be Recommended button:   Write a friendly note to the person and ask if she would be willing to write you a recommendation. If you havent been in contact for some time, be delicate. Maybe start with a phone call. And at some point you might want to remind the person of something that will refresh their recollection of your skills and accomplishments. Then ask your recommender to tell a clear, specific story or two about you. Accepting or Revising Recommendations Once you receive a recommendation, you should be notified in your inbox. You can also check your pending recommendations by clicking the link in your Recommendation section: Or visit this direct link: https://www.linkedin.com/recs/received You’ll have the opportunity to accept or dismiss the recommendation. If there is an error or something youd rather that someone say differently, you can ask your recommender to correct it, which I encourage you to do if what they wrote is not exactly the way you want it! Most people are very cooperative when you make a request for a replacement. Unfortunately, LinkedIn eliminated the feature that allowed the recipient to request a replacement recommendation, so if you need a revision, youll have to Dismiss the original recommendation and request a new one. Accompany your request with a copy of the original recommendation and your suggested changes so your recommender does not have to start from scratch. Recommendation Challenges Here are some issues that commonly come up with people seeking LinkedIn Recommendations: 1.  I havent talked to my recommender in 5 years I would be so embarrassed to ask! In this situation, think about how you would respond if the tables were turned. Wouldnt you be happy to hear from someone who did good work for you or who was a great boss or colleague 10 years ago? I say it’s always worth asking if you think they will say something valuable! 2. My recommenders arent on LinkedIn. In this situation, there are at least three options that can address the issue: Invite the person onto LinkedIn. It might be just the nudge your recommender needs to join the millions of LinkedIn users! Attach your recommendation under the relevant job as a link or file. Include the recommendation in the summary or experience section of your profile. 3. My previous company has a policy against recommendations. If your past supervisors are precluded from recommending you due to company policy, you might have hit a dead endâ€"but your coworkers might still be able to write a recommendation; and keep track of those supervisors, as they might move to a new company and be freed up to write a recommendation for you. Pay attention to the daily emails you receive with updates and look for news about potential recommenders! Show or Hide LinkedIn Recommendations You can display the LinkedIn Recommendations you choose at any given time. To show or hide your recommendations, click on the pencil icon: If you do not want to display a recommendation, click the Show slider to change it to Hide and the recommendation will be hidden (see example below). Giving Recommendations I encourage you to recommend people as well as to request recommendations. Here’s how: If you want to recommend Nancy, go to her profile and click “Recommend Nancy.” You’ll be brought to this start box: Tracking Your Recommendations Want a quick run-down of all your received and given recommendations? Scroll down in your profile and here’s what you’ll see: Or, want to see all the recommendation requests people have sent you? Go to https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendabernstein/detail/recommendations/requests/?view=received Looking Good in Your LinkedIn Recommendations Section By accumulating recommendations, you will gain the trust of potential employers, clients, and whomever else you want to impress on LinkedInâ€"trust that can translate into business or into a job. I have had many people choose to work with The Essay Expert based on the strength of the recommendations posted on my LinkedIn profile. Imagine, if you are a business or sales person, having clients come to you already having decided youre the person they want to work with! Recommending people can also get attention from recruiters. It’s a little-known fact that recruiters search on the recommendations you’ve given, not just on the ones you receive! In summary, the strength of your recommendations can get you your next client or your next job. What are you waiting for?

The Implementation of Technologies in Relation to Social...

The Implementation of Technologies in Relation to Social Control – Surveillance Camera and the Big Brother Society. The New Media and the Loss of Privacy. Media technologies were embraced by people as the means of easing their lives. However, if one does not know or take measures to use this technology properly, then one risks his life being abused by technology (Doyle, 2010, p. 4). Have you noticed that you regularly receive targeted ads as they offer you goods and services you used to surf for on the Internet? Moreover, be sure that your friends are also going to receive the relevant advertising. Does your phone welcome you in any geographical location you travel to? Have you noticed that your Facebook is eager to autonomously put your†¦show more content†¦United States, 389 U.S. 347, 1967). Democratic legislation allows people to adjust browser controls and Google-account in such and decline tracking of your search traffic. It is also possible to switch off all of the Google Chrome web-services for maximum privacy. One can also block data and file transfer â€Å"cookie† from extraneous web-sites. One can choose not to save web-history and prevent web-sites, web-cam, microphone, and cell-phone from automatically sending information about one’s location to host programs and networks. If one carefully reads documentation conventions on technology application before clicking to â€Å"I agree†, one can ensure maximum confidentiality and a reasonable expectation of privacy†. These are the ways to protect your privacy along with saving benefits of contemporary media. This fact proves that we are not yet part of the totalitarian Big Brother Society (Rothstein, 2014, pp. 333-334). However, after September 11, state authorities have become more persistent and empowered to claim access to private lives of their citizens under the aegis of the â€Å"war on terror† (Wong, 2006, pp. 179-219). During the period from its enactment in 2001 and until the final amendments in 2011, USA Patriot Act (the acronym for Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism) has evolved from a security tool into an official waiver of the citizens right to privacy having sanctionedShow MoreRelatedBody Camera Research1717 Words   |  7 Pagesï » ¿Body camera research http://0-go.galegroup.com.skyline.ucdenver.edu/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA392257319v=2.1u=auraria_mainit=rp=AONEsw=wauthCount=1 A study conducted by Cambridge University in 2012 and 2013 examined the effect of body cameras when the full local police force in Rialto, Calif., began using them. In the first year of the technology s introduction, use of force by officers fell 60 percent, while citizen complaints against police plunged 88 percent. (https://www.aclu.org/files/assets/police_body-mounted_camerasRead MoreThe School Of Prison Pipeline : Rhetoric Or Reality By Aaron Kupchik Essay2393 Words   |  10 Pageswith teaching students, discipline, punctuality, and respect for authorities. However, today’s schools are centered on minimizing misbehavior and decreasing crime rates, which has lead them to the adoption of unhealthy changes such as surveillance and security technologies, reliance on exclusionary punishments, and growing connection between the formal criminal juvenile justice system and the schools (95-6). These changes have lead to higher rates of suspension, expulsion and arrests for things thatRead More Reflections on Privatization and Criminal Justice Essays5681 Words   |  23 PagesRussia and other Central and Eastern European countries where there has been massive privatization in the 1990s. I spent 1993\94 in Lithuania and saw what was going on there, and the scale was phenomenal. I think that m ade me sensitive to just how big the changes are that can take place, and also sensitized me to how once privatization is set in motion, it can take on an impotice of its own, one that might surprise even the very people that initiated it. That is one reason why even with private prisonsRead MoreImpacts of Information Technology on Individuals, Organizations and Societies21097 Words   |  85 PagesInformation Technology Economics Acquiring IT Applications and Infrastructure Security Impacts of IT on Individuals, Organizations, and Society Impacts of IT on Individuals, Organizations, and Society Movie Piracy Learning Objectives 17.1 Perspectives on IT Impacts 17.2 IT Is Eliminating the Barriers of Time, After studying this chapter, you will be able to: Space, and Distance Understand the changes that take place in the workplace and the lives of individuals when information technology eliminatesRead MoreEntrepreneurship Process and Principles15897 Words   |  64 Pagesentrepreneur is a person who always take new right initiative and retain greater responsibility of business. 5. Seeking Feedback-Entrepreneur always evaluate his or her performance, his employees, and overall his business performance. 6. 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IT Audit process outline; process and phases. Planning the audit, materiality, risk assessment. 2) Effective information system audit. Evaluation of controls, types and tests of controls. Audit sampling, sampling methods, sample evaluation. 3) Audit automation and system testing: Computer assisted audit techniques. Traditional vs modern audit tools, Specialized audit software benefits and functions. ApplicationsRead MoreContemporary Issues in Management Accounting211377 Words   |  846 Pagesaccounting has not only seen changes within existing domains of the Weld but has also witnessed extensions outside its established realms of activity. Wider systemic transformations including changes in political regimes, novel conceptions of management controls, the impact of globalizing forces on commercial aVairs, shifts in notions of eVective knowledge management, governance, and ethics, and technological advances, including the rise of broadband, have all impacted management accounting endeavours. TheRead MoreOrganisational Theory230255 Words   |  922 Pagesis it, and why does it matter? Introduction What is organization theory? Defining theory What are organizations? The relationship between organization theory and human activities The relationship between organization theory and management practice Social engineering and organization theory Critical alternatives to managerialism in organization theory Philosophical disputes and debates: explaining and understanding the diverse nature of organization theory Mapping some aspects of organization theory’sRead MoreNational Security Outline Essay40741 Words   |  163 Pages4: The Use of Force in International Relations: Norms Concerning the Initiation of Coercion (JNM) 7 CHAPTER 5: Institutional Modes of Conflict Management 17 The United Nations System 17 Proposals for Strengthening Management Institutional Modes of Conduct 23 CHAPTER 6: The Laws of War and Neutrality 24 CHAPTER 7: War Crimes and Nuremberg Principle 28 CHAPTER 12: Nuclear Weapons: Deployment, Targeting and Deterrence 33 CHAPTER 13: Arms Control in the Nuclear Age 36 Chapter 14: Measures

Four Functions of Management - 1069 Words

There are four functions that a manager must be able to do in order to run a successful company; planning, organizing, leading, and controlling. Each of these elements is equally important. If even one of these elements is looked over the management process is incomplete and a mangers effectiveness and efficiency will diminish. The business world of today is drastically different than that of years before, most importantly because of the advancements of technology. Even though the daily tasks that a manager will perform today are different than the tasks a manager in the 1950 s would perform, the foundation is still the same. In the same way an owner of a small business will have the same fundamentals as a manager for a large corporation.†¦show more content†¦The fourth function of management is controlling. This is the management function of monitoring progress and making needed changes (Schermerhorn, 2003, p. 16). IF a manager does not monitor what his/her employees are do ing, he/she will not have any clue as to what the progress of that project might be. Employees might not be working at all, or might be going in the wrong direction. IF this is the case a manager would need to step in and either help the employee get back on track or change that person s assignment. If deadlines are to be met, it is important for someone to be looking over the entire project to be certain that all aspects come together correctly. This is the most important function of management, yet at my company this is the one focused on the least. We are all asked to complete certain tasks, but are only given vague instructions and very often go in the wrong direction and what we end up working in is not what was needed at all. When things are turned in this way, the employees are told they are at fault. If we were not given any guidance, how are we to be expected to do anything accurately? There have been times when on a project, I will go to my boss and ask for some more instruction. When I do this my boss gets frustrated, gives me short answers and doesn t seem willing to help at all. There is much room for improvement at my company, starting with the management process. IfShow MoreRelatedThe Four Functions of Management946 Words   |  4 PagesThere are four functions of management that allow any organization to handle the tactical, planned and set decisions. The four basic functions of management are planning, organizing, leading, and controlling. The four basic functions of management are just to have a controlled plan over the preventive measure. The functions of management define the process of management as diverse from accounting, finance, marketing, and other business functions. 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Our ability to succeed in these tasks can depend on ourRead MoreFour Functions of Management990 Words   |  4 PagesRunning head: FUNCTIONS OF MANAGEMENT Functions of Management Functions of Management Week one of University of Phoenix course, bachelor of science in human services (BSHS) 330, Management Theory, Practice and Application, introduces the topics for weeks two through five by providing an overview of the functions of management. The functions being studied in BSHS 330 are planning, organizing, leading, and controlling. Definitions of these four functions will be discussed and relevance ofRead MoreThe Four Functions of Management1661 Words   |  7 PagesThe Four Functions of Management Management is the process of working with other and capital to achieve organizational goals. Also management is defining as creative problem solving. This creative problem solving is accomplished through the four functions of management: planning, organizing, leading and controlling. 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Flores University of Phoenix Management: Theory, Practice, and Application/ Mgt 330 Kennett Baca December 20, 2008 Management Four Functions This paper will define the four basic functions of management; planning, organizing, leading, and controlling. This paper will also describe how these were applied in my worksplace. Management definitively has more functions than just the four mentioned above. The four that will be discussed in this paper are the fourRead More The Four Functions of Ma nagement Essay1566 Words   |  7 PagesThe Four Functions of Management One would be amazed to hear that 48 million customers are served everyday in 119 countries at a McDonald?s and as of 2004 there were 31,561 system-wide restaurants (2005 fact sheet). Being enrolled in a management course, one automatically begins to think about how many managers there must be in place to manage all those locations. 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Web Site Structure Free Essays

The purpose of this paper is to discuss and compare three Web site structures from the student textbook â€Å"New Perspectives on the Internet† by Schneider and Evans. This student will identify the preferred structure and why; provide two Web site locations with URL addresses, and discuss advantages to Cascading Style Sheets in the creation of a web page. A hierarchical structure is where the â€Å"pages are linked going from the most general page down to more specific pages†¦In a hierarchical structure, users can easily move from general to specific and back again. We will write a custom essay sample on Web Site Structure or any similar topic only for you Order Now † (Schneider/Evans. 2006. p. 65). A linear structure is where â€Å"each page is linked with the pages that follow and precede it in an ordered chain.† (Schneider/Evans. 2006. p. 64). Linear structure does allow for augmented pages â€Å"in which each page contains an additional link back to an opening page.† (Schneider/Evans. 2006. p. 65). The third type of structure is called Mixed structure where â€Å"the overall form is hierarchical, as users can move from a general introduction to individual†¦however, links also allow users to move through the site in a linear fashion. (Schneider/Evans. 2006. p. 66). A Mixed structure provides the up and down and side to side movement within a site. The preference of this student would be Mixed structure and Hierarchical structure as these two types of structures provide maximum movement throughout a Web site. Formatting links, home pages and paths are unique to each Website; but, however, are similar depending on structure. A web site that this student enjoys to peruse is the National Geographic Web site, with the URL located at http://www.nationalgeographic.com. This site appears to be styled in a hierarchical structure, as it allows general to specific inquiry. It also allows the movement of backward and forward. Another web site of interest to this student is Facebook, with the URL located at http://www.facebook.com. This web site is designed on the linear structure with augmentation. Facebook pages are linked with pages that â€Å"follow and precede it in an ordered chain.† (Schneider/Evans. 2006. p. 64) Because Facebook does support an augmented style, links to outside sources and other available pages are available to the user. This design, however, from the user opinion, is lacking in personality and compatibility with the user. The design appears to be generalized, and simplified, allowing for many users in many locations and of many cultures. It is, therefore, very generic. Both Web sites provide home page links; but, because of the differences in structure, movement within each web site page is different. After some research in Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), this student has discovered several advantages in creating web pages. âž ¢ Cascading Style Sheets are written outside of the HTML codes and are therefore easy to access, change and manipulate. âž ¢ Cascading Style Sheets provide the designer the ability to change one section within the one sheet and having all similar sheets change as well in numerous locations. In closing, Cascading Style Sheets are a must in the creation of a web site. They provide ease of movement; top to down, back and forward and specific movement side to side. This ability provides a user-friendly web site. Depending on the information provided by the Web site and the audience to which it is geared, determines how the structure of the web site is designed. How to cite Web Site Structure, Essay examples

Sonnys Blues free essay sample

James Baldwin was a great story teller and preacher living in Harlem. He wrote many novels and Sonny’s Blues was one of them. Even thought this story was not his own biography it seems like James Baldwin was familiar with those chronicles, but the story was very interesting and moving as a black man living as minority. Sonny’s Blues is the story of a young black man in 1957, told by his older brother who is a teacher in a local high school in the heart of Harlem, New York. Sonny was a good boy gone bad, after being wrongly sent to prison which costs him every chance of a joyful future. The story was touching; thinking of Sonny’s life made me think of most of the people in the black community trying to make someone of themselves, trying to escape the miseries which in this story are the streets of Harlem, their drugs and racism. We will write a custom essay sample on Sonnys Blues or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page After his time, he tried to leave Harlem by joining the army but the one and only way he could escape his struggle was through his music or so called Jazz or even Blues. For example the passage,†Sonny’s fingers filled the air with life, his life†(p. 639), Cleary showed just how important music was important to Sonny. In conclusion, Sonny’s Blues was a very inspiring story from the point of view that many of the African American families went trough the same struggle, but at the end, even thought he was the youngest of the family ,he was the one who supported the pain of his family or community through his Blues . From the passage, â€Å"Freedom lurked around us and I understood, at last, that he could help us to be free if we would listen, that he would never be free until we did. †(p. 639). We can conclude that Sonny gave his body and soul into saving his people. Sonnys Blues free essay sample It is a beautiful story about two brothers who seemingly love each other but have a very dulcet time understanding each others lives. The older brother, who remains nameless, feels inextricably bound to his brother Sonny, not only because he Is of relation, but because their mother wanted Sonny to be always protected and looked after. The story begins with Sonny being picked up by the police for peddling and using Heroin.Sonny brother reads about it in the paper and does not know how to react primarily because they never understood one another, always argued, and rarely conversed. However, he had made a promise to his mother before she died to always look after Sonny, so eventually he writes to Sonny in Jail, and they meet after he is paroled. Sonny, the protagonist, is constantly assailed by his older brother to change his life, go to school, and find direction. We will write a custom essay sample on Sonnys Blues or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page However, all Sonny wants to do is play the piano in Greenwich, and his older brother doesnt understand.Throughout the story, the two are in discord with one another, but at the climax of the story, both Sonny and his brother find their harmony. As the story nears the end, Sonny asks his brother to accompany him to Greenwich In order to hear him play. HIS brother Is skeptical, but he accepts the offer merely to support his brothers wish. When Sonny takes the stage, his piano seems, at first, out of sync with the jazz quartet. Although, when Sonny plays Am I Blue, he becomes lost in the music and his sorrow is protruded through the music. It as at this moment when his brother has an epiphany I felt my own tears begin to rise. And I was yet aware that this was only a moment, that the world waited outside, as hungry as a tiger, and that trouble stretched above us, longer than the sky(90). The story is then resolved, for Sonny brother feels alive, and more importantly understands the pain of his brother. The narrator tells many stories from, the place they grew up, the death of their parents, and how they parted which explains a little of why they didnt communicate so well.At the end of paragraph 70, right before paragraph 75, the narrator Is describing the two of them riding In a cab and taking Sonny to his home. He says, It came to me that what we both were seeking through our separate cab windows was that part of ourselves which had been left behind. The story revolves around this thought because both of these characters want to retrieve some of their past to maybe help them cope with what has happened in their lives and try to find a way to go on. The narrator achieved a good Job and was able to start a family.In cities, it is always hard for those born into poverty, to escape it. The narrator did not have the easiest life himself, his parents and his daughter all died much earlier than expected. It would not have been surprising if the brother did drugs as well. The key to Sonnys future may Lie In his brothers hands. Perhaps he can lead him down the right path as many other older brothers have. Sonny always felt negative pressure by his brother to succeed. If Sonny can find positive support In his family, he may be able to stay off the drugs.Its Interesting that throughout the entire dialogue exchanged between Sonny and his brother, they never directly addressed Sonnys them wanted to deal with. At the end of Sonnys Blues, we see Sonny playing at the bar, and his music seems to evoke emotions felt by the musicians around him but also by his brother and a few in the audience. His music seems to produce feelings of dark emotion, sorrow, suffering, experiences all of us have been through but especially Sonny. His music is not used to end his suffering but rather to share it with everyone. Many of us repress such feelings of suffering but Sonny does not.Seeing the environment he was living in, in addition to his weak family and Social system, drug usage appeared to be a real problem for people in Harlem . Fortunately, his brother was able to overcome the vicious cycle found in many major urban cities. However, Sonny was not. At first glance it may seem that Sonny uses drugs to escape from the harshness of reality, but it only enhances Sonnys suffering and that is the purpose served by the drugs. Sonny brother began to appreciate Sonnys musical talents after seeing first hand how it transforms him.Ironically they seem to find a common bond through Sonnys music. This is a bit awkward because never before did Sonnys brother ever have an interest for his music. At this last event all the pieces come together or both of them. Through the music all the pain that they had felt with the death of Grace and with Sonnys addiction came out. For once the Sonny brother really gets into his world and in return comes to an understanding. Through Sonny playing the blues, his brother comes to understand what has happened in Sonnys life and his own.

Creating a Viable Healthcare Policy

Creating a Viable Healthcare Policy Free Online Research Papers An effective health care system provides quality health care needs of a country’s population. Various countries have devised a variety of health-care systems that suit the target population that a country is aiming at. According to the World Health Organization, the goals of a health care system should be to promote good health, fair financial contributions and responsible policies (W.H.O, 2000). Even though financial constraints exist, a good health care system should meet the health care needs of a population because it promotes good health and improves people’s living standards. The issue of financing a health care system is the most difficult in ensuring that a population enjoys the benefits of an effective health care system. According to Shannon (2004), a government has a variety of choices to choose from in determining how to fund the system. Shannon points out that the government can directly fund the system from the taxes it collects, through insurance, donations or through voluntary contributions of the population. He also argues that whichever method a government chooses, it should be fair to the population (Shannon, 2004) The right to health care for the population has elicited heated debates. Some have argued from the perspective that health care is only a fundamental right if you one can afford it. Others have tried to link the formulation of health care policies being directly dependent on the available resources (Weisstub and Pinto’s, 2007). Many governments including the USA have been reluctant to formulate clear-cut health care policies, the reasoning being that a comprehensive health care policy for the entire population depends on the scarce resources of the country. By this, it means that some governments do not see health care as a matter of priority. Although some countries do not view a comprehensive health care policy for the population as vital, some have taken the initiative and made health care successful. One such country is France. According to a report carried out in 2000 by the World Health Organization, France emerged as one of the country that has the best health care system in the world. France has geared most of its efforts to providing effective health care policies for its population. Some of the stringent measures that the government of France has incorporated in its policies include insurance coverage to its entire population, high quality health care providers and giving patients freedom to choose the best alternatives for themselves (W.H.O, 2000). Although there may be financial constraints, countries should strive to give their population comprehensive health-care plans. Health care is a right to every human being and governments should strive to ensure that the population enjoys the benefits of an effective and fair health care system. The private sector should also be involved in helping the government and other stakeholders in realizing the goals of a comprehensive health care system for the entire population. The public also has a task in ensuring the success of a health care system. One of the ways the public can benefit is by getting involved with the government and various health care agencies to air their opinions about how the government can provide for them an effective health care system. References: Shannon, T.A. (2004). Health care policy: a reader. New York: Rowman Littlefield â€Å"The world health report 2000- Health systems: improving performance†. World Health Organization. Retrieved on September 14, 2010. From who.int/whr/2000/en/ Weisstub, D. N., Pintos, G. D. (2007).Autonomy and Human Rights in Health Care: An International Perspective. Dordrecht: Springer Research Papers on Creating a Viable Healthcare PolicyInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married MalesMarketing of Lifeboy Soap A Unilever ProductThe Effects of Illegal ImmigrationPETSTEL analysis of IndiaTwilight of the UAWQuebec and Canada19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraAppeasement Policy Towards the Outbreak of World War 2Genetic EngineeringDefinition of Export Quotas

How to Find the Best Credit Card for You

How to Find the Best Credit Card for You SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Trying to choose the right credit card can get overwhelming fast. There are tons of options, and every company claims to offer the best one. How can you sort through the jargon and find the best card for your personal finances? I believe that to choose the right card, you need to understand yourself as a consumer. How can you get started down the road of financial self-discovery? First, take my personal finance quiz below. Personal Finance Quiz: What’s Your Financial Style? You see a lot of conflicting advice out there for credit card seekers. Some people love credit cards, saying that they’re great for building credit and getting nice perks. Others fall on the opposite end of the spectrum, saying that cards are the devil and one should avoid them at all costs. So who’s right? As it turns out, both perspectives are right, depending on which card you choose. If you choose wisely, then you’ll successfully build your credit and potentially see nice rewards in the process. If you choose poorly, then you could find yourself in a pit of debt. The key to choosing is understanding what kind of consumer you are. To find out, take this short quiz. True or False: When I use credit cards, I spend more loosely than I would with cash. I have good self-control. I am often spontaneous. When I use coupons, I get enjoyment beyond the money saved. It’s very important to me that I’m getting the best deal possible down to the very cent. I am frugal. Once you’ve responded to each of the statements above, tally up one point for each of your answers that matches the key below: 1) True; 2) False; 3) True; 4) False; 5) False; 6) False For instance, if I marked every statement as "true," then I’d end up with 2 points (a point for question 1 and a point for question 3). Now, let’s take a look at what these points mean in terms of your financial profile. Assessing Your Financial Profile: What Does Your Score Mean? If you’re going to enter into a credit card contract, then you should do so from a place of self-awareness. I don’t mean the kind of self-awareness that comes from a week-long silent yoga retreat. Instead, I mean that you understand the way you use your money and what motivates you to save or spend. The quiz is all about getting to the root of your spending habits, as well as the psychological reasons behind your actions, like self-control in the face of temptations. Let’s see what each quiz result means, and how you can use your results to find the best credit card for you. Scores of 0 - 2: The Optimizers If you scored somewhere between 0 and 2 on this quiz, then you might be an optimizer (like me!). You enjoy getting every last mile out of things and shopping around for the best possible deals. You do your research, compare prices, seek out sales, and buy when the time is right. If you’re an optimizer, then I would suggest you take the time to analyze your spending habits. Take a look at your budget, and find your top three highest spend categories. You can leave out expenses that you wouldn’t put on a credit card, like rent. Relevant spending categories could include restaurants, entertainment, transportation, and clothes. Once you’ve figured out your biggest spend categories, you should look around for cards with matching rewards. If you spend a lot on travel, then you’d benefit from a travel rewards card. If you love to eat out, then you might prefer a restaurant rewards card. People who commute long distances back and forth to work everyday could get the most mileage from a gas rewards card. If you’re looking to carry more than one card, you could also sign up for a general rewards card that gives you something like 2% back on all of your purchases. I like to have a flat-rate card to fall back on, just in case. Another thing that might appeal to your maximizing mindset? A lot of rewards cards offer sign-up bonuses, giving you several hundred dollars toward travel or as cash back when you spend a minimum amount in the first months of opening an account. The potential downside is that some of these cards have annual fees after the first year. For some people, I’d say that the fee isn’t worth it; the rewards don’t add up enough to make up for the yearly fee. If you’re interested in a card with a fee, then you should break down your spending and see if you would get enough rewards in the long run. Even though rewards like travel points offer psychological benefits- it helps you set aside money specifically for traveling- it might be costing you more money in the long run. So now that you know what kind of cards to look for, what are some specific credit cards that appeal to optimizers? Best Credit Cards for Optimizers These are my suggestion for the best credit cards for optimizers who like to put in a little extra effort to get the best possible deals. Chase Sapphire Preferred This travel rewards card gives you 2X points on restaurants and travel and a point for each dollar that you spend on everything else. You’ll also earn 50,000 bonus points if you earn $4,000 in the first three months. You can redeem points as cash back or use them to book through the Chase search engine. If you use the Chase search tool, then your points will be worth 25% more. The downside of this card is that it charges a $95 annual fee after the first year. Barclaycard Arrival Plus World Elite MasterCard This travel rewards card gives you 2X miles on all purchases, plus you get 5% of your miles back when you redeem them. You’re not restricted to any particular airlines or hotels. If you spend $3,000 in the first 90 days of opening an account, then you’ll earn 40,000 bonus miles. After the first year, this card charges an annual fee of $89. Citi Thank You Card This card is good for those who love to eat out. You’ll earn 2X points on every dollar you spend at restaurants. You’ll also get a bonus of 20,000 points if you spend $1,500 in the first three months of opening. This card is seriously restaurant-oriented; it even has a personal concierge service to help you make reservations. The Citi Thank You Card has no annual fee. Discover It Card The Discover It card gives 5% cash back on purchases made in certain categories, like restaurants, online shopping, and gas, that change quarterly. It also gives you 1% cash back on everything else. It has no annual fee. Citi Double Cash Card This card is a great back up for times when you don’t want to think about maximizing your rewards. It offers a flat-rate of 2% cash back on all your purchases. This card is also appealing because it has no annual fee. The only downside is that it doesn’t offer a rewards bonus for opening an account, and those hundreds of dollars in the first few month can be a welcome sign up gift. Now let’s consider the next category of spenders, those who scored in the middle of the road. Scores of 3 - 4: Middle of the Road Spenders If you scored between 3 and 4 on the quiz, then you might be a middle of the road spender. I’d say that the majority of people fall into this category. You have decent self-control, but you’re not obsessive about optimizing savings on all your purchases or maximizing rewards in a certain spending category. If this sounds like you, then I’d suggest getting a flat-rate card. You could get 1 to 2% back on all of your purchases across the board, and you don’t have to think about where you spend your money or what kind of rewards you’ll see. It’s consistent across all spending areas. Of course, getting this card assumes that you won’t change your spending habits because you have a credit card. You don’t want to end up carrying a balance month to month and getting into debt as a result of high interest rates. Just because you can technically charge a huge purchase to a credit card, doesn’t mean you should. If you can’t pay off a purchase within the month, then you should think hard about whether buying it on credit is the way to go. If you’re a middle of the road spender, what specific credit cards would work best for you? Best Credit Cards for Middle of the Road Spenders These are my suggestions for middle of the road spenders who don’t want to keep up with quarterly changes in rewards categories or worry about which card they use for each purchase. For the most part, these cards offer flat-rate rewards on any purchases. Citi Double Cash Card As you saw above, the Citi Double Cash Card is my top pick for a flat rate rewards card. It gives you 2% cash back on all purchases and has no annual fee. Again, the downside is that it doesn’t offer any bonuses for signing up. Capital One Venture Rewards This card gives you travel points at a flat rate of 2 miles on all purchases. If you spend $3,000 in the first three months, then you’ll get a bonus of 40,000 miles. After the first year, this card has an annual fee of $59. Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards This flat-rate card gives you 1.5% cash back on every purchase you make. It offers a $100 bonus after you spend $500 in the first three months. There’s no annual fee. BankAmericard Cash Rewards This card gives you 1% back on every purchase, plus 2% back at grocery stores and 3% on gas. You’ll get a bonus of $100 after you spend $500 in the first 90 days. There’s no annual fee. Finally, let’s consider the third type of spenders who scored highly on the personal finance quiz. Scores of 5 - 6: Spontaneous Spenders If you scored highly on this quiz, then you might find it challenging to control your spending. Maybe you love shopping, for instance, and find it difficult not to splurge every weekend at the mall. With a credit card, you might spend more than you normally would if you were just using cash. If this sounds like, or if you’re worried that a credit card would be too irresistible not to use beyond your means, then you might consider getting a card that puts caps on your spending. You should also compare interest rates and avoid the high ones. There are some credit cards that work like phone cards. You can load them up with a set number of points each month and thereby set a spending limit for yourself. Similarly, you could look into a secured credit card that doesn’t give you very much credit and requires a deposit before you sign on. You could also avoid credit cards altogether and just use your debit card, assuming that it doesn’t have overdrafts or fees. Keep in mind that a debit card takes money directly from your bank account, so it doesn’t help build up your credit. If you’re trying to gain more control over your spending habits and build credit, then you might start with a low-limit card (either secured or not secured). You could self-impose a 6-month probationary period where you look at your budget and figure out whether you’re spending more with a card that you would without one. As you gain control over your personal finances, you can eventually move onto a non-secured or rewards credit card. Below are my suggestions for the best credit cards for spontaneous spenders. Best Credit Cards for Spontaneous Spenders The suggested cards below help you set limits on your spending. There are two secured credit cards and two prepaid debit cards. Capital One Secured Mastercard This card asks you to make a deposit of $49, $99, or $200 and gives you a limit of up to $200 depending on your credit. You need to pay the full amount of your deposit within 80 days. It has no annual fee. Discover It Secured Card This is a rare secured card that also gives you rewards- 2% cash back on up to $1,000 of spending on restaurants and gas and 1% on other purchases. You need to make an initial deposit of $200 with a bank account. Each month, you’ll be automatically evaluated to see if you qualify for a regular, non-secured card. There’s no annual fee. Bluebird This fee-free card, available both to people with bank accounts and to those without, lets you load cash at WalMart stores and deposit through the Bluebird app. Withdrawals are free at MoneyPass ATMs, but they cost fees between $2.50 and $9.00 at other ATMs. This card works wherever merchants accept American Express and has no annual fee. American Express Serve You can order this prepaid card online for free, and no credit check is required. You load it with cash for free at locations like Rite Aid, Wal-Mart, and some 7-Elevens. There’s a $4.95 monthly fee (except in Texas, New York, and Vermont). At this point, you may have noticed that I haven’t talked very much about interest rates. A lot of people think that low and high interest rates are a top consideration when choosing credit cards. I actually take the opposite opinion in the majority of cases. Read on to find out why. What About Interest Rates? Why They Shouldn’t Matter You may have noticed that I didn’t spend much time talking about high and low interest rates in this guide. A lot of people tout interest rates as the first thing to look at when choosing a new credit card. I take the opposite stance, though, and suggest that interest rates should not matter. No credit card has a very appealing interest rate. All of them will add up to a great deal of money and make it very hard for you to get out of debt. In most cases, you should do everything you can to avoid carrying a balance on your card from month to month. If low interest rates feel like a strong priority to you, then you might consider reassessing your approach to personal finances. You should sit down with a money-tracking app, like Mint, or simply an Excel spreadsheet, and list out your spending activity. By reflecting on your finances, outlining a budget, and setting specific goals, you can start to control your spending better. In the meantime, try to use a card that will work with you to control your expenses. Finding the Best Credit Card for You There’s no single best credit card for everyone. Instead, you have to look for the best credit card for you. To find your best match, you should think about your approach to personal finances, how you spend your money, and how you practice self-control. If you tend to spend spontaneously, then you might benefit from having a card that doesn’t test your willpower. If you’re more strategic about your spending and want to maximize rewards, then you should choose a card that will grant you the most perks in the category most valuable to you. As you saw above, there are several cards with advantages for every kind of spender. Your job, then, is to figure out what kind of spender you are! Once you do that, you can sort through all the promotions and sign up for the credit card with the best benefits for you as an individual.