How long it takes to kill the average credit card debt in every state

How long it takes to kill the average credit card debt in every stateHow long it takes to kill the average credit card debt in every stateLots of people make New Years resolutions to get their personal financial situation in order, and paying off credit card debt is usually a high priority. Credit card debt is at a$1 trillion. The combination of high borrowing limits, steep interest rates and late payment fees make it extremely difficult to get under control.But lets assume people in every state created a plan to pay 15% of their income toward credit card debt. Wecompiled research fromCreditcards.comto understand how such a strategy would play out in every state across the country.Click to enlargeOur visualization starts with a heat map of average total credit card balances broken down by state. We then applied an average household income figure to see how many months it would take to pay off such a balance with only 15% of ones total household income. This takes into account the com pounding interest rate adding to the remaining balance each month. Of course, our analysis assumes people would stick to the plan and avoid taking on brand new credit card debt throughout the process.There are several big takeaways. First, theres a regional trend in overall credit card balances. Dark red states like New York ($8,510), Texas ($9,100) and Alaska ($10,685) carry the biggest balances, but the Upper Midwest looks relatively financially healthy. Wisconsin ($6,737) and Iowa ($6,726) have the lowest averages in the country.Most Americans would need at least a year to pay off their credit cards, and even longer for states in the South. New Mexico, Louisiana and West Virginia have the longest timelines at 17 months each, and Massachusetts has the shortest at just 9 months. The average across all 50 states is 12.7 months, meaning it would have to be a New Years resolution for 2019 and 2020 for lots of people.And finally, theres the imperfect relationship between how long it wo uld take to pay off the debt and the total debt load. The states with the highest balances dont necessarily need the most time. Take Massachusetts as an example, where the average credit card debt stands at $7,994 but would only take 9 months to pay off. Compare it to Iowa at $6,726 and 11 months. Thats because people in Massachusetts make a lot mora money than people in Iowa. Things generally cost a lot more in the Northeast too, which makes it harder to achieve financial security too.Data Table 1.1This article first appeared on HowMuch.

Formatting How to Show a Promotion on Your Resume

Formatting How to Show a Promotion on Your Resume Formatting How to Show a Promotion on Your Resume The right method for formatting promotions or multiple positions with one company on your resume depends largely on the details of job history, current goals, and what you want to emphasize. Below are three different examples of how to show a promotion on your resume.Stacked entryA stacked entry is when you create one entry encompassing all of your time at a company. After the company name and location,list your job titles and the corresponding dates in reverse chronological order. Following that, list your achievements with the company. This option makes the most sense if the positions you held at a company didnt vary greatly.If your role did not change dramatically, you can create one entry for your time at a company, with job titles and corresponding dates stacked.Separate entriesIf you held positions with distinct accomplishments or diverse responsibilities, consider creating separ ate entries for each role. This option allows you to show mora details of your career progression. Because many employers are wary of job seekers they perceive as job-hopping, consider including a line mentioning your promotion in the section for your more senior role, or explain the reason behind your move if it was a lateral one.If your positions differed substantially, use separate entries.Separate sectionIf you have professional experience that dates back more than 15 years, create a separate section listing your job titles and the appropriate dates, without the detailed list of accomplishments. This method allows you to demonstrate your career progression while still keeping your resume concise and relevant.In the wise words of Alan Farnham of ABC News, your resume should be key strengths, put succinctly, framed by plenty of white space.If you have particularly notable achievements from this time period, consider highlighting them in a separate achievements section.Save the det ailed job history for the most recent 15 years of your career, and list earlier positions in a Prior Professional Experience section.Additional Resources52 Quick Resume TipsResume Writing GuideTop 500 Resume KeywordsYour resume is getting lost in the systemLearn how Jobscan can optimize your resume for the (outdated) tech used by most recruiters.How to Scan a Resume with Jobscan (208)Explore the Resume Match Report (223)???Full text tutorialGet your own report

Best Questions to Ask at an Informational Interview

Best Questions to Ask at an Informational InterviewBest Questions to Ask at an Informational InterviewSetting up information interviews and following through can help you build great interviewing skills while learning valuable information about the different types of jobs that exist in your chosen field. The following questions are intended to help you build a detailed picture of an occupation and position. Use these informational and functional questions only as a guideline. Your interview will be fruchtwein effective if you come up with additionalquestions that reflect your genuine curiosity about the particular career. Prepare for the Interview Find out more about the employer or field in question, rehearse your question list, and set up your interview. Have a notepad and pen ready, and wear a watch to make sure that you are respectful of your interviewees time and dont overstay your welcome. 28 Occupational Questions to Ask The following questions can help you uncover imp ortant information about the job held by your interviewee. Some might be more or less relevant to the person you choose to interview. Choose the fruchtwein useful questions for your needs, and take care not to take up an inordinate amount of time from your interviewee. What is the title of the person you are interviewing?What are other commonly-used titles for the position?What are the duties performed during a typical day, week, month, year? Does she or he have a set routine? How much variety is there on a day-to-day fundament? As the person describes the duties, ask what skills are needed.What educational program is recommended as preparation? Inquire about the distinction between courses which are desirable and those which are indispensable.What kinds of courses are most valuable in order to gain the skills necessary for success in this occupation?Inquire about the distinction between courses which are desirable and those which are indispensable. What degree or certificate do emp loyers look for?What kind of work/internship experience would employers look for in a job applicant, and how does a person obtain this experience?Are any co-curricular activities recommended?What steps (besides meeting educational and experiential requirements) are necessary to break into this occupation (e.g., exam, interview, union membership)?What are the important keywords or buzzwords to include in a resume or cover letter when job hunting in the field?What are the opportunities for advancement, and to what position? Is an advanced degree needed, and if so, in what discipline? Which skills are most important to acquire (i.e., which skills do employers look for)?What are the main, or most important, personal characteristics for success in the field?What are the different settings in which people in this occupation may work (i.e., educational institutions, businesses, non-profits)?What other kinds of workers frequently interact with this position?Is there evidence of differential treatment between male and female workers with respect to job duties, pay, and opportunities for advancement? What are the employment prospects in the advisors geographic area? Where are the best employment prospects? What are the employment prospects at the advisors company? Is mobility a necessary factor for success?What are some related occupations?What are the different salary ranges?Does the typical worker have a set schedule, or are the hours flexible?What are the demands and frustrations that typically accompany this type of work?Is there a typical chain of command in this field?How can you determine that you have the ability or potential to be successful in this specific occupation? Is this a rapidly growing field? Is it possible to predict future needs for workers in this field?What types of technology are used, and how are they used?Where are job listings found?What entry-level positions are there in this field that a liberal arts graduate might consider?What does the adv isor know now that would have been helpful to know when she or he was in your shoes? 11 Functional Questions to Ask Most of the following questions serve to give you a flavor of the interviewees daily life on the job. You may have different triggers that cause you pressure or stress, for example, but the answers you receive can help you see where you might excel and which items, such as a lot of overtime, might not make sense for your lifestyle. How many hours does the advisor work?What sort of education does the advisor have?What was the advisors career path from college to present?What are the satisfying aspects of the advisors work?What are the greatest pressures, strains, or anxieties in the work?What are the major job responsibilities?What are the toughest problems and decisions with which the advisor must cope?What is most dissatisfying about the work? Is this typical of the field?How would the advisor describe the atmosphere/culture of the workplace? Does the advisor thin k you left out any important questions that would be helpful to learn more about the job or occupation?Can the advisor suggest others who may be valuable sources for you? After the interview, send a thank you note via email. To cement your connection and show that you really got a lot out of the interview, attach a link to an article on something relevant to your conversation, and let the person know they inspired you to read the article.