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How Giving a Good Boss’s Day Gift Can Advance Your Career

By U.S. News & World Report

Boss’s Day, which falls on October 17 this year, may be the oddest “holiday” we celebrate. Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and Secretary’s Day make sense as opportunities to celebrate and thank people who do so much for us — and who are so often overlooked. But Boss’s Day? Isn’t it enough that we arrive to work on time every day and gamely undertake the tasks set before us by the boss? In fact, On Careers contributor Alison Green has advocated for abolishing the holiday as recently as a year ago.

[See: 14 Important Personal Finance Dates to Mark on Your Calendar.]

If your workplace hasn’t yet gotten the memo, make this the year you use Boss’s Day to show your appreciation for all the things your boss does for you — and to advance your career. Here are five ways a thoughtful Boss’s Day gift can lead to you becoming the boss.

1. Build rapport. A gift that allows you and your boss to spend some quality time together may be well-received — especially if you have already built some good rapport and are comfortable spending time together outside of the office. A few rounds of golf or an evening at the theater could be a great way to get to know each other better. Just be careful about giving a personal gift if your boss is of the opposite sex. You don’t want the gesture to be misconstrued as a request for a date.

2. Share your knowledge and industry interests. Show that you care about the industry you work in and are up-to-date on the latest trends by giving your boss the latest book about the industry or market. Or consider giving your boss the latest bestseller in the personal development niche that can help someone bring out their best. If he or she already has the book, an audiobook may be well-received since your boss may be very busy. Or volunteer to read some books of your boss’s growing to-read list and provide a summary. You could package everything up in a PDF document that your boss could load onto any mobile device when he or she has a few minutes of downtime.

[See: 8 Personal Finance Myths Money Experts Want to See Disappear.]

3. Humanize your relationship. You can find plenty of Hallmark cards for Boss’s Day at the store, but a more thoughtful gift will be a card that includes a handwritten note. Share your thoughts about working for the boss and the company and be specific about what you like about your relationship. Make sure to proofread and write it in your best handwriting style. Your boss is sure to remember the gesture. Be mindful about crossing professional boundaries, so your message is personalized but not too personal.

4. Be the problem-solver. Sometimes the best gifts are the little things that make life easier for everyone. If your boss is the busy type and has a hard time staying organized, consider gifting a subscription to an online organization tool or something as simple as a personalized desk calendar. If he or she always comes in wet from the rain, you could provide an umbrella stand or a rain poncho and umbrella set. If the boss always seems to misplace keys, you could gift him or her a wireless key locator and a summary of instructions on how to set it up. The key to this gift is to make it thoughtful — and actually helpful — without being too humorous or mean-spirited. A little humor will be appreciated, but a jab at behavior your boss may consider a foible or flaw will backfire. Keep your eyes open for any trick or gift that can make your boss’s workday a little less aggravating. It will get you noticed as a problem-solver.

[See: 11 Expenses Destroying Your Budget.]

5. Improve your boss’s workflow and productivity. Some of the best — and most thoughtful gifts — are intangible. Bosses and managers have lots workplace and people skills, but staying organized or handling project management tasks may not be among them. If your boss has been putting off a dull or tedious project for a while, or if there’s a part of the office that needs some major organizing and decluttering, offer to help out. You could demonstrate your mastery of the latest project management tools to organize that project (and perhaps make it a little more interesting). Or you might simply clear out the clutter in your boss’s office and implement a filing system. These activities can improve your boss’s daily workflow and increase productivity. Even better, you’ll be you noticed as a problem-solver who takes initiative. You’ll need to be thoughtful in the tasks you decide to cover because the last thing you want is your solution to become your boss’s latest problem. Especially on Boss’s Day.

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How Giving a Good Boss’s Day Gift Can Advance Your Career originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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