All posts by Kurt Kirton

About Kurt Kirton

Song and book writer from MS now living in Nashville, TN. Marketing and graphic design background. Regular blogger on topics surrounding the subject of job searching.

Moving Soon? 12 Things You Should Do to Ease Your Transition

12 Moving Tips
Photo: Tomais Ashdene

Whether it’s across town or to another state, moving at some point is a fact of life and always a challenge. Since I moved to Nashville in 1995, I’ve been through 4 moves…guess that averages out to about 1 every 4 years for me. Since I despise moving so much, I’ve always tried to keep it to a minimum. But through the pains of life comes knowledge, so in this post I want to share some things that will help ease your transition in the form of a reminders checklist!

1) Have a plan: A couple of months out, make a budget, and save as much as you can to cover expenses. House/apartment shop, and have your new place lined up. Then choose the date of your move.
2) After you’ve signed the lease on (or bought) your new place, get the key, set up all utilities before you move in, do any painting, repairs, etc.
3) Choose, book, remind, and coordinate the movers (if you plan to use one), or schedule reliable friends and a truck. If using a moving company, try to book your move on a Mon.-Thur. so you may be able to get a lower price than a weekend move.
4) After your new residence is sure/secure, change addresses with any person or company sending you mail. Do as many online as possible, then others by phone. Examples: friends & family, work, magazines to which you’re subscribed, credit cards, financial planner, car loan payment, insurances, the IRS (form 8822), Social Security office, internet service provider, college alumni associations, cell phone service, Motor Vehicle Bureau for your state, voter registration…
5) Fill out/submit the online change of address form to the Post Office.
6) Give notice to your [homeowners or renters] insurance company to switch your coverage to the new place on the date you move in.
7) Get moving boxes (and packing tape). Check paper-only/recycling dumpsters behind large stores or places of business before buying boxes. Ask first.
8) Go through all your belongings. Sell, give away, trash, or donate as many things as you can. Less stuff means less to pack, move, and unpack!
9) Get crackin’ on some packin’. Plan to have it all done the night before the move (except for your last minute items). With a thick black marker, label your boxes by the room they go in. Use as many items as a box (e.g., laundry baskets, waste baskets, milk crates on hand, luggage, etc.) as you can to conserve space.
10) The morning of the move, pack your last minute things, help the movers move some of your more fragile things to the truck, and load any items you’d rather transport yourself into your car (I always move my component stereo system). At your new place, let the movers know to set boxes as labeled in the respective rooms. Then be unpacking kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom items while the movers are working.
11) Save all moving related receipts (including your donations), and log your mileage  between your old place and the new so you can write them off on your taxes (unless your new company is paying for the move!)
12) If need be, choose a new primary care doctor, dentist, bank, church, etc.

Like many things, with a little planning and a checklist, you can make your move go more smoothly and be less stressful.

What other tips would you add? Comment in the “Start the Discussion” blank below.

 

Looking for a new job? Want to get what you want fast? Check out my book, Here Today, Hired Tomorrow (kurtkirton.com/hthtbook), and subscribe to my blog (kurtkirton.com) for free advice on your job search.

Tesla’s Solar Roof: What’s Real & What’s Pure PR (Guest Post)

Smooth Tesla Solar Shingles on a Roof
Tesla’s Solar Roof became one of the
 company’s most talked about products once CEO Elon Musk said that they were taking orders in May 2017. Interested homeowners were asked to put down a $1,000 deposit for the sleek solar paneling, which lets people invest in a new roof and clean energy.

Deposits started to swiftly pile up, and the company said in early August 2017 they were already sold out of the product until early 2018. The actual solar roof technology puts the energy generating devices right into roofing tiles, making them purportedly stronger and lighter than traditional shingles.

They are designed in a couple of different styles so they can seamlessly integrate with any home and look pretty much like a traditional roof from afar. Other solar shingles can actually still stand out on a roof because they are usually just one shade of blue and black (which can still not match a roof). The roof comes with warranties that cover both solar functionality and physical durability.

Tesla’s ambition with the solar roof cannot be understated, David Sarkisian of the North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center said the scale of implementation was “revolutionary.” Still, there’s been a lot of questions about what aspects of the Tesla solar roof are real, and what is just embellishment that looks good in a press release.

Keep reading to learn about what is real and what is pure PR.

Real: The Roof Won’t Necessarily Help Save You Money

Yes, nothing that Tesla builds is ever cheap. But you’re not going to necessarily be saving money going with Tesla’s roof as opposed to other options.

Homeowners who already have a pretty sturdy roof are going to find it much cheaper to just install solar panels if they want green energy. Calculations comparing the Tesla roof versus solar panels for a California home found it would be 68% cheaper to go with normal rooftop solar panels if the roof was relatively new and 35% cheaper if the roof was really old.

Pure PR: Solar Shingles Are a Game-Changing Technology

Even though Tesla’s doing their best to tout their new technology, solar shingles still have a very long way to go to truly be an industry game-changer. Traditional solar panels have a reliable track record and have been out on the market for over four decades now. In contrast, solar shingle technology has only been commercially available since 2005. Even though Tesla’s solar roof has gotten a lot of attention, companies like Dow Chemical have had to shut off their solar shingle line because of a lack of interest. The solar single market is still pretty small, and companies like Aesthetic Green Power are now deliberating whether they will continue creating solar tiles.

Real: The Solar Roof Warranty Is Really Good

One of the reasons many think Tesla’s solar roof will succeed is thanks to the great warranty. The tiles have a warranty that is good for the life of the house, and the shingles are guaranteed to make power for 30 years. A lot of traditional solar panels have a warranty for just 20-25 years. Tesla also says they are willing to remove an old roof, manage all aspects of the solar roof re-design, and oversee the operations and maintenance of the system, all with just a one week install time.

Tesla’s generous warranties pretty much assure that a lot of the stress and worry surrounding rooftop damage and replacement are eliminated, especially since common asphalt shingles usually need to be replaced every 15-30 years.

Pure PR: Tesla’s Hail Demonstration

One of the ways Tesla has touted their solar roof is through video. The company released a clip putting their roof through a hail test to show off how strong it is. However, the video did not talk about how traditional solar panels are also not really damaged by hail, and that having a set of panels on the roof is only going to strengthen it from the elements. Plus, some people are saying the conventional roofing materials used in Tesla’s video for comparison were mounted incorrectly without the right cement composition, which would make them appear weaker than they really are.

Right now, Tesla’s solar roof is just available in California. Despite the price, they represent an interesting and aesthetically pleasing way for a homeowner to go green and get a new roof. Since so few companies offer solar shingles, Tesla is undoubtedly going to be leading the way in the near future for this market.

About the Author: Kyle Pennell is a Content Manager for PowerScout.com and loves accelerating solar adoption with helpful authoritative content about residential solar!

 

Looking for a new job? Want to get what you want fast? Check out my book, Here Today, Hired Tomorrow (kurtkirton.com/hthtbook), and subscribe to my blog (kurtkirton.com) for free advice on your job search.

4 Important Things You Should Do to Land Your First Job (Guest Post)

4 Tips for New Grads
Photo: pexels.com

Graduation is a time to celebrate, but also a time of uncertainty for new graduates  anticipating their future and looking for their first job. For your average employee, landing a job is already no walk in the park. Consider how much more challenging it is for fresh-out graduates who have little to no experience on their resumes? In their case, it’s easy to be left behind, dwarfed by the competition from experienced job seekers.

Fortunately, there are still ways for new grads to increase the chances of landing a first job they’d prefer. Follow the tips below, and ready yourself to enter the workplace.

 Your CV (Curriculum Vitae) or Resume

Here’s how you can write an effective CV:

  • Make sure to include the basics – Personal and contact information, education and qualifications, work history and experience (if you already have some), relevant interests and hobbies, and references.
  • Be clear and concise – As much as you can, always keep your CV short yet relevant. Research shows that “a short and concise CV that is no longer than one page is the preferred format for the majority of employers (42.5%).”
  • Customize your CV for a specific job – Generalized CVs typically won’t get you the interview. Upon identifying a great job that you feel confident and qualified to apply for, construct a CV specifically for that position playing up how you can meet the requirements.
  • Ensure that your CV is free of errors – A survey shows that 59% of recruiters will reject a candidate because of poor grammar or a spelling error. Furthermore, before sending it, check your CV over a few times to avoid spelling and grammar mistakes.

Research

Being a new graduate, the research skills you developed in college will be vital to your job search. Researching the industry you want to go into is something that will greatly benefit you. Reflect on your motivation for seeking a specific career path and your long-term view of the industry and your goals. Modify your cover letter to incorporate relevant research you’ve done to show that you’re the ideal candidate. Never arrive at an interview without looking first into the company’s history, what it is they actually do, and the image they are trying to project.

Networking

Often it’s about who you know and leveraging your connections to an advantage. Make use of Twitter and LinkedIn to demonstrate your interests and begin discussions about them. An ever-increasing number of recruiters and/or hiring managers are turning in to social media to find prospective employees. You never know who you may meet and what you may get into. Also, you might meet someone via social media in your industry that may offer some priceless tips on how to land a first job in that field.

Use social media to stay up on the latest industry news, and don’t post anything that may be off-putting to a future employer since they may well look you up online before offering an interview for a job. Keep your abilities and experiences up to date on your LinkedIn profile.

Internships

Many of us have been there, working our hearts out at an unpaid internship, long days and small jobs that no one else wants to do (all in the hopes the company will offer us something more secure at the end of it). But take advantage of your university’s link to valuable internships in your city relevant to your industry of choice. Even if the company at which you intern cannot offer you a full time position upon completion of the internship, you can make some valuable connections during this time—especially if you show initiative and do outstanding work during your time at the company.

As long as you keep your head in the game, you will be fine in your first job search. Know that a lot of the best roles may mean moving from where you to a different city or state, but keep in mind that the first job you’ll have doesn’t mean it’s for life. Many things can still happen and can lead you somewhere else, so don’t be afraid to face change. Like your post-graduation transition, use change as an opportunity to accomplish further achievements.

Once you land your first job, stick with the experience. Go into your new role willing to listen and learn, even if you find yourself doing tasks that don’t seem to utilize your degree. You never know the positive outcomes that any one role will lead to. Learning continues even after schooling.

About the Author: Michelle Dutcher is a social media manager with four years of related experience based in Quebec City, Canada. She furnishes quality content for her clients’ social media platforms to better engage their consumers. Michelle loves challenges and setbacks, using them to further fuel her drive. During her down time, she serves as an essayist for paperchoice.org.

What is your opinion of internships? Share about one that was valuable to jump starting your career. Comment in the “Start the Discussion” blank below.

 

Looking for a new job? Want to get what you want fast? Check out my book, Here Today, Hired Tomorrow (kurtkirton.com/hthtbook), and subscribe to my blog (kurtkirton.com) for free advice on your job search.