Job Search: Update to Evaluating an Offer

Something I didn't really think about the first time I posted about Evaluating a Job Offer on May 29, 2014, was the indirect benefits related to medical insurance in a new job.

  Imagine This Scenario  

Your old job has a high deductible medical insurance plan. Your new job has a normal deductible medical insurance plan.

The end result is that every time you go to the doctor, or fill a prescription, you're paying less! Sometimes a significant amount less. A friend had an allergy prescription that, on the old plan, cost $120 every time. On the new plan, he's paying $35 each time. That's just one prescription, saving $85 about 4-6 times per year. Multiply that out, times the number of prescriptions you fill in a year, and the number of times you go to the doctor.

	Old Price	New Price	Savings Per Time Filled	Times Filled Per Year	Annual Savings
Prescriptions
#1 Allergy	$120	$35	$85	5	$425
#2 Other	$50	$10	$40	7	$280
Total Prescription Savings					$705
Doctor’s Appointment Co-Pay
Annual Check-up	$50	$10	$40	1	$40
Specialist	$50	$10	$40	1	$40
Total Doctor’s Appointment Co-Pay Savings					$80
TOTAL PROJECTED SAVINGS					$785 / year

You're easily saving almost $800 a year, just because of the type of medical insurance the new job offers. You should do the same analysis for any insurance offered by one or both companies including dental and vision insurance plans.

Job Search: Evaluating An Offer

Let's say you know you're potentially receiving an offer for employment. Most people wait until they receive the offer to start thinking about what to expect. Or at best, they think through their base salary plus an annual performance bonus.

In reality, there are a number of factors that could or should be included in an offer letter. Particularly as you move up in the ranks, there are more factors that are negotiable. Having an understanding of your current position on all these factors will help you better understand what you're looking for in your next position.

  Monetary Compensation   

• Base Salary - Also, note if it's paid bi-weekly or monthly.
• Annual Performance Bonus Potential
• Signing Bonus - Understand if there's a payback period - in other words will you have to pay it back if you leave within a specified period of time.
• Retention Bonus - If your signing bonus doesn't have a payback period, you may be able to negotiate a retention bonus (e.g., if I stay for 1 year, I get an additional bonus).

  Job Information  

• Job Title
• Grade Level - This isn't relevant for everyone, but is particularly relevant in federal government, or in some very large organizations.
• Supervisor
• Supervisory/Management responsibilities
• Budgetary responsibilities
• Office Location

  Non-Working Days  

• Holidays
• Leave Days
• Sick Days - This is only relevant if sick days are separate from leave
• Comp Time - This is time that you accrue based on extra worked hours outside normal working hours. Usually this category is no longer relevant as you move into managerial positions.
• Alternative Work Schedule Options

  Timeline  

• Start date
• Date that benefits kick in - Sometimes it's on day 1, and sometimes it's not until 30 days later.
• Contract length - If this is relevant, you'll need to include it in the offer letter. This could be relevant if you're in a temporary position that could turn permanent as well.

  Equipment   

• Desktop vs. Laptop
• Cell Phone - Do they provide one? Do they pay for the plan? Are there limits on the data and phone usage?
• Car - Rare, but some firms do have cars for executives.

  Additional Details  

• Performance Review Cycle
• Performance Review Criteria
• Training Opportunities / Expectations
• Travel/Commuting Reimbursement
• Tuition Assistance Program

And here's one that you'll need to think about the first time you enter into the ranks of around a Vice President position. You'll need to inquire about a guarantee of a severance package. If you haven't been a VP before, you may not even know to ask to have this in your offer letter.

I usually recommend creating a spreadsheet with all of these factors in rows. The next column should have information about your current position, and then subsequent columns can be used to evaluate one or more offers. That way you'll have a true picture of the components of an offer.

Here's a scenario to think about. Let's say you currently make $100,000, with a 10% performance bonus option. The new offer is for $110,000 plus a 5% performance bonus. Sounds better, right?

Now think about this. What if your current job has 9 holidays and 5 weeks vacation, and the new offer only has 7 holidays with 3 weeks vacation. In order to truly know if you're getting a better deal with the new offer, you need to monetize the days off that you're no longer getting.

If you monetize the days you work, assuming you take all your days off available, you can calculate your true earnings including: Base, Performance Bonus Potential, First Year Signing Bonus, and Monetized Value of Days Off. The total shows you're ahead by about $5k.

However, keep in mind this shows you a bottom line including your signing bonus that you'll only get that first year. Even if you took out that $5000, you would still be ahead, though by very little. Additionally, you'll want to add in how much you currently pay for various benefits, and how much the new offer would have you pay. If the new medical plan options are much more expensive, keep that in mind as you make your decision.

After all this analysis, don't forget to think about the intangibles! Work environment, type of work, clients you'd get to work with, etc. Sometimes that'll help you make the decision better than all the analysis in the world.

Dance: Favorite Quotes

As I go through life, quotes about dance or from dancers tend to strike a chord with me the most. I want to start compiling those that really catch my eye, or my heart.

"Everything in the universe has a rhythm, everything dances."

-- Maya Angelou

"You've got to dance like there's nobody watching,
Love like you'll never be hurt,
Sing like there's nobody listening,
And live like it's heaven on earth."
-- William W. Purkey

"We should consider every day lost on which we have not danced at least once."
-- Friedrich Nietzche

"After all, Ginger Rogers did everything that Fred Astaire did. She just did it backwards and in high heels."
-- Ann Richards

"Dance is the hidden language of the soul"
-- Martha Graham

“I believe that we learn by practice. Whether it means to learn to dance by practicing dancing or to learn to live by practicing living, the principles are the same. In each, it is the performance of a dedicated precise set of acts, physical or intellectual, from which comes shape of achievement, a sense of one's being, a satisfaction of spirit. One becomes, in some area, an athlete of God. Practice means to perform, over and over again in the face of all obstacles, some act of vision, of faith, of desire. Practice is a means of inviting the perfection desired.”  
-- Martha Graham

"Dancers are the athletes of God."
-- Albert Einstein

Dance: An Intro to Me

As I look through all my old posts, and think about the various categories, I had to wonder to myself why I didn't yet blog a single post about my favorite topic....Dance! So to start things off, I'm going to give a bit of a background on me and how dancing IS living to me.

  How it All Began  

When I was 2 years old, I used to go with my mom to her "dance class" (it was really an exercise class, but I didn't know that). All I wanted for Christmas was a pair of ballet slippers, and that's what I got! Along with a black leotard and pink tights. I had to wait until I was 3 to start taking dance classes but I could not wait!

In my first recital, my parents still give me grief that I waved in the middle of my dance piece. Maybe it was because I loved performing and loved making people smile!

  My Love of Tap  

I took ballet at 3 different schools until age 9, then I switched over to tap and jazz, because I was beginning to get a bit bored (I don't think I really understood why we did so much barre work). I LOVED tap, and it was a particular favorite of my dad. It was always so happy and bubbly and I was pretty good at it too. Jazz was interesting because it was the 80s and early 90s. I'll let your imagination run with that one....

James School of Dance Ballet Recital 1997

  Falling Back in Love with Ballet  

In middle school, I began to watch the pointe class that would come in after my tap class, and halfway through the year I decided to approach the teacher and ask if I could re-start ballet. She gladly accepted me into the class (but not on pointe yet!) and I fell in love with ballet again. Plus my teacher would teach us modern combinations and a few years we did both a ballet routine and a modern one.




  Expanding into Color Guard in High School  

At the end of 8th grade, my dad told me about this thing called color guard. There was a winterguard friends and family performance that I attended, and I was hooked! They did a piece in honor of their late coach William Boyd, who had passed away from AIDS. I was so moved by the grace, and the storytelling, and the ability for me to get to dance in high school! At the time there was no dance team or dance classes, and our cheerleaders were primarily stunt based, not much dancing. While continuing weekly dance classes at a studio, I went on to dance and spin flag, rifle and sabre for four years with my high school. I was lucky to be a featured soloist starting my freshman year! In winter, we did a show about relationships, one with music by Seal, one with a Spanish flare and one to Riverdance music that almost landed us in finals at world championships (we came in 18th).

  Dancing in College  

I thought I loved dancing and performing, until I went to college and it hit me just how much I loved it, and how much more I needed to learn! I auditioned, and made, the Georgetown University Dance Company, and was trained by Miya Hisaka Silva, who was trained by Martha Graham and Alvin Ailey to name a couple. I learned more technique in ballet, and was really exposed to modern (primarily Horton style). I was able to choreograph two pieces in my time in college.


1999 Carolina Crown Opener

  Drum Corps  

In December of my Sophomore year, I auditioned for Carolina Crown Drum & Bugle Corps. My parents originally didn't want me to march, but once I was offered a spot they agreed. Drum Corps is the hardest thing I will probably ever do (imagine rehearsing for 8 hours in 100 degree weather and then getting dressed to perform in a stadium, only to get on a bus, drive 6-8 hours overnight, arrive at a high school and sleep on the gym floor from about 3am-7am). That first year I sprained my knee and ankle (same leg!), got a cough so bad I needed Tylenol with Codine, and ripped a muscle in my abs that took 4 months to stop spasming and heal. And yet...I went back a second year because I LOVED it.

  Performing After College  



St. Ann's 2002 Independent World Bronze Medalists

My first year after college (2001-2002), I moved up to Boston to teach math at a middle school, and I missed performing. I found out about auditions for St. Ann's world color guard and figured it was a chance to spin. After the Saturday, I decided since I didn't intend to march, and I was sore beyond belief, I would skip Sunday. Low and behold...Jimmy Mahoney called me Sunday morning and asked where I was and that they wanted to offer me a spot. I only marched flag because I wanted to have fun (rifle always stressed me out!), and the year was incredible.

The next year (2003), I was working at the Georgetown Program in Performing Arts, and we had Bobby McFerrin as a visiting professor for the semester (in truth, he visited 3 times). At the end of the semester we had a large gala performance where I got to perform my piece to Circlesong 6 with him singing LIVE! Definitely a highlight of my performing career.



2004 Capital Fourth Concert Color Guard

Finally, in 2004, I got an amazing opportunity to put together 16 color guard members from various backgrounds for the Capital Fourth Concert! Then, as we were blocking the number with the Marine Drum & Bugle Corps, and the twirlers, and the gynmasts, they turned to me and said "okay now you go choreograph it." We had about 2 hours to choreograph, learn and clean an entire John Phillip Sousa march, and it came out amazing on PBS the following night!!





Teaching After College

I started teaching right after high school, but I didn't really start directing until a few years after college. I've taught at many schools and in many programs, but most notably I've taught Act 1 (WGI 2006 IA 7th Place, 2007 IO Semi Finalist, 2008, IO Semi Finalist), Stonewall Independent (WGI 2013 IA Silver Medalist, 2014 IO 14th Place), and Stonewall Independent 2 (WGI 2014 IA 20th Place).


Stonewall Independent 2013 WGI World IA Silver Medalists

Performing Highlights

1985-1986: McLean School of Ballet
1986-1997: James School of Dance (Ballet, Tap, Jazz, and Modern)
1993-1997: McLean High School Color Guard and Winter Guard
1997-2001: Georgetown University Dance Company (Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Hip Hop, Modern)
1999-2000: Carolina Crown Drum & Bugle Corps
2002: St. Ann's World Guard
2003: Bobby McFerrin Gala at Georgetown University

Teaching/Choreography Highlights

1997-2005: McLean HS Color Guard and Winter Guard
2003-2013: Woodson HS Color Guard and Winter Guard
2006-2008: Act 1 Independent Winter Guard
2009-2010: Creation Independent Winter Guard
2011-2014: Stonewall HS and Stonewall Independent Winter Guards
2014: Broad Run HS Color Guard

Recipe: Oyster Cracker Bar Snacks

A couple weeks ago, a friend of mine set up an 'at home happy hour' since they have a young daughter, and happy hours out are a bit fewer and father between. It got me thinking about bar snacks I could make at home. I remembered when I was you, there was a phase of seasoned oyster crackers so I thought I would resurrect this old snack, and it turned out deliciously!!

Ranch Oyster Crackers 

Ingredients:

• 1 packet of Simply Organic Ranch Dressing Mix
• 1/2 teas dried Dill
• 1/4 teas garlic powder
• 1/4 cup vegetable or canola oil
• 1 package of Oyster Crackers

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 250 degrees. 
2. In a large bowl, mix together the first 4 ingredients. 
3. Add in the crackers and stir gently. 
4. Spread out the crackers on a cookie sheet in a single layer. 
5. Cook for 15-20 min, stirring ever 5 min. 

Let cool completely before storing in an air tight container. 

Mom Posts: My Favorite Products

I noticed recently that I've been sharing some of my favorite products with my friends who have recently had kids or are expecting. I figure, if I'm sharing offline, why not online, too! These aren't in any particular order, and I do highlight some products at the bottom that I was not really a fan of.

My Top Picks

  First Years Breast Milk Storage   

First Years Breast Milk Storage on Amazon

This product was purchased after a bit of research (though not much) and only a small grasp on the need to freeze and store milk. I have to say this is one of my favorite baby-related purchases to-date! It was quite the unexpected surprise. It's been perfect to freeze/store milk because it has a compression piece on one end that flattens the milk so you can store it more easily, and because it's frozen thinly, it also thaws quicker!

  Lansinoh Storage Bags  

Lansinoh Storage Bags on Amazon

While I did research these enough to know that they didn't work with my pump (Ameda Purely Yours) but that they were the right width for the First Years container, and got pretty good reviews, I didn't realize how much I loved them until I tried using the bags that DO go with my pump.

  Summer Infant Video Monitor          

Summer Infant Video Monitor on Babies 'R Us Website 

(Note that the product we bought is no longer listed at Babies 'r Us, but I believe this is the newer version)

My husband got to pick this product out because he loves electronics! Since we were getting a video monitor, I wanted one that would work with our iPhones for whenever we're away and she's with a babysitter, or if one of us is traveling and we just want to catch a peek at our daughter. I had to travel 2 weeks after going back to work and was able to use it from TX!! For us, this was worth the money. That said, we did get a registry completion discount, and it was on sale, so it made it even more affordable (still not truly "affordable" though).

  Baby Jogger City Mini GT   

Baby Jogger City Mini GT on Amazon

While this stroller is not small, it's one of the smaller jogging strollers I've seen. You can fold it with one hand (there's a pull handle in the middle of the seat to fold it) and it folds pretty flat. It has an adapter for our Peg Perego infant seat and it snaps in and also has a buckle that goes across to ensure it's safe. I use it with a stroller attachment that goes on the handle and also bought the toddler "tray" for later use!

  ErgoBaby Organic Baby Carrier and Infant Insert   

ErgoBaby Organic Baby Carrier on Amazon

Infant Insert on Amazon

This is one of the few carriers that can be used with a newborn and it was perfect! Keep in mind, I had the baby in the middle of the Mid Atlantic Polar Vortex, and I am pretty sure if you have a baby in August, not only will the baby get too hot in this, but so will you. Just something to keep in mind! Now that she's over 12 lbs, we took out the infant insert and this carrier is quite comfortable for mom. I can put it on by myself, as long as she isn't wiggling too much.

  Fisher Price Rock 'n Play   

Fisher Price Rock 'n Play on Amazon

 This rocker was a Godsend in the first couple weeks at home. We tried desperately to get her to sleep in her bassinet, which someone very graciously gave to us (hand-me-down). She hated being on her back even if we swaddled her tight! Those first couple nights I didn't know what to do and just held her so she could sleep. After 2 nights of holding her (and not really sleeping myself!) I tried the Rock 'n Play. Now, doctors advice is to only allow babies to sleep on their back, so do not take my recommendation without making a conscious decision yourself and checking with your own doctor, but it was the ONLY thing that she would sleep in! She slept in it at night and for all naps! Now, at 4 months, she uses it occasionally for a nap or two, but is in her own crib 95% of the time.

  JJ Cole Diaper Changing Clutch  

JJ Cole Diaper Changing Clutch on Amazon

Big diaper bags are great, but when you are sitting with a friend for coffee or lunch, and you need to go change the baby in a very small restroom (or you're lazy and don't want to carry a big bag with you), this clutch is very handy. It is fairly large, has a pocket for diapers and a place to insert a package of wipes. I also put a ziplock bag with a couple newspaper bags for dirty diapers. That way I just grab this and go, without having to fiddle with a big bag. So much easier! It's also great that it matches my diaper bag!

The Items I Wasn't As Thrilled About

  My Brest Friend  

My Brest Friend on Amazon

Some people love this thing and they even had them in the hospital where I delivered, so use your own judgment. For me, this pillow is too cumbersome because it has a piece that goes around the back. I couldn't use it at first because my belly was still too big (uterus hadn't contracted yet) and now I just don't like using it because of the strap around the back. I love that it's a bit more sturdy than the Boppy, but I choose the Bobby over this product (which is unfortunate because the My Brest Friend was a very thoughtful gift from someone!).

  Ameda Store 'n Pour Milk Storage Bags  

Ameda Store 'n Pour Milk Storage Bags on Amazon

They're hard to open and feel a bit flimsy in my mind. They're a bit too wide for the storage container I'm using (but I make it work!). I also decided against using them with my pump because I'm always afraid I'm going to spill the milk if I lean forward even slightly.