Congratulations. After months of sending resumes into the blackhole that is the job application world, you've made contact with the other side. Nice work. Now here is our shortlist of 5 things to do before a job interview. Basic, important, and totally affordable. Go get 'em tiger.

If you're desperately trying to de-bum yourself, the looking for a job is probably your top priority. Unfortunately, with the cost of clothing and transport, it can end up being an expensive business. Employers often receive dozens of applications for the most junior of jobs, so you need to find ways to stand out, not easy when you're struggling with your finances. Here are a few tips for job hunting on a budget (meaning even the biggest bum has no excuse not to fill in those applications).

Recent months have found some of us trolling the job boards in search of employment. An oftentimes demoralizing process, it has also been inspirational because of the amount of support we've received. With no offers in the bag, we capitalized on the brain power available to us to try and create an improved job hunting strategy.

If negotiating was super easy, no one would need training. Don't panic if you seem to be getting pushback on your ask. The process can be a little dizzying, but remember, it won't happen if you don't ask. We all know not everything is handed out on a silver platter, so the following is a list of some concepts to keep in mind when negotiations stall.

You've made the ask and today is the day—negotiation day. Read on for what to keep in mind while you ask for more. If your palms start to sweat, remember that it is worth the discomfort. By not negotiating a first salary, an individual stands to lose more than $500,000 by age 60 (check out the source). So wipe your hands off and get your head in the game.

We recently had a chance to sit down with Shifra Bronznick of Advancing Women Professionals and discuss negotiating compensation. This is a sticky issue most of us will face at one point or another. Whether trying to advance internally or make a leap in a new position, knowing how to negotiate can dramatically affect your earning power. Shockingly, women seem to negotiate significantly less often than men, and the following tips were developed in response (read more here). However, whatever your gender identification, doing some preparation for your negotiation is sure to pay off.

Well, the title about sums it up. Job hunting sucks. It's difficult and demoralizing and pretty critical. So now that we've established the baseline and the pressure, let's try to move on to the silver lining. With such a big task, there has got to be one. Read on for our attempt at positivity in a trying situation.

Hello, new grads. Welcome to the big wide world of a tough economy and job market. Some of you may have gone to school and come out knowing exactly what you wanted to do. But if you're anything like us, you probably are thinking, "ok, now what?" Get a job and pay down those loans, obviously. There are a couple things to mention: 1. You are going to spend a lot of energy trying to get a job, so try to fling it in the right direction and 2. Getting to know yourself a bit better is going to help tremendously in choosing a compatible job.

Our generation grew up with a new level of technology and we look at our personal lives and careers in a totally different light than our parents. Some have said we're only seeking instant gratification and aren't willing to settle in for the long haul to grow within a company. I'm not saying we wouldn't love for an awesome run with a series of promotions and even increasing benefits, but, it seems as if we are no longer defining our success by our ability to climb the company ladder. And, who says we're even going to want to work in the same industry 20 years from now?

There are a lot of assholes in the entertainment industry. Being a PA in the business intimidates even the strongest soul, and part of that intimidation will come from the assholes. You will find yourself confronted with an asshole from time to time; when that happens make sure you're prepared. Below you will learn how to properly identify the assholes, greet your asshole, wreak the benefits of the asshole, and above all else make friends with the asshole.