SmartCredit

Now I know that everyone has the hardest time keeping track of one's credit score. I also know that people are worried about identity theft. I know that I have already talked to you about how to protect your identity with the Susie Orman software, but I have just discovered this new website that you can subscribe to in order to help you improve your credit score. It is called SmartCredit and the website is http://www.smartcredit.com/. When you sign on to the website you will see that there is a free trail that you can do. Why not try it since it is free...I think I am going to. Also when I went to the site I discovered that SmartCredit can help you out in a lot more ways than just knowing your credit score. You are able to control your credit with a click of a button:

• Fix Credit Report Errors


• Get Goodwill Corrections


• Remove Identity Theft


• Settle Debts


• Lock Credit Reports


• Get Daily Alerts


• Know Whats Affecting Your Credit
  
  Here is an example of what the homepage of SmartCredit looks like:

Financial Self-Service Kiosk Technology

So I was going through Youtube the other day looking for videos that I could incorporate into my blog and I came across a very interesting one. It was posted a few years ago by BusinessWire. In the video it talked about a new technology call financial self-service kiosks. These kiosks would work can of like debit card machines, but instead of only getting money out you could actually put cash or checks into the machine to be deposited into your account. Not everyone wants to pay bills through the mail or online so you could go to a self-service kiosk at your local bank or retail mall and do all of your billing there. I wonder how well this technology has taken off, however, since it was posted three years ago and I have yet to see this very interesting machine. It seems like a pretty great idea, but I think a lot of people are become more comfortable using the Internet. My own mom has started to use the Internet to pay bills, after being late on one payment. She isn't very computer literate but companies have made it really easy to pay for things online. If you would like to see this video,however, here you go:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzcrPCFB4QM

ExactTarget

I have told you in earlier blogs that I am a senior and am looking for a job this semester! It is really scary but exciting as well. I was talking to my boss from my summer internship and she told me about this program that her son is in. It is called the Catapult program through the company ExactTarget. ExactTarget is an Internet marketing software company. The Catapult program is a rotational program for graduated students straight out of college. I would be doing a rotation between marketing, human resources, and finance if I was chosen for this great position. This company has great company culture, great benefits, and develop leading edge marketing products. I have been able to add together the new media that I have been learning in my communications in emerging technology class and what ExactTarget is doing in the industry. I will be applying for this position very soon and will keep you updated on what happens.Wish me good luck!!! :)

GeoCaching

For my Com 435 class we are learning all about new emerging technology in communication. In class last week we learned all about geocaching. Geocaching is a new type of "treasure hunt" that uses GPS systems to get to the next clue. We were able to actually participant in a geocaching event so we were able to really see what it is all about. A lot of different students from different lab sections wrote about their experiences of the new technology game. I was one of the students that had to write on the class blog. I would love it if you went to that blog to learn more about geocaching and how you can get involved with it.

The blog website is: http://fall09com435sec4.blogspot.com/

Identity Theft

For the past few years shopping online for everything from books for school to clothes has become a very profitable industry. When you shop online though you have to give out your credit card number and some other very personal information that can be used for identity theft. It is very easy for someone to create a "shopping" website, get credit card numbers, and never send the customer what they purchased. Because of these schemes you have to be very careful with what type of websites you give your information too.

When it comes to the finance world, the Internet is used a lot by private financial planning firms to balance spreadsheets, buy and sell stocks, and do tax returns. The well known celebrity financial planner Suze Orman has come out with a software program to help with protect yourself and your computer from identity theft. The software program is called Suze Orman's Identity Theft Kit and can be purchased on her personal website for $40.78. This program can help protect your computer from letting unknown sources access to credit reports, credit cards, checking accounts, social security numbers and medical records. My family has personally installed this program on our computer at home. I have to say that it has helped me become more comfortable with putting my information online. However, one down side is the program does make your computer work a little slower.

You have to decide is protection from identity theft worth $40 and a slower computer???

The Internet is helping me with a career path

I am a senior at Purdue University getting ready to graduate in the Spring. Graduation is a scary time because I dont know what I will be doing after college or if I will be able to be successful in the "real world". My major is Financial Planning and Counseling with a minor in Communications. All of my classes that I have taken has helped me to see that I have a real passion and interest in the Finance world. Since the downturn of the economy in the pass year, the job market has taken a huge hit. People need financial planners more than ever, but they are too scared to put their money back into the market that just made them lose their life savings. Because of this fact, I thought it would be easy to get a job when I graduated but it is looking like that isn't the case. I need to start looking for different avenues to get my name out there into the finance field.

In order to complete my Communication minor I had to take a 400 level course. I am now enrolled in a class called Communication and Emerging Technology. It is very fascinating to see how in such a short time the technology of the computer and Internet has changed our culture. Through class I have started to learn about new technology that I hadn't know about before. One is the true affect of blogs. I have started to follow some finance blogs and some college career blogs that have helped me to see that I am not alone in the struggle to find a job. I learned through one of these blogs to start using more resume search engines like: Monster. I just put my resume up on a few sites and already have some interviews lined up. Ya! Well we will see how they go and hopefully by May I will be able to call some finance firm my new home.