By: Gloria L. Hess

A job seeker recently shared with me his three résumés—one was targeted for tech jobs, one was targeted for sales jobs and one wasn’t targeted at all.  He went on to explain that since he could do many different things, he believed his chances of more quickly landing a job would increase if he’d “cast out a wide net to see what bites.”

What I told him, and what I’m sharing with you here, is that I firmly believe this “fishing expedition” strategy is more likely to hamper your job search progress, and here are some reasons why:

First, it’s Marketing 101: You can’t effectively market yourself as everything to everybody. While there are certainly opportunities that may appreciate a talent so well rounded, the majority of recruiters are seeking to fill specific positions with talent possessing specific experience and specific skill sets. That being said, candidates who are focused and clearly illustrate how their branding and background match the job specs are much more attractive to recruiters, whereas un-focused candidates are often initially perceived as unqualified.

In addition, prospective employers may not take you seriously. It’s a small world—especially in cyberspace—so it’s likely your multiple-target strategy will be discovered, which may not only paint you as desperate, but it could also negatively impact your credibility: “He’s looking for anything he can get, then once the market opens up, he’ll be gone.”  It’s expensive to hire new talent, and with so many candidates in the job market from which to select, hiring managers will pick those who are more likely expected to stay for awhile.

Finally, when your contacts are unclear about which of your identities to promote to their connections, your network will “short out” as it won’t know where to go. Increased competition for opportunities makes your networking efforts even more critical to your job search success, which means you can’t afford a dropped connection. Build a stronger network by being clear with your contacts about your brand—about who you are as a professional—so that they know how to introduce and promote you to others.

So, bottom line, I recommend putting aside the metaphorical fishing gear and try a more focused and strategic approach to your job search:

• Select a macro target (sector, industry, discipline and/or function) in which you are most interested and for which you are qualified;

• Establish a branding that speaks to that target;

• Develop and implement a career action plan to fully pursue that target.

Then, save your fishing for Sundays on the lake!

I’ve heard this question many times before. The résumé is recognized as the more important document, with cover letters often being an afterthought. However, according to a 2008 survey, 86% of senior executives at the nation’s largest 1,000 companies still find cover letters valuable. Of course, there are always going to be employers who won’t read a cover letter, or will read it after the résumé captures their attention. Still, with approximately 33% of employers reading the letter first, it’s worth spending the extra time to make yours stand out.

Some things to keep in mind:
•    The cover letter should complement, not rehash, the résumé.
•    The cover letter should include keywords.
•    The cover letter should be personalized for each company.

No matter what, a cover letter should always be included, especially if asked for in an advertisement. Assuming employers won’t read the letter, many people only send in a résumé. In addition to losing an extra opportunity to sell yourself, it can appear that you don’t have enough interest in the company to write a customized letter. To give yourself the edge over your competitors, not only should you submit a cover letter, you should submit an outstanding one!

Learn how to stand out from the competition

By Steve Golberg

It has often been said that “your resume can get you an interview,” but in reality it’s your interview that can get you the job.  In today’s challenging and competitive job market, employer’s have many candidates to choose from and therefore have become more discerning  then ever before, which is why developing your interviewing skills is so important.

The person interviewing you is not only looking at your qualifications, but they are looking at what differentiates you from every other candidate.  Answering the question, “what is it that you bring to this company and to this position that no one else can?” is what helps you stand out in a crowd.

As a professional interviewing coach with We Place People, this is one of the most important topics we discuss when preparing our candidates for interviews. With almost every question you answer, there must be something that you share that will make you stand out differently from everyone else and will ultimately make the company want to hire you!  Remember, an interview is not just about what you have done, it’s about what you can do for that company. It’s what you can offer that your competition can not that will help make you the “candidate of choice.”

Determining who to move forward in the interviewing process is not always as cut and dry as one would think. The front line interviewers themselves are evaluated by the company on the caliber of the candidates they move forward in the process and if that person ultimately gets hired.   They must ensure the candidates are qualified and they will be a “fit” for the organization, the position and the hiring decision maker.  This is where you must “help” by sharing those skills, experiences, training, or qualifications that you bring to the organization that other candidates may not.  It’s also the time to demonstrate your critical thinking process and how you approach and complete tasks, responsibilities, or projects.  These are the same elements that you should prepare for when interviewing with the decision maker.

Here are some tips on how you can differentiate yourself:

1)      Create a list of 5 interview questions that you are certain you will be asked in your interview

2)      Carefully review the job description and learn about the company and position

3)      When answering the interview questions and reviewing the elements of the job description you need to be able to describe:

1. What roles or responsibilities you had in your previous positions as they relate specifically to the position you are applying for and will resonate with the interviewer
2. How you specifically completed each function or responsibility
3. What the results were
4. What you have to offer that makes you stand out amongst others with similar backgrounds

In this job market, differentiating and separating yourself from others can help you standout in your next interview and get the job you want.

Steve Golberg, President, We Place People is an industry expert based on his Executive experience within the retail, financial services and telecommunications industries where he has personally interviewed, hired and placed over 1,000 candidates within his career. Steve has mentored and coached numerous individuals throughout their careers which led them to Executive level positions.

Office (614) 933-0000            www.weplacepeople.com Email steve@weplacepeople.com

PART 1 -  Candidacy Building

Conventional career transition resources tells us that asking questions during interviews shows genuine interest, and doing so, will have a positive impact on our candidacy.  What many of us fail to realize is that calculated questions add tremendous value to our candidacy, reflect the importance that we place in making career related decisions, give us a chance to articulate our own value proposition, and provide us an opportunity to make a more informed decision when offers are extended.

We all know that time management is critical prior to an interview.  Ten to twenty percent of our preparation should be spent researching the company’s website, connecting with current/former employees, etc.   The research can be used to help us to sell our candidacy and make informed decisions, through questions.  A viable question is, “I saw in the paper that your acquisition of ABC Technology is poised to ensure a smooth integration of your business development and marketing functions.  What impact would that have on this sales role?”  Another example of “selling” our candidacy through research is, “I spoke to a colleague who had worked here, and they mentioned that you train all managers on Six Sigma, is that still offered?”  The research you have done can also be applied while answering questions.  By doing so, we are able to add value to our candidacy and demonstrate that we have a clear understanding of the company and role.

Understand, interviewers have likely finished qualifying us by the time they ask if we have questions; however, asking the right questions allows us the opportunity to sell ourselves in ways that the interviewer may not have given us the opportunity to do, and therefore, can influence their initial decision if it was not a favorable one.  Consider the following.

While the interviewer is answering our first question, we need to reflect internally and determine if we’ve fully communicated our value proposition (while simultaneously using effective listening techniques).  If we have, it’s time to move on to a question that helps us make informed decisions.  If not, we need to ask a question that enables us to “sell” the portion of our value proposition that has not been communicated.  For example:  “One of the qualifications you’re seeking in an Accountant is analytical abilities.  My last manager said that my analytical ability is one of my top of strengths as a sales person.  How does your organization leverage individual strengths?”  Stating our value proposition in the third person is much stronger than saying, “A strength of mine is my analytical ability”, because it is their words, not ours.
The Three Steps of assuring that our value proposition is “sold” through interview questions are as follows:

Step 1 – Ask (A prepared question) when given the opportunity
Step 2 – Listen & Reflect (If your value proposition has been communicated)
Step 3 – Ask & Sell (An enabling question that sells applicable skills)

It is important to recognize opportunities to ask questions, and by adding “In our conversation earlier you mentioned that…., “or “it sounds like what you’re saying is….” we are demonstrating our ability to listen effectively, which, though taught the least, is arguably the most valuable of business skills.

We want to know that we’ve put our best foot forward after an interview has concluded, right?  Asking, “Is there anything else I can share with you about my background relative to the position?” ensures all bases are covered and the interviewer is clear on what we bring to the table.   If they say yes, pause, and answer accordingly.

Making informed decisions is an additional strategic measure to put our interview questions to work and will be discussed in part 2 of this segment.

Special thanks to Blair Milne (www.blairmilne.com) for her assistance editing this project

Don’t.

Your laid-off friends and family members don’t need cheesy platitudes. Nor do they need a cheery, new holiday sweater. They need work, and they need it now, before their unemployment benefits run out and the debt collectors come calling. Unfortunately, looking for a job costs money — money that someone living on unemployment checks or credit card fumes isn’t likely to have.

That’s where you come in. Give the pink-slipped people you know something they can put to good use in their quest for gainful employment, and they’ll be eternally grateful.

Herewith, my holiday gift recommendations for those in your life without a paycheck.

A Free Ride

Sure, paying $2 a gallon for gas is a huge improvement from the $4 a gallon drivers shelled out earlier this year. But filling the tank four times a month to race to interviews, job fairs and meetings with recruiters is still a big financial hit for those living close to the bone.

So do your unemployed loved ones a favor and buy them a gas card. If they don’t drive, get them a week’s worth of bus or subway passes.

A Free Lunch

Interviewing often means eating and caffeinating on the run. No matter how careful the budget-conscious candidates are to pack a Thermos of java and a bag of peanut butter sandwiches, there will always be an interview that runs long, leaving them drowsy, ravenous and too weak-willed to pinch pennies. Don’t let your pink-slipped pals spend a small fortune fueling up at Starbucks or Subway. Get them gift certificates to their preferred purveyor of fast food and beverages.

Reading Material

One of the perks your paycheck-less friends may be missing is the free magazine, newspaper and Web site subscriptions their former employers purchased for them. Whether your allies are into Wired or Waste Handling Equipment News, a subscription not only helps them stay current on industry trends, it gives them something other than celebrity gossip sites to read. If you, too, are short on cash, not to worry. The Web is rife with offers of free business and trade magazine subscriptions. Your friends will still appreciate that you were savvy enough to sign them up for a year’s worth of reading material.

500 Business Cards

There’s nothing more humiliating than meeting a recruiter at a job fair or networking event and having to scrawl your personal e-mail address and phone number on the back of the business card your former employer issued you.

Don’t let this happen to your unemployed cohorts. Visit one of the many online printing companies offering bargain-basement prices on business cards and give the gift of dignity. If you’re broke yourself, you can still nab a pal 250 free business cards from VistaPrint. All you’ll pay is shipping and handling.

A Visit to the Resume Doctor

We all know we need to update our resumes to land a new employer, yet so few of us know the best way to go about it. Compounding the problem, many of us are too embarrassed to ask for a hand. That’s where a professional resume writer comes in.

To find one for an out-of-work friend, look no further than the OWC Expert Panel. Our very own Gloria L. Hess and Charlotte Weeks are among the most respected and credentialed resume experts in the Midwest.

The Ability to Leave the House

You know that friend who swore she’d never get an iPhone or a BlackBerry and now desperately wishes she could afford one (and its accompanying service contract) so she’d have a better way to check e-mail while out pounding the pavement?

Peek, the sleek e-mail device that Time magazine called the “top gadget of 2008,” might be the perfect interim solution. Although it looks like a BlackBerry, all the Peek does is e-mail.

Consequently, the device costs only $100, and the monthly service for unlimited e-mail access is just $20, with no contract required. Just be sure to clear this purchase with recipients first. Much like puppies, new gadgets that require monthly fees are something you don’t want to spring on an unsuspecting, cash-poor pal.

A Way to Blow Off Steam

More than anything, your laid-off cronies need a way to vent that doesn’t involve drunk dialing the board members of their former employers or slashing the tires of their ex-managers.

The stress release afforded by gag gifts like dart boards and voodoo dolls is far too fleeting. What your unemployed comrades need is to throw some punches and to work up a sweat in a kickboxing or Taekwondo class. At the very least, it gets them out of the house and out their bathrobe for a few hours.

Michelle Goodman is a freelance journalist, author and former cubicle dweller. Her books — “The Anti 9-to-5 Guide: Practical Career Advice for Women Who Think Outside the Cube” and “My So-Called Freelance Life: How to Survive and Thrive as a Creative Professional for Hire” (October 2008) — offer an irreverent take on the traditional career guide. More tips on career change, flex work and the freelance life can be found on her blog, Anti9to5Guide.com.

It’s one of the reasons I encourage people to Fail Spectacularly.

It’s also why I share the email below, which was forwarded to me by its recipient, a young professional woman who I’ll call… Kornelia. With a K. Or Kornie, as I imagine her friends would call her if in fact her name were Kornelia-with-a-K.

Kornie received this note attached to a LinkedIn connect request from a guy who had followed her around the previous evening at an open house event. He didn’t have the courage to talk to her at the time, but clearly, he was paying close attention. You’ll see:

Hi Kornie,

How are you? It was nice to meet you at the networking event. I will think about becoming a [member of your organization]. Can you get me a discount? haha.

Hey I noticed you were married but just curious if you had a sister, cousin, friend that had a similar personality to yours that is single? I really liked how out going, friendly, and funny you came across. Let me guess, everyone you know is married? Story of my life.

Anyway, see you at the next event!

OK, the breakdown on this one is going to be swift and merciless. Here we go:

1. It’s creepy. I’m a guy, and a married one at that, so I don’t generally think much about what other guys are saying to other women at events, but I do find the whole I didn’t-talk-to-you-but-I’m-going-to-hit-on-you-sort-of-now-from-the-safety-of-my-keyboard sort of cowardly and odd.
2. It’s wishy-washy. Are you interested in the organization or the girl? At the risk of sounding sexist, if you want to talk to the girl, MAN UP. And if you’re interested in the organization, then get your shiznit together and talk to the person behind the cute face.
3. It’s lame. “Can you get me a discount? haha.” Like… you deserve a discounted price on account of your discounted self-esteem? I don’t get it. Never make the obvious joke, and definitely—if you’re going to joke about money—make the joke make you look good. “I’m always a bit hesitant to join groups I can afford to join…”
4. It’s self-disrespecting. In both paragraphs, he talks himself out of his game. I’ve always said that jokes are 80% truth, so even if this note was meant to be humorous, it still says a lot about the jokester. Specifically, it says: “I expect to get rejected in anything I do.”

Overall, a terrible note. Study it, learn from it, and if anything you write sounds remotely similar, hit delete.

OK, so now let’s move on to a better alternative, because I like good endings.

Picture the scene: you’re at an event, you see a cute girl, and you want to talk to her. Seeing as how this is a professional event and she’s married, hitting on her is both inappropriate and impolitic. You’re mildly interested in what she’s selling, you’re very interested in her network, and what the hey, why not be nice to her? Here’s what you need to do:

1. Walk up to her at the event and pretend you’re a name tag. Say, “Hi, my name is [whatever you're name is].” Smile and extend your hand. Pause. She’ll probably give you her name. If she doesn’t, ask for it. When you shake hands, make eye contact and keep the shake firm yet gentle. If you can’t get this far in the interaction, go home, you’re done.
2. Ask her what she does. If you’ve already been lurking, acknowledge it: “I’ve actually caught bits and pieces of your conversations tonight and was intrigued… but didn’t want to interrupt… could you tell me a little about [whatever it is you do]?” If you’re so intimidated by cute that you can’t think of anything to ask, go home, you’re done.
3. If you are not genuinely interested in what she’s saying, say so. “Oh, that’s not quite what I imagined. I don’t think that’s for me.” Pause. If she asks why, give her the reason. If you aren’t concentrating on the conversation hard enough to have thought of a reason, go home, you’re done. If you are interested, say so, and ask how you can get more information. Chances are, you’ll leave with a business card. If she doesn’t offer a card, take the hint.
4. After a few minutes, say something that let’s you connect the conversation to a topic you are completely comfortable with. Non sequitors are OK if you can be funny about them, as in, “OK, ah, this is a total non sequitor, but something you just said made it pop into my mind. You’re going to totally laugh when I ask you this: do you wear a lot of purple?” Get ready to back your non sequitor up with a story or explanation!
5. You will know within the next two seconds if this conversation is going anywhere good. If it is, go with it. If not, abort, but no need to go home. You did alright—you won’t win ‘em all.
6. So far, all you’ve done is built a foundation for a relationship, which is all you should be doing right now. That relationship will take it’s own course in time—professionally and personally. Don’t try to mix the two. And for heaven’s sake, if she’s married, don’t be a schmuck by hitting on her.

As far as a LinkedIn request goes, only if you get through Step 5 have you earned the right to send a social media connection request. It should look like this:

Kornie, great meeting you last night. I look forward to seeing you at the next event. I’ll try to wear purple. I’m thinking maybe something like this? Or too much?

If you did not make it to Step 5 because you went home, send nothing. If you did not make it to Step 5 because you were legitimately pressed for time and could only manage a quick hello, send this the next day:

It was great meeting you last night. I’m sorry we didn’t have much of a chance to connect. I look forward to seeing you at future events. In the meantime, if I can ever be helpful to you, please don’t hesitate to reach out!

Don’t flourish and don’t be funny.

That’s how it’s done. Now stop sucking and—for the last time—man up!

Finding a job can

If it’s any consolation, some of the costs you incur while searching for a job may be tax deductible. Here’s how to determine what expenses qualify:

Create a Profile and Connect

One of the key things that you need to do in todays “internet run” world is to have a profile up on multiple sites. If you are going to use it primarily to search for jobs or for professional contacts, keep that in mind. Some of the places you should start a profile and stay connected are Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, etc. among many others. When connecting with people on these platforms do not try and connect with your existing contacts alone but reach out to others. Think of it as a virtual gathering where you can introduce yourself, carry the conversation and build a professional relationship.

Buy a Domain and Run a Site

It is most likely that a domain with your name exists. For example if your name is John Doe and you can’t find a domain for that particular name, try adding your middle name or other variations to it. You can buy a domain for around $10 or less. Once you have the domain consider starting a portfolio site. Whether it’s a blog where you write or a static page highlighting your work, it’s important in todays world to have your own presence. If you don’t want to put too much time into bulding a portfolio, you can just get the domain, pick a hosting service and get a page up with basic information such as name, address, email etc. If you wish you can put your resume as a static page itself depending on how much information you want to post publicly.

Find What Google Says About You

We are almost positive that any company that is thinking of hiring you will run a search on you on the web. Before they do the research, step up and do a little research by yourself. Use google and other search engines to see what comes up when you type in your name. If you see something that might be a potential threat in terms of landing a job, see if you can find a solution to correct it. For example, if your drunk images from flickr account is showing up on google, you can take those off or make it private so the employer doesn’t see it. This is another good reason to have a personal blog or site with a domain that is your full name because most likely it will show up when potential employers search for you on search engines.

Get More Information On The Company

When it comes to researching, research shouldn’t be limited to just yourself. Make sure to get the ins and outs of the company you are applying for. This helps you get an idea as to what you are getting into. Also it will help you be a lot comfortable and confident when you face the interviewer. There are many sites that will help you gain information about a company. Of course you can start out with google or wikipedia but make sure to use company search sites as well to gather more data and information.

Too Much Information Isn’t Necessarily Good

One of the key reason many job applicants find it hard to find a job via online sources is because they follow too many things. Make sure to streamline what you are looking for. Whether it’s blogs or job search sites, more isn’t always good. Make sure to focus your search and narrow down what you want out of them. If you are looking for jobs in certain field may be you could follow blogs and job search sites that cater to those field specifically instead looking for information everywhere. De-clutter the information so you don’t go through information overload.

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So for better or worse, managing your own health care has become an essential part of financial planning. Washington is hotly debating how to fix our high-cost health-care system, but in the meantime there are some things you can do to lower your bills without compromising on care. Here are your best strategies for easing the pain.

Most of us still aren’t used to the idea of talking money with a doctor. But you won’t be shocking his delicate sensibilities. “The uninsured frequently ask for a discount or a payment plan, but most insured consumers don’t realize that they can negotiate,” says Ruth Levin of Continuum Health Partners, a New York City hospital system.

Negotiating is especially important if you have a big deductible, are using an out-of-network doc, or face a steep co-pay or co-insurance. Your doctor may be willing to charge less if you can pay upfront because it saves a billing hassle. Doctors and hospitals not in your insurer’s network may still be willing to charge you in-network rates. And if you can’t immediately cover a big bill, hold off on swiping your credit card. Providers often work out payment plans over many months without charging interest, says Levin.

You can also shop around. If you need a test or an operation, ask your doctor to recommend more than one facility. Your insurer may be able to tell you which provider will charge less. A few major insurers, such as Cigna, have websites that let their customers compare costs on common procedures such as CT scans. Of course, you don’t want to base your decision on price alone. Check out your insurer’s website or hospitalcompare.hhs.gov to see how well hospitals rate on quality control and patient outcomes.

Finally, ask about alternatives, says Davis Liu, a family doctor and the author of “Stay Healthy, Live Longer, Spend Wisely.” For example, your doctor may suggest an MRI to figure out why your back is hurting. But if you push back a bit, she may also tell you that you can first try back exercises for a few weeks and see if the pain goes away on its own. It very often does.

Health plans have gotten picky about pills. About 77% of workers with a drug benefit face three or more price tiers – one cost for generics and higher charges for “preferred” and “nonpreferred” brands. If Prevacid isn’t on your preferred list, it could easily cost you $300 a year more than a generic version of Prilosec.

Your doctor won’t necessarily know your insurance rules. And although pharmacists may be able to switch you from a brand to the equivalent generic, they can’t move you to a similar alternative drug without a new prescription. So you may need to do some research. Your insurer or your pharmacy benefit manager – that’s the company listed on your prescription card – may have a website that lets you both price drugs and find alternatives with lower out-of-pocket costs. If your plan doesn’t offer this, compare retail prices at drx.com. That’s helpful if you usually pay a percentage of the cost.

You can also save by switching where you buy. Many prescription plans give you a big discount if you use their mail-order pharmacy. Some retail chains offer popular generics for just $4 for a 30-day supply.

If your family’s insurance deductible is higher than $2,300 you likely qualify for a health savings account, or HSA. Like FSAs, these accounts let you save pretax dollars for health costs. The key difference is that you get to keep your money there as long as you want. And so long as you use it to buy health care, you don’t pay taxes when you withdraw it either.

This year a family can contribute up to $5,950, while singles can put in $3,000. Those ages 55 to 65 can add another $1,000. Employers can help with contributions, and half that offer qualified plans do so. Come retirement, you can even spend the money on non-health-related items, although you’ll pay taxes on it.

Your employer might recommend an HSA provider, or you can choose your own. “Shop around for the best rates and terms,” says Hartman, the L.A. planner. Some HSAs offer debit cards you can use at the doctor’s office or drugstore. Many even allow you to invest in mutual funds. But don’t put any HSA money that you’ll need within five years into anything but safe savings. Compare account terms at vimo.com/hsa. Note: You generally cannot have both an HSA and an FSA.

Physicians jam so many appointments into a day that it can be hard to squeeze in on short notice. And if you have to take your kid to an emergency room for a weekend illness, it could cost you a co-pay of $100 or more, especially if the insurer deems it a nonemergency. But there are easier, cheaper ways to get treatment for minor ailments.

First, workplace clinics are making a comeback. Most common at large companies, they are generally staffed with nurse practitioners, RNs with additional training and the ability to prescribe. You can swing by at lunch. The price: gratis.

Walk-in retail clinics in chain stores also rely on nurse practitioners. They’re a good choice if you know what’s wrong and it’s simple. (If you aren’t sure if you should go to a doctor instead, go to a doctor.) Prices for treating earaches, sore throats, and the like are posted on the wall. If your insurance pays, the co-pay is usually the same as a doctor’s visit and a lot less than the ER. For more serious problems, such as cuts that require stitches, consider an urgent-care clinic. They employ doctors but are typically still cheaper than ERs.

You already know that you should have a cash emergency fund that covers six months’ expenses. That figure should include insurance costs, because you don’t want to let coverage lapse. Not only would you be vulnerable to huge costs if you fell ill, but if you let coverage slide for 63 days or more, your next employer doesn’t have to immediately cover preexisting conditions.

To figure out how much to set aside, ask your HR department what you’d have to pay to extend your benefits under the COBRA law. Companies with at least 20 employees typically must allow you to stay in your plan for up to 18 months. But you’ll have to pay the premiums. The good news: If you lose your job before 2010, you may qualify for a federal subsidy that covers 65% of COBRA premiums.

That subsidy makes COBRA your best bet in almost any circumstance for now. But after it phases out, you may find that an individual plan is less expensive if you are young and healthy. Check out quotes on ehealthinsurance.com.

• Creditors are required to notify a consumer in writing of any change in the annual percentage rate (APR) on the account at least 45 days prior to the change.
• Creditors are prohibited from increasing the annual percentage rate (APR) applicable to an existing balance on a credit card account unless specific conditions apply.
• If different APRs apply to separate portions of an outstanding balance, the amount of any payment beyond the minimum payment due must be applied to that portion of the balance with the highest APR.
• Creditors are required to send statements to consumers at least 21 calendar days before the due date of the next payment.
• Creditors must provide on each billing statement a written disclosure indicating how many months it will take to repay the existing balance if only the minimum payment due is made each month, and what the total cost (principal and interest) of doing so will be.
• Payment due dates shall be the same day of each month. If the due date is a date when a creditor does not receive or accept payments by mail (e.g., weekends and holidays), the creditor must not treat a payment received on the next business date as a late payment.
• Creditors are prohibited from charging a fee based on the manner in which a payment is made (e.g., on line, by telephone).
• Gift cards and certificates must disclose in writing on the card or certificate any dormancy or inactivity fee information, including the amount of the fee and how often it may be imposed (not more than once a month).