I recently met financial and career advisor Nicole Crimaldi when I discovered her website www.mscareergirl.com.  A Chicago native, Nicole advises young professional women how to navigate their careers with real-life practical information like handling uncomfortable situations at work, and making the most of an entry-level salary. 

Ladies, we are never too young to start learning about our 401K’s - let's not leave this to guys because we think that they are supposed to handle the money.  It's in our best interests to be financially responsible so that we can invest in our futures and still shop for those cute shoes!  I asked Nicole to give us a quick 101 of the most important issues we should keep in mind as we launch our fabulous careers:
 
What are some of the most basic skills someone graduating from college and entering the workforce should have - regardless of their major?
 
"Confidence. Let’s be honest, you’re not going to know everything when you go into your first job. In fact, you may not know anything about what you are doing. Most people go to college and study a subject thinking it will be completely relevant to their first job, but often times it is not. Don’t get paralyzed because you don’t know it all. Believe in yourself, project confidence in everything you do and know that you were hired for a reason. Ask questions but remember not to ask the same questions multiple times just because you need reassurance. Go for it girl!"
 
Give us an example of a lesson you have learned that you could have only learned from experience, not in a classroom?
 
"Beware of sugar-coated interviews! I sold sub-prime mortgages in my first job out of school. It was deemed the “hot” new field for finance majors with a personality. If you’ve watched the news at all over the past year, you know that sub-prime mortgage lending is hugely responsible for our crumbling economy today. I was told I’d make $70,000 my first year out of school and that getting promoted to the next level could happen within 6 months to a year in which you had the opportunity to make up to $10,000 per month." 
 
"The manager I interviewed with also sold me on the fun company culture, and other perks of working for him. Of course this sounded absolutely fabulous to a ripe newbie like me! They kept calling me to see if I would accept the job (several months before I graduated) and finally I did. Little did I know that making your bonus was almost impossible due to the bonus structure that I was not told about in the interview. I also learned that hardly anyone got promoted, there was tons of turn over, the top sales were from those who consistently stretched the truth on sales calls, and you totally did not have to have to have extensive financial knowledge for the job." 
 
"In summary, don’t believe everything you hear in an interview and end up in a job that is not right for you. Pay close attention to what your “gut” is telling you. If at all possible, insist on meeting with a few people who have not interviewed you and ask them what it’s really like. I also think talking to people your age/at your level is beneficial to get a more realistic picture of how you fit into the role and company."
 
Dating on the job....Is this ever a good idea?
 
"I’ve seen dating on the job done in both good and bad ways. I actually know a few people who’ve had a lot of luck with dating co-workers (including my parents who have always worked together), but the idea still scares me and is something I would not advise. In most cases I’d say avoid it like the plague. Think about how distracted you feel at work after a fight with your boyfriend. Why would you want to mix that fight in with your work any more than you have to?" 
 
In this economy what are some of the most important steps young women can take to ensure they don't hit the financial skids?
 
"Monitor your credit card use. If you’re anything like me, you want it all and maybe you even want it all RIGHT NOW. Beware! I’ve fallen into this trap and having it all comes with a big price: stress and not being able to sleep at night." 
 
"If you’re making an entry-level salary, you need to accept that you cannot afford to live like a celebrity. Don’t become a statistic during times when credit card companies are randomly cutting peoples’ credit limits based on where they shop and how they pay their bill. Don’t put yourself in a situation where you are so maxed out that you cannot pay for an emergency or buy groceries because you went out too much or shopped too much that week. It’s difficult to break bad habits, but breaking this now is important otherwise with every promotion you get, you will just keep putting yourself that much more under water."
 
 Ms. Career Girl was founded by Nicole Crimaldi at age 24 while she was going through her own “Quarterlife Crisis.” A Chicago native and Miami of Ohio Finance and Entrepreneurship graduate, Nicole is passionate about helping women navigate their careers and personal finances. Nicole started her career in the sub-prime mortgage industry and currently works in commercial banking in Chicago.  She believes that women who have clarity with their career and personal finances are happier, more confident and independent in every other area of their lives.